Pokémon fans are (mostly) in support of a return to the 2D art style for future games, including a Gold/Silver remake, but some also think that the developers are close to perfecting the 3D style in the newer games.
I think if you asked every Pokémon fan in existence what their favourite generation in the franchise is, the answers would overwhelmingly be in favour of the 2D games.
In a sense it is a bit of a numbers game considering that the 2D games outnumber the 3D ones, and you also definitely have to take the nostalgia factor into account but… even knowing all that, I think I’d still personally say that Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2 are my picks.
But why is that, exactly? What is it about the modern 3D Nintendo titles that just isn’t resonating with people in the same way?
Advert
Perhaps it’s because Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield got off to a bit of a rocky start, or maybe it’s because Pokémon Scarlet/Violet looked very rough for the period in which they were released.
Either way, it’s got some fans wishing for a return to the 2D art style in the earlier games– at least based on the comments on this thread over on the r/pokemon subreddit, featuring a conceptual mock-up for a Gold/Silver remake.
“I would definitely love to play a 2D-HD Pokémon game, in the same way I enjoyed Octopath Traveler and Live a Live”, commented user JuanGGZ.
“In a sense, I guess it wouldn't be too different from the 3D approach Pokémon games had on the DS at some point, but with 2D sprites for the characters.”
“I'd definitely vibe with it, it looks really nice”, replied user ConnorOfAstora.
That being said, the sentiment isn’t unanimous. Many in the thread think that a return to the 2D style would be a waste of all the progress that the 3D generations of games have made.
I don’t really see why we can’t have both, though. Perhaps in the same way that Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Legends: Arceus are treated as spin offs, we could have another series that returns to the 2D style… but I suppose that would require a developer other than Game Freak to take on the Pokémon licence.