Is there an "all-time best 2-d platformer ever" thread?

[boatofcar]

I tried like heck to find it using search but came up short--can someone more adept at using it find one?


I'm not sure if this belongs in Classic Gaming or Off Topic, so please move it wherever you deem appropriate :)

[BydoEmpire]

There is now! Anyways, I'd have to go with my personal favorite: Super Mario World. Tight gameplay, tons of great levels, top-notch graphics and sound, lots of hidden things to find, and I liked the battery backup so you could explore at your own pace.

[boatofcar]

There is now! Anyways, I'd have to go with my personal favorite: Super Mario World. Tight gameplay, tons of great levels, top-notch graphics and sound, lots of hidden things to find, and I liked the battery backup so you could explore at your own pace.

In your mind, what makes Super Mario World better than New Super Mario Bros.? I haven't decided which of the two I like better yet, but so far I'm leaning toward SMW because of the sheer amount of worlds to explore.

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Even though I hate to be cliche...super mario world. If anyone says Castlevania i'll be PISSED!

[Cryomancer]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

[MrRoboto19XX]

...so far I'm leaning toward SMW because of the sheer amount of worlds to explore.

Amen, my vote goes to SMW as well, so much to do and just the right amount of challenge.

[Kevincal]

Super Mario Bros. 3

:)

[suppafly]

SMB3 is the best platformer ever

[boatofcar]

Super Mario Bros. 3

:)


SMB3 is the best platformer ever

Please quantify your answers--this thread is pointless otherwise.

[-_-Nintendo-_-]

I'm going to have to say the Castlevania and Metroid series on GBA.

Fantastic audio, smooth animation, lengthy story mode and the slight RPG elements that make these games certainly among the best Platformers.

[MrSparkle]

Even though I hate to be cliche...super mario world. If anyone says Castlevania i'll be PISSED!

hate to make you pissed but symphony of the night is easily my all time favorite 2d platformer it just rocks so hard ive beaten it probably almost as many times as chrono trigger

[diskoboy]

Super Metroid.

By a super-extra-long margin.

It was 2-D gaming perfection. I love SotN, but the Metroid universe has always been my cup of tea.

Still waiting on that 2-D DS Metroid....

[tom]

H.e.r.o.

[boatofcar]

hate to make you pissed but symphony of the night is easily my all time favorite 2d platformer it just rocks so hard

This wasn't exactly what I meant when I asked people to quantify their answers...

[Buns34]

Super Mario Brothers 3 had better level design than Super Mario world, and the power ups are much better. Plus the dificulty is much higher. I love the vibrant colors of Super Mario World, but the game is to easy. Super Metroid is the perfect game, but i would call it more of a shooting sidescroller.

[Wraith Storm]

Astal:
The platforming (aside from you bird companion) is somewhat standard fair, but the game has so much atmosphere. The graphics and level design are unmatched and only made better by the jaw dropping sound track. It’s like a beautiful storybook come to life. In a sense, playing Astal is like playing Nights: Into Dreams; you simply can’t compare the experience to any other game.

Super Mario Brothers 3:
As much as I want to place a Sonic the Hedgehog game here (We all know he’s cooler than Mario) I just can’t. SMB 3 is one of the few games that I simply cannot tire from. The maps and level design are imaginative and lend each world its own unique feel. The item inventory gave it a slight RPG feel and the Airships and accompanying music gave the game a very climactic feel. Throw in loads of secrets and mini games and you have the recipe for a timeless video game………… Did I forget to mention the Raccoon Suit? :D

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Oh guys...I know. My Hero was the best 2-d platform ever!

[Nintendork]

I'm a Mario fan and to this day I say that Super Mario Brothers 3 is the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be. Super Mario World is great in many aspects, but a lot of it is based off the ground work that was laid by SMB3. To me it started with innovation. While SMB2 opened the Mario genre to bigger levels that could be explored by going backwards as well, SMB3 gave us the ability to fly, turn into a statue, and swim like a frog, not to mention the ability to stick Mario in a shoe, an item I think lends itself to be in demand for Super Smash Brothers Brawl but that's another topic.

