Top 10 Platformers of all time?

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Wed May 18, 2005 12:10 pm

Well For me, Sonic 3&Knuckles period.

Runners up in no order...

XEXYZ (NES)
Blaster master (NES)
Quackshot (MD)
Revenge of Shinobi (MD)
Marvel land (MD)
World/Island of illusion (MD)
Castlevania series
Megaman series
Mario series
Other sonic games.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Wed May 18, 2005 12:38 pm

1. Turrican 2 (AMIGA)
2. Sonic 2 (Genesis)
3. Mega Man 2 (NES)
4. Ninja Gaiden II (NES)
5. Super Contra (NES)
6. Donkey Kong Country 2 (SNES)
7. Mega Man X3 (PC/Saturn)
8. Super Contra III (SNES)
9. Strider (Genesis/Arcade)
10.Batman (NES)

Honorable Mentions:

Black Thorne (PC)

CastleVania Symphony of the Night is not quite a platform, it's more an Adventure/RPG. But its awesome.

Lost Vikings for the PC/AMIGA/Genesis has awesome gameplay, but its rather
a Puzzle/Platformer than a cute/Action platform like the others listed.

Mario 2 (NES)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Mega Man X6 (PSX)
Metal Slug 3 (NEO GEO)
Mickey Mouse - Castle of Illusion (Genesis)
Mr. Nutz (AMIGA)
Ninja Gaiden 3
Rocket Knight Adventures (SNES)
Sonic 1 (Genesis)
Turrican 1 (AMIGA)
Yoshi's Islannd (SNES)

llabnip · Post by **llabnip** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:24 pm

I see a few people listed Keio Yuugekitai (Sega Saturn). Good for you! It's one of the very best platformers out there... and amazingly Japanese-y in presentation and style. If you like platform games and enjoy quirky Japanese games with some odd-ball momements, you owe it to yourself to track this down!

I love platformers... and the standards are great - SMB1, SMB3, SMW, SMW:Yoshi's Island, Sonic 1, 2 and 3+KN, Earthworm Jim, Donkey Kong Country (2 is best), Rayman, Clockwork Knight 1 and 2 (I absolutely love the atmosphere and music in these... I have a soft spot for these even if they aren't the best of the best), Astal, Ristar, Nights into Dreams (not sure what genre this falls into but it's an amazing game and I'm putting it in with the platformers). The original Pitfall is great too!

Post by **system11** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:12 pm

bloodflowers wrote:I can't believe nobody has said Black Tiger yet.

Shameful.

Still!!!! Not a mention. You people are crazy!

http://www.system16.com/cybercade/games/blacktiger.html

You need to play this game!

jpolz · Post by **jpolz** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:47 pm

1. Super Mario Brothers
2. Sonic The Hedgehog
3. Mega Man
4. Metal Slug
5. Contra
6. Bonk
7. Kirby
8. Metroid
9. Dynamite Headdy
10. Donkey Kong Country

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:51 pm

bloodflowers wrote:
bloodflowers wrote:I can't believe nobody has said Black Tiger yet.

Shameful.
Still!!!! Not a mention. You people are crazy!

http://www.system16.com/cybercade/games/blacktiger.html

You need to play this game!

Well call me crazy, but I HAVE played the game and found it not worthy of more of my time. Decidedly avarage (or below).
But I admit giving up on the game not long after I bought it... so I might have missed something

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:46 pm

Same here. Never found it much better than GNG. I could be just as surprised that nobody else mentioned Strider 2 but I guess these are just personal faves.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Wed May 18, 2005 5:27 pm

bloodflowers wrote:
bloodflowers wrote:I can't believe nobody has said Black Tiger yet.

Shameful.
Still!!!! Not a mention. You people are crazy!

http://www.system16.com/cybercade/games/blacktiger.html

You need to play this game!

Yep. Played through it in MAME several times. It's a fun game but I wouldn't consider it a classic and wouldn't consider it for my top ten. Still a cool game though...did it ever see a home release of any kind?

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Wed May 18, 2005 10:46 pm

Jon wrote:
bloodflowers wrote:
bloodflowers wrote:I can't believe nobody has said Black Tiger yet.

Shameful.
Still!!!! Not a mention. You people are crazy!

http://www.system16.com/cybercade/games/blacktiger.html

You need to play this game!
Yep. Played through it in MAME several times. It's a fun game but I wouldn't consider it a classic and wouldn't consider it for my top ten. Still a cool game though...did it ever see a home release of any kind?

