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E3: Can Shadow Complex Modernize The Old School?
by Kris Graft [PC, Console/PC, E3]
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June 4, 2009
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At first glance, Chair Entertainment's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game Shadow Complex looks like a 3D-rendered side-scrolling run and gun game in the vein of Contra.
But in a one-on-one with Chair's Donald Mustard during E3, he showed a game that is more akin to Super Metroid and more recent Castlevania games, as Shadow Complex's primary focus is exploration, broken up with hi-po combat.
It's an exciting imagining of 2D gameplay, a style of play that gamers and game developers refuse to completely abandon, even in an industry where immersive 3D environments are common. Shadow Complex wears its "old school" badge proudly.
"I think we come back to 2D partly because of nostalgia," said Mustard, "but I also think that this design works so well with exploration, where you're kind of peeling back these onion layers of the game. I don't know how well it really works in 3D. I think there's something very particular about this design that's so fun and compelling that it just works a lot better with this camera perspective. This can be immersive in its own, different, unique way."
Mustard showed a demo in which the lead character, Jason Fleming, loses track of his girlfriend while exploring caves. He then finds that sinister soldiers have kidnapped her. As the game progresses, the gamer will be able to acquire new abilities and weapons, much like Metroid, whose influence is clear.
A cross-section map for the game's first level is highly-reminiscent of the large map screens in 2D Metroid and Castlevania games in terms of scope. "It's huge and non-linear," Mustard said.
Size-wise, Mustard expects the game to be about a 1GB download, due in large part to Microsoft localizing the game in full audio in 13 languages. The production value of the game is top-notch, running smoothly on Epic's Unreal Engine 3, with 3D-rendered cut scenes to move the story along.
Asked if 2D-styled games are relegated to downloads instead of physical retail, Mustard said, "I don't think so. One of our goals was to blur the line between what a downloadable game is. Just look at Microsoft announcing Games On Demand. We're getting to where, whether you buy a game online or at the store, it isn't really an issue where you get your media from. It was a strategic decision we made to release it through Live Arcade."
Working closely on the game with Chair is Epic Games, which acquired Chair in 2008. Gears of War figurehead Cliff Bleszinski appeared alongside Mustard on stage when Chair debuted the game at Microsoft's pre-E3 press briefing earlier this week.
"It's amazing having access to all their resources," Mustard said. "Cliff Bleszinski has been a huge help. They have such an innate understanding of good, modern design."
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Also there's still a healthy 2D presence at retail if you consider GBA/DS.
When PS1 came out, publishers pretty much decided that 2D was dead and 3D is the way of the future. Many 2D titles died in the planning stage, and others like a Mega Man title (I forget which one) were just denied publishing (I think the MM title did eventually get released, but took much red tape). Since that time 2D has been considered old-school.
Many handheld games, and download games have had good success, and while SF4 looks 3D, it really takes place on a 2D plane and is definately not niche. For the most part, I have yet to see publishers (and even some developers) willing to dedicate the time and resources to make anything in 2D other than handheald and download. We have the technology to make a AAA 2D title in 1080p that would look like a real cartoon, and can be just as involved as 3D titles, it just seems like most publishers won't even take the risk. The 2D games that do come out (props to Atlus) ARE niche, not because of 2D, but because they are usually niche genres anyway. For example, JSRPGS, as much as I love them, they will always be niche regardless of 2D or 3D. I would love to see a AAA 2D title that will make spectators think they are watching an animated film. Until this happens, we really can't just say 2D is niche.