Top 10 2D Platformers

Andrew76 · 15-01-2014 03:19PM #1

Following on from the Sonic discussion in the General thread, I thought it might be interesting to see what people's favourite 2D platformers were, new or old. If there's any interest I might combine and rank them after a week or so. No bother if you can't think of 10 and edit your original post if you want to change.

These would be my favourites that I have played (not necessarily finished).

1. Super Mario Bros. 3
2. Super Mario World
3. Yoshi's Island
4. Rayman Legends
5. Kirby's Epic Yarn
6. Sonic 1
7. Sonic 2
8. Donkey Kong Returns (mainly 2D?)
9. Super Mario Bros.
10. Spyro (GBA)

I left out the likes of Turrican and Megaman as I figured they were more run and gun type games? Not sure if that's correct though.

DinoRex · 15-01-2014 03:25PM

I'd have to say that Wario Land 4 is probably my favourite 2D platformer.

DoctorEdgeWild · 15-01-2014 03:29PM

Kid Chameleon is my favourite platformer of all time, if Turrican can fit the criteria then I think it is the most enjoyable example of it's kind too.

Repton 2 is probably the one into which I sank the most hours.

If Exile fits, then definitely a masterful game.

safetyboy · 15-01-2014 03:32PM

Rygar

15-01-2014 03:36PM

wario on the virtual boy

STG.Otaku · 15-01-2014 03:37PM

Rolling Ronny on the Commodore C64.

richymcdermott · 15-01-2014 03:37PM

1.Sonic The Hedgehog 2
2.Super mario bros 3
3.Sonic the hedgheog 3
4. Super Metroid
5.Megaman X
6. Sonic the hedgehog
7.CastleVania Symphony of the Night
8.Tombi
9.Rayman origins
10.Revenge of Shinobi

Retr0gamer · 15-01-2014 03:38PM

Warioland 2 and 3 should be in there as well. The Warioland games are so good and really subvert everything you think a platform game should be.

I think Klonoa gets unfairly ignored. The PS1 original is amazing as is the Wii remake. It's also got a surprisingly tear jerking story that will catch you off guard.

Also no mention of Tomba! ? Maybe it counts more as a metroidvania but it's a great game none the less.

NSMB Wii gets unfairly ignored I feel.

There's plenty of great NES platformers as well that would rank with the best of them, Ducktales, Mr. Gimmick, ufouria, Little Samson, Adventure Island 4 etc.

I also love Do-Re-Mi Fantasy on the SNES whic gets unfairly overlooked. The fact that it's a sequel to the outrageously ****ty Milon's secret castle is even more head scratching.

Retr0gamer · 15-01-2014 03:40PM

I think the likes of revenge of shinobi, Turrican, megaman, castlevania etc. are more brawlers or shoot'em ups and not really platformers in the traditional sense.

Also Kid Chameleon? Really? I absolutely hate that game. It's so dull.

DinoRex · 15-01-2014 03:46PM

Hard to know where to draw the line.

What about Strider? What about Flashback? Ghouls and Ghosts? Prince of Persia? Earthworm Jim?

o1s1n · 15-01-2014 03:47PM

I think it's probably best to define this as 'scrolling platformers'

Originally I was going to include Super Metroid, SOTN and Another World, but I think you're more aiming for scrolling ones?

DinoRex · 15-01-2014 03:49PM

It's a fairly nebulous genre.

Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands would also be exceptional platformers.

Are we drawing a line on if you use a weapon to kill an enemy or just bounce on their head?

Retr0gamer · 15-01-2014 03:50PM

Too much shooting in those games, I'd probably call them run and gun although Earthworm Jim 2 is so full of different genres that's even harder to call. It's the reason I didn't mention Rocket Knight Adventures, it feels more like contra than a platform game.

Stuff like Strider are really more about the combat than getting past platforming challenges.

Flashback and Prince of Persia though would definitely be a lot more about the platforming and getting over environmental obstacles so I'd include them.

Retr0gamer · 15-01-2014 03:53PM

DinoRex wrote: »

It's a fairly nebulous genre.

Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands would also be exceptional platformers.

Are we drawing a line on if you use a weapon to kill an enemy or just bounce on their head?

Yeah it is kind of nebulous, I think you just have to decide for yourself. For me if the combat is more important that actual platforming challenges then it's hard to really call it a platformer. But then you get stuff like Revenge of Shinobi and Batman on the NEs that really mix both together really well. I'd still say they are a bit too focused on combat for me.

DinoRex · 15-01-2014 04:06PM

Yikes... seems this 600 page book is a thing:

http://danielprimed.com/warioland4/

Andrew76 · 15-01-2014 04:13PM

I was just thinking along the lines of predominantly 2D side scrolling platform games where there is more emphasis on jumping rather than combat with a weapon. There's no strict rule so if you think a game is close enough then list away. Just wanted to gauge people's favourites and see was there any general consensus among the top 3 or 4 etc.

