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1[[quoteright:256:[[VideoGame/MegaMan1 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/NES_Mega_Man.png]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:256:The Blue Bomber goes to work.]]
3
4Also known as Front View, this is a video game perspective in which all objects are viewed strictly from the side, with little or no amount of their tops or bottoms visible. This is the classic perspective for 2D {{Platform Game}}s, {{Metroidvania}} games, {{Fighting Game}}s and {{Horizontal Scrolling Shooter}}s. This perspective has fallen out of favor with modern 3D games.
5
6DepthPerplexion almost always comes with this view; for example note that in the picture to the right Mega Man and the turret enemies can shoot bullets "through" the walls. [[CheatedAngle Cheated Angles]] are also very likely to be encountered.
7
8See also IsometricProjection, TopDownView and ThreeQuartersView.
9
10----
11!!Examples
12
13[[foldercontrol]]
14
15[[folder:Platform / Metroidvania]]
16* ''VideoGame/AndroidHunterA''
17* ''VideoGame/AspireInasTale''
18* ''VideoGame/AyoTheClown''
19* ''VideoGame/BalthazarsDream'' is viewed this way.
20* ''VideoGame/BotGaiden''
21* ''VideoGame/BubbleAndSqueak''
22* ''VideoGame/CastleInTheDarkness''
23* ''VideoGame/CastleOfPixelSkulls''
24* ''VideoGame/CavemanWarriors''
25* ''VideoGame/ClawsOfFurry''
26* ''VideoGame/ClunkyHero''
27* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' has side-scrolling sections (including [[BonusStage Bonus Stages]], since the 3D gameplay was already side-scrolling gameplay viewed from behind the character.
28* ''VideoGame/CrossbowCrusade''
29* Similarly, ''Crush'' was based around transitioning between 3D, 2D side-view, and 2D top-down-view.
30* ''VideoGame/DoublePugSwitch'' is viewed in this manner.
31* ''VideoGame/EskimoBobStarringAlfonzo''
32** ''VideoGame/AlfonzosArcticAdventure''
33* ''VideoGame/FeatheryEars'' has sections played in 2D.
34* ''VideoGame/{{Fez}}'' involves a 3D environment that gets flattened into a 2D plane for side-view platforming; the player can alter the level by switching the positions of the X- and Z-axis at will.
35* ''VideoGame/FISTForgedInShadowTorch''
36* ''VideoGame/FlippinKaktus''
37* ''VideoGame/FlynnSonOfCrimson''
38* ''VideoGame/FoxNForests''
39* ''VideoGame/{{Furwind}}''
40* ''VideoGame/{{Ghoulboy}}''
41* ''VideoGame/GoblinSword''
42* ''VideoGame/InexistenceRebirth''
43* ''VideoGame/KeepOut''
44* ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' are side scrolling, but the player is able to leap between the foreground and background using a Warp Star.
45* ''VideoGame/{{Klonoa}}'' is played from Side View, but the actual paths would wind about in full 3D. In the [[VideoGame/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile PlayStation original]], the characters and collectibles were still 2D sprites.
46* ''VideoGame/LandflixOdyssey''
47* ''VideoGame/LepsWorld''
48* ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet'', though you could "jump" forward and backwards in depth in certain spots.
49* ''VideoGame/{{Lizard}}''
50* The ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' series-- with the notable exception of ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'', where the tops of platforms were visible.
51* ''VideoGame/MetaloidOrigin''
52* ''VideoGame/MightyAphid''
53* ''VideoGame/MoonRaider''
54* ''VideoGame/MountainTroll''
55* ''VideoGame/NomolosStormingTheCatsle''
56* ''VideoGame/NosferatuLilinor''
57* ''VideoGame/Orphan2018'' has this view.
58* ''VideoGame/{{Pankapu}}''
59* ''VideoGame/PizzaVsSkeletons''
60* ''VideoGame/PrimalLight''
61* ''VideoGame/PunkySkunk'' is this and it was released on the original Playstation, although it was originally meant to be an [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]] game.
62* ''VideoGame/SamuraiRevenge''
63* ''VideoGame/SingularStone''
64* ''VideoGame/SkeletonBoomerang''
65* ''VideoGame/{{Smashroom}}''
66* ''VideoGame/SoManyMe''
67* Some parts of the daytime levels in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', as well as the levels in ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and Classic Sonic's levels in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''.
68* ''VideoGame/TheSunAtNight''
69* ''VideoGame/SuperPandaAdventures''
70* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and its [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 sequel]] had certain sections in 2D.
71* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' has some sections where Mario is changed into his 8-bit self and has to navigate the area as a 2D platformer.
