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The 3D revolution hit the video game industry hard in the mid-90s. Home console technology was improving by leaps and bounds over the forerunners from earlier in the decade and prior to that. Because of that, developers were tinkering with the formulas of classic titles in order to deliver a more cutting edge experience.
The main issue many series experience in their attempt to try something new is they leave behind what made them so beloved in the first place. Seeing your favorite series in a new light should be enjoyable, but when that new light brings with it a betrayal of what made you love that property in the first place, you realize that some formulas are better left unchanged.
In my recent contribution to Game Informer’s “The Essentials” column, I marveled at how effectively the Super Mario franchise transitioned to 3D, but not all franchises made the jump with similar success. Check out some of the more beloved franchises that struggled to leap into the third dimension.
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Mortal Kombat
Debuting in 1992, Mortal Kombat was one of the better fighting series on the market. Though it had its ups and downs during its 2D years, it wasn’t until it made the jump to 3D that it experienced its sharpest downturn. In 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 attempted to utilize the 3D space for a fighting game, but 2000’s abysmal action brawler Mortal Kombat: Special Forces might be among the worst examples on this list. Even the better 3D Mortal Kombat games like Deadly Alliance, Deception, and Armageddon didn’t feel as good as other fighters at the time.
Thankfully, the bloody franchise has returned to its former glory by embracing its 2D roots once again. The 2011 reboot of the franchise is one of the best fighting games of the previous console generation, and the upcoming Mortal Kombat X is looking more promising each time we hear about it.
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Bionic Commando
The 2D Bionic Commando releases were influential and well-received, but when the series tried to appeal to gamers wanting a more modern experience, it failed to grab players the way the original entries did. Capcom’s 2009 attempt to breathe new life into Bionic Commando was far from the game players wanted.
Though the grappling mechanic returns in full force, the clumsy controls and awful level design show a franchise far removed from what made the 2D releases so great. Capcom has since returned Bionic Commando to 2D with Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, which released in 2011 to slightly better reception.
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Pac-Man
One of the most classic 2D arcade franchises of all-time has tried to restore former glory through 3D ventures to little avail. The series’ first attempt at 3D of any kind came with 1987’s pseudo-3D conversion of the original Pac-Man formula, Pac-Mania. The game was well-received, but it gave fans false hope for the full-fledged 3D adventures to come.
Since then, the Pac-Man franchise has spawned several games with lukewarm reception. While very few have been outright bashed by critics, they all failed to move beyond bland action-adventure fare. Perhaps most telling is the fact that the best release from the past five years has been Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, which is simply an enhanced version of the original game.
On the next page, we look at a short-lived, yet much-loved 2D platformer series, and more!
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