FUN IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Shadow Complex Before the heyday of the first-person shooter, gaming graphics typically involved two dimensions. Think of the original "Super Mario Brothers": Mario could move left, right or on top of an enemy, but he couldn't pass behind or in front of one.

Once three-dimensional gaming became all the rage, publishers and developers insisted that no one would shell out full retail price ($50-60) for a 2D game, and so entire genres languished. Now, however, as downloadable gaming becomes increasingly popular, developers can avoid the production and marketing expenses involved in producing and distributing game discs. This gives them the financial freedom to revisit older playing styles.

One notable recent example of top-quality 2D gaming is "Shadow Complex" (pictured), available on Xbox Live. Players control an everyman who stumbles upon an evil conspiracy. But the game's appeal isn't in its narrative; Chair, the developers, have crafted a loving homage to Nintendo's legendary "Metroid" series, albeit with gorgeous, 3D graphics. Just as in those games, players are tasked with exploring a complex world (presented in two dimensions) in which they frequently happen upon areas they can't reach. Gradually, as they upgrade their movement capabilities and weapons systems, these areas become accessible. The appeal lies in figuring out which powers will get you where you need to go. While other developers have brought these gameplay mechanics to full 3D environments (most notably Nintendo itself, in its first-person-perspective "Metroid Prime" series), the limited perspective of "Shadow Complex" actually makes some of its puzzles easier to comprehend, if not to conquer.

Trine game More recently, the role-playing game "Trine" (pictured right) was released for the PlayStation 3 download service (it's also available for PC here). Again, the action is presented in 2D, while the beautiful, whimsical art is rendered in 3D, providing a depth to the scenes that earlier 2D gaming could never have matched. "Trine"'s appeal comes largely from the game's impressive physics-based approach, which allows players to manipulate the world in various ways, allowing multiple solutions to each environmental puzzle. Players may switch instantly from a telekinetic, object-creating wizard; a thief with a grappling hook and bow, and a shield-and-sword-wielding warrior. The story isn't all that memorable, but the characters are well-voiced, and the joy of using two or three characters' abilities to solve a particularly challenging puzzle can be particularly satisfying.

All of this is good news for anyone who has been craving a dose of old-school gaming. "Shadow Complex" and "Trine" both scratch this itch, while also providing beautiful graphics and a modern twist.

~ BRETT MCCALLON