Turning Sprites into 3D Models PS1

[Tails1998]

Is it possible to make a romhack that replaces sprites with 3d models?
I believe that the way the PS1 did 2D is by superimposing sprites over flat polygons.

[FAST6191]

Yes. How difficult it might be varies dramatically though.

Yes the PS1's 2d was limited (granted its 3d was as well -- there is a reason widescreen hacks are somewhat rarer rather than being an emulator option like later systems) and that meant 2d appearing games probably were a texture projected onto a flat polygon.

If it is more for aesthetics you have the donkey kong approach -- 3d models made and posed before being crushed down into 2d sprites. Not true 3d but might trick someone.

After that yeah you could probably blank sprites, sort collisions, generate a model and sort animations for all the different states, also maintaining a polygon budget while you are at it.

[Tails1998]

Yes. How difficult it might be varies dramatically though.

Yes the PS1's 2d was limited (granted its 3d was as well -- there is a reason widescreen hacks are somewhat rarer rather than being an emulator option like later systems) and that meant 2d appearing games probably were a texture projected onto a flat polygon.

If it is more for aesthetics you have the donkey kong approach -- 3d models made and posed before being crushed down into 2d sprites. Not true 3d but might trick someone.

After that yeah you could probably blank sprites, sort collisions, generate a model and sort animations for all the different states, also maintaining a polygon budget while you are at it.

Thanks for the reply!