Poll: God I miss Isometric
- Thread starter Doitpow
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If someone asked me, I'd probably say that I hate isometric games. I've played way too many flash games. But I know that if I get my hands on a game, I'll probably like it even if it's isometric. Basically, I would like it if games weren't isometric if they can avoid it, but I won't say that a game is bad just because of the perspective being isometric.
I love isometric, and am sad that it's mostly gone. Any strategy game or RPG that goes isometric gets instant points from me.
It's not just nostalgia, either. I grew up with bird's eye and third person games, and I only recently started playing X-COM, which I can agree is amazing.
It's not just nostalgia, either. I grew up with bird's eye and third person games, and I only recently started playing X-COM, which I can agree is amazing.
I think one of the big points here is that the isometric view helped a lot of the old RPG's because it was cheaper. The environment was essentially a painting, there were no faces that had to be animated to match speech, and lack of camera control meant that objects didn't need a backside to be drawn.
So, you can add more dialogue options just by typing them. And level design could take a mere few hours instead of months. All of these mean more creative things could be added without the worry of adding to the animation team's workload.
Yes, the isometric view severely limits your camera control and fancy graphics. But one thing it doesn't limit is your imagination!
...That may just be the cheesiest thing I've ever typed.
So, you can add more dialogue options just by typing them. And level design could take a mere few hours instead of months. All of these mean more creative things could be added without the worry of adding to the animation team's workload.
Yes, the isometric view severely limits your camera control and fancy graphics. But one thing it doesn't limit is your imagination!
...That may just be the cheesiest thing I've ever typed.
I never liked isometric. Turning the map 45 degrees to make it look prettier and harder to use seemed like a step backwards. I prefer either straight top down like in Civilization 1 or Wasteland, or third person 3D with good camera controls like Total War series or Jagged Alliance BIA.
Isometric view was an aesthetic hack to make 2D graphics look 3D'ish, and there was a time when it made sense.
Isometric view was an aesthetic hack to make 2D graphics look 3D'ish, and there was a time when it made sense.
In Baldurs Gate you rampage across Dimensions fighting Demons and Demigods and at the end ascend to god hoood while your friends fuck off to nowheresville.Skoldpadda said:
I consider that a clusterfuck ending, an Awesome Clusterfuck ending, but a clusterfuck ending nonetheless, I dont see why you would want to cause physical harm to someone, for having a different opinion than yours. Its a very irrational reaction.
I hope this outcry for isometric perspective games doesn't get too loud. Sure it was kind of neat in it's own way, but the reason those games were good had little to nothing to do with the isometric perspective. We don't need developers starting to cash in on our nostalgia by making lackluster lookalikes, if they're gonna cash in on our nostalgia they'd better do it properly! Not just by applying an old graphical style and calling it a day.
Final Fantasy Tactics was a great one. Tactical games like that just seem to fit better with an isometric view. You could still rotate the camera around too, but it kept that viewpoint.
Well it was a direct sequel which shared characters, and the subtitle was "Shadows of Amn" so it makes perfect sense.Tayh said:
i loved isometric in some games. baldur's gate was awesome. recently however i was playing planescape torment, and seeing as the environment was quite alien, i couldnt tell what was door and what was crate. i think isometric works well when dealing with environment that is familiar, it can make game more beautiful than full 3d because you see it as a whole, and not just what is in your field of view. sometimes environment is fantastic, but you just look in the wrong way and miss it all.
so, it is great when it fits correctly, and bad when not. yeah, i know, its mindblowing.
as to missing it? i preferred isometric when 3d was new, because you could get incredible realistic 2d, or crappy blocky 3d. but nowadays, i think it could work in indie games, because i dont think you can justify 50/60$ tag on 2d game.
so, it is great when it fits correctly, and bad when not. yeah, i know, its mindblowing.
as to missing it? i preferred isometric when 3d was new, because you could get incredible realistic 2d, or crappy blocky 3d. but nowadays, i think it could work in indie games, because i dont think you can justify 50/60$ tag on 2d game.
Have you heard of Basilisk Games and Spiderweb Software?
Check them out, they make some nice games.
Check them out, they make some nice games.
I agree completely. It's a excellent perspective that's relatively cheap to pull off well. We need more of this, rather than the ridiculous 'mega-HD' textures that bog down budgets nowdays. Graphics are good, but I'd be fine with letting them develop more slowly so we could do more with gameplay/story.Lunncal said:
Maybe this will ease the pain?
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/29/waving-a-flag-for-turn-based-combat-the-banner-saga/
Video[/youtube]
I don't think there's any gameplay in there, but it looks like it'll be a throwback to the isometric, turn-based combat era. From former Bioware staff.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/29/waving-a-flag-for-turn-based-combat-the-banner-saga/
Video[/youtube]
I don't think there's any gameplay in there, but it looks like it'll be a throwback to the isometric, turn-based combat era. From former Bioware staff.