Why adding 3D graphics to games was a bad idea

[pianohombre]

Yeah, and with added audio clips from the actors it seems like it's real. Also, cell-shading, et cetera it's almost like you're controlling the characters in real life. But all the graphics, audio, and more takes tool on the console, so if you play those high-end games too much it can fry the system.

 

[Techno Thing]

 

[AyeYoYoYO]

All these years later, and to me, the best graphics in 2024 games, are 2d stuff like Cuphead, Rayman Origins, Mario Wonder, the new Sonic Superstars, etc …. And the absolute very very best … are technically 3d models, which are layered over to mimick super high resolution 2d sprites with their own lighting lol (Love me some ARC SYSTEM WORKS)

ARC SYS continued the legacy of late 90’s CAPCOM sprite looks/animation/proportion:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Tiviat]

You're beating a dead horse on this, and I'm going to tell you why. First off, 3D was showcased with the early games, meaning they were essentially tech demos to showcase the new hardware , and to give developers and idea of how their games might look. In "On-rail" 3D games like Crash Bandicoot, Panzer Dragoon, Donald Duck Going Quackers, etc, the walls keep the camera essentially stable. But on open worlded 3D games like GTA , Sonic Adventure , and everything else, the camera has to pan in/out whether its stuck on an object or being carried around by Lakitu , for presentation to be properly utilized and for the gorgeous environments to be displayed as the thing to keep us entertained. Sonic is a perfect example of the problems the camera can possibly have with any character with extraordinary abilities. That SA camera has to keep Sonic(a very fast character) in proper view so he isn't lost in the middle of those gorgeous SA visuals, plus the same camera also has to try and fit the Windy Valley scene in to see the enemies, and Sonic's insanely erratic relative spot at any given time. Its work was cut out for it. Game mag reviewers basically review bombed camera issues in the face of Sonic fans, on purpose, because that's what was all really wrong with those games. And for 3rd person shooters, it was almost as bad. Earlier games, had behind the head, or slightly above the head. Newer ones, have over the shoulder. In short, there's no perfect spot for a camera in 3D. Just 'good enough' so people won't get dizzy and sick.

 

[Tiviat]

All these years later, and to me, the best graphics in 2024 games, are 2d stuff like Cuphead, Rayman Origins, Mario Wonder, the new Sonic Superstars, etc …. And the absolute very very best … are technically 3d models, which are layered over to mimick super high resolution 2d sprites with their own lighting lol (Love me some ARC SYSTEM WORKS)

ARC SYS continued the legacy of late 90’s CAPCOM sprite looks/animation/proportion:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

They're "cheating" nowadays, because newer 2D graphics are on quads. And it isn't true 2D, because its not 'true' 2D like Pixel art. HD( more than 1080p) Pixel art would be hell for video ram, because now that people are playing in upwards of 720p, the more pixels, means that more video ram is gonna be needed to fit characters that won't pixelate easy, and has to do that for a background that would take too long to create. Remember SF3 on the Dreamcast ? Its screen was 640-ish on the Dreamcast via composite, and the VGA Box upscaled it to 720p. It doesn't seem like much, but that made alot of difference with pixel art between ported games. SF3 is a prime example. THe Dreamcast version looked pixelated during a simple zoom forward...alot more than the arcade. Why ? It's because of hardware differences. The Dreamcast sprites had to be retooled and downscaled a bit. SF3 Timing issues due to asset differences . also doing a PURE 2D game, isn't cheap...and I doubt that modern hardware can even do a COMPLETE SF3 that's been buffed up in pixels resolution enough to fill even a 1080p screen. To me 3D characters on a 2D plane is an absolute WASTE of hardware resources, but it works quite well.