FEATURE: Games I’d like to see in 2D rather than 3D

After the announcement of Mega Man 9 for PS3, 360 and Wii, I am really excited that Mega Man is finally getting a sequel but what makes this version so interesting is Capcom are going back to it’s retro roots for this version and the design is going to be from the NES / Famicom games which is pretty kick ass. I’ll be picking this up on PS3 as it is my main console I play and I hope I can get some trophies as I nearly have all the Super Stardust HD trophies!

Its really coming! Mega Man back at his roots!!

Now that Mega Man 9 is coming, I feel that there some franchises that have been around for a long time and I feel that their latest games are either mediocre, crappy or just don’t have the same impact as the fresh beginnings of the franchise. Here is 5 game franchises which should just go back to their gameplay roots!

1. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

Being one of the first games I played, Sonic the Hedgehog is the sole reason I got into Computer Games. I loved the fast 2D gameplay, the music was awesome and the graphics just looked gorgeous for a 2D game. Sadly that was in the 90’s and now where in the 2000’s, Sonic hasn’t been as good with Sonic Team making crappy, unplayable Sonic games such as SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis (Game Boy Advance). I would love to know whos stupid idea it was to introduce guns into a Sonic game (or should I say spinoff) then to simply get critizied for it and then include the same crappy game play in the sequel!

Shadow and guns were never going to work well in a relationship!

Sonic was great until loads of crappy characters came along and when it went 3D except for Sonic Adventure which I thought was an amazing game. I would suggest Sonic Team would just make a sequel in similar fashion to what CAPCOM are doing but use the engine which Sonic Team used to make the Mega Drive games and release on the console’s downloadable services!

2. Street Fighter and KIng of Fighters

I haven’t played Street Fighter IV yet but I shall let you know my opinion on this on the weekend as I am going to Battle of Destiny to try it out! Street Fighter has had 3D versions by the name of Street Fighter EX and that hasn’t really worked to be as good as its 2D counterparts. Street Fighter III is one of the best fighters if not games I have played in my life as it looks stunning, has a great fighting system and has such replay value.

SNK’s King of Fighters games have been great! So great that they re-released a fan favourite on the PS2 called King of Fighters ‘98 Ultimate Match. However I have played the 3D version called King of Fighters Maximum Impact and despite being better than Street Fighter EX, I still ain’t happy with the game play. This comes in when I can get my ass kicked still when I am on the floor.

I do prefer 2D fighters to 3D fighters but I usually don’t like the switch which is why I am looking forward to Super Street Fighter II HD Remix and King of Fighters XII which look beautiful.

3. Mega Man

Now I just mentioned about Mega Man 9 which is thankfully going to be in 2D but when Capcom released Mega Man X7 for the PlayStation 2, it was simply the ugly duckling of the series thanks to one of it’s game play modes which was in 3D.

It was a change from the usual Mega Man game play and just didn’t feel right. It felt terrible which led to Capcom making the game still using a 3D Game Engine but retaining the 2D game play in Mega Man X8 which got the thumbs up from me and haven’t gone to 3D ever since! They used the engine in the PSP games Mega Man X: Maverick Hunter and Mega Man: Powered Up and it worked like a charm! I like the 2D but difficult gameplay and I hope it stays that way!

4. Metal Slug

Metal Slug has been a favourite of mine. SNK amaze me with the amazing 2D graphics which pushed their veteran Neo Geo Hardware but it had a game released for PS2 which was in 3D. This wasn’t a very good move and it’s the only 3D version of Metal Slug in existance. Now looking forward to Metal Slug 7 on Nintendo DS.

5. Metroid

To put it quite simply, Super Metroid is one of the best video games available for the Super Nintendo. Even though the 2D outings can be completed in a very short time by masses of players who upload their times and show the world how fast they did, the game rocked and gave Castlevania some inspiration for some of the game play mechanics. Metroid Prime is a good game series but I miss the classic platform game play from the old days and using some of the items such as the Speed Boots which looks lame on the GBA games but fucking ace when you use it on Super Metroid.

I feel that Metroid is better as a platform game rather than a shooter. Metroid has never been the same since Gunpei departed the world.