It's possible things we take for granted with the camera now started with that, but I can't recall what.

What do you mean by curved line?

I don't mind a 3D roam around if it's well done - the games Davy mentions in particular, but I also liked the first Jak & Daxter and Rayman 2.  I also quite like the 3D into-the-screen, slightly less roamy stuff like Super Magnetic Neo and the first Sly Racoon, if they're well done.  I generally prefer 2D gameplay though, but what I meant by curved line is best summed up by the footage at 4.53 in that vid - the controls are strictly right to left (one would assume), but because the game is using a 3D engine they've felt the need to curve it around a bend.  I would say simply to 'show off', but obviously I realise it's not 1995 any more.  Essentially this doesn't affect the gameplay, but I do find games that do this lose a touch of tightness to the control as there's more of a question mark over exactly where your character might land, or precisely how close you are to an enemy as the viewpoint shifts. 

For example, the original Trials HD on XBLA had a straight racing line - left to right 2D gameplay using a 3D engine.  Evolution, however, added the curved line tool to the level editor.  The gameplay was still strictly flat, but the way it could curve whilst the view shifted wasn't an addition I was keen too on, especially when people got carried away with it on user tracks.  I felt it occasionally made lining things up feel less than perfect (the first time I played Gigatrack I was horrified). 

I don't like the look of the Mickey Mania moose chase style into-the-screen sections in the vid either, and I pretty much never have in any game.  Surely not being able to see where you're going is inherently fucked in terms of playability?

Right. I've never had an issue with that.

Into the screen can get fucked though.

This game gets the Tiger Seal or Approval.

More 2d platformers, please.

retroking1981 wrote:

Moot_Geeza wrote:

but what I meant by curved line is best summed up by the footage at 4.53 in that vid - the controls are strictly right to left (one would assume), but because the game is using a 3D engine they've felt the need to curve it around a bend.

Like Pandemonium is basically is what your getting at right?

Yes. Pandemonium, Klonoa, Mr. Bones etc - they were fun platformers (well, the last one wasn't), but I felt they lacked the pin-sharp controls of the best 2D games from previous years.

Edit: It looks like I'm just having a pop at 3D platformers on a 2D plane, which isn't quite what I'm getting at (more specifically it's when the view moves around), but it's close enough. The last few of years - mainly thanks to downloadable titles - have been the best for strict 2D platformers for well over a decade though, so I can't complain.