I just spotted this 2D game today. Go here and take a look at the screenshots. It looks amazing, IMO. Those guys must really possess a great dose of talent, don`t you think ? If the link doesn`t work, go to http://www.realonearcade.com/, then to "Play games", then "Action adventure" and then "Brave Dwarves 2: Fabulous adventure". Is there anybody here who can make similar 2D graphics ? I`m almost thinking of leaving my 3D game project just to go back to 2D if there is somebody able to create such wonderful 2D graphics. Part of it looks like rendered, but anyway, that`s way more cool in 2D games then what I`ve seen so far. I`m probably even buying this game. What do you think ? VladR Avenger game

I downloaded the demo yesterday. If you mean graphics, yes it looks fine. The feel of the game is also fine. The idea isn''t original and I found the gameplay a little tedious.

I give it 10 only if it is a home-made project.

As for the gameplay, you must like this style of games, of course. But if you do, then the graphics is really fantastic. I admit, I`m still excited by now by the level of graphics and its style. I just didn`t know that such great 2D graphics is possible in games. Theoretically, of course, it is. It`s just that I haven`t seen a 2D game with such graphics so far. Screenshots don`t do it justice. It`s got to be seen fullscreen in demo.

I think it was done at home. After all, who could have developed a title with funding (paying US salaries) and then just put it on RealArcade and wait on sales ? Most of games there are home-made.



VladR
Avenger game

Actually there was some pretty good debate here about the graphical quality of 3D games vs 2D games. It is in the post about old iso games.

Anyways, It seems that most agree that 2D games can be visually more expressive than 3D games given the current limitations of current 3D realtime rendering techniques.

Well, that is definitely true. I mean, when I first saw preliminary demo of Doom3, I was mostly dissapointed although I could easily see (as a programmer) number of effects and stuff.
But I was faaaar from being excited. And when I ran this 2D game, well I just stared at screen in awe and excitement from the level of detail.
Last time, when I remember being THAT excited with 2D graphics, was during the good ol` days of Atari when I first ran a platform game called Henri`s House (it was about 16 years ago). That was a hell of a difference too compared to other games of that times.

So, is there anybody here able to produce such nice 2D graphics ?
Maybe I`d stop working on my Avenger 3D game and start doing 2D game...

VladR
Avenger game

Check out Baldurs Gate and the more recent LionHeart. They use prerendered graphics. Your only problem will be getting artists. They don''t work for free and there is a lot of work in good prerendered maps.

Technically, the game isn''t 2D, but 2D using pre-rendered 3D characters and tiles. If you''re looking for an artist to work on something like this you won''t need a 2D pixel artist, but rather a 3D modeller. The characters and objects will be generated in 3D, then the render would be flattened and cut from the background...

And Davaris was right about getting an artist...to get someone of that quality will likely cost you industry standard $$...

Well, I won`t actually leave my 3D project that is really almost finished. But I think it`s worth noting that at least the very idea of going back to 2D came through my mind.
While most of objects are 3D, backgrounds are actually 2D, so definitely artistic gift is necessary. Plus additional pixel work on every object is necessary, IMO.
I mean, if only artistic "skills" were needed, then we`d have hundreds of games like that, because thousands of people work on 2D projects. And I noticed quite a few color transitions that need to be placed manually in some Photoshop or other soft. Obviously they were placed with love, not just because it had to be done.
And if most of the objects are 3D, then all of above is true twice as much. I mean, how many 3D objects with THAT fairy-tale look have you seen on various 3D boards ? Not vey many, and definitely not many of that quality&style.

Either way, I admire their work. For me, That Is ART.

VladR
Avenger game

Obviously I`ve been too excited with the game, because I bought it through RealArcade and after 48 hrs, I still wasn`t able to either redownload the full game or download the unlocking patch.
AND I was debited twice !!! So I asked them to cancel my request for unlock feature and credit my VISA back. Well, I obviously broke the most basic rule: Don`t look forward TOO MUCH to anything, or it spoils.

Why am I posting it here ?
Well, first because it concerns the game because of which I started the thread.
Second, because it was on THE RealArcade, which I`m considering to give them my Avenger game to publish and I`m suer many others consider it as a viable distribution method too.
Just a little note for others to think it over, if they`re thinking of RealArcade as their distribution method ...

VladR
Avenger game

Ok, your nice transitions are neat-o antialiasing effects. You can achieve them in any 2d/3d game, mind you it CAN be processer/gfx card heavy, but average cards can handle it fine (esp in 2d).