Surely you have often met with statements that 2D art and games are already completely irrelevant. Like, the era of 3D has come and we must accept it. However, the truth is different. Masses of new 2D games appear every year, people create reviews of the most anticipated 2D games of the year, and the old 2D giants like Heroes of Might and Magic, who celebrated their 25th anniversary this year, still collect millions of players organizing tournaments and making streams.
2D game design still attracts a huge number of players. Objectively, there are no prerequisites to assume that this direction is going to disappear into oblivion. Therefore, modern studios continue to offer various 2D game design services, which, by the way, are in great demand. How does 2D art do it? Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon.
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What is 2D Art? Introduction
2D stands for two dimensions. A drawing made in 2D has only length and width. We do not see depths, so the drawing is flat, like a sheet of paper. Any photograph, illustration or painting is 2D art. At the same time, everything that has a volume such as sculptures and architectural structures is three-dimensional. Unlike 2D, it can be viewed from all sides.
Despite the fact that many artists consider 2D art to be primitive, working with it is not as easy as it seems at first glance. To create really beautiful and lively art, you need deep knowledge of composition, working with shadows and colors, thickness, clarity and blur of lines. An artist must be able not only to create a drawing, but also to convey the mood. A well-designed drawing can even create the illusion of being three-dimensional.
2D Game Art Styles: What’s Hot Now
2D game design is not what it used to be. Previously, people played unintelligible games where angular characters of incomprehensible belonging ran across the screen, and were still happy. Now, 2D graphics are on a completely different level. Not only has it become much more detailed. It split into several styles, each of which is now used to create games. Let’s take a look at them.
Realism
Why not start with the freshest direction? Indeed, realism is the style that was previously out of the question in flat worlds. Pixel graphics sometimes made it impossible to understand what kind of creature is in front of us. Now, with realistic graphics, we can sometimes even forget that we are playing a platformer and that the characters remain flat. They look so natural that it seems like an elementary task to twist them from all sides.
Realistic graphics are distinguished, first of all, by the maximum closeness to real textures, lighting, objects and surroundings. Of course, the setting may be fantastic, but we see that it is realistic and not stylized. The characters are also very similar to real people or animals. Now every good character design company has in its portfolio a section with 2D characters of different types, demonstrating the team’s skill in the realism of displaying faces and figures in a two-dimensional plane.
Black and White
It’s amazing how such a direction could result in a separate style, but this is a fact. After the resounding success of the Limbo game, the black and white style was adopted by the developers. The monochrome color palette proved to be a godsend for the flat world. Thanks to the lack of an emphasis on color and skillful manipulation of shades of gray, the developers of Limbo managed to achieve a piercingly intimidating and ominous atmosphere, complemented by a stunning characteristic soundtrack.
Fascinated by the macabre setting, the players were imbued with the story of a boy who is looking for his sister and tried their best to help him, even considering the fact that they did not see his face. This success was the impetus for separating the monochromatic genre into an independent category.
Pixel Art
This is the oldest and most famous style, evoking nostalgia and fond memories of old console games. Then everything consisted of pixels by necessity. These were small squares or polygons that formed characters and environments.
Now that this is not necessary, many people still have a fondness for pixels. Therefore, they are often used in modern games. Now it looks more like stylization and the characters are much more attractive. Plus players are happy to see familiar squares even in the 21st century.
2D Game Art Design Services
Despite the fact that 2D art is historically considered easier and faster to create than 3D, it has its subtleties. There are many 2D projects. But it cannot be said that every game becomes the subject of universal admiration. And one of the reasons for the failure can be precisely unoriginal template art.
To prevent this from happening to your project, order your art not from the first freelancer who comes in for you, but from a reliable experienced art studio. Pay attention to the 2D game design studio Kevuru Games at kevurugames.com: this company has huge expertise in both 2D art and animation. The team has successfully implemented a great number of projects and provided millions of downloads to many games. Check out their portfolio and see for yourself: this is the company that will never deliver mediocre results.
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