Best 2D Platformers on the PS1?

[The Adventurer]

So this last month saw me pick up a copy of Castlevania Symphony of the Night for PS1 and had it really capture my imagination for a good solid week. I really needed a good polished action platformer (in this case with some RPG elements thrown in for good measure) and it really delivered. Which got me thinking. I've very new the PS1's library, I was a Nintendo fanboy growing up, Sega and Sony were taboo for years. I've since out grown that. This is both a blessing and a curse. A curse because I ignored a lot of good games over the years, and a blessing because now I have a mountain of games to keep me busy for a good number of years. The I never really thought of the PS1 as a source of good 2D platformers, but between Castlevania and the Mega Mans (8, X4-6 specificly) there appears to be some good material to mine.

So my question is; beyond Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Mega Man 8, X4, X5, and X6 what are some good action platformers on the PS1? Cause I want to start tracking them down.

[Edmond Dantes]

There's also Castlevania Chronicle, which is a port/remake of the X68000 version of Castlevania. Supposedly its pretty good.

The original Rayman is available on PS1 and it was a 2D platformer. Most people like it (I wasn't a huge fan, but don't go by me).

I'll keep an eye out.

[IHatedSega]

Rayman was awesome, but hard as hell.

I saw a thing about Hermie Hopperhead, it looks cool and its like a Yoshi game where you have eggs and they hatch and you can use them for life and to do stuff.

I think the first Tomba game is 2D, I like the 3D sequel, so look out for that one.

[FieryReign]

I'm assuming you're looking into 2.5D platformers as well?

Klonoa
Adventures of Lomax
Spider: The Video Game

There's also crap like Pandemonium 1+2 and Johnny Bazookatone.

[Crystalian]

Darn, FieryReign beat me to mentioning Klonoa. Dagnabit, I bet he thinks he's hot stuff. :onfire:

[DeseoParadise]

Lomax and Klonoa are the best. I dont know if in Japan catalogue of PS1 there are a lot of 2d platform but try to ask to an expert in this kind of games at assembler

[Koa Zo]

Punky Skunk is one of the most highly overlooked platform games ever, it seems to me. It covers all the standard platforming conventions rather well. In fact, the game is pretty much poking fun at how cliche and overused the 16-bit platform mascot games became.
And of course there is Silhouette Mirage, remixed by working designs. Most people prefer the Saturn or JPN PS1 version though. And it should be noted, Silhouette Mirage is more of a hybrid side scrolling beat'em-up run'n'gun than an action platform game.

As for imports,
Adventures of Little Ralph is excellent.

[FieryReign]

Darn, FieryReign beat me to mentioning Klonoa. Dagnabit, I bet he thinks he's hot stuff. :onfire:

I really like all the Klonoa games, they're just so sickeningly kiddie and cute though. Almost forgot Strider 2.

[The Adventurer]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

[kupomogli]

I'll just mention Wild 9 and Monkey Magic. Completely average platformers, but everything really good has already been mentioned.

[The Adventurer]

Just to keep the thread going a little longer.

What about Side Scrolling Beat'em Ups? Anything of note on the PS1?

[kupomogli]

Side scrolling beat em ups? No. Or atleast none I can think of.

I know there's Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub Zero, but it sucks.

[Drixxel]

As far as as-yet-unmentioned 2D platformers go, there are the two Oddworld games (my preference is for Abe's Exoddus, but they're both great). These next ones are admittedly kind of loose, but there's a smattering of classic platformers across the Namco Museum series, as well.

This thread is the first time I've ever read any praise for Punky Skunk. Maybe Koa Zo is right, perhaps the game seeks to offer light satire on the mascot platformer era, but ehh, I don't know. At the time, reviewers slagged it off as being a platformer aimed squarely at the younger set, what with its cutesy look and unchallenging gameplay. That's certainly been my experience with it.

[BlastProcessing402]

I think the first Tomba game is 2D, I like the 3D sequel, so look out for that one.

Worth noting that the first Tomba is on Sony's list of games that won't work right on PS2. I dunno if that means it won't work on PS3 either, but I know another game on Sony's list, FF5, is even worse on PS3 than on PS2 (graphical glitches on save screen on PS2 vs crash on save screen on PS3). Obviously if you aren't playing on PS2/3, this won't matter.

[InsaneDavid]

Klonoa

This. Klonoa is one of the greatest platform games ever created.

[Greg2600]

How about Strider 2? Expensive though.

Here's a good list of obscure but good PS1 games.

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/best-undiscovered-playstation-ps1-psx

[FieryReign]

Just to keep the thread going a little longer.

What about Side Scrolling Beat'em Ups? Anything of note on the PS1?

There's the Tekken Force Mode on Tekken 3. Also, Gekido and Batman Forever: The Arcade Game but they're awful.

[Drixxel]

Just had another two occur to me that are more in line with the "action" side of things: Skeleton Warriors and Gunners Heaven. I've only played Skeleton Warriors for the briefest of moments back near its release, but it gave me the impression of being a solid, if wholly unremarkable, game. Gunners Heaven is one I've always wanted to take for a spin, but I've yet to cross paths with it.

Klonoa is awfully good, but Tomba! 2 takes it as best 2.5D platformer on the console, IMHO.

[The Adventurer]

How about Strider 2? Expensive though.

Here's a good list of obscure but good PS1 games.

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/best-undiscovered-playstation-ps1-psx
Now that's a useful list. Reminded me I need track me down a copy of Skullmonkeys at the very least.

[j_factor]

Now that's a useful list. Reminded me I need track me down a copy of Skullmonkeys at the very least.

I came in this thread to say Skullmonkeys. That's one fine game.

I'm not sure I'd call it a platformer, but Heart of Darkness has a lot of charm.

[atari2600land]

"SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge!" is a 2D platformer, if you're into SpongeBob.

[WCP]

not exactly a platformer by definition, but the first oddworld game is very similar to Blackthorne on the NES. If you play Blackthorne and then play Oddworld, you can see that it's a pretty direct ripoff, but the sound design is wonderful, and it has some good humor too.

[StealthLurker]

Off the top of my head, some platforming ps1 games I have that stand out (and might not have already been mentioned in this thread):

1. Adventures of Little Ralph

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax3n38JYESE&feature=related (skip to about 2:15, lots of other videos on youtube for the different stages)

2. Lomax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDva1RhatnQ

3. Gegege no Kitarou: Gyakushuu! Youkai Daichisen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOd1UHaOwfI (skip to 3:19 in video)

4. Plue no Daibouken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOd1UHaOwfI (skip to 7:19 in video)


There are also 2 good Goemon platformers but I forget exactly which ones

.

[buzz_n64]

My favorite 2D platformer on the Playstation is Gex. Loved the humor and abilities the gecko was given.

[Pr3tty F1y]

I haven't seen Nekketsu Oyako mentioned:

5894

[Panzerfuzion]

Love heart of darkness