Let's Talk Game Series 2D to 3D transitions
Jan 20, 2022 2:26:53 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2022 2:26:53 GMT -5
I thought it might be interesting to have a place to highlight the various transitions of series from 2D into 3D in the past, discuss how they were handled etc. Please feel free to talk about any series, whether it's a major one or something lesser known and discuss beyond the very first 3D game as in some cases the transition can be a slower process.
I figured a good place to start is also the most obvious one. With Super Mario 64 Nintendo brought their flagship franchise into full 3D. The results of course were excellent by any comparison at the time and Nintendo did a good job by standards back then of capturing the key aspect of the gameplay, the platforming which allowed for responsive 3D movement where the player was in control, with a standard setting camera technique being key to the games success.
Beyond this though there are significant differences and Super Mario 64 can be seen as a different style of game altogether. Although the Mario series flirted with exploration in the past those elements were contained within a linear level structure. 64 fully embraces exploration to the extent that it's perhaps the most significant aspect of the game. Platforming of course isn't as smooth as before and that's to be expected but the complex move set that was added really changed the feel of play.
Although 64 is well received and able to stand on it's own it's fair to say Nintendo weren't completely satisfied with this interpretation of the series and reintroduced linear level design in Super Mario Galaxy. The platforming was refocused cutting Mario's move set allowing for a simpler more elegant platforming design, and of course the tech now allowed for smoother jumping mechanics and smoother, though simplified movement. There was some exploration here and there but the game design focused on pushing the player forwards through stages which was very similar to 2D entries. Although Galaxy was a great step in the series transition to full 3D the levels themselves were often compartmentalised due to the games gimmick of spherical level design. There's a fair amount of the time where Mario is transitioning from one area to the next removing control over the character.
The series most faithful transition to 3D was with Super Mario 3D Land, which finally saw Mario move through simple A-B linear levels whilst allowing continual player control. It definitely builds from where Galaxy left off and in some ways simplifies control even further. What's also of note is that it is perhaps also the most faithful adaptation visually and sees the return of many enemies with landscapes having a feeling of familiarity to them. Another noteworthy change in the level design approach is that the more linear 3D Mario games is they return to the focus on power ups, which were intrinsic to the series back at it's 2D heights. With Galaxy though the powerups were confined to individual levels in order to enable the complex 3D level design. It wasn't until 3D Land that powerups could be used within any stage with the same freedom seen previously. Nintendo themselves highlighted the games nostalgic design, even beyond the name, by bringing back series favourite Tanooki Suit, the focus of much of the marketing and incorporated within the games logo.
The Mario series is still evolving in it's use of 3D spaces but I think it's fair to say the series roots were fully captured with 3D Land. Getting to it was a lengthy transition which in it's own right added to the complexity and diversity of how we think about Mario games. Nintendo themselves recognise their more linear approach and exploration based games as separate within the series lineage. Due to the high standards of the first game in the transition; Super Mario 64; this is seen as a series that successfully moved into 3 dimensions, however I feel this was a much longer process than is generally credited and that we can see the evolution of 3D design towards the more simple elegant nature of the original games intent over time.
I figured a good place to start is also the most obvious one. With Super Mario 64 Nintendo brought their flagship franchise into full 3D. The results of course were excellent by any comparison at the time and Nintendo did a good job by standards back then of capturing the key aspect of the gameplay, the platforming which allowed for responsive 3D movement where the player was in control, with a standard setting camera technique being key to the games success.
Beyond this though there are significant differences and Super Mario 64 can be seen as a different style of game altogether. Although the Mario series flirted with exploration in the past those elements were contained within a linear level structure. 64 fully embraces exploration to the extent that it's perhaps the most significant aspect of the game. Platforming of course isn't as smooth as before and that's to be expected but the complex move set that was added really changed the feel of play.
Although 64 is well received and able to stand on it's own it's fair to say Nintendo weren't completely satisfied with this interpretation of the series and reintroduced linear level design in Super Mario Galaxy. The platforming was refocused cutting Mario's move set allowing for a simpler more elegant platforming design, and of course the tech now allowed for smoother jumping mechanics and smoother, though simplified movement. There was some exploration here and there but the game design focused on pushing the player forwards through stages which was very similar to 2D entries. Although Galaxy was a great step in the series transition to full 3D the levels themselves were often compartmentalised due to the games gimmick of spherical level design. There's a fair amount of the time where Mario is transitioning from one area to the next removing control over the character.
The series most faithful transition to 3D was with Super Mario 3D Land, which finally saw Mario move through simple A-B linear levels whilst allowing continual player control. It definitely builds from where Galaxy left off and in some ways simplifies control even further. What's also of note is that it is perhaps also the most faithful adaptation visually and sees the return of many enemies with landscapes having a feeling of familiarity to them. Another noteworthy change in the level design approach is that the more linear 3D Mario games is they return to the focus on power ups, which were intrinsic to the series back at it's 2D heights. With Galaxy though the powerups were confined to individual levels in order to enable the complex 3D level design. It wasn't until 3D Land that powerups could be used within any stage with the same freedom seen previously. Nintendo themselves highlighted the games nostalgic design, even beyond the name, by bringing back series favourite Tanooki Suit, the focus of much of the marketing and incorporated within the games logo.
The Mario series is still evolving in it's use of 3D spaces but I think it's fair to say the series roots were fully captured with 3D Land. Getting to it was a lengthy transition which in it's own right added to the complexity and diversity of how we think about Mario games. Nintendo themselves recognise their more linear approach and exploration based games as separate within the series lineage. Due to the high standards of the first game in the transition; Super Mario 64; this is seen as a series that successfully moved into 3 dimensions, however I feel this was a much longer process than is generally credited and that we can see the evolution of 3D design towards the more simple elegant nature of the original games intent over time.