From polygons to pixels: 3D characters get two-dimensional

You may be familiar with my From pixels to polygons feature where I show side by side comparisons of 2D characters gone 3D, but this time, I’m spinning things around.

During the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance era, many game developers released 2D versions of their PlayStation, N64, and PC titles on said handhelds. Other characters made pixelated guest appearances in various games. Some devolutions look pretty good; others…you be the judge.

Cloud

Final Fantasy 7 (1997)

Final Fantasy Tactics (1998)

Where's Barry?

Resident Evil (1996)

Resident Evil Gaiden (2002)

Croc

Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (1997)

Croc (2000)

KOS-MOS

Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht (2003)

Namco X Capcom (2005)

Xiahou

Dynasty Warriors 4 (2003)

Dynasty Warriors Advance (2005)

I'm Banjo!

Banjo-Kazooie (1998)

Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (2003)

Sora

Kingdom Hearts (2002)

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (2004)

Crash

Crash Bandicoot (1996)

Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (2002)

Lara

Tomb Raider (1996)

Tomb Raider: Starring Lara Croft (2000)

Max Payne

Max Payne (2001)

Max Payne (2003)

Tags: Resident Evil, Final Fantasy Tactics, Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy 7, Kingdom Hearts, Max Payne, Crash Bandicoot, Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille zur Macht, kingdom hearts: chain of memories, Banjo-Kazooie, Dynasty Warriors 4, Resident Evil Gaiden, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, Croc, Namco X Capcom, Dynasty Warriors Advance, Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, Tomb Raider: Starring Lara Croft

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Chris Kimsey

October 04, 2011

Wow... Max Payne really, really looks like he's pooping his pants in that 3D version. Apart from that, it's evident that Square Enix and Capcom both employ super talented pixel artists!

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Samir Torres

No wonder his last name is Payne. He needs some prune juice, and fast!

Jasmine Maleficent Rea

I had no idea that's what Max Payne looked like. I prefer the pixel version!

The Cloud in FF Tactics situation was momentarily mind-blowing when I was younger. When I heard the Internet whispers about it, I tried and tried to find/unlock him.

Apparently it was always much easier than I made it.

I never found Cloud in Tactics. Actually, I barely played that game. It's one of those titles everyone went crazy for but me, and it makes you feel like a freak.

Why is 2D Max Payne holding a fish?

It's his herring aid.

Jonathan Oyama

Max Payne just isn't the same without his pudgy face. Lol. The new game had better keep Max in his Sour Patch Kids expression.

Louis Garcia

No way, Samir! Tactics is awesome. I put 400 plus hours into the PlayStation version (and then 100 in the PSP version). If I were you I'd give it another go!

I only have access to the GBA version at the moment. Is it just as good?

Not even close. It's an alright game... but it's no OG Tactics. If you can, I'd give the PSP version a go. It has a new localization. It's also available for iPhone.

Yet another reason to get an iPhone. I give you my word that I will play the game one way or another.

John Michael

I had that GBC Tomb Raider game. I remember liking it quite a bit... I wonder if I could stomach it today.

That game got pretty good reviews. I might give it a try just for shits and giggles.

I think I could handle Cloud and KOS-MOS's transformation. On the other hand, Barry looks more like Solid Snake in the handheld portable days.

Then again, I wouldn't mind if Barry was just as cool as Solid Snake in the Metal Gear Solid game for the Game Boy Color. That limited release game is a hidden treasure. The Ghost Babel story still trumps almost every other MGS/Metal Gear story, in my opinion.