Yes, at least several that I know of...:

*Amiga (which was the version I played! Bought it on a compilation with
GnG and Strider)
* Amstrad CPC464
* Atari ST
* Commodore C64
* ZX Spectrum

Possibly some console ports as well but I don't know of them...

Dartagnan1083 · Post by **Dartagnan1083** » Wed May 18, 2005 10:53 pm

Favorites In order as they come to mind
bolded if I particularly liked it.

Rocket Knight Adventures (the first one, not the broken sequels...not enough people remember this

)
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Super Mario World
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Klonoa 2
Dracula X: Rondo of Blood
Castlevania III
Sonic 3
Mario 3
Pitfall: Mayan Adventure
Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim 2
Psycho Fox
Zero: The Kamikazee Squirrel
Astal
MegaMan 7
MegaMan 8
Sonic Advance 3 <<honestly, if you haven't tried it yet...it really does come closer to its Genesis bretheren like no other.
Indiana Jones Greatest Adventures
Super Star Wars
Monster World IV
Flashback
Shinobi III
Sonic 2
El Viento
Earnest Evans
Revenge of Shinobi
Skyblazer

and am I the only one here that thinks the original Donkey Kong Country is one of the most over-rated games ever unleashed on the world?
I simply can't belive it

Tomtom · Post by **Tomtom** » Thu May 19, 2005 4:07 am

Here's a list off the top of my head:

-Umihara Kawase
-Umihara Kawase Shun
-Super Mario World
-Mega Man 3
-Metroid Fusion (not sure if that would count, but it's easily my favorite Metroid)
-Journey to Silius
-Sonic the Hedgehog 2
-Kirby Super Star
-Yoshi's Island
-Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Had to look through the list for a bit of inspiration here, but that's a pretty good representation...

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:34 am

bloodflowers wrote:
I can't believe nobody has said Black Tiger yet.

Shameful.

Still!!!! Not a mention. You people are crazy!

http://www.system16.com/cybercade/games/blacktiger.html

You need to play this game!

Fuckin A, a masterpiece of design, and one of CapCom's very finest - and definitely most underrated - releases in my eyes. Still needs a good port, although the C64 version wasn't so bad, hopefully their upcoming compilation will sort that out.

Super Mario World is still my favorite game ever. And Blackthorne, Flashback, Yosh's Island and Sonic 1 are some of the most fun I've ever had with video games.

BUHA · Post by **BUHA** » Sat May 21, 2005 6:15 pm

I can't believe that no one has mentioned Battletoads for the NES. That game, to me, is truly damn near perfect.

and Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier? You barely even have to jump on those games! I dont see very many platforms.

For me, the king of platformers is the megaman games on the NES, with 2, 3, and 4 being the best. truly timeless games. they play just as good now as they did way back when they first came out. the rest can eat my butthair.

Metal Storm is a badass game. I need to spend some more time with it. can't beat the 3rd boss

EDIT:

Wonderboy in Monster World was one of my favorites when i was growing up! i played through it again last year and was surprised at how well it's aged. Really underrated little game.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:44 pm

That's because Battletoads in a perspective Beat Em Up, not a platform like the others mentined above...

Yeah I agree WonderBoy - Monster Land was so cool back in the day. The PCE conversion is great even though they changed the Bosses. I never understood why they did that by the way?!...

jp · Post by jp » Sat May 21, 2005 7:52 pm

BUHA wrote: Metal Storm is a badass game. I need to spend some more time with it. can't beat the 3rd boss

Metal Storm is a fucking evil game that can go to hell. The level with the giant laser constantly chasing you and the messing up once and the dying... UGH!

Otherwise, a very fun and creative game. Just hard as fucking nails.

TVG · Post by **TVG** » Sat May 21, 2005 9:05 pm

on top of my head..

super mario world: probably THE best platformer ever considering its date of release

sonic 2: absolutely fucking amazing, i drooled over this one so much, to think there were morons saying that it sucks and that sonic 1 was better back in the day...but i was a kid so i couldnt argue shit lol.

alex kidd in miracle world: my first videogame ever other than LCD "game & watch" lookalikes, how could i be unbiased? so much better than mario 1, it came as a shock to me, and something that would change my life forever :p, hell even my mom played it to death, she could go to the blue castle everytime.

jewel master: the underrated jewel of the MD, splendid graphics and music, brillant gameplay, probably the most varied weapons for a game of its time.

contra 3: okay, the daddy of run'n'guns, nuff said.

megaman X6: best megaman i played, and the best of the three X on the psx, 4 was okay but not too hot, 5 did implement some nice innovations, but was ruined by the brainded easy difficulty, X6 is just X5 done right, and absolutely gorgeous.

