Yeah. I suppose most `2d` side-on platformers/shootemups these days basically use 3d models for everything with texture mapping.
It does seem people are experimenting with new forms of graphical art. For example the games Sony is coming out with - the one that's all like a big `flash` game with flat-filled polygons in 2d, bezier curves etc. .... and then that other Sony one where you run around in a side-on 3d environment jumping around on various objects and moving things around, making your own environments to play in, etc. And then you have the trend toward using glowing lines, and something of a re-growth of flat-shaded polygon environments in 3d with no texturemaps (or that look like Tron). Maybe we need to come up with a new graphical style on par with these kind of approaches.
It does seem people are experimenting with new forms of graphical art. For example the games Sony is coming out with - the one that's all like a big `flash` game with flat-filled polygons in 2d, bezier curves etc. .... and then that other Sony one where you run around in a side-on 3d environment jumping around on various objects and moving things around, making your own environments to play in, etc. And then you have the trend toward using glowing lines, and something of a re-growth of flat-shaded polygon environments in 3d with no texturemaps (or that look like Tron). Maybe we need to come up with a new graphical style on par with these kind of approaches.