DS Daily: That tricky extra dimension
by Chris Greenhough 
{ May 8th 2008 at 9:00AM }
Tecmo's announcement that Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff would be a "classic 2D game" cheered us no end. Too often for our liking, developers seem desperate to recreate the kind of 3D games we'd find on beefier home consoles, and the results are rarely pretty. This blogger recently got around to trying out Brothers in Arms (on the advice that the game was a technical marvel), and found it to be a mess of treacly frame rates and choppy visuals. If World War II had moved at this pace, we'd still be fighting.Occasionally, however, 3D on the DS does work, and quite splendidly in some instances. It may sound odd, but I still consider Nintendogs to be one of the best uses of 3D on the platform, simply because it wouldn't have been a tenth as engaging in 2D. How about you, dear reader? What do you consider to be the finest 3D offerings on our humble handheld?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pas @ May 8th 2008 9:26AM
Well, I have to admin, it can be tricky at times, or horrible (like all Destineer games prove) depends on the game.
Still, I consider the best I have seen so far: Call of Duty 4, Custom Robo Arena, Metroid Prime Hunters, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword,Nanostray 1&2 (although it is 2D Gameplay), New Super Mario Brothers, Rayman DS, Final Fantasy III and last but not least Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.
the games that still come and will probably look blending good will be Kindgom Hearts 358/2 Days, Trackmania DS, Grid and the others that wil be announced.
The good thing about 3D on the DS is that it is advancing curretly like Speedracer (which I'm almost sure) will prove.
For the really tricky 3D things, Pockteers, Renegade Kid, Square Enix and Amaze Entertainment are the way to go.
I personally have much hope in the upcoming 3D Games, but still like the 2D Games due to the DS's features.
Have a nice day
- Pas
Nigeria @ May 8th 2008 9:39AM
Pas has already mentioned the first two games that immediately came to my mind: New Super Mario Bros and Final Fantasy 3. I would elaborate, but I really can't be asked. There's a blue sky outside...
...oh, that reminds me. Even though I've only played the game fleetingly, Animal Crossing looks great as well. There's a deep azure sky in that game. I know the sky isn't 3D, but I just thought I'd mention it.
tamriel @ May 8th 2008 9:43AM
My first gaming experience came from the NES, and I skipped on consoles until buying the GBA and then the DS. Hence, I was raised on 2D gaming, so all 3D games seem pretty tricky to me: I'm much less accurate and fast. I then have a hard time appreciating 3D, puzzles and platforming specifically. Fortunately, the DS proposes many 2D games that are much more to my taste. The exception to this is Ninja Gaiden, for which the 3rd dimension never got in my way.
From a technology point of view, the latter game as well as FFCC prove that 3D games are effectively possible on the DS. However, one has to use specific techniques, such as pre-rendered backgrounds, to pull off an enjoyable framerate and gameplay experience. These, framerate and gameplay, should IMO be put at the top of the developer's to-do list. Along with a good art direction, one is sure to get graphics good enough to allow for game immersion.
And, can we use this discussion for a list of 2D games we'd like to see on the DS? Here's mine: I want a 2D Metroid and I want a port or remake of Odin Sphere. Ambitious, I know.
nil @ May 8th 2008 10:32AM
As mentioned, Ninja Gaiden was a brilliant use of 3D. I also have to mention Etrian Odyssey; the labyrinth felt alive thanks to the softly rendered trees and ambient sounds. Gundam 00 was also a great use of 3D. The graphics were a bit blocky but the gameplay was fast enough that I barely noticed. Mario Kart DS also deserves a mention.
I personally do not consider Nanostray or New Super Mario since those games featured 2D gameplay.
jsutcliffe @ May 8th 2008 12:25PM
The only thig I dislike is the lack of texture filtering (for the non-techie, I mean you can see the pixels that make up the textures very easily). SquEnix is good at masking that with their pastel palettes though.
Games that I think have handled 3D especially well? FFIII and Phantom Hourglass. Soma Bringer is looking like it's got very nice 3d elements too -- they'd better bring that game to the West.
I guess I'm really picky though. I'm used to very fancy graphics on my PC (which can't _quite_ handle Crysis, but comes close) and picked up a DS to have a portable retro device, so most of my DS games are sprite-based. I'd rather have no 3D than bad 3D.
chispito @ May 8th 2008 1:05PM
None of the games that have 3d graphics that I like also have 3d gameplay. The DS does well with blends, a la NSMB, PH, etc. Hotel Dusk worked, although I wouldn't call it especially good looking.
Mad Martin Kinderhook @ May 8th 2008 2:16PM
The best is either yet to come, or not coming at all. The former category brings Moon to mind, the latter Tales of Innocence. I can't speak much for the present given that most of my games are 2D.
Ryan Mc @ May 9th 2008 10:58AM
I especially liked the 3D in Chibi Robo: Park Patrol (very underrated!) and Super Mario 64 DS. It was HORRIBLE in the Tom & Jerry game I tried.
filmtrauma @ May 31st 2008 7:52PM
Crystal Chronicles and Crash of the Titans are both great choices.
Crystal Chronicles, especially. It makes me feel like I'm playing a good ole round of Ocarina of Time, and that's certainly a good thing. I really wanted to like Phantom Hourglass, but I couldn't, and CC helps me deal with it.
And Crash, wow, I find it to be one of the better 3D platforming experiences I've had so far, which is a huge compliment when you consider it's on a system with relatively low-end hardware. I don't see it pimped too much either, sadly.
Mario Kart DS and (to my surprise) Speed Racer are both great too, if that sort of "Mode 7"-style 3D fits in here.