platformer -- 2d or 3d?

[ChebbyShabby]

i'm making a platformer game and i want really smooth, 3d-like graphics. i was wondering if the best approach is to make a 2d game using 3d graphics or a 3d game with the camera fixed so everything looks 2d.

the bad thing about making a 2d game is that i can't get smooth enough graphics (i.e. the edges of sprites look too sharp). how much complicated would things get (in terms of code) if i go 3d?

[Kaeru Gaman]

you can use #PB_Sprite_AlphaBlending to load 2D Sprites with smooth edges.

surely you have to design them that way, a lot of 3DModellers can output PNGs with Alpha.

if you like to script your Models, try POVRay, if you rather model them in a CAD environment, you can use Blender.

[ChebbyShabby]

thanks for the reply, kaeru. do you by any chance know if the super mario on the ds was made using 2d sprites or 3d models?

[Kaeru Gaman]

I dunno the Super Mario and I have no DS...

2D and 3D are really different topics.
with 2D, you would need a huge amound of prerendered grafix.
with 3D, you need only the models, the view is rendered life, but the maths is much more complex.

PS:
I did a little picture search... the DS version is clearly 3D.

it is not possible (or only with an inacceptable amound of calculations) to give a 2D surface this real 3D look.
you would have to calculate the whole perspective "by foot" and also provide that much of prerendered content...
nobody would do pseudo-3D nowadays.
it was a gag in the 80ies before 3D hardware was built. nowadays is much much easier to use a 3D engine rightaway.

using 2D would mean to create a classig game e.g. in arcade style or with ISO view,
but to have the objects not from simply drawn pictures but from prerendered models.

it clearly is 2D, but the objects look more fancy than they ever would if only drawn.

remember e.g. Settlers4, it was a 2D surface but the grafix was premodelled.