2D Platformers are Less Limited than 3D Platformers

what about first person platformers nudge nudge

but seriously source movement like jump and surf seem to demand extreme precision, and don't have issues with depth perception on well made maps either

keep up the vids, these are the things people should be talking about in games!

I mean, he's got a point.

Biggest cap

this video sucks

I feel that Mario galaxy can be pretty precise with its stuff because the little spin height you get its perfect to adjust where you land (+ the shadow directly underneath your feet)

whats that girl with the cape game called

It comes down to camera angles, lack of depth perception, and multiple different orientation angles all being important. If you're curious why every 3D platformer seems to have a shadow directly under the player, it's an attempt to combat the lack of depth perception. This isn't necessary in 2D platformers, where your single fixed camera view shows you everything you need to know, and you don't have any angles to worry about except your jump angle, so highly technical platforming can be left entirely up to skill. Whenever a 3D platformer gives you a tiny target to jump onto, you know you're in for a world of pain and suffering feeling more like it's trial and error and less about skill. Or things like hitting a star/moon that's just freely floating in air, without ground around to let you see your depth or distance from the target via shadows.

This is 100% Correct. Depth perception is the issue limiting all 3d platformers. The best example of precession platforming in 3d I feel is Crash Bandicoot 4, which gives you a big black shadow whenever you jump. Playing the game without this shadow is next to impossible.

It's really interesting looking at how when 2D was the norm "action" was always seen as a subset of "platformer". I mean, Zelda had action, but when you wanted something balls to the walls that would really test you, you went to Mega Man (x), Castlevania, Sonic, etc. And now it sort of feels like the two genres couldn't be farther apart. The last thing I want to do in DMC is hop across tiny floating bricks and enemies in Mario rarely feel complex enough for me to justify a several minute long encounter with them. Sonic, going into 3D, has tried reeeeally hard to mend this rift, but I don't think it's possible. There are good 3D sonic games that feel like platformers (Adventure games) and good 3D sonic games that feel like action games (Boost games) but whenever one side gets prioritized, the other always feels a bit lacking. Kingdom Hearts is another game that didn't get the memo and there Sora's jump ends up feeling not really equipped for fighting like Dante's is but also not very equipped for platforming like Mario's is. KH2 caved to one side and is now a much more action-y affair (which is sad, because some areas like the cave of remembrance actually showed more promise than the first game did in this regard, but whatever.)

Hear me out.





A Super Meat Boy in 3D. What do you think?

I think a great example of developers having to rework a mechanic for 3D is Sonic's homing attack. It's honestly a pretty elegant solution to deal with the precision of jumping on enemies in a 3D space. I've seen alot of other platformers incorperate a similar mechanic, A Hat in Time is one of those.

I feel like the Crash levels could’ve been fixed if you could rotate the camera angle.

3D platformers usually have a shadow directly under the player. It's not realistic, but it helps targeting the jumps.

They added a shadow directly beneath Mario at all times because without it judging depth was way too difficult. The Crash Bandicoot issue could have been solved if they gave players the ability to rotate the camera so they could view the bridge from the side.
Mario doesn't have magnet shoes afaik but it does have some enemy hitboxes which are larger than the enemies mesh (Wiggler for example) so it's easier to kill. It also has ledge grabbing but besides that it can be pretty infuriating haha.

Awesome video!

I agree... except for Sonic. There, his 2D seems best when focusing on exploration, while his 3D works best with execution, a clear inversion of the norm.
Though, even then, rails need leeway to feel fair. Otherwise you get Werehog tightrope nonsense.

the crash bandicoot bridge levels r fun tho

Your argument falls about because the Crash Bandicoot games exist.

I enjoyed the video but is this the music from Rivals of Aether? Or what's the background music from?

There should be more 3D playground platformers similar to what SpongeBob BFBB has since we have a sidequest system for your character abilities to serve more purposes like hitting and carrying objects some of which are optional secrets.

We need bloody difficult 3D platformer ?!!!

What an awesome piece of media.
Congrats.
You''re the best channel of the year for me (I discovered you this year but idk for how long you've been doing this).

2020 was Under The Mayo.
2021 is Htwo.
Who's next ? :p

Hopefully you become popular soon, you deserve recognition

Great video!
Also I started playing Risk of Rain 2 because of one of your videos, love it, and finally recognize the end screen music :D

I voted for this in the last poll, and I don't regret anything. Great vid

Amazing

Great video!