72* ''VideoGame/ToyOdysseyTheLostAndFound''
73* ''VideoGame/TrashQuest''
74* ''VideoGame/TreasuresOfTheAegean''
75* ''VideoGame/Trophy2021''
76* ''VideoGame/VentureKid''
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:Shoot Em Up]]
80* ''[[VideoGame/{{Gradius}} Salamander]]'' and its sequel alternates between this and a [[VerticalScrollingShooter top-down view.]]
81[[/folder]]
82
83[[folder:Eastern RPG]]
84* Interestingly, despite being 3D, ''VideoGame/WildArms4'' had areas that would switch to this perspective for platforming elements.
85* The ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' games are usually ThreeQuartersView, but have a bunch of side-scrolling segments. ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga Superstar Saga]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime Partners in Time]]'' use ThreeQuartersView all the way through, but some areas have paths that are so narrow that traversing them is functionally indistinguishable from side-scrolling.[[note]]There are some points where the Bros. are separated that indeed have the camera in a side view.[[/note]] ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Bowser's Inside Story]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam Dream Team]]'' feature Side View for half of the sum overworld exploration, though only during clearly delineated sections of the game world ([[FantasticVoyagePlot inside Bowser's body]] for the former, [[DreamLand the Dream World]] in the latter).
86** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' and ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' played with this with sections in the former where you went from the 3D foreground to the 2D background, and in the latter with 2D to 3D flips. ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'' also plays with this in its ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' section, with a 2D to isometric 3D flip.
87* ''VideoGame/{{Sorcerian}}''
88* ''VideoGame/{{Valkyrie Profile}}''
89* ''VideoGame/YsIIIWanderersFromYs''
90[[/folder]]
91
92[[folder:Action Adventure]]
93* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftPizzaDelivery'': Some of the missions/minigames adopt this P.O.V., but the game itself is mostly seen from a TopDownView.
94* ''VideoGame/KuriKinton''
95* ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'' being the only game in the series to be side view in the action scenes (top down in the overworld), while the ''VideoGame/{{The Legend Of Zelda|I}}'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'', and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'' have side view areas.
96* The ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}}'' reboot shifts into 2D sidescrolling mode during certain segments.
97* ''VideoGame/BuckSaturdayMorningCartoonApocalypse''
98* ''VideoGame/FinAndTheAncientMystery''
99* [[VideoGame/SydneyHunterAndTheCavernsOfDeath All]] [[VideoGame/SydneyHunterAndTheShrinesOfPeril four]] [[VideoGame/SydneyHunterAndTheSacredTribe Sydney]] [[VideoGame/SydneyHunterAndTheCurseOfTheMayan Hunter]] games.
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Shooter]]
103* ''VideoGame/BioLabWars''
104* The ''{{VideoGame/Contra}}'' series infamously uses alternative viewpoints (such as top-down and pseudo-3D) in some of its levels.
105* ''VideoGame/RadRodgers''
106[[/folder]]
107
108[[folder:Adventure]]
109* ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'' has a constant side view of the world. As a ghost, you can go through walls, ceilings and floors in addition to the usual lateral movement.
110[[/folder]]
111
112[[folder:Other / unsorted]]
113* ''VideoGame/Buddy2016'' is viewed from this perspective.
114* ''VideoGame/Clea2019'' is generally viewed from this perspective.
115* ''VideoGame/{{Hamsterdam}}'': The seed-collecting bonus levels are viewed this way.
116* ''VideoGame/JoumeeTheHedgehog'' is an [[EndlessRunningGame Endless Running]] PlatformGame that's viewed from the side.
117* ''VideoGame/LiveStreamEscapeFromHotelIzanami''
118* ''VideoGame/{{Nidhogg}}'' is a 2D fencing game, with a hint of "tug-o-war".
119* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'' had the Captain Qwark stages as side scrollers.
120* ''VideoGame/{{Spate}}'' is played in this perspective.
121* ''VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon'' had side scrolling areas with secondary characters.
122* ''VideoGame/TargetAcquired2016'' is an [[EndlessRunningGame Endless Running]] PlatformGame with a side view.
123* ''VideoGame/VambraceColdSoul:'' A DungeonCrawler game in the style of ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon''.
124[[/folder]]
125
126[[folder:Other Media]]
127* ''WesternAnimation/FantasticMrFox'' has a few action scenes like this.
128* This is generally how the ''WesternAnimation/WackyRaces'' are shown, although other views are also used.
129* ''WesternAnimation/YogisSpaceRace'' (essentially Wacky Races [[RecycledInSpace in space]]) is also usually shown this way.
130[[/folder]]

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