In November 2024,Square Enix expressed concerns about developing too many HD-2D games.Here I am, eight months later, expressing my concerns that it’s gone right ahead and done so anyway.
Of course, when a Nintendo Direct is less than inspiring, viewers will be quick to give their verdict. We’ll ask why it was a wall-to-wall farming simulator extravaganza, for instance, or just why Team Cherry has yet again forsaken us all.
As a lifelong RPG fan, I would usually consider a reveal of two new Square Enix titles, back to back, to be something to celebrate. That’s exactly what we got to finish up the July 31 Partner Showcase, and like a true gamer, I got something I should really love and I’m still not happy about it.
Why is that? BecauseHD-2D is the new farming simulator, that’s why.
Now, I’ve always been a sucker for 2D art. There’s something beautifully expressive about it and it just hits different for me, if you will. Takethe original super difficult Darkest Dungeon, or something a little lesser-known like Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet or Bloodrayne: Betrayal.
Hand-drawn or not, there’s something timeless about a lot of great 2D art.
It never hurts, though, to inject additional layers and details into the presentation, and that’s what HD-2D does so well.
2018’s Octopath Traveler captivated me with its old-school mechanics, for one thing, but also with its visuals. The backgrounds look wonderful against the characters, the effects of things like special abilities in battles pop nicely, and there’s a subtlety to it.
It simultaneously looks just like classic RPGs and far more sophisticated than anything old gaming systems could have pulled off.
Octopath Traveler 2: Every Playable Character, Ranked
Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 incredibly written characters. This list aims to rank them all.
To HD-2D Or Not To HD-2D, That Is The Question
Octopath Traveler is one of my favorite Switch titles, though it’s no longer exclusive to the system, and the aesthetic (complemented by the excellent soundtrack) is a huge part of that. Above are some shots from my favorite HD-2D titles I already own, and they look great.
The HD-2D style took a further step forward with the game’s sequel andTriangle Strategy, both of which I also thoroughly enjoyed.The latter made a huge impact on me that I wasn’t expecting, in fact, as I battled forthe golden ending.
As they always say, though, you can have too much of a good thing. It’s entirely possible for even the biggest fans ofCall of Dutyto get burnt out on the sheer frequency of new releases, and the same applies to my own enthusiasm for this art style.
The July Direct showcased two new Square Enix titles, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales and Octopath Traveler 0. I watched the presentation a little after it went live, and having heard of theOctopath Travelerannouncement beforehand, I thought the Adventures of Elliot reveal was Octopath.
It’s a shame when something as striking and effective as this visual style becomes samey, but for me, that’s exactly what’s happened.It wasn’t really until I saw the two upcoming games one after the other like this that it struck me.
It’s a real shame, because there’s no doubt that Square Enix has some of the most accomplished artists in the business. The care and attention lavished on every inch of the overworld, and every town and locale in between, shows through in every HD-2D title they’ve made to date.
It’s just lost its luster for me. This isn’t to say that I won’t play or enjoy them, as Octopath Traveler 0’s character customization and building mechanics absolutely appeal to me (even though the Game-Key card system doesn’t).The question is just how locked in Square Enix is with this art style, and where it will take its new releases going forward.
10 Best Triangle Strategy Characters, Ranked
With a thirty-character roster, and a game that lets you bring only a fraction of them, the 10 best characters in Triangle Strategy are a must-know.
