This would be a lot better if...

[Drakeema]

The enemies and players were actually 3D :( I'll still probably buy and play it, though.

(Huuuge props for creating anything inspired by Arx Fatalis. Such an incredible gem of a game)

[Zan_HedonDev]

If you mean actual 3D models, then trust me, no. It would be horrible.
If you mean 2D sprites shot from 3D models instead of digitally drawn as they are currently, well yeah they'd look more consistent but I feel like the jank of the hand made animations has its own charm, and most people agree with me too.

[Drakeema]

Originally posted by Zan_HedonDev:

If you mean actual 3D models

This.

Firstly, let me say that your game looks like you put a ton of work into it, and I appreciate the special touches that only indie devs can provide. :) This could be a really neat game, like DUSK.

But, whenever I see 2D enemies, I immediately get that "cheap" and "fake" feeling. Unreal was 3D. Quake was 3D. Arx Fatalis was 3D. So where is the 2D stuff coming from..? Perhaps you lacked the tools or animation ability, or it would've taken too long and been too complex. But DUSK is 3D, and I don't see why your game couldn't have been, as well. Maybe you simply enjoy the 2D era :)

[Zan_HedonDev]

Yeah, but none of these games you listed run on GZDoom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwlPNsmLxe0

[Drakeema]

Originally posted by Zan_HedonDev:

Yeah, but none of these games you listed run on GZDoom

Right, and it was your choice to use that engine(those other engines/games still support 2D objects), which clearly has certain limitations. Would you have made everything 3D, if the engine supported it and you had the tools/ability/time..? Or was it a stylistic choice you wanted?

[Zan_HedonDev]

Stylistic choice, yep. Hedon's entirely digitally hand drawn, and that's what gives personality to the graphics. I favor authenticity over fancy stuff anytime, and pixelated 2D assets have their own benefits.

[Drakeema]

Originally posted by Zan_HedonDev:

entirely digitally hand drawn. Tthat's what gives personality to the graphics.

100% possible(and done before) with all 3D assets, as well.

[Hans Brotmeister]

Originally posted by Drakeema:

[...] But, whenever I see 2D enemies, I immediately get that "cheap" and "fake" feeling. Unreal was 3D. Quake was 3D. Arx Fatalis was 3D. So where is the 2D stuff coming from..? [...]

Duke Nukem 3D had sprites. Shadow Warrior had sprites. Blood had sprites. System Shock had sprites. Doom & Doom 2 had sprites. Hexen had sprites. Strife had sprites.

All awesome games.

[Moe Anthropomorphism]

I much prefer sprites for games like this to 'retro' style 3D, in general anyway. It's easier to have cool death animations and such with sprites than trying to animate a 3D model catching fire and burning into ashes or getting blown apart as an axe gets hurled through their chest.

[Zan_HedonDev]

It really is a matter of taste in the end, both 2D sprites and 3D models can suck or be good. Yes, gore was also one of the benefits of hand drawn sprites for Hedon, but really it's mostly about the consistency of the style.

[Drakeema]

Originally posted by Moe Anthropomorphism:

It's easier to have cool death animations and such with sprites than trying to animate a 3D model

Sure, choosing to take the easy route to make your game is one way to do it, but that doesn't mean the game will be better.

[Drakeema]

Originally posted by Hans Brotmeister:

Duke Nukem 3D had sprites. Shadow Warrior had sprites. Blood had sprites. System Shock had sprites. Doom & Doom 2 had sprites. Hexen had sprites. Strife had sprites.

All awesome games.

True :) But listing fully 3D games as inspiration is misleading, I guess. I was not aware that this was a Doom clone, until talking in this thread.

[Kepi al-Duri]

Originally posted by Drakeema:

Originally posted by Hans Brotmeister:

Duke Nukem 3D had sprites. Shadow Warrior had sprites. Blood had sprites. System Shock had sprites. Doom & Doom 2 had sprites. Hexen had sprites. Strife had sprites.

All awesome games.

True :) But listing fully 3D games as inspiration is misleading, I guess. I was not aware that this was a Doom clone, until talking in this thread.

I have to say that the description pretty much is spot on for me personally. The Arx Fatalis reference was enough for me to buy it and check it out and I am not disappointed one bit on that front; Hedon absolutely oozes Arx among other things. I didn't interpret being influenced by any particular 3D game as Hedon is fully 3D. Just me though.

[RidgeBack-Scintillan Gunslinger]

Void Bastards just released, which uses sprite based enemies, and a bunch of GZDoom games are about to release sometime over the next year.

Sprite work is back in fashion!... Or atleast a method for indies to be able to produce FPS within their means. And have them look decent.

If you want to agrue Hedon for 2d vs 3d. Compare the visual quality of Wasted: A post apocalyptic pub crawler to Void Bastards. -- SUBJECTIVE, but I'd argue Void Bastards looks more slick than Wasted and they're sorta share the comic book-ish visual style.

Metro and Doom are fantastic, and going to sprites would harm those games... but they're are giant multi-million-dollar AAA companies, they can fund the massive cost of content pipeline for 3d entities.

[Drakeema]

Originally posted by TBC Kepi al-Duri:

Hedon is fully 3D

If this were true, this thread wouldn't exist.

Are you a big Doom/Doom clone fan in general, may I ask? Or did you discover this game "randomly" without having played Doom or 2.5D games in ~25 years?

[Drakeema]

Originally posted by RidgeBack-Scintillan Gunslinger:

a bunch of GZDoom games are about to release

GZDoom is a pretty new phenomenon, I take it..? As far as Duke Nukem and Doom clones go, the only interesting one I recall seeing lately(ever?) would be the new Ion Maiden. I love certain 2.5D games, though, like Delver, Barony, One More Dungeon, and Still Not Dead.