Most underrated mario clone?

[Anthony1]

I'd have to say Kid Chameleon. I think Kid Chameleon is absolutely awesome, but alot of people seem to think it's mediocre.

[diskoboy]

Commander Keen.

[Gapporin]

Depends on what counts as a "Mario clone", but I'd have to say that The New Zealand Story doesn't get enough lovin'.

[8-bitNesMan]

I'd say Sonic is the best of the wannabes :)

[Guru of Time and Space]

Depends on what counts as a "Mario clone", but I'd have to say that The New Zealand Story doesn't get enough lovin'.

The New Zealand Story is great, but...
How the hell is it a Mario clone?

-GoTaS

[Captain Wrong]

Somari.

[77punk]

I would have to say Donkey Kong Country was them making more marios under another name. Replaced italians with monkeys and coins with.. coins..

[Gapporin]

The New Zealand Story is great, but...
How the hell is it a Mario clone?

-GoTaS

That's why I wrote "Depends on what counts as a Mario clone...". If by that, you mean collecting items and such, then no, admittedly, TNZS is not a Mario clone. But I was thinking more of the fact that they both are platformers, stomp on enemies' heads, use weapons (fireballs vs. ray guns), etc. etc.

[Superman]

That's funny Punk. I didn't think of Donkey Kong that way until you mentioned it.

I can't really think of any other Mario clones off hand. I think of games like Sonic and Bonk's Adventure for other systems, but I would consider them more like competitors than clones.

[Rob2600]

2-D: Donkey Kong Country 2

3-D: Rayman 2: The Great Escape

Those are the best, but I guess they aren't underrated.



I can't really think of any Mario clones off hand. I think of games like Sonic and Bonk's Adventure for other systems, but I would consider them more like competitors than clones.

Competitors/clones/imitations...same thing.

[Reid]

Supertux

[MegaDrive20XX]

Rayman
Commander Keen
Alex the Kidd
Donkey Kong Country series
Pulseman
Sonic (no doubt)
Jak and Daxter series
Crash Bandicoot series
Sly Cooper series

[Superman]

Hey Rob2600

I think there is a difference, or at least I look at it that way, between competitors and clones.

Competitors usually try to one up the competition. They may have more powerful weapons, be a more powerful character in general, have unique levels, etc.

Clones and immitators tend to use the same formula with only a different name.

[77punk]

yeah sadly enough the clones and competition is about the same page, seeing that others saw that Mario was great and wanted to improve/make more.. i just don't understand why Mario 3 part 2 never came out.. that game fucking rocked. I also don't mean like how they did super Mario world 2 which in my eyes was a complete basterization to the whole mario name.

[MegaDrive20XX]

I just don't understand why Mario 3 part 2 never came out


Say what? A Mario 3 part 2? Are there any screenshots or details about this? I'd like to see this if you don't mind.

[Rob2600]

I also don't mean like how they did super Mario world 2 which in my eyes was a complete basterization to the whole mario name.

Yes, Nintendo went in a different direction with Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, but the final result was one of the best 2-D video games of all time. It was one of the few games that I cared about collecting everything in the game and receiving a perfect score.

Regarding competitors vs. clones, I still think they're the same thing. Of course, some turn out good and some turn out mediocre and boring.

[Garry Silljo]

I'd have to say Kid Chameleon. I think Kid Chameleon is absolutely awesome, but alot of people seem to think it's mediocre.

It was awesome, but too long for it's own good. I'm one of those gamers who despises warp zones and wants to play through all the levels, for this reason Kid Chameleon left a sour taste in my mouth. I loved everything else about it.

[diskoboy]

Would Jet Grind Radio count? That's my all time fave. It's a platformer. Replace the coins with spray paint cans...

I also second Rayman 2. Probably the best traditional 3-D platformer, out there.

[Damaramu]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/Damaramu/Boogerman2.gif
BOOGERMAN

[XianXi]

Does Ducktales count? I loved that game.

[NESaholic]

I'd vote for Super Mario Bros. IV, it's an Armadillo hack for the NES.

[Blackcrow]

Commander Keen.

Swim swim Hungry. I miss the Dopefish

[Truffle]

These posts are just sad.

Just because a game is a platformer doesnt make it a clone of mario.A Platformer is a genre of action games. It has to play like a mario game! How the hell is jet grind radio like a mario platformer?!
I think:

1) You should have jump from platform to platform

2)You have to jump on your enemies

3)It has to be 2D. Comparing mario 64 to any 3D action game is a pretty generic comparison.

