Working on a Contra styled 2d Side scroller

[Edgeware]

Thing I would like to know is, can i make it truly 2D? I was playing Hard Corps: Uprising and that's where I got the idea. I want some cool looking backgrounds, but with the enemies and main characters HD 2d sprites.

I know this must have been asked a dozen times, but i can't find anything solid on how to make something like this work.

Would anyone like to tell me how to do something like this? Cause I really would like to have it 2D characters and enemies with really pretty looking backgrounds and crazy enemy Bosses and such.

any help will be appreciated.

[Balive]

UE3 is a 3d engine. You can simulate 2d perfectly with the camera, but all assets will be created as 3d objects, not 2d sprites.

[Edgeware]

UE3 is a 3d engine. You can simulate 2d perfectly with the camera, but all assets will be created as 3d objects, not 2d sprites.

So everything would be 3D then? hmmm...What if I made the maps in the UDK then transferred them to an engine that supports 2d characters?

[Balive]

You won't be able to transfer a UDK map to another engine.

[stevenchau432]

you can , you need create a plane mesh to simulate the 2d .

[Edgeware]

you can , you need create a plane mesh to simulate the 2d .

ah ok, Now I gotta figure out how to do that haha

[Balive]

you can , you need create a plane mesh to simulate the 2d .

Still have to use 3d models.

[K'Aviash]

Still have to use 3d models.

Even in pure Direct3D you do it that way ( someone use DDraw ? )

[horoxhoro]

doing 2d platform game u doesn't need UDK. make your life harder. you can try other 2d game engine like gamesalad which have some 2d psychic features.

[stevenchau432]

doing 2d platform game u doesn't need UDK. make your life harder. you can try other 2d game engine like gamesalad which have some 2d psychic features.

or angrybird 's 2d physics engine.

[merc-ai]

If you want to make a "pure" sprite-based 2D game, stick to 2D engines.
"Right tool for the right job" rule still applies, and you'll save a lot of effort and time that way.

But if you really insist in doing it the wrong way I think that two ways would be using plane meshes with changing textures (animated materials or something). Or going with Scaleform/HUD stuff (if I understand correctly it's basically flash).