strider: not much to say there cept its fuckin ownage, i cant really describe what playing strider feels like, but you all know what i mean.

pacman world psx: the only good 3D platformer, and thats only because its more isometric that real 3D, dope game overall.

more to come as i recall them.

as you can guess, i think 3D is the worst thing that could happen to platformers, i dont mind modern gaming or 3D, just not for platformers, and yea, i think super mario 64 blows cajones, i tried the DS version to see if i missed something back in the day, played a few stages, but no, it still sucks just as much.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sat May 21, 2005 9:39 pm

BUHA wrote:I can't believe that no one has mentioned Battletoads for the NES. That game, to me, is truly damn near perfect.

I guess most people think of them as the sidescroller/beat-em-up hybrids that they are. No sure why you prefer the NES game though since the Genesis version is practically the same except that it looks better, sounds better, controls better, and as a result of the smoother controls, is easier to play.

Moogs · Post by **Moogs** » Sat May 21, 2005 9:49 pm

Ristar
Rocket Knight Adventures
Bonk's Revenge
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario World
SkullMonkeys
Kirby's Adventure
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Kid Chameleon
Earthworm Jim (Genesis)
Sky Blazer
Astal
Keio Yugekitai
Silhouette Mirage (import only)

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sat May 21, 2005 10:30 pm

Ganelon wrote:No sure why you prefer the NES [Battletoads] though since the Genesis version is practically the same except that it looks better, sounds better, controls better, and as a result of the smoother controls, is easier to play.

Maybe it's because I put countless hours into the NES version and only one or two into the Genesis version, but I found the controls much better in the NES version.

BUHA · Post by **BUHA** » Sat May 21, 2005 11:07 pm

The Genesis battletoads is okay, but it just isn't the same. it's a little different, which means that i wouldnt be as good at it, being so used to the NES one.

also, there is a LOT more jumping and dodging crap than beating stuff up on battletoads. i'd definitely consider it more of a platformer than a beat em up.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Sun May 22, 2005 2:01 am

Battle Toads - Double Dragon is one of the coolest & funniest beat em ups! It has some hilarious quotes! The 1st time I saw/read this stuff, I laughed my pants off!

"Abobo Not Like Intruders! I'm Gonna Beat You Up!"
This is so hilarious!

The Toad's expression is priceless!

The Big-Bad Boot!

This Guy got kicked to the Moons of Jupiter!

And this dialogue is just so funny!

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Sun May 22, 2005 2:39 am

Recalhorn (Why Taito passed on this one is a mystery, unless it just wasn't a hit at loketest)
Bubble Bobble series
Rainbow Islands
Shinobi
Rolling Thunder series
Parasol Stars
Strider 1 & 2
Magic Sword
Revenge of Shinobi
Shinobi 3

Black Tiger was supposed to be ported to the NES at one time but it got the axe. Only leaked beta ROMs exist of that version as far as I know.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sun May 22, 2005 2:58 am

BUHA wrote:The Genesis battletoads is okay, but it just isn't the same. it's a little different, which means that i wouldnt be as good at it, being so used to the NES one.

also, there is a LOT more jumping and dodging crap than beating stuff up on battletoads. i'd definitely consider it more of a platformer than a beat em up.

Battletoads is a hybrid of different genres. It's has beat 'em up, platformer, bungie jumping, flying, and other elements. The GB Battletoads and Battletoads and Double Dragon also have a mix of genres. There is no denying that the play mechanics of beating up enemies with punches that hit in a combo, the weapons, and stuff like that are beat 'em up mechanics. Double Dragon also has dodging and jumping and it's definatly a beat 'em up. Honestly, can't a game be both a platformer and a beat 'em up?

WarpZone · Post by **WarpZone** » Sun May 22, 2005 2:58 am

I'm not considering sidescrolling adventure games (ie: Metroid) or run 'n gunners (ie: Gunstar):

Super Mario World
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario 64
Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Kirby Super Star
Yoshi's Story
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario Bros. 3
Sonic the hedgehog 2
Wario Land II

BUHA · Post by **BUHA** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:09 am

[/quote] Honestly, can't a game be both a platformer and a beat 'em up?[/quote]

Exactly. it's a platformer beatemup. does that still count? if not, sorry. I know all about the game. I've beaten it before.

