Getting real sick of these 8 bit not 8 bit indies.

I don't know if it's lazy game design, Indie devs thinking we ONLY long for the days of the NES, Master System and C64. Or some combination of the two.

Shovel Knight just set the bar way too high. That's obviously not a game the NES could have handled. But the art style just works.

We have some powerful ass hardware, yet we're stacking blocks on top of each other and calling them sprites. That isn't even NES Level. That's like 2600 not 2600 territory.

This one game looked good UNTIL I saw the sprites.

http://www.siliconera.com/2016/01/13/not-hero-coming-ps4-february-2nd-ps-vita-version-cancelled/

The premise is hilarious but it looks lazy as shit.

These indie Devs need to step up their game. Retro City Rampage is getting a sequel and it's not doing the 8bit retread atain. It's going full on 16 bit. I'd love it if some indie devs would put the effort into some good sprite work. BUT that would require EFFORT wouldn't it.

Can I get an Amen?

 

Of course it's lazy design, the only reason indie devs are doing it is because it's easy and gets some people to call it "retro". A few games manage to pull it off, but they're the ones that have had some effort put into the graphics. Same reason there are so many indie 2D platformers, it's relatively easy to crap one out.

 

Amen ... Could not agree more.
Devs of this category , riding the wave of what is popular...for time being.

 

If they did something clever or interesting I can look past it. There are a few 8 bit not 8 bit games on PSN that caught my eye but they're in the minority

Titan Souls
It's like Shadow of the Colosus......with sprites

VVVVVV
No idea how to pronouce it and it looks like shit and it's HARD but something about it catches my eye.

This game
https://store.playstation.com/#!/en...haos/cid=UP2114-CUSA02638_00-0000000000000001

I have no idea if it's any good. The sprites look authentic, the backgrounds look good. I think they at least put SOME effort into this one.

 

Obviously the main reason they use this art style is because it's easy to do.
Now the market is saturated with these kind of games and people are getting sick of these games.

 

Well said. Pretty simple. I too avoid these games. They're starting to get lost in the crowd.

 

Vivivivivivivivi!

 

I have VVVVVVVVVVVVV on Steam, never played it though.

 

VVVVV is actually kinda fun, and it does have some funky music. Sort of a mix of NES and Atari Graphics though, kinda weird.

 

Would be nice of they could pull of PS1 or Nintendo 64 type graphics instead

 

PS1, N64 or Saturn 2D graphics should really be a thing. It's a shame nobody wanted them back in the 90s.

32/64 bit 3D can stay dead though.

 

Don't you know? Sprites = "8-bit"

 

The whole point of the 8 bit look is that you're restricted from the start and have to be creative to make things look great. It's fun playing an 8 bit game and thinking "Wow, this game really makes this console shine."
Recreating the look on more powerful systems loses that whole effect, so it better damn well be a well put together game to compensate.

 

8-bit style is popular for it's aesthetic. As a trend, the function and discipline of the form is mostly irrelevant to those looking to profit from it.

Cheap shovelware mirrors popular trends. Can you remember all the very forgettable 16-bit fighting games? It's hard to!

Mega Man 9 would have set NES on fire

Who will rise up and make hand-drawn sprites in 8K? Could it be you?

 

Saturn BOMBERMAN for the win. They should totally re-release that in HD with online multiplayer on modern consoles/pc.

 

If it can't actually play on the system it mimics, I don't see a reason for it. Pier Solar was actually released for the Genesis (yes the music was on the Sega CD, but it could be played on an actual system).

 

I would even make a dedicated Youtube channel for a let's play series of such a game.
I'm sure that there would be an audience.

 

Step your game up indie devs we want games that look like this



Good sprite work can be done. Way Forward does it, Tribute games does it (Mercenary kings sprites are GOD LIKE) LOVE Shovel Knight's graphics.

But if SNK and Capcom can't be bothered with sprites anymore.....