In addition to the traditional fire flower and star man Mario was now able to take on four new personas through the suits. We now had mid level bosses in castles that blocked your path to the air ships. Games of chance (inspired by SMB2) and card games were introduced. Hidden 1-up tricks and many new secret areas, a plethora of new enemies, the ability to duel a partner (by using the original MArio Brothers game format), hidden treasures (warp whistles, hidden area in level 2 and the islands in level three etc.), and of course some tight game play easily make this the greatest 2-D platformer of all time in my opinion.

[Kevincal]

Please quantify your answers--this thread is pointless otherwise.

Sorry, but everyone that has played SMB3 extensively knows exactly why we think it's the best ever. I find it hard to believe anyone that calls themself a gamer hasn't played this game extensively!!!

[Rob2600]

Super Mario Brothers 3 is the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be.

I like Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA) better than Super Mario Bros. 3. It has way better pacing and I prefer the cartoony art style, which suited the NES perfectly.

I also think Super Mario World is great. Being able to save my progress makes it superior to Super Mario Bros. 3, which became grueling near the end.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is up there, too. So is Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Both games featured variety, creative level designs, and great music.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

For me it's a very close call between Super Mario World and the original Super Mario Bros.

SMB3 is good, but I think SMW really refined the concepts introduced there and possibly even perfected them. There's a really amazing feeling of control in SMW that I don't think any other platformer I've ever played has. When I play it, I almost feel like I *AM* Mario, not just that I'm controlling him. That may just be because of extended playing, though, and maybe it's something I'd find if I played any platformer to that extent. I also thing SMW has a better sense of exploration and discovery than SMB3. The worlds fit together more organically and flow form one to the next and there's a more interesting variety of levels within each world I think, especially when you include the secrets and the Star Road and such. It's a wonderful overall package that seems to fit together just perfectly.

The original Super Mario Bros, though, in my opinion has an even better platforming engine. It's not as free and intuitive as in SMW, but it's more simple almost to the point of being abstract. There are very few rules to the physics, so you can easily internalize them all to the point where you know exactly what will follow if you make a certain action. This allows the gameplay in SMB to be much faster and almost sub-conscious. SMB is a great game for speed runs. Possibly the best.

I'm afraid that my love of SMB and SMW is somewhat skewed by the existence of so many great fan hacks based on the same engines. Those hacks are mostly all I play anymore, only rarely the originals.

The only other platformer that I consider to be in the same league as SMB and SMW is Ristar. Ristar is a very complicated game to play, it comes from a different genre of hop'n'bop platformers where your "technique" is the important point to the gameplay. The level design is complex compared to a Mario game or even Sonic, but it's brilliant in the way it makes you use Ristar's abilities so that you have to be very familiar with what he can do so that you can improvise fluidly to maintain your momentum even in mid-air. A totally excellent and still very under-appreciated game.

The Mickey Mouse Illusion games, especially Castle Of Illusion and World Of Illusion also deserve a mention. They're stiffer to control and the level design is never as good as in the Mario games or Ristar, but the games are still a lot of fun in my opinion.

I think after that, all the othe rplatformers I've played are definitely on a considerably lower level. Maybe Rocket Knight Adventures deserves a mention, too, but the rest even though I've enjoy them quite a bit in some cases, just don't hold up as well over time in my opinion.


...word is bondage...

