3-D vs. 2-D In Pokemon Games

[Akula]

Well, I keep getting agitated with the new 3-D type of graphics Game Freak started using since D/P/P. I miss the simpler days with R/S/E and FR/LG.
It seems the games seem to feel more childish each new one.
I mean, I loved Emerald so much when it first came out. The graphics were awesome, and I loved the pokemon.
Now the new 3-D feel of Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and Soul Silver/Heart Gold and Black/White kind of ruins the game for me.
Am I the only one?

 

[The 100 Mega Shock]

It seems the games seem to feel more childish each new one.

I honestly can't fathom how 3D graphics of all things would make a game "feel more childish"

Personally I'm all for the games jumping to a completely 3D polygonal overworld and characters for the next-gen Pokémon instalments. It offers far more flexibility with the camera and the ability to pull off very impressive views which are currently being kinda held back by still using sprites for the overworld characters (Even though BW tries to pull off camera angle changing now the sprites mess up the effect). It also allows you to do more with the characters such as changing the models and texture of their outfits which would involve more work with sprites, or even allowing you to adjust the player's physical characteristics.

I also think there's a bit of rose-tinted glasses going on with the graphics of the RSE games because frankly they have some really awful tiles compared to the graphics in FRLG.

 

[Ayselipera]

I'm going to move this over to Pokemon Gaming Central since this deals with the games and graphics.

I do find the older graphics nostalgic, but often times I can't continue to play my older games due to the poor graphics. I'm just too used to the cleaner look of the games now. So for me it's the opposite. The older the graphics the more likely the game is ruined for me.

 

[Akula]

I honestly can't fathom how 3D graphics of all things would make a game "feel more childish"

Personally I'm all for the games jumping to a completely 3D polygonal overworld and characters for the next-gen Pokémon instalments. It offers far more flexibility with the camera and the ability to pull off very impressive views which are currently being kinda held back by still using sprites for the overworld characters (Even though BW tries to pull off camera angle changing now the sprites mess up the effect). It also allows you to do more with the characters such as changing the models and texture of their outfits which would involve more work with sprites, or even allowing you to adjust the player's physical characteristics.

I also think there's a bit of rose-tinted glasses going on with the graphics of the RSE games because frankly they have some really awful tiles compared to the graphics in FRLG.

The 3-D feel just aggravates me. I mean, in the old games such as Fire Red, Leaf Green, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and so forth, the graphics were total pixel art and 2-D. As the games progress, it's more 3-D and not so much as pixel art anymore.
It's losing the overall feel. :|
In Soul Silver, you can see many errors in the tiling and to be frank, it just ruins the game.

 

[champagnepapi]

I prefer 3-D over 2-D, there's no reason to still be using tiles that look flat and use a diminutive amount of colors when the developers have the ability to do so
much more, graphically. I still appreciate GSC and FRLG styled graphics, when used in fangames and whatnot, but I prefer to play a 4th Gen game and walking through
an aesthetically pleasing overworld. I'm not in love with all of the 5th Gen Graphics, but I'm sure I'll get used to them.

 

[Kendosis]

I actually don't mind the D/P graphics style, but the black & white style is terrible. Going full 3-D was a fail imo, Not only did it make the game look even more pixelated it also slowed everything down.

 

[The 100 Mega Shock]

In Soul Silver, you can see many errors in the tiling and to be frank, it just ruins the game.

I'd be very interesting in seeing these errors because I must have not noticed them when I was playing the game. I found HGSS was the point where Game Freak got more experienced with 3D graphics and making a pleasant game to look at.

 

[Akula]

I'd be very interesting in seeing these errors because I must have not noticed them when I was playing the game. I found HGSS was the point where Game Freak got more experienced with 3D graphics and making a pleasant game to look at.

In the tower place in the second city, when it shakes, the background gets messed up. Same in the gym some tiles are messed up.
At that point I set the game down. I'm not playing a game like that. Luckily I got it for twenty bucks with another video game from Best Buy.

 

[Shining Raichu]

I haven't played B/W but from the pictures I've seen it looks amazing. The HGSS graphics are just beautiful, I don't know how they can be criticised.

 

[Roughsponge]

I first thought the 3D didn't really work in D/P but then I grew to love it.

HG/SS used a more cartoony 3D which worked aswell, and made the game "childish" as you put it, so I don't see how you can fault it.

I haven't played B/W yet, but from what I've seen the graphics look different but I'm sure I'll like them in the end :)

 

[Akula]

I've already played Black/White. It's more cartoonish. :(
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum was an OK style.
It's degraded to more cartoon since.

 

[amd]

The the 3D felt awkward in Diamond and Pearl, due to the position of the blatantly 2D character near 3D tiles. However, in some areas like Spear Pillar, the 3D features were quite nice and made the area feel very unique.

I think the new overworld sprites in Black & White mix much better than the old Diamond & Pearl ones. Hopefully, the graphics continue to improve until we see a true 3D Pokemon game.

 

[The 100 Mega Shock]

Pokémon's entire graphical style has been heading in this way for a long time. It wants to look like a cartoon - look at any of the game intros or anything that shows the game graphics in a larger format.

In the tower place in the second city, when it shakes, the background gets messed up. Same in the gym some tiles are messed up.

I honestly cannot see what you're talking about here, and I think that's a very silly reason to put such a good game down for some vague things about tiles.

 

[Sydian]

I personally don't care. The graphics aren't really groundbreaking for me nor do they annoy me. The most that annoys me about any game is DPPt's grass color. It's ugly. But as for 3D vs. 2D, I have no preference. I just wanna enjoy the gameplay.

