Summary
As video games entered the boldnew decade of the 1990s, new technology and next-generation hardware were shaking up the industry in some pretty significant ways. Developers were starting to take notice of emerging 3D technology, which would lead to an industry-wide shift, one that unfolded at a rapid pace and saw companies exploring just what could be done with this new style of video game. When it comes to some of today’s most popular games, a few of them had a fairlysmooth transition into 3D.
The likes ofMarioandZeldawere fairly quick to employ 3D technology, simply shifting what had made their games so successful into a new dimension. Some of these games became even more popular due to the 3D boom, as an entirely new generation of players was experiencing these properties for the first time.These are the games that were able to transition into 3D the easiest, making use of contemporary hardware to power multiple future generations of software.
Mariodominated video games during the 8 and 16-bit eras, starring in some of the most legendary games of the era, but with the advent of new technology, it didn’t take long for Nintendo to see the value of a 3D platformer with their star character at the helm. Developed by a team of twenty people,Super Mario 64was one of the Nintendo 64’s most impressive games, as its large open-ended worlds and excellent platforming are still being sourced today to determine what makes a great 3D platformer.
The transition from 2D to 3D worked perfectly for theMariofranchise, as its debut on the N64 resulted in a long-running series of games in a similar style. 3DMariogames have become a staple of Nintendo’s arsenal, appearing on multiple home consoles and even handhelds, with some of hisbest adventures taking place on the 3DSand Switch.
After two terrific 2D entries on Japanese home computer systems known as the MSX and MSX-2,Metal Gearwent quiet until series creator Hideo Kojima was drawn to powerful new consoles on the market, such as the 3DO and Sony PlayStation. Bringing Solid Snake out of retirement, Kojima envisioned a 3D stealth-action title that took full advantage of the new hardware available to his team. The end result was nothing short of masterful, asMetal Gear Solidlaunched on the PS1in 1998.
With its densely packed, intricately designed 3D world and innovative stealth gameplay,Metal Gear Solidis still one of the most technically impressive games of its generation. It didn’t skip a beat from its 2D days, as this incredible game retained all the brilliant stealth systems from those first two games and improved on them in every single way.Metal Gear Solid’smassive success would see the series become a staple in the 3D stealth genre, influencing other games likeSplinter CellandMark of the Ninjayears later.
6The Legend Of Zelda
Hyrule Springs To Life In A Legendary N64 Release
After solidifying itself as one of the preeminent action-adventure franchises during the NES and SNES days,The Legend of Zeldawas poised for even greater success with the launch of the Nintendo 64 in 1996. Beginning development on the 64DD, a disc-based add-on for the console, it was later transitioned to a normal cartridge and finally launched asThe Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of Timein 1998. Backed by a massive amount of hype and pre-release frenzy,Ocarina of Timebecame one of the most ravenously popular games of the 1990s, and marked an absolutely flawless transition from 2D into 3D.
The world of Hyrule had never looked better, as leaving the Kokiri Forest and wandering into its large, open field was a sight to behold. Featuring a huge number of secrets, fearsome bosses, and expertly crafted dungeons,Ocarina of Timereceived worldwide critical acclaim and spawned even more 3DZeldagames. It would create a long-running lineage of 3D action-adventure games, as future launches ofThe Wind Waker,Twilight Princess,andSkyward Swordwould continue the outstanding legacy that this landmark release started.
First released in arcades,Ninja Gaidenwas a popular series of 2D action games that eventually found its place on home consoles like the NES and Master System. However, after the release ofNinja Gaiden 3in 1991, the series was limited to ports and re-releases, a trend that would continue until Team Ninja decided tobring series star Ryu Hayabusaback into the spotlight in 2004. Known simply asNinja Gaiden, this prequel detailed Ryu’s quest to retrieve the Dark Dragon Blade from the wrong hands, as well as establishing that the franchise shared a universe withDead or Alive.
