2 1/2 d

[Oberfuhrer Hamm]

2 1/2 dimensions!

The year is 1996, and you have games like Doom 64 and Duke Numem 3d where you have a lot of sprites in a 3d environment. Do you like it or not?

[The Manimal]

I don't know man. I've always considered that Doom game to be 3D. The environment whether made of sprites is a 3D environment, so I see it as a 3D game. A 2 1/2 D game to me would probably be something like Star Fox (SNES) maybe or something like Killer Instinct Gold where you can rotate the screen and stuff, but the gameplay is still 2D.


Ignore my reply if this makes no sense. This is my opinion.

[Dire 51]

I have to agree with Manimal - some of the best examples of 2 1/2-D games are Strider 2 and Pandemonium! Doom is definitely 3-D, as is Duke Nukem 3D.

[WiseSalesman]

Starfox is definitely 3-D as well. I agree with Dire's picks for 2&1/2d games

[Oberfuhrer Hamm]

Hmmm, I guess it depends on the definition of "2 1/2 d". If games like Starfox are 2 1/2 d then I suppose Doom 64 and the like are 3d Jr. or something.

But Starfox for the SNES was still (crude) polygons, whereas Doom 64 is sprites in a polygon room.

[kainemaxwell]

Mischief Makers for the N64 was 2 1/2 D.

[WiseSalesman]

Mischief Makers for the N64 was 2 1/2 D.

agreed. It was also a great game.

[1bigmig]

Yoshi's Story is 2 1/2 D

Also one of the Mystical Ninja games for the 64 is also.

[WiseSalesman]

Also one of the Mystical Ninja games for the 64 is also.

Did that one ever really come out? I always heard about it, but I didn't think it was ever released.

Assume you mean the second one, anyway, since Mystical Ninja 64 was sure as hell full 3-D.

[petewhitley]

Did that one ever really come out? I always heard about it, but I didn't think it was ever released.

Assume you mean the second one, anyway, since Mystical Ninja 64 was sure as hell full 3-D.

Goemon's Great Adventure. Came out, I've got it, great game. IMO better than Mystical Ninja 64.

[GaijinPunch]

I prefer the "other" 2.5D games.
2D game in a 3D environment. Radiant Silvergun, Klonoa 2, Taromaru, etc.

[maxlords]

Yeah, I always think of Pandemonium and Klonoa when I think of 2.5D. And I love the style.....wish the new Castlevania was 2.5D.....

[Keir]

My personal favorite is Jumpman Zero.

[bargora]

Hear hear for the Klonoas!

So the original post is about 3D gameplay with 2D elements (sprites), whereas the other way to think about 2.5D is 2D gameplay with 3D elements (polygonal backgrounds, characters, etc.)

I think of the first as a shortcut programmers used when they didn't have the processing horsepower to put everything in 3D. So since it let me do the 3D thing years earlier than I would have otherwise been able to, hell yeah I love it.

Besides, who couldn't like Doom?

I think of the second as a way of making really great looking 2D-style games, so I love it, too. Ikaruga anybody?