And for the record, I find Black/White to be the least childish of all the games. I don't see how the graphics are "childish" at all. They feel grown up to me.

 

[The 100 Mega Shock]

Yeah uh I don't see much change in the style between DP/HGSS/BW either.

Just a continuing improvement in the quality of the 3D graphics and their tile artists producing better thing. The biggest change is probably in adding outlines to many 3D assets to make them look better against other parts of the world and more use of alternate camera angles in BW.

 

[champagnepapi]

In the tower place in the second city, when it shakes, the background gets messed up. Same in the gym some tiles are messed up.
At that point I set the game down. I'm not playing a game like that. Luckily I got it for twenty bucks with another video game from Best Buy.

That's your loss, really. HG/SS made the perfect transition from 2D to 3D, most of it's tiles looking nothing short of spectacular. The second city in the game is Cherrygrove City, and if memory serves, there is no tower there.

 

[Akula]

Pokémon's entire graphical style has been heading in this way for a long time. It wants to look like a cartoon - look at any of the game intros or anything that shows the game graphics in a larger format.



I honestly cannot see what you're talking about here, and I think that's a very silly reason to put such a good game down for some vague things about tiles.

Nah. I just disliked the game all together. I enjoyed the older games much more than this one. Not because of nostalgia either, mostly because of more planned out games.
"Mr. Pokemon" Seems to be quite unoriginal... The other games were at least somewhat original.

 

[Joey's Rattata]

Yeah, uh... No.

Game Freak isn't going to go back to R/S/E/FR/LG's graphics. Why would they use GBA graphics when the 3DS is coming out and they can do even MORE than they are now graphics-wise?

I see nothing wrong with the current graphics, besides the occasional lines at the edge of the screen. But hey, who cares. I play games for gameplay, not for graphics.

And what are you talking about? HG/SS had beautiful graphics, in my opinion. I loved what they did with the Sprout Tower, it looks just as good as it did back in the GBC era.

Seriously, go compare the HG/SS Sprout Tower and the G/S/C Sprout Tower. It looks exactly the same, except more colorful. The G/S/C Sprout Tower looked horrible, in my opinion. It looked like they were just shifting pixels, but with the 3D look of HG/SS it made it work.

EDIT: lolwut? Mr.Pokemon was in the original games as well. >___>

 

[BenjiTheKid]

I enjoy the nostalgia of playing the old games as much as the next person, but to be honest, the graphics in R/B/Y and S/G/C weren't that great. That was always the one thing I didn't like about the games. Crystal seemed to improve (if I remember correctly... not sure if the improvement started in Crystal or Silver/Gold?) but it still wasn't the best. R/S/E brought better graphics and I was impressed. But I still don't miss the graphics. I miss everything about Pokemon 'back in the day' but the graphics.

I admit, the first time I played my sisters copy of Diamond, the graphics gave me a headache. Am I the only one that feels the tiles literally... move. Like, not just your person, but the entire scene seems to move when you walk... I don't know, but the whole 3-Dish thing took some getting used to. But when I got Platinum and finally got used to it, I prefer it to the graphics in Emerald version when I play it. I prefer SS's overall look, too. Emerald looks kind of bland in comparison.

EDIT:

besides the occasional lines at the edge of the screen.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who's noticed that. Heh... I thought I was going crazy.

 

[fenyx4]

I honestly can't fathom how 3D graphics of all things would make a game "feel more childish"

Personally I'm all for the games jumping to a completely 3D polygonal overworld and characters for the next-gen Pokémon instalments. It offers far more flexibility with the camera and the ability to pull off very impressive views which are currently being kinda held back by still using sprites for the overworld characters (Even though BW tries to pull off camera angle changing now the sprites mess up the effect). It also allows you to do more with the characters such as changing the models and texture of their outfits which would involve more work with sprites, or even allowing you to adjust the player's physical characteristics.

I agree with a lot of this, but I haven't played BW for myself so I can't accurately judge yet. I do notice some sprite pixelization in screenshots, though.

I also think there's a bit of rose-tinted glasses going on with the graphics of the RSE games because frankly they have some really awful tiles compared to the graphics in FRLG.

Gwah? OK, now I definitely disagree. >_> I don't have a problem with tiles, though; it's just a minor issue with the overworld sprites. I played Sapphire first, and FireRed later on. Red's overworld sprite in FireRed looks...primitive or something to Brendan's overworld sprite in RSE. I can't describe it well...

*bulbagarden.net image removed*

(Bulbapedia doesn't have any good isolated Brendan sprites, so those will have to suffice...)

This would be a better comparison if I had Red's RSE sprite (when viewing link battles with FRLG in Emerald, Red and Leaf have redesigned sprites. Similarly, when viewing link battles with RSE in FRLG, Brendan and May get redesigned sprties, which look very different from the RSE variants, IMO).

Anyway, the 3D in DPPt/HGSS and BW looks amazing, and I haven't even played the games yet. Most of what I've gleaned are from screenshots. HGSS's renderings of Kanto buildings and wilderness look much more pleasing compared to the FRLG renderings.

In the tower place in the second city, when it shakes, the background gets messed up. Same in the gym some tiles are messed up.
At that point I set the game down. I'm not playing a game like that. Luckily I got it for twenty bucks with another video game from Best Buy.

OK, this seriously sounds like "The tiles are messed up?! Pokemon is *link removed*" I can understand cessation of playing if the 3D causes problems/issues with your eyes or something, but if it's just minor errors, that is a very weak reason to just stop playing a game.

I personally have no drastic problems with any of the Pokemon games, and even though I slightly dislike FireRed's overworld sprites, I loved playing through the game and will likely continue to love playing through it, regardless of graphics.