I've been playing a lot of old games lately and I made an interesting observation >fully 2D games are crazy atmospheric and immersive, they activate my imagination like nothing else>hybrid 2D/3D games are also very close, games with fixed camera angles, mix of 2D and 3D assets and presentation etc, they manage to convince me the worlds stretch beyond what I can see >old fully 3D games are still atmospheric, but they often fall into feeling like closed off and themed obstacle courses instead of actual fictional placesSomething about letting players take control of the camera in a 3D game just destroys the ability for the vidya world to convince me it's real, I find this especially interesting because I didn't notice this playing old games back then when they were new I'd love to be proven wrong though, can anyone name examples of old 3D games that manage to feel as immersive as the best 2D and hybrids have to offer?
>>736724946play better 3d games
>>7367249463D can be just as atmospheric
>>736725019Interesting that you post a racing game, I do think old 3D racing games are very good at atmosphere, but I'd file them under hybrids since you don't really control the camera, and your movement through the environment is limited by the trackTo me that's almost a 2D game with 3D presentation like Crash Bandicoot, which I find more atmospheric than e.g. Spyro even though both are great games and Spyro has amazing environments and musicI think that highlights the fact that not being able to go everywhere and see everything is a crucial part of activating players' imagination to its full potential and there's no other way around it
>>736725303To add to this, in a racing game you'll usually see the environments for a split second before moving on, this doesn't really let you stop and inspect them for the usual signs that give away the fact it's just a game in slower 3D games, like the fact the scale is off, the infrastructure doesn't make sense, no people are around, the distant views being skyboxes etc
>>736725145I've never seen a 3D forest or jungle come even close to 2D ones, or pre-rendered ones
>>736725145What game?
>>736727603One of the older Monster Hunter games, not sure which one.
>>736724946>old fully 3D games are still atmospheric, but they often fall into feeling like closed off and themed obstacle courses instead of actual fictional placesThat's how I feel about most 2D games, such as the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, because they literally lock you to an ultra-linear obstacle course.
>>736728105They both are, only 2D games manage to mask it
what do you think of this one
Free cameras feel inherently like analytical tools which breaks immersion
>>736730003Doesn't look wild at all, looks like a children's movie set
>>736729765>only 2D games manage to mask itNever felt that way to me.
>>736733161Really? I feel like 2D games feel most like books in how they activate imagination
>>736724946Yeah TV screens are flat. The illusion of 3D was always a folly. 2D games are generally faster paced too.
An old 3D game with actual thick atmosphere that rivals 2D games for me is Bugs Bunny & Taz, it honestly clears every other 3D platformer at the time in this regard >huge but still tightly designed levels with no obvious "walk forward sections" >extreme care taken to make sure every part of every level makes sense in-world and isn't just an obvious platform>tons of small routes and exits into other parts of the level, minigame locations, sub-levels (sometimes branching), house interiors etc on every corner>cartoony transitions imply space between levels and sub-levels you aren't seeing >every level has several hand-designed vistas you're guaranteed to see on your own>layered exploration that has you finding a way into the places you've already seen but couldn't enter >a good variety of intended moods like an oppressively hot jungle temple afternoon, a dreamy viking night coastline, a spooky Transylvania castle etc >fantastic music Honestly super underrated game, especially since it's a rare good local co-op 3D platformer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_-L5W784cQ
