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Pokemon that look better in 2D

Whilst going through a mad dash to 'Catch Them All' I evolved a Spheal all the way to it's Final Form Walrein and was disappointed at how non-threatening it looked.

I remember in the Original Sapphire it looked imposing in Glacia's team, in Full 3d it looks anything but imposing.

Are there any other Pokemon that have given you the impression that 3D has not been kind to them.
 
Sharpedo and Aggron. The transition from sprites to 3D models has taken away the atmosphere of ferocity that they bring about when sent out. I think the same can be said about Hydreigon and Garchomp as well. They seem to have lost that "edge" since X and Y, especially the the former, thanks to the introduction of Fairies.
 
All of them. 2D art is way more expressive.

It doesn't help that the colours on Pokemon models are so drab.
 
It's probably due to nostalgia and being used to the pokemon being 2d sprites. I think the cel shaded look they have in Gen 6 games is the best compromise, as it makes the pokemon look a lot more like their Sugimori art. Some of the old sprites, even in later games were very inaccurate at times. It didn't effect not just the GB games, it was rampant up to the DS eras.
 
Hydreigon looks like it's suffering from constant brain farts in X/Y, while in B/W it looked really intimidating. It's sad, really. I mean, Hydreigon's still in my top 3 favourite Pokemon, but its appearance in the 3D games makes me question where my loyalties lie.
 
Hydreigon looks like it's suffering from constant brain farts in X/Y, while in B/W it looked really intimidating. It's sad, really. I mean, Hydreigon's still in my top 3 favourite Pokemon, but its appearance in the 3D games makes me question where my loyalties lie.

[PokeCommunity.com] Pokemon that look better in 2D
[PokeCommunity.com] Pokemon that look better in 2D


I can easily see where you're coming from here. As if Hydreigon hasn't suffered so much in this gen already...

As for ones I find terrible, I think Black and White Kyurem. The lack of those tubes that have energy flowing from the tails to the body is really not as epic compared to the sprites. Xatu also looked weird but I guess that's because I'm so used to its sprites standing that I just cannot get used to seeing it glide, same applies to Skarmory.
 
Flying pokemon that weren't really meant for flying. It's so strange seeing Xatu the way it is now. I liked Eelektross's sprite better than this swimming one. Oh and Black/White Kyurem needs to get their tubes back.
 
I'm not entirely sure you can use Gen VI's models concerning which Pokemon looks better in 3D or 2D. Dang near every one of them is off model in some way, and the colors and shading aren't correct. So I'm not going to count those, and will instead just refer to the 3D models used in Gen IV and below.

With that said, Dewgong's model was always underwhelming compared to its sprite. Dewgong in 2D is an extremely frilly seal, with frilly fins and a frilly tail. Very elegant. But it's 3D model is... much less so. It's a slightly frilly seal. Boo! I don't understand why it's not as frilly as it should be. It bugs the heck out of me.
 
[PokeCommunity.com] Pokemon that look better in 2D
[PokeCommunity.com] Pokemon that look better in 2D


I can easily see where you're coming from here. As if Hydreigon hasn't suffered so much in this gen already...

As for ones I find terrible, I think Black and White Kyurem. The lack of those tubes that have energy flowing from the tails to the body is really not as epic compared to the sprites. Xatu also looked weird but I guess that's because I'm so used to its sprites standing that I just cannot get used to seeing it glide, same applies to Skarmory.

I have to agree with the Xatu part, it looks so weird. It's not suppose to be like that...

Additionally the colors felt like they are washed out. :(
 
Metagross' 2D sprites look sort of better than its 3D model, in my opinion. In former (especially the sprites from generation three games), Metagross seems to look more intense, but in latter, it losses some of its edge, as it looks slightly less bulky, vicious, and so forth.
 

All of them. To be honest, I'm much more attracted to the sprite models than I am the 3D ones...I guess it's primarily because of nostalgia, although I don't really like that there isn't really a sense of texture to any of the models; it looks like you could polish them all until they shine or something. Plus the 3D models all look ugly as sin when they're not moving.

The 3D models could be so much better on the 3DS than what they are; they don't even come close to pushing the hardware. I'm not a stickler for graphics - after all, I prefer sprites, which are a definite downgrade graphically no matter which way you look at it - but I just feel like they're extremely half-arsed, whereas the sprites were getting better and better with each game. Maybe the 3D models will improve with time as well and my thoughts will change, but for now at least...sprites are better.

 
Meloetta's post above is now making me wonder what 6th Gen Pokemon and Mega Evolutions would have looked like in sprite form... but at least Smogon has some fanmade ones that are used on Showdown so that will make do for now.
 
I don't think it's usually an issue of a Pokemon looking better in 2D than 3D as much as it's an issue with the current models. Like Machamp. Machamp's models are often oddly proportioned and make the second pair of arms look sort of... pasted on, but it CAN look good in 3D.

An exception, though... Accelgor, but only because it made me realize how it's ACTUALLY meant to look. I was pretty neutral on it before, didn't really dislike it and thought it was kind of cool looking in its own way... but when I saw its 3D model? That... lip... brow thing. It's... horrid. It completely ruined its entire design for me.
 
Maybe the 3D models will improve with time as well and my thoughts will change, but for now at least...sprites are better.

They're future proof. They're gonna be reusing these models for a loooong time. They made sure the polygon count is so high so they don't age.

As a result the games' overall performance and graphics take a huge hit and it's not worth it imo. The models are the one thing that actually aren't subpar, but even then the colours are washed out and the animations are very basic and boring.
 
I remember how people were complaining about the sprites in Gen V, but now everyone misses them. This is the price you guys are getting for wanting Pokémon to "get in with the times", whether it's using 3D models in the main games or bringing the main games onto consoles. There's a game site owner, who is a Pokémon fan, who skipped Gen V and ORAS for not bringing anything new to the series and will plan to skip again if future gen games are still in handhelds after the 3D upgrade in XY (he wants the series to move onto consoles as a sign of evolution to the series).

As for the topic in hand, I was never really bothered about which Pokémon looked better in 2D or 3D, as all of the Gen I-V Pokémon has had 3D models prior to Gen VI, so it really shouldn't be bothersome. The real question would be a comparison between different 2D sprites and a comparison between different 3D models and ask which 2D sprite and 3D model appeal to you more from their respective comparison.
 
I remember how people were complaining about the sprites in Gen V, but now everyone misses them.
Who the shit misses gen 5's atrocious sprites? If they were static they'd be great but I'd take bland 3D models over shitty animated sprites that's largely just cropping and stretching.
 
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