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[reactorcore]

Just curious if any sidescrolling 2D game has ever done this in any form: Using the background as a way to view what is ahead of you.

To give an example, here's a picture:



The goal of this idea is to give players the ability to see what is beyond the screen, like you can see to infinity from a 3D perspective towards the event horizon. Things in the background are made bright, desaturated and scaled down the further from the screen they are, giving the illusion of a vanishing point in a 2D space.

This can especially useful for a space shoot-em-up game, where this can be use to see and anticipate incoming enemy ships or bullets, or for a platformer for the player character to see distant landmarks, which are actual places, not just decorative backgrounds.

Have any games done this before?

[Debido]

Yes, don't ask me which one though it was ages ago, probably about the time 3D was becoming popular...

[Erick Doe]

Games like Lands of Lore used 2D backgrounds that would show what is infront of you, or directly left or right of you, as you move across a grid-based area.



It is not far from what you are asking. Although this is not a sidescrolling type of game, of course.

[TJJ]

An interesting idea, harnessing an intrinsic characteristic of most side scrollers: they typically scroll in just one direction.

If I recall correctly had a small aspect of this; before (some) enemies appeared on the right, you'd see them flying across the background.

[reactorcore]

Games like Lands of Lore used 2D backgrounds that would show what is infront of you, or directly left or right of you, as you move across a grid-based area.

-snip-

It is not far from what you are asking. Although this is not a sidescrolling type of game, of course.

Thats totally a 3D First Person view, just using 2D sprites.

What I'm looking for is strictly for sidescrolling gameplay.

For example: if you play as a platformer character, like megaman, and you see a tall mountain in the distance on the background, if you keep moving forwards (to the right), that mountain will slowly zoom into the view and move towards the (right) edge you're walking towards, as if you're getting closer to it and once you're physically at that area of the level, where the base of mountain actually is, the foot of the mountain actually appears as real terrain.

Likewise, if you go the opposite direction, so will the mountain, as it shrinks into the 2D event horizon.

[reactorcore]

An interesting idea, harnessing an intrinsic characteristic of most side scrollers: they typically scroll in just one direction.

If I recall correctly had a small aspect of this; before (some) enemies appeared on the right, you'd see them flying across the background.

I'm trying to figure out how to make it make sense omni-directionally, but yeah, the ideas can definitely be used in a single direction just as much.

Initially I got inspired by Rayforce, in how it seamlessly transitions from one area to another, althought in that case, its restricted to top down view and you cannot control vertical movement, so its only the visual aspect that I'd take from it.

[Gothars]

That is an interesting concept, can't think of any games using it. Maybe the best way to utilize it would be to have have a meandering level structure where you actually change the direction you move in. (Or skip the backward parts by teleporting the player.) You'd see to end of the level from the beginning.

Beware my paint mockup:

Spoiler

[close]

[FlashFrozen]

Well, not directly comparable, the closest game I know that sorta plays well with perspective even though being kinda 2d side scroll-y was einhander.



It foreshadows following events in the background quite well, but it certainly isn't persistent all the time.

[Erick Doe]

Games like Lands of Lore used 2D backgrounds that would show what is infront of you, or directly left or right of you, as you move across a grid-based area.

-snip-

It is not far from what you are asking. Although this is not a sidescrolling type of game, of course.

Thats totally a 3D First Person view, just using 2D sprites.

What I'm looking for is strictly for sidescrolling gameplay.

Alright, I was just going by the title. Background in 2D games used as far vision. The example above is not a 3D game. It is a 2D game, using 2D sprites and backgrounds, drawn in perspective to simulate depth. Anyway, irrelevant since you're just looking for sidescroller examples. 

[xenoargh]

Einhander's use of foreshadowing using the background isn't completely unique, although, , I was pretty impressed; even ancient games like Out Of This World(which, if you've never played, do so, it's a classic) used that in a few spots.

That said, I can't think of any games that use it explicitly to show you the next bits in advance; that might be fun or it might just be a confusing, chaotic mess, as players would find themselves unable to decide what to focus on.  Really depends on the kind of game and the pacing.

[Tecrys]

Einhander's use of foreshadowing using the background isn't completely unique, although, , I was pretty impressed; even ancient games like Out Of This World(which, if you've never played, do so, it's a classic) used that in a few spots.

That said, I can't think of any games that use it explicitly to show you the next bits in advance; that might be fun or it might just be a confusing, chaotic mess, as players would find themselves unable to decide what to focus on.  Really depends on the kind of game and the pacing.

Never thought anybody would ever talk about Einhänder on these forums, one of my all time favourites.

It's hard as nails and the weapon mechanics are unique to this day. Anyone else ever seen a sidescrolling shooter (like R-Type, another favourite) that uses ammo for weapon pickups?

And it is a fantastic example of this far vision you are looking for imo.

BTW: I juste remembered another game using this in some way, Oddworld Abe's Oddisey. I am not sure about the sequels, though.

Xenoargh: Cool thing you know about those very special games. How about Front Mission: Gun Hazard? Never played a game like that again, absolutely amazing shiz.

[xenoargh]

LOL, I actually didn't like Front Mission: Gun Hazard, largely because I only got to play it on emu, and it had an unwinnable-state bug on the third mission or so when I tried it out.

That, and unlike the original, you aren't able to mess with your 'mech's parts all the time; the original Front Mission is somewhere in my top-20 list, though, even though its balance was poor

[lStealtherl]

Shouldn't there be whole lot of them in SNES and NDS platform/adventure games? Although I can't name any of them, my memory is kind of failure, even in real life.

Cloudphobia


Ether Vapor

[xenoargh]

Love the use of 3D in Ether Vapor; that's really awesome, it's like multiple games in one

[lStealtherl]

I'm glad you like it, the creator has made a new game, Astebreed:

I've quickly skimmed through games I played in the past (on PC), turns out to be 2D sprites with 2Dish/3D backgrounds.