[Kevincal]

If I had to list my favorites in order... :) Although this order could probably be changed in some areas... Kinda hard when I like most of these games equally. And yes, I have played and do like
2d platformers besides Mario and Sonic. ;) But, in my mind, you can't beat Mario or Sonic in this category. :P

1. Super Mario Bros. 3
2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
3. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
4. Sonic the Hedgehog
5. Super Mario Bros.
6. Super Mario Bros. 2
7. Super Mario World
8. Donkey Kong Country
9. Sonic and Knuckles
10. Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Honorable mention to Ducktales, Mischief Makers, Wario Land (VB), Rayman, Zool 2 (Jag), Yoshi's Story, Castlevania: SoTN, Rocket Night Adventures, Super Mario Land and Mickey Mania. :)

...And MAYBE even Knuckles Chaotix. ;)

For whatever reason, I've never been big into Metroid or Mega Man... I've only owned the original GB Metroid and Mega Man 2, and hardly played either.

[Nebagram]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Seconded. Graphics and music in perfect harmony. Three fundamentally different gameplay mechanics. Intelligent power-ups worthy of Mario at his best. 8 different ways to finish the game. Bonus stages a-plenty. And oh god, the speed. Utterly fantastic.

[Steven]

I also think Super Mario World is great. Being able to save my progress makes it superior to Super Mario Bros. 3, which became grueling near the end.


Why not try playing SMB3 on Super Mario All-Stars then? ;)

I'm not sure how different they are (I know SMB and SMB on SMAS is different in gameplay mechanics), because I've not played NES SMB3 extensively. But I find SMB3 on SMAS to be a damn fine star in the timeless genre.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

My favorites are probably :

1. Super Mario 3 (NES) for it's wonderful balance.

2. Super Mario World (SNES) also for it's wonderful balance, but it's just a BIT too long for my taste when compared to Super Mario 3, which can be completed in a sitting and still feel satisfying and not overly long.

3. Skullmonkeys (PS1) which, while I've never technically "finished" I've always loved for both it's art style and tight twitch-centric controls...it's like the child of Contra and SMB.

[tmc]

I'm afraid that my love of SMB and SMW is somewhat skewed by the existence of so many great fan hacks based on the same engines. Those hacks are mostly all I play anymore, only rarely the originals.

..

Could you maybe please detail some of what you consider the best hacks to be? i've never got into the hacks but would love to, if only to give me a fresh look at a mario game. Ps. i'd like playable hack suggestions that you reccoment please. Not these crazy Kamikazi hacks i see on the net!

to answer the question - i'd go with SMW. But i've also played some games that although i know they've got their faults i've really enjoyed - like Physco Fox, Doodle Bug, super frog, james Pond 2, MM castle of illusion, wonder boy etc.

[Rob2600]

Honorable mention to Ducktales, Mischief Makers, Wario Land (VB), Rayman, Zool 2 (Jag), Yoshi's Story, Castlevania: SoTN, Rocket Night Adventures, Knuckles Chaotix and Mickey Mania. :)

For whatever reason, I've never been big into Metroid or Mega Man... I've only owned the original GB Metroid and Mega Man 2, and hardly played either.

Mischief Makers is great. Yoshi's Story...eh. The graphics and music are impressive, but overall, the game is missing something.

Mega Man 2 is another one of my favorites. along with Castlevania, Super Castevania IV, and Contra. Do they count as a platformers or are they action games?


Why not try playing SMB3 on Super Mario All-Stars then? ;)

I'm only counting the original versions. You're right though, All-Stars for SNES includes a save feature, which comes in handy. I still prefer Super Mario World though. Super Mario Bros. 3 was just too brutal near the end.

Maybe if I hadn't played the NES version so much and started out with the All-Stars version instead, I would like Super Mario Bros. 3 more. It's too long of a game to beat in one sitting, even with warping.

[Berserker]

This wasn't exactly what I meant when I asked people to quantify their answers...

Ok, I'll bite.

Symphony of the Night:

-Beautiful graphics: level scenery and sprites, characters/enemies. Lots of little things going on here and there in the background if you care to notice. HUGE variety of enemies. The whole game takes place in Dracula's castle, but it's pretty damn huge itself. Lots of area to explore, and plenty of secrets to discover.