I wouldn't have classed Super Metroid as a platformer but that's just me.

All this talk of "nebulous" has me thinking about the Amiga game of the same name, that is a platformer, I think. Although is it side-scrolling...

penev10 · 15-01-2014 04:17PM

I'm not a fan of platformers per se but Mario World is definitely the ultimate example in my eyes. Just took SMB3 and refined and improved it (cape>Tanooki suit). Galaxy is the only Mario to beat it imo.

James Pond 2 : Robocod, Castle of Illusion and Psycho Fox also spring to mind as ones I've enjoyed. Not enough there for a top 10 alas.

Any love for Mario Land on the GB? I played it endlessly when it came out but my Mario-crazy son reckons it's muck.

Dr Bob · 15-01-2014 04:29PM

hmm
right ..here's mine
1 Montezumas revenge , (atari 8 bit)
2 Castlevania SOTN(PSx)
3 Castlevania COTM(GBA)
4 Pacland (arcade)
5 Sonic (meg)
6 Jet set willy (c64, spectrum..lots of stuff)
7 Black Tiger(arcade)
8 Skullmonkeys (PSX)
9 Turrican (c64)
10 Mickey Mouse in castle of illusion (mastersystem).

Retr0gamer · 15-01-2014 04:34PM

penev10 wrote: »

Any love for Mario Land on the GB? I played it endlessly when it came out but my Mario-crazy son reckons it's muck.

Time has not been kind to it and it's very weird. Mario Land 2 is far better.

Gamayun · 15-01-2014 04:35PM

Ufouria: The Saga on the NES is good fun. It's a bit like Metroid in that it's the one uninterrupted world.

TechnoFreek · 15-01-2014 04:56PM

Superfrog

CiDeRmAn · 15-01-2014 05:35PM

Here's my ten
Manic Miner- Speccy
Gex- 3DO (I know it's probably terrible but I had fun)
Flashback? Plenty of 2d platforming action and the game engine was not built around shooting!
Skullmonkeys- PS, batsh1t insane that one.
Pandemonium 2- PS, far better than the original
Sonic 3
SMB3
SMW
Cool Spot
Super Mario Land
Super Frog!

Retr0gamer · 15-01-2014 06:14PM

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Gex- 3DO (I know it's probably terrible but I had fun)

Joking aside I heard it's decent and the european version has a Red Dwarf connection with the voice actor.

Also Cool Spot? Really? Those Dave Perry games really aren't the best when you play them now.

deathrider · 15-01-2014 06:34PM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Time has not been kind to it and it's very weird. Mario Land 2 is far better.

I've always viewed Mario Land 2 as one of my favourites, although I haven't actually played it since the 90's.

Steve X2 · 15-01-2014 07:03PM

I came in here thinking Superfrog wouldn't get a mention. I was wrong :0)
It's not the best platformer but I really enjoyed it and stick it on from time to time still.

I've not played the remake yet, anyone know if its any good?

CiDeRmAn · 15-01-2014 10:25PM

A lot of nostalgia mixed up in that list.
I first owned a Gameboy in early '91, and had Super Mario Land along with Tetris.
While, yes, Super Mario Land 2 looks far better and has a lot of the features of both SMB3 and SMW, the first one is close to my heart, love the music too!
In fact, it's probably my first Mario platformer, aside from Donkey Kong and Mario Bros back in the day.
Cool Spot is the same, it captured something back then, even though it doesn't play as well now at all.
Gex was fun and at least attempted to haul platformers away from the typical series of environments, the Gex 3D games though, they can go die in a hole, a hole filled with fire.

Andrew76 · 15-01-2014 10:40PM

Steve SI wrote: »

I came in here thinking Superfrog wouldn't get a mention. I was wrong :0)
It's not the best platformer but I really enjoyed it and stick it on from time to time still.

I've not played the remake yet, anyone know if its any good?

It was good fun alright and the music was great. Preferred it over the colour explosion that was Zool.

TechnoFreek · 16-01-2014 12:31AM

Oh yeah. Zool. I actually liked it but the character controls were pants in some parts of the game.

Anyone familiar with an amiga platformer called Premiere?

daingeanrob · 16-01-2014 02:04AM

Any love for flimbos quest here. Has to be up there for me..

Mr.Saturn · 16-01-2014 02:57AM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Time has not been kind to it and it's very weird.

"What the f**k's a lion doing in this game anyway?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmwtykJj47Y

Casey120 · 16-01-2014 09:40AM

From the head in no particular order:

Super Mario World ....duh
DoReMi Fantasy
The adventure of little Ralph
Yoshi's Island
James Pond
Mikey magical quest
Tomba
Montezuma's revenge
Prince of Persia
Donkey Kong country

Top 10 2D Platformers

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