Every game has power ups, it is not special to mario.

[CosmicMonkey]

Great Giana Sisters ;) Such a good clone, Nintendo made Rainbow Arts withdraw it from sale..... :P

[FantasiaWHT]

*seconds Duck Tales*

I played that way more than Super Mario Bros. Can't say the same for SMB3 tho.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

These posts are just sad.

Just because a game is a platformer doesnt make it a clone of mario.
Yeah, it seems like a lot of people these days just think of any platformer as a Super Mario clone these days. I've seen that in other discussions, too. That sort of thing not only ignores platformers that came out before Super Mario, it also minimizes the innovations of platformers that came later. Sonic is *NOT* a Super Mario Bros. clone, for instance. It brought totally new ideas to the platforming genre, especially in terms of level design (which is a really important component of a platformer obviously). Playing Sonic and Mario side-by-side, the games don't seem any more similar than Mario and Contra. Actually, less similar really. I don't see people talking in the same over-generalizing way about 2D shooters or other genres, just platformers.

There's really not very many games that I would think of as actual clones of Super Mario Bros. Great Giana Sisters on the Commie or Super Boy on the MSX are the only ones that spring to mind. Super Mario 3 had some clones, too. Tiny Toons Adventure, for instance, or Armadillo which someone else mentioned. Sonic is a game that really had a lot of clones.

Maybe a better way of asking this question would be, "What are some of the most underrated hop & bop platformers?"

If so, I would mention Ristar. It's not as underrated as it once was, possibly because a lot of people were introduced to it when it was included on one of those SOnic compilations for the Gamecube, but it still doesn't get the attention it deserves. It's one of the best platformers ever released in my opinion. The swinging technique-based gameplay is just so solid and satisfying. And the character and graphic design elements are totally top notch, too.


...word is bondage...

[ccovell]

That's why I wrote "Depends on what counts as a Mario clone...". If by that, you mean collecting items and such, then no, admittedly, TNZS is not a Mario clone. But I was thinking more of the fact that they both are platformers, stomp on enemies' heads, use weapons (fireballs vs. ray guns), etc. etc.

But... if you stomp on an enemy in TNZS, you die!

If anyone wants to check out a real SMB3 clone (or look-a-like) check out Ninja Jajamaru, AKA Squashed.

[Mitch]

Scrapyard Dog on the 7800 was a decent Super Mario clone.

Mitch

[8-bitNesMan]

Yeah, it seems like a lot of people these days just think of any platformer as a Super Mario clone these days. I've seen that in other discussions, too. That sort of thing not only ignores platformers that came out before Super Mario, it also minimizes the innovations of platformers that came later. Sonic is *NOT* a Super Mario Bros. clone, for instance. It brought totally new ideas to the platforming genre, especially in terms of level design (which is a really important component of a platformer obviously). Playing Sonic and Mario side-by-side, the games don't seem any more similar than Mario and Contra. Actually, less similar really. I don't see people talking in the same over-generalizing way about 2D shooters or other genres, just platformers.

There's really not very many games that I would think of as actual clones of Super Mario Bros. Great Giana Sisters on the Commie or Super Boy on the MSX are the only ones that spring to mind. Super Mario 3 had some clones, too. Tiny Toons Adventure, for instance, or Armadillo which someone else mentioned. Sonic is a game that really had a lot of clones.

Maybe a better way of asking this question would be, "What are some of the most underrated hop & bop platformers?"

If so, I would mention Ristar. It's not as underrated as it once was, possibly because a lot of people were introduced to it when it was included on one of those SOnic compilations for the Gamecube, but it still doesn't get the attention it deserves. It's one of the best platformers ever released in my opinion. The swinging technique-based gameplay is just so solid and satisfying. And the character and graphic design elements are totally top notch, too.


...word is bondage...

Good points, but would there have been a Sonic if not for Mario? And I have to argue that Mario & Sonic are way more similar than Mario & Contra.

[tom]

a Mario clone, is surely a Mario Bros clone? As in platform game/kicking animals from underneath/avoiding fireballs.

