Editorial:2D needs to make a major comeback

From Wikia Gaming

by user ZephyrXero

Over the last 10 years or so just about every game franchise or genre has moved into the third dimension. There have been many admirable attempts made, and even a few successes here and there....but for the most part, 3D gameplay just doesn't work out as well as one would hope. The main problem as far as I see it is that we're trying to navigate in a 3D world, but with a 2D viewer...ie...TVs and monitors. Until headsets and holographic displays become more prevalent and reasonably priced, most people will only continue to have trouble finding depth perception from devices that can't really offer it to them.

The problem also involves the controllers. The Wii's remote and nunchuck system is a great baby step in the right direction, but once again full three dimensional gameplay isn't going to really make since until we have something akin to VR gloves, or maybe even a full body suit. Unless you're playing an FPS or a racing game, a d-pad, or even two analogue pads and 18 different buttons just aren't enough to control a 3D character very well.

If someone can take today's meager hardware and figure out ways to get past these hurdles, then more power to them; but sadly, the vast majority of game developers have no clue and just need to go back to simple 2D fun. My best example would be the Sonic series by Sega. The old Genesis Sonic games were simple, 2D, and most importantly fun. When Sega attempted to transition to 3D with the Sonic Adventure series (not to even mention the ill-fated Sonic X-treme) the series really lacked in that last category. There were all new levels and power-ups to play with, but the clunky and confusing control scheme proved to be more than enough to ruin the rest of the game. And unfortunately, the controls don't seem to have gotten any better with any of the subsequent releases either...even Sonic and the Secret Rings for Wii is very awkward to control. However, Sega proved to us last year with the release of Sonic Rush for the DS that Sonic was still just as fun as ever when played in it's tried and true two dimensions.

There are numerous other series I could make the same comparison for, but I won't bother...by now you've either gotten my point or decided to disagree. In the end, if you ask most gamers, and especially casual/non-gamers, it's time for 2D to make a major comeback.