![]() Each stage that appears in early trailers showcases a welcome blend of speedy side-scrolling gameplay along with clever 3D bonus levels, new power-ups, and plenty of cinematic flourishes. ” The title features mostly 2D gameplay with entirely 3D visuals and even includes four-player local co-op. 2017’s excellent Sonic Mania proved that there was still an appetite for new takes on 2D Sonic, and Sega has finally acknowledged that maybe another game like that (albeit this time with completely overhauled graphics) might be the right direction for their top mascot.įor the most part, Sonic Superstars, which was also unveiled during Summer Game Fest, looks like “ New Super Mario Bros. Even if you think such risks pay off more than they don’t, it’s hard to deny that each new Sonic release comes with a degree of longing from fans of the classic titles that made them fall in love with the franchise in the first place. Why not try a different route?įor better or worse, the Sonic franchise has always taken big swings with its little blue speedster. ![]() Too many AAA games suffer from empty open worlds, unnecessary RPG and crafting mechanics, byzantine armor systems, and bland combat, and nobody is more to blame for these trends than Ubisoft. As a 2D Metroidvania, Prince of Persia can focus more on engaging battles, seamless movement, and clever puzzle design, whereas a new 3D PoP would probably end up just being Assassin’s Creed but worse. The more I think about it, The Lost Crown feels like a more logical step forward for the long-dormant franchise than just another 3D adventure. Additionally, the colorful attack animations and time slow-downs with big hits make the gameplay look like a 2D version of 3D combat, so players yearning for a new 3D Prince of Persia can at least have a taste of what they yearn for. As a result, the Prince has more emotive facial features, and the enemy designs seem more like classic cartoon foes. What really stood out to me in this trailer was Ubisoft’s decision to feature character and environmental designs more reminiscent of The Sands of Time than something more modern and realistic. Designed as a Metroidvania, The Lost Crown appears to showcase the flashy combat mechanics of the classic 3D Prince of Persia games combined with challenging platforming hazards and a non-linear approach to gameplay progression. This year’s Summer Game Fest kicked off with the reveal of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, marking the first brand-new Prince of Persia release since the Xbox 360 era and the first 2D game in the series in decades. ( Note: To be clear, I’m talking specifically about games primarily based on two-dimensional, side-scrolling movement, not necessarily 2D art direction.) ![]() ![]() Luckily, Ubisoft, Sega, and the Big N appear to be signaling that 2D fans have nothing to fear, as all three of them have something new to bring to the second dimension. games-divisive as they can be-were all top sellers, even Nintendo’s 2D offerings in the past decade have been sparse, with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Yoshi’s Woolly World serving as the only major new standouts. ![]() And despite the fact that the New Super Mario Bros. Sure, fans of side-scrollers have seen plenty of quality titles on the indie side for quite some time (e.g., Shovel Knight, Celeste, Inside, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, plus dozens of Metroidvanias), but AAA companies have largely cast aside such experiences in favor of increasingly sprawling open worlds and photorealistic graphics. The release of Metroid Dread in 2021 made me optimistic that the biggest game makers on this planet still saw the potential for major tentpole releases with 2D mechanics and pretty (albeit fairly simple) 3D visuals. In fact, they can still be among the biggest releases of any given year. Wonder, Sonic Superstars, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, AAA publishers have made a resoundingly clear statement to players: 2D platformers aren’t going anywhere. With the recent reveals of Super Mario Bros. ![]()
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