I'd say Popeye

[MarioMania]

Do you have a source on the Mario 3 Part 2

[Guru of Time and Space]

Do you have a source on the Mario 3 Part 2

Guys...
He didn't mean that Mario Bros 3 Part 2 was in-dev and never released.
He meant that he was surprised that Mario Bros 3 Part 2 NEVER was in-dev at all because of how popular Mario Bros 3 Part 1 was.

Oh, and...
Buzz & Waldog

-GoTaS

[Gapporin]

But... if you stomp on an enemy in TNZS, you die!

...

Boy, is my face red. :embarrassed:

I think we've now proven that TNZS is not a Mario clone. Moving along...

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Good points, but would there have been a Sonic if not for Mario? And I have to argue that Mario & Sonic are way more similar than Mario & Contra.
No, there wouldn't have been a Sonic is not for Mario, but that doesn't mean that the games necessarily play alike. Sonic was a response to Mario, but an original response, not at all a clone or even an imitator really.

While Mario and Sonic both play like scrolling platformers, which is to say at a faster pace and not so strategically, compared to Contra where you have to move slowly and think about how you'll get past each enemy, I think it's pretty obvious that Mario is a lot slower and more strategic in that sense than Sonic is, so Mario would fall somewhere between, but probably closer to Sonic than Contra especially once you've played it a lot (though the same is true of Contra). On the other hand, if you compare the three games in terms of level design, Mario games are designed a lot more like Contra than Sonic, with straight line levels and enemies that are either stationary or come at you directly compared to Sonic's *heavy* reliance on both horizontal and vertical (and maybe especially diagonal) for level layout as well as enemy patterns. Ultimately all three games are very different, so the comparisons are tenuous, but this was my point since it's as true of Mario compared to Sonic as it is Mario compared to Contra.

As for Super Mario Bros. 3 part 2, it was in development and it was even released. It's called Super Mario World.


...word is bondage...

[bangtango]

Gex on the 3DO or Tempo on the 32X are a couple of titles that I thought were underrated. I'd say Bubsy but he is usually classified as a Sonic clone.

[Tron 2.0]

Neo Geo
Blues Journey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfYIj6B3mw8

[Push Upstairs]

As for Super Mario Bros. 3 part 2, it was in development and it was even released. It's called Super Mario World.


I hear that. Too bad it wasn't as innovative as SMB3.

[Anthony1]

Just to clarify what I meant originally. When I'm talking about a mario clone, I'm talking extremely similar in design. If I say hop and bop, then that opens it up to virtually all mascot type games known to man, and then I think it's just too damn general. When I think of mario, I think of

1. You can kill enemies by jumping on them

2. You hit blocks or some type of thing for powerups

3. You collect coins or some type of thing

4. I'm talking about the 2D marios like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World

5. Warp zones of some type are a plus

6. normally you move left to right and the levels are relatively short, but there are lots of levels.


My example was Kid Chameleon, and I think it's a pretty good example, because it pretty much meets every requirement. Another example might be MC Kids on NES (although I'm not sure if they killed enemies by jumping on them). Basically a clone to me, is something that is very much a ripoff. But a ripoff doesn't have to be bad. Saint's Row is a ripoff of GTA, but it's a pretty good ripoff.

The other thing is I said underrated. Alot of games listed in this thread are hardly underrated. But anywho, no biggie, go ahead and list whatever games you would like to, I just wanted to explain what I was looking for with the topic.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

I hear that. Too bad it wasn't as innovative as SMB3.
But then it wouldn't have been Super Mario Bros. 3 Part 2, it would have been Super Mario Bros. 4.

Super Mario Land 2 is kind of like Super Mario Bros. 3 Part 1.5


...word is bondage...

[Gandhara]

Ever play this one? The Famicom game Batsu & Terii is a lot like SMB1 the only thing is the characters can only shoot stuff they can't jump on baddies. If you played it before you can see familiarities all over the place. I bet if Nintendo slapped in Mario characters, music, or whatever else like they did with Doki Doki Panic it would look and feel just like a new Mario game in the series.

[Nes]

Hate to jump on the bandwagon but Duck Tales was a great platformer - I beat that game who knows how many times - definitely better than the first two Marios.

[PresidentLeever]

Land of Illusion (sms), not exactly underrated but certainly overlooked and it fits most of the criteria mentioned above except for 5 & 6. It's also more puzzle oriented than mario with all the switch hitting and item collecting going on.

[kedawa]

It's not strictly a Mario clone, and not really underated AFAIK, but Castle of Illusion deserves a mention, too.