Where have all the platformers gone?
polycounter lvl 17
First Id like to state that Im an old school gamer, I grew up in the 8 bit and 16 bit golden era of gaming. By the time the original Sony Playstation came out I was already in my late teens, up until then my favorite genres growing up were platformers, RPGs, fighting games, and shooters ie top down and vertical shooters! With that said technology has advanced further and further giving us much more realistic and immersive worlds to play in, and has bred new genres like shooters, sandbox games, etc! What has me bothered as I look across the gaming landscape though is the extinction on one of my favorite genres which is the 3d platformer, I mean the only game of its kind I see on the horizon is Mario galaxy! The new Ratchet & Clank while awesome looking isnt really a tried and true platformer and leans more in the 3p shooter category. Something like Mario, Crash, and Sonic, even Nights represent the true essence of what I love about the genre.
As much as I enjoy fragging it up with my buddies in the latest shoot em up bang bang game I cant help feeling deprived in my gamers diet! I fired up my PS2 and loaded up the original Jak and Daxter and had a blast, its been so long since Ive played a game that just rewards me for getting from point A to point Z without firing a shot! Its a truly relaxing thing to just runaround and play in an environment without worrying if youre going to get sniped. I realize the new generation of gamers grew up on Master Chief instead of Mario but are all these kids today playing FPSs and sports games? I had such high hopes for Nintendo but it seems like casual games hijacked the market much like FPSs in there hey day and my hopes of seeing titles like this coming out of the big N are pretty much futile. Anyway I was just wondering if there are any other platformer fans out there and if you guys miss the genre as much as I do. By the way does anyone know of any game along these lines coming out, or better yet is anyone working on something like this?
Marcus
Artist - Kaos Studios
As much as I enjoy fragging it up with my buddies in the latest shoot em up bang bang game I cant help feeling deprived in my gamers diet! I fired up my PS2 and loaded up the original Jak and Daxter and had a blast, its been so long since Ive played a game that just rewards me for getting from point A to point Z without firing a shot! Its a truly relaxing thing to just runaround and play in an environment without worrying if youre going to get sniped. I realize the new generation of gamers grew up on Master Chief instead of Mario but are all these kids today playing FPSs and sports games? I had such high hopes for Nintendo but it seems like casual games hijacked the market much like FPSs in there hey day and my hopes of seeing titles like this coming out of the big N are pretty much futile. Anyway I was just wondering if there are any other platformer fans out there and if you guys miss the genre as much as I do. By the way does anyone know of any game along these lines coming out, or better yet is anyone working on something like this?
Marcus
Artist - Kaos Studios
Replies
I thought the new Ratchet and Clank looked pretty platformery... I dunno, there are quite a few games like this around. I'd definitely not say they're extinct. The genre was done a LOT back in the day though, so it's natural that it got phased out a bit.
There is the new Banjo Kazooie but Rare have said they are 'updating' it. ;(.
On the Wii there is Dewy's Adventure. Borderline marble/platformer but the controls look a bit wank.
Ice Age 2 and Ratatouille (pc or ps2 version, 360 version was messed with) are reasonable licence ones.
Indie/freeware 3d platformers are rare. All the love goes to 2d ones. Endless amounts of them floating around.
Older 3d platformers you should try if you haven't yet include Klonoa 1 (ps1) and 2 (ps2); Stunning series. Billy Hatcher (gc).
And if you are desperate. Ty the Tasmania Tiger 1, not 2 or 3. Complete N64 era rip off.
Marcus
Artist - Kaos Studios
I mean, I don't mind just having them on handheld.. as long as they are still being made.. but I think a full console experience, especially in HD would just be awesome.. I miss it.
sonic especially needs a return to form.. ugh.
I'd love to see some 2d come back as well.. another 2d Megaman or Guilty Gear or Sonic or Castlevania.. in HD! on console.. now that would rule.
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http://www.xbox.com/en-CA/Games/s/sonicxboxlivearcade/default.htm
http://www.xbox.com/en-ca/games/c/castlevaniasotnxboxlivearcade/
That kind of thing? Not sure if it's full HD, but none-the-less...
Marcus
Artist - Kaos Studios
PS: 2d anything would be awesome but a pipedream at best, especially from anything in the west!
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First I would like to state that I am an old school gamer, I grew up in the 8 bit and 16 bit golden era of gaming.
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and this:
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one of my favorite genres which is the 3d platformer
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doesn't fit together.
Every true old school gamer (8 and 16 bit) loathes 3D platformers for they were the death of those immensely more enjoyable 2D platformers.
Just compare Super Mario World with every 3D Mario that came after it... the latter don't even come close!
I for one am happy that they are dead, and hopefully for good!
P.S.: Yeah, a great HD 2D fighting game (Last Blade 3!!!!) would be a dream come true.
P.P.S.: Off to play on my GP2X, which got a great Amiga emulator lately (among lots of other great new programms).
Marcus
Artist - Kaos Studios
PS: Last Blade 3 in HD on consoles would be awesome, here's hoping that the Samurai showdown series makes its way to the Xbox 360 or PS3 as downloads!
As for the Mario Games, well theres only been one true 3d Mario and that's Mario 64
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Looks like Mario Sunshine was so shit everyone's forgotten about it. I know I did until just then
Am I the only person in the world who has been a gamer since the 8-bit era and who DOESN'T miss 2D whatsoever? I feel like I'm weird, because whenever this discussion comes up, everyone is always going on about how superior 2D fighting games were, or 2D platformers or 2D shooters, and I just don't get it.
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It's nostalgia. Pure and simple. :S
I'm of the same opinion as you though.
Oh, and Gir, PoP Classic on XBLA is not in its original resolution, it's completely new graphics, 3D actually.
i love particularly the 2D quest games, i wish they made more of those
yay for achievements!
http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque/tgb/
Also, any of the Prince of Persia series (with the exception of Prince of Persia 3D) are very replayable - I just finished working through Sands of Time, for the umpteenth time.
They're working on a new Mario too.
Sure, platformers are the minority these days, but they're healthier than the space shooter sim and the graphic adventure
Marcus
Artist - Kaos Studios
I guess why they don't work so well now is because of how simple they are. Walk from one area, fight a bunch of dudes by mashing your keys, arrow appears, walk forward and repeat.
The latest game I played that took this genre a little further was 'The Red Star' on PS2. Which is a typical arcade platformer mixed with Ikaruga. I enjoyed playing through it. Its definitely not the most brain intensive game, but will entertain you for a long enough time line.
-caseyjones
Also Getting Up, that Graffiti game, was mostly a platformer.
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It's nostalgia. Pure and simple. :S
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Sure to a certain point it is, but especially 2D fighting games are actually a completly different type of game compared to 3D fighters.
Comparing them would be like comparing a jetski racing game with a submarine simulator (yay, strange comparisms FTW).
I LOVED the humour, the art style was/is one of the best I've ever seen and the game was _just_ fun.