Is 3D a Viable option?

Alec · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:04 am Post subject: Is 3D a Viable option?

With all the concern regarding the fate of 2D games in the series, I wonder "Is 2D doomed? And if it is, then can 3D succeed it?"

I believe it CAN suceed the legacy of the 2D Castlevanias, but the real question is "will the fans LET 3D succeed the 2D games?"

It's a difficult question, and very controversial among hardcore fans. fans of the 3D games seem to be vastly outnumbered, but then again, so are the 3D games themselves.

Lament of Innocence seems to be the most highly regarded of the 3D games, so let's take a look at what it had going for it:

1. Lush character designs
2. a well developed combat system that played to the PS2's strengths
3. Great Voice acting, personalities, and a fantastic story unlike what we'd seen before
4. Detailed environments with various objects to smash (statues that break away to reveal hidden rooms, candles that drop money and subweapons)

By comparison, it's successor, Curse of Darkness had:

1. Lush (if a bit over the top) character designs
2. A somewhat clunkier combat system than Lament's
3. FANTASTIC voice acting, a decently original story concerning characters that (apart from Trevor, Dracula, and Death) were completely unconnected to previous titles.
4. Detailed environments, though lacking in any sort of "fullness" (nothing to smash, just empty rooms with enemies)

Lament is considered the better game. I can see why, by just glancing at these lists. Curse came close, but didn't quite get there. And after Curse's almost-but-not-quite success, Konami seems afraid to put out another fully 3D title, instead putting out rushed and unoriginal games like Portrait of Ruin and also putting out repolished diamonds like the interesting, but uninspired, Dracula X Chronicles.

But, should they HAVE TO repolish old diamonds?

There is a great amount to a 3D castlevania that can be explored. The whip slinging from Castlevania 4 could be done ever more realistically in 3D, spells would be ever more colorful and impressive, the castles can be MUCH larger, bosses more varied in attacks, and numerous other positives could result from tapping the 3D arena.

One of the reasons hardcore fans don't readily accept the 3D games is the relative lack of experience we've had with them, and most of that limited experience hearkens memories of failures like Castlevania 64 and the glory that Curse of darkness could have acheived, but barely failed to obtain. HOWEVER, these failures are not the fault of the 3D arena. They lie in poor planning, development, and production, and the 2D games have had their fair share of these same faults, but because the 2D arena is more experienced, they seem to be critiqued less harshly.

But, 2D is getting old. It may not ever die, but it will become unpopular, relegating itself to a cult phenomenon. 3D is becoming more popular, and if you look carefully, the Nintendo DS is the last toehold 2D gaming has. True, the Wii has the virtual console, but that is reserved for classic games brought back by popular demand.

I think 3D deserves another shot. Lament of Innocence was great, but can be EASILY trumped by many other games on the same console, such as Devil May Cry 3, and even (depending on who you ask) Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII.

If the PS2 became the king of it's console generation (which it did, according to the polls) with almost exclusively 3D games, it stands to reason that Castlevania can be successful in the 3D arena, given how many other series have managed that feat. Sure, the games will be clunky for a few years, but let's just give Konami the time to figure out how to do it right, rather than chopping their head of for student failures.
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Dimitri Chenov · Awesome Contributer Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 32

3D will eventually be a viable option, but the transition from a 2D game series to a 3D one is an incredibly rough one.

Warrior of the Dark Moon · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

Nightmare · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

You're forgetting Zelda. The transition was, IMO, a near flawless one, and it came out much better than the 2D games.

DoctaMario · Chieftain Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Posts: 109

I know I'm gravedigging a bit, but I can't help it .

3D is a viable option when you have someone at the helm who knows what they're doing with it. IGA's productions have historically had pretty shoddy level design. If we could somehow get a game like LoI with the level design of the 64 games, BAM! Great 3D CV game.
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Master Hero · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject:

3D will eventually be viable, once they get a team that knows how to do it right. A 2D team would have no idea how to do a 3D game.
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Lovely Mai · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:24 am Post subject:

Or, Castlevania will stay 2D forever, and be relegated to a sad, lonely existence on the Nintendo DS forever.
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Alec · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 2:36 am Post subject:

Sands of Arrakis · Demi-God Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 247

It's a difficult question, and one that needs asking.

It can. I honestly beleive it can. It will be a difficult journey, but one that must be taken. Look at Zelda. In 2D, it was AWESOME, but transitioned nicely to 3D.

Also, if we look at Lament of Innocence, we know Castlevania has the ability to do well in 3D, but the thing is that they will need a new team. The current team is definately best at 2D, and so a new team is needed for the 3D games.
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Alec · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:21 am Post subject:

Welcome back Dusty!
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Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it..Friends are like balloons: once you let them go, you can't get them back.

Sands of Arrakis · Demi-God Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 247

Esperenza Grace · Chieftain Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 166

It's true that 3D never seems to work for the series, 64 games aside, but eventually they'll figure it out.
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