Fast 3D Platformers

[mamboFoxtrot]

Does anybody here know of any fast 3D platformers other than Sonic that aren't super linear? Doesn't have to be new or hard, just fast! I tried some Google-fu, but all I could find is Cloudbuilt, which looks pretty fun.

[shmuppyLove]

Chaindive, kind of?

Mirror's Edge?

[Lord Satori]

other than Sonic

There aren't any.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Shinobi (the 2002 PS2 game) and Kunoichi/Nightshade ARE linear, but... watch some speedrun videos. Ubisoft tried to emulate those in at least two PS2-gen PoP games, but having never given up on emulating DMC as well, they ended up with something of a patchwork.

I had to play Shinobi without using right analogue stick, for Sega had a problem giving me the kind of camera control I like.

Super Monkey Ball (the first one) - as fast as you can make it.

Kororinpa - see above (although I think the fastest-rolling balls are not available from the start, you need plenty of practice with easier ones to get far in the game anyways). Split-screen competition is what Super Monkey Ball needed most badly.

Some F-Zero GX tracks for sure (not completely linear at that). Some other vehicular games come near in that respect.

Relatively fast-paced action games with 3D platforming bits: Apocalypse (best played with two analogue sticks) and Silent Bomber.

[Blackbird]

Completely obvious, but Mario games could also fit this. They can go pretty fast depending on how hard you try to speedrun the game. Linearity varies between titles - games like Galaxy and 3D World are a bit less linear because you have more freedom in regards to the order you play the levels in, and some levels have multiple solutions if you get some clever platforming going.

[Drum]

Jet Set Radio (it's a platformer).

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Billy Hatcher can get pretty fast paced if you are doing speed runs on it.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I was hoping Billy Hatcher belongs here. (For real, though, who - never mind someone out there, but who on HERE - found speedrunning SM Galaxy any fun?)

[Lord Satori]

I don't think that game was designed for speedrunning, excepting of course the prankster stars that gave you a time limit.

[Obiwanshinobi]

A prankster comet was the only reason I even tried and it wasn't very enjoyable. As a matter of fact, the only SMG levels I found interesting were the ones where I had to keep adjusting the camera (that is one of the game's mechanical shortcomings and after many twin-stick 3D platformers feels like a step back), which did not exactly make me want speedrun those either.

That is not to say the camera in Sega's 3D platformers can't get in the way, but it can be an acquired taste there.

[Moniker]

Pretty decent one on XBLIG called TEC 3000 or something like that. I had some fun with it. IIRC it's only a buck.

[mamboFoxtrot]

(I linked that in the OP )
Yeah, its also on Steam. Not sure why I haven't bought it yet.

I found another game, InMomentum, though it seems like it'd get pretty monotonous after a while.

A lot of these games look pretty interesting (holy crap Silent Bomber looks nuts)! I do have some of them already, like Shinobi PS2 and SMG2 (but not 1), and while they can be pretty fast if you want them to, I was mostly wondering if there were any platformers really trying to push speed as a "casual" gimmick.
There used to be lots of Sonic wannabe's back when he was 2D: Bubsy, Awesome Possum, Mohawk and Headphone Jack etc, but once going to 3D it seems all the imitators are for Crash and Mario. I guess the fact that most 3D Sonic games get a lukewarm reception at best nowadays more or less sends a flag to developers that there's no money to be had in that style? Maybe dealing with all that speed is a programming/development nightmare? I dunno.

(For real, though, who - never mind someone out there, but who on HERE - found speedrunning SM Galaxy any fun?)

This one's kind of a weird case for me, and maybe exposes some silly biases on my part: Thing is, while I love charging up a spin dash and then jumping 800ft and skipping huge chunks of levels in SA1 and 2, I didn't really get any jollies out of the constant long-jumping in SMG2 (though I do kinda like pulling off the backflip highjump in all the 3D Mario games). I'm not sure why, since these two things are technically almost identical in execution.

[Obiwanshinobi]

My Billy Hatcher PC copy has arrived and I've just played some. The port is a typical console-to-PC conversion of its time: I don't think I had real analogue controls with the gamepad I'd used and - on a WinXP Pro machine exceeding recommended requirements - in 1600x1200

2014-08-21 06:44:56 - BillyHatcher
Frames: 65949 - Time: 1424687ms - Avg: 46.290 - Min: 22 - Max: 61

while in 640x480

2014-08-21 07:19:38 - BillyHatcher
Frames: 44150 - Time: 963938ms - Avg: 45.802 - Min: 20 - Max: 61

(forced anisotropic filtering, but aww, come on now).

In reality it's not unplayable (doesn't slow down or lag remarkably), but - not having played the GameCube version - I can't tell whether or not the seemingly digital controls hamper my performance (scored only two "NICE SHOT!" remarks, out of many attempts).

All this makes me reluctant to try hard before I play the 'Cube version.

Like all the best Sega games (which is not to say it is one of those), it's obviously meant to be played for speed indeed. The less said about the camera, the better. If you could live with the PS2 Shinobi camera, I guess you won't dismiss it hastily. The game's got many compelling mechanics, but the way PC port is, I don't feel like getting serious about it yet. There are simply more tidy 3D platform games on PC, if not as speedy as Billy Hatcher.
And yes, it does look like a Dreamcast game - nothing impressive for the year 2003 (let alone 2006 when the port came out), but not bad for my money.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag:_The_Power_of_Paint

The makers of the game went on to help develop Portal 2's paint gimmick. It's a FPS, but it's an interesting puzzle game that might qualify, though it's not nearly as 'fast' as Sonic would be.

[Obiwanshinobi]

One stage of Inago Rage free demo made for the best 3D platforming I've experienced in a first person shooter (Inago Rage controls a lot like Tribes, but enough said). Everybody should play at least the demo. I don't know if the full version has any more challenges like that, but an easy to use level editor was supposed to be the selling point so you should be able to make some by yourself (and share).