I like the quotes on the NES battletoads, as well

I like when the dark queen calls you battlebarf lol and when you lose all your lives Professor T. Bird goes "what the frog's going on, toads!? get back in there and fry the pork!" or sometimes he says he'll call in the battlehamsters.

classic.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:17 am

Whoever designed the bike levels in Battletoads is, unknowingly, one of the most hated men in the game industry, along with the dumbass who took the energy bar from Contra Hard Corps, the fucktard who toned down Streets of Rage 3, Half-Life's G-Man, and Bernie Stolar.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Sun May 22, 2005 10:55 am

There should be a distinction between "Cute" platform games, "Beat-Shoot" & "Adventure" platform games. For example putting Sonic, Contra & CastleVania SOTN in the same list is not right.

Games like Sonic, Mario, Bonk, Ristar, Kirby, Mickey Mouse - Castle of Illusion, are all "Cute" platform games. Characters/enemies & levels, have a “Cute/funny” look & you kill enemies mainly by jumping/rolling on them.

Contra, Turrican, CastleVania III, Strider, Shinobi 3, Alien Soldie, Batman, Jewel Master, are all "Beat-Shoot" platform games. Characters/enemies & levels, have a more serious look & you kill enemies mainly by beat/shooting them.

CastleVania SOTN, CastleVania II, Wonderboy in Monster Land, Metroid, Shadow of the Beast, Prince of Persia, Another World, Flashback, etc... are "Adventure" platform games This genre shares the characteristics of the previous 2 but, has a lot of RPG/adventure elements which sets it aside from the rest.

As for:
Earthworm Jim 1
Earthworm Jim 2
Ganbare Daiku no Gensan - Hammerin Harry
Gunstar Heroes
MegaMan 1-8, X, Z series
Sparkster
Rocket Knight Adventures
Vectorman
Vectorman 2

I'm not quite sure where to place them, since the characters & enemies are cure, but you kill the enemies mainly by shooting & beating them, not jumping on them like in the “Cute” genre.

Also Mr. Nutz on the AMIGA, shares elements from RPGs like Zelda III, the World Maps from Mario World & the gameplay of Sonic. So I'm not sure if it's "Cute" or "Adventure"?
And Demon's Crest (SNES) & First Samurai (AMIGA/SNES), should they be placed with the Adventure or Beat-Shoot platform games?

As for Ninja Warriors Again, Crude Dudes, Altered Beast, Splatter House 1, 2, Bad Dudes, Hokuto no Ken 2 are “Platform Beat Em Ups” because you only beat up enemies, jump on platforms & move mainly on the X & Y axis

Where as Splatter House 3, Final Fight, Battle Toads, Streets of Rage Series, Battletoads and Double Dragon, TMNT 4 – Turtles In Time, King of Dragons, Golden Axe, are “Perspective Beat Em Ups” since you only beat-up enemies, don’t jump on platforms, the levels are slightly tilted (270 degrees) & you move on the X,Y & Z axis.

Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, KOF series, Art of Fighting, Samurai Shodown, etc… are all “1-on-1 Beat Em Ups”.

Some other cool Beat-Shoot Platform games that are overlooked:

Alisia Dragoon (Genesis)
Batman - Return of the Joker (NES)
Blades of Vengence (Genesis)
Code Name Viper (NES)
Dragon Fighter (NES)
El Viento (Genesis)
Generations Lost (Genesis)
JimKujaku-Oh 2 - Peacock King / Mystic Defender (Genesis)
Kabuki - Quantum Fighter (NES)
Master of Darkness (Master System)
Musya (SNES)
Nija Gaiden series (NES)
Hagane (SNES)
Pirates of Dark Waters (Genesis)
Realm (SNES)
Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis)
Rendering Ranger R2 (SNES)
Risky Woods (Genesis)
Rocketeer (NES)
Run Saber (SNES)
Shadow of The Ninja (NES)
Shatterhand (NES)
Shinobi 3 (Genesis)
Valis Series (Genesis/PCE)
Vice - Project Doom (NES)
Wolf Child (AMIGA/Genesis/SNES)

BUHA · Post by **BUHA** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:17 pm

Battletoads has tons of platforms. You should play more of it before saying that all you do is beat stuff up.

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:24 pm

Battletoads certainly has platforming elements, but not enough to really be a platformer. I could never place it in the same genre as Super Mario Bros. or Sonic (although the definition of a platform game in this thread is pretty liberal).

Actually, variety is the game's strength. It's not that the riding parts, the platform parts, and the fighting parts are all that great individually, but the way they all mix together keeps the game fresh throughout.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:26 pm

Yeah but its also perspective, as it scrolls & moves to all three axis, unlike the typical cute platform (Mario, Sonic, Bonk) So its more of a Beat Em Up like Final Fight, Streets of Rage but with a cute theme imo.