Gwendolyn from Odin Sphere by Vanillaware

It amazes me how a single company can turn an entire genre on its head. Ever since the advent of the PlayStation, 3D gaming has been the goal for most development companies as the staple of AAA titles. In 2007, a small company called Vanillaware turned people’s heads by churning out two stunningly beautiful games in console 2D: Odin Sphere and Grim Grimoire.

What is most distinctive is that the games look and play like moving paintings.  Personally, I think that 2D gaming still retains largely unexplored.  With the rendering capabilities of modern graphics engines, there is still so much room for exploration (and re-exploration) of once long thought dead genres.

While so many developers are seeking “new and innovative” experiences in terms of gameplay, I think that there is still plenty of room to revisit older genres with new insights and new technology.

Odin Sphere revisits the classic 2D sidescrolling “beat-em-up” games.  Grim Grimoire tackles 2D real-time strategy.  Both of these genres have been long considered beaten to death and have given way to huge AAA 3D titles.  But with stunning artwork and solid gameplay, Vanillaware’s small team stakes its claim that there is nothing wrong with the “tried and true” games of the past when given new life.

Another thing to note for Indie Developers is that Odin Sphere was initially started as a 5-man project and maxed out at 14.  By major-company game development standards, this is a tiny team.  Yet, the results are nothing short of breathtaking.

I cannot wait for Vanillaware’s next release later this year: “Muramasa: The Demon Blade.”