-Gameplay: You have an inventory, with an extensive variety of weapons/armor/misc items to collect. You have stats which these items can either boost or drop, and you can gain levels. You can also collect relics which add special abilities, form of bat, wolf, mist etc. Relics to summon "familiars" which act like little helper characters that aid you a little bit in various ways. I would say the majority of these relics are not needed to complete the main game - they're just a nice touch.

-Replayability: After you beat the final boss of the main game, depending on the way you go about defeating him, different things can happen. If you take the straightforward approach the game ends in the traditional, expected way. BUT, if you were paying attention to the rather loose storyline (or visited GameFAQs), you can beat him in an alternate way, and you unlock the Inverted Dungeon. What that is, is basically a whole 'nother castle, a whole 'nother world to explore, with all new enemies, items, and bosses. Everything is flipped upside down except you, and the enemies. So it's vaguely familiar, but still completely different. The enemies and bosses are also ridiculously harder and more powerful. It literally feels like a second complete game on top of the first one you just got done playing through. It's kind of mind-blowing the first time you truly realize this.


Now keep in mind, this is NOT me saying this is the "all-time best 2d platformer evar". This is me merely quantifying why people say Symphony of the Night rocks hard. It does. I'd never really understood what all of the hoopla was about, having never played it, but always hearing about it. I vaguely wanted to try it, but not enough to go looking for it on ebay. Then I saw it was available for purchase at the 360 Live Arcade, figured what the hell purchased it, downloaded it, and now I understand.

It's not perfect by any means. There are some horribly imbalanced weapons floating around in the Inverted Dungeon, for example. I'm not a Castlevania fanboy, I don't drink the koolaid. I did make a rather extensively stocked Castlevania shop back when we had meseta and shops and whatnot, but that was actually before I'd played SotN, and I really had little more than a passing interest in the series. But I can say this game kicks significant platforming ass. It's now one of my all-time favorites, without a doubt.

So here's all I'm saying. If you haven't played it yet, if you like platformers in any way shape or form, and you have a 360 -- You owe it to yourself to play this game. Purchase it, download it, let it steal your soul for a couple of days, and then we'll talk.

[Gapporin]

Call me crazy, but I think the best 2-D platformer is...

...Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (SMS)/Dragon's Curse (TG-16).

Don't get me wrong, the Super Mario Bros. series is solid, and rightfully so. But for my money, nothing can beat Wonder Boy III.

Why? The graphics are among the SMS's best. The mix of RPG and platorm elements was (and is) pretty intuitive. The music (especially Last Dungeon and The Sidecrawler's Dance) is very catchy (oh where have you gone, Shinichi Sakamoto?).

All in all, a very superb game. One that I could play through (and have) time and time again.

[boatofcar]

SOTN is an awesome game, but to me it's not a platformer...I think Metroid and the post-SOTN CV games transcend the platform genre and are something new entirely. Just my opinion, though :)

[Berserker]

SOTN is an awesome game, but to me it's not a platformer...I think Metroid and the post-SOTN CV games transcend the platform genre and are something new entirely. Just my opinion, though :)

Oh no, I totally agree. That's why I said it wasn't my pick for best platformer - I was just trying to quantify its awesomeness. I mean, it IS kind of a platformer, in that you jump on platforms and kill things, but there's also too many RPG elements there.

For pure pick-up-and-play 2d platforming goodness, my vote would have to go to Super Mario World, with maybe Yoshi's Island coming in as a close second.

[Kevincal]

Mischief Makers is great. Yoshi's Story...eh. The graphics and music are impressive, but overall, the game is missing something.

Ya, I think they blew it when they made you use the analog stick instead of the good old d-pad. Yoshi's Story is quite clunky using the analog stick... It would have been a MUCH better game had the d-pad been used, and they made you play through ALL of the levels to complete the game. Not this pick your level crap... It worked ok for Starfox 64, but not Yoshi's Story... Oh, and what a PITA it is to sniff around for all of the melons... They should've gotten rid of that too. Or atleast not incorporated the melons into the ground and the whole sniffing thing... Still a very decent game though. Lovely graphics for sure.