This fast-paced, high-energy action game felt like a natural progression of the 2D games, bringing all the chaotic energy and brutal difficulty with it.Ninja Gaidenis still one of the best action games of its generation, translating Ryu from his 2D era into a time of dominance in the genre. Two sequels were also produced, and the whole trilogy was recently remastered for all modern hardware, proving the longevity of this classic sixth-generation action masterpiece.
Black Isle Studios, the original developers of the first twoFalloutgames, were deep into production on a third game calledVan Burenbefore Interplay sold the series rights to Bethesda Softworks. The legendary developers of theElder Scrollsfranchise immediately went to work, translatingthe top-down 2D explorationof a post-apocalyptic wasteland into a fully 3D first-person RPG in the form ofFallout 3.
Making the most of what they had, Bethesda used their unmatched skill at open-world design to bringFalloutto life in a way it had never been before.Fallout 3was an absolutely astounding achievement, keeping the series' trademark dark humor and off-kilter worldview as players took control of a survivor on the hunt for their missing father.Fallout 3would solidify the franchise as one of Bethesda’s most important properties and would spawn multiple sequels and spin-offs.
For its first six entries,Final Fantasywas just likeevery other JRPG on the market, using expressive sprite art and expertly designed tile sets to create a unique world. Despite using 3D models superimposed over 2D pre-rendered backgrounds for the PS1 era, it was still ultimately a 2D experience, but that all changed in October 2000 when Sony released the PlayStation 2. Just one year later, this long-running franchise would shatter its 2D limitations by producing its first fully 3D game in the form ofFinal Fantasy 10.
Featuring a lush, gorgeous 3D world inspired by the architecture and mythology of Polynesia and Southeast Asia,Final Fantasy 10was one of the PS2’s most anticipated games, and thankfully, it was well worth the wait. This remarkable JRPG effortlessly took everything that made the 2DFinal Fantasygames great and made them even better. The combat system, music, beautiful world design, and cast of charming characters all felt like a classicFinal Fantasygame, just in 3D. The combination of voice acting, a first for the series, and mesmerizing CG cutscenes was a slam dunk and was further proof that Square was one of the industry’s leading innovators.
While the originalGrand Theft Autogames were noted for their unique open-world nature and dark, mature storytelling, they received middling critical reception and were largely seen as a novelty. However, when it came time to bring the series to next-gen platforms, Rockstar sought to expand the scope of their open-world crime tale, asGrand Theft Auto 3launched onthe PS2 in October 2001 and changed not just the course ofGTA, but the entire industry.
Grand Theft Auto 3took the two top-down 2D games that preceded it, then dropped the camera to street level and focused on its lead, the quiet anti-hero Claude. All the elements that made the first two games so much fun, from the high-speed car chases to the freedom that its chaotic open world allowed for, were jacked up to the nth degree.GTA 3is still one of the most influential games of all time, as it ultimately created an entire genre and went on to be a major pillar of one of the most successful franchises in the world.
AlthoughSuper Metroidwas a critical and financial success, Nintendo found themselves unable to capitalize on that and couldn’t come up with a satisfactory concept for an N64 adventure for Samus Aran. She wound up on ice for eight long years, but with the release of the GameCube, and with development handed over to Retro Studios, it was finally time for the intergalactic bounty hunter to return. When she did, it was with what many still consider the greatest GameCube game of all time and a lock for one of the industry’s all-time greats.
If one looks at all the aspects that make the franchise great, from the detailed exploration all the way to the intense shooting gameplay, it’s easy to see thatMetroid Primeachieved all that and then some. The isolated, lonely feeling of the older games is tenfold here, as Tallon 4 is filled with dangerous enemies and a feeling of dread that haunts the player all the way to the end.Metroid Primewas a flawlesscontinuation of the franchise, as it showed immense respect for what the franchise had already done, but was keen to reinvent it for contemporary audiences in the most perfect way.
