Video Game Franchises That Transitioned The Best From 2D To 3D

By Damon McMahon

2 Articles

In the course of gaming's development, the pixelated, two-dimensional (2D) style that many players are familiar with has given way to the three-dimensional (3D) format in many game genres. It's possible that these changes will take the series further away from its classic look and feel, despite the fact that some players might argue that the transition of many of these games to 3D has been for the better.

It is impossible to mention all of the well-known titles that have successfully transitioned across the generations because there are so many. Though these franchises are by far the ones that made the best transition from their 2D world to the paradises of 3D, where it has maintained its fan base, they are not the only ones that accomplished this feat.

The first Ninja Gaiden game was a hack-and-slash platformer that was released in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was met with favorable reception not only in Japan but also in other parts of the world. The game was a huge success despite the fact that a number of players were dissatisfied with its level of difficulty.

It remained a 2D title up until 2004, when it was released under the same name of Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox with 3D graphics. This version was referred to as Ninja Gaiden 3D. This 3D title based on the originals did exceptionally well in the United States, where it has continued to enjoy success ever since it was released there, despite the fact that it was not as big of a hit in Japan.

This fantasy tactical role-playing game has not only been able to advance beyond its 2D pixel graphics but has also been successful in incorporating it into its more recent games. The original games in the series could only be played from a top-down perspective in a pixelated world, which is something that fans of the series are aware of.

The game has maintained some of its pixelated sprites despite the addition of 3D graphics, such as the one found in Fire Emblem Three Houses, in which the player had the ability to freely move about the school in which their students were educated. While simultaneously enabling observers to watch the combat between the various units.

It may come as a surprise to some players of Grand Theft Auto 5 to learn that the first installment in this adrenaline-pumping franchise featured graphics that were only in two dimensions and was played in an entirely different manner. Players controlled their character in the first Grand Theft Auto game from a top-down perspective, which, despite being a commercial success, received backlash for being too difficult to play.