My kingdom for a platformer!

[mregashu]

Anyone else upset over the dearth of platform games for the next gen consoles? As someone who loves Mario 64, Sly Cooper, heck, even the first couple of Crash Bandicoot games, I am getting rather impatient. I know there are the new Sonic games (ick), but what else is out there?

[heybtbm]

Crackdown for the 360 is the ultimate next-gen platformer. It's a open world "sandbox" game that gives your character superhuman abilities. You'll do more jumping and "platforming" in Crackdown that in any Mario game.

The best part is instead of jumping on a goomba's head to kill it, you get to blow it away from 20 stories up with a heat-seeking rocket launcher.

[mregashu]

I've heard Crackdown is good...but it's not quite what I'm talking about. I guess I should clarify by saying I want to see some character based platformers - generally speaking some sort of animal in some sort of fantasy world. As for the rocket launcher part - I kind of have enough games for the 360 where I can use a big gun to destroy things. Hop and bop, baby! THAT'S what I'm looking for. Do you think it's a dying genre? I mean, even games like Ratchet and Clank and Sonic Adventure 2 have shooter elements.

Give me a plumber, a bandicoot, dare I say even Kao the Kangaroo! No, wait, not Kao the Kangaroo. Never Kao the Kangaroo.

[segagamer4life]

Have you tried Super Paper Mario? thats more platform than RPG.... but its not "next gen", dunno, if you included the Wii, as far as your search.

[WanganRunner]

Gee, I did hear about a little-known game called "Super Mario Galaxy".....I think that might be a platformer.

But I've never heard of this "Mario" fella, so I'm still a little skeptical.


*WINK*

[roushimsx]

I loved Sly Cooper 1 and 2 (3...not so much)....
Ratchet & Clank 1 and 2 are pretty solid, though the third veers too far into action territory and becomes a third person shooter....
I've been playing Kya Dark Lineage and have mixed feelings about it...
There's always Legend of Kay...
Never forget Rayman 2 and 3!
How about Ape Escape 2 and 3? Klonoa 2? Psychonauts? Kim Possible?

They're out there waiting for you to find 'em :)

[mregashu]

I know there are plenty last gen - I was talking more about for the new systems.

Now, what is this Mar-E-OH you speak of? :)

I can't wait for SMG - and I guess I didn't realize how much of a platformer SPM is. I'll have to try it out.

[Trebuken]

Kameo...great game...

[FantasiaWHT]

*seconds Super Paper Mario* you get to jump and bop a whoooole lot!

[Nez]

Psychonaughts, sorry I can't spell.

[CartCollector]

How about LittleBigPlanet? (http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/littlebigplanet/news.html?sid=6166934&mode=previews)

[roushimsx]

I know there are plenty last gen - I was talking more about for the new systems.

They're still way, way, way, way, way too new to develop any decent, meaty library of any genre, let alone platformers. Wait two years or so and I'm sure you'll find a good number of of 'em available.

[ProgrammingAce]

They're out there, you probably just don't want them. Aside from kameo they're all kiddie titles. And lousy.

Otherwise look at XBLA for things like cloning clyde, maybe alien hominid if you're into that sort of thing (not sure i'd call it a platformer tho)

[The-Bavis]

*seconds Super Paper Mario* you get to jump and bop a whoooole lot!

I just have to disagree a bit with SPM being a platformer... It does have a decent amount of jumping and bopping, but there are other platformer elements missing or lacking. Granted, I am just a bit past half way through the game, but I think that's enough to judge. Not that it's a bad game, I just wouldn't call it a platformer.

The main frustration I have with the game is all the time I spend waiting either to read text or running back through areas to get clues. I just wouldn't put a game with so many stops in the action into the platforming category.

Just my opinion. The game is worth a shot for anyone.

[appaws]

I've had Psychonauts sitting on my shelf forever, I got it as a b2g1free thing at EB months ago, but it was always getting passed over in favor of something newer and sexier that I picked up.

But the mini-drought I am in before Forza and Odin Sphere later this month finally led me to pop it in yesterday. Wow! Why was I not playing this all along. What a great game. If the rest of the game is as good as the first few hours, this is one of my favorite platformers ever, maybe my all-time favorite 3-D platformer.

[ProgrammingAce]

I've had Psychonauts sitting on my shelf forever, I got it as a b2g1free thing at EB months ago, but it was always getting passed over in favor of something newer and sexier that I picked up.

But the mini-drought I am in before Forza and Odin Sphere later this month finally led me to pop it in yesterday. Wow! Why was I not playing this all along. What a great game. If the rest of the game is as good as the first few hours, this is one of my favorite platformers ever, maybe my all-time favorite 3-D platformer.


It gets better as the game goes on.

[Frica89]

[QUOTE=The-Bavis;1178364]I just have to disagree a bit with SPM being a platformer... It does have a decent amount of jumping and bopping, but there are other platformer elements missing or lacking. Granted, I am just a bit past half way through the game, but I think that's enough to judge. Not that it's a bad game, I just wouldn't call it a platformer.
QUOTE]

I agree. I have beaten the game and found it to be highly enjoyable, yet I would not go so far to recommend this to someone craving platforming action. Yes, you jump on stuff, but it never felt to me like a platforming game. I guess you're out of luck until Galaxy.

[Nebagram]

Tomb Raider: Legend's got a lot to commend it, and the up-coming anniversary game for PS2 is looking hot as well. Sonic SR for the Wii is also fun, but steer clear of the 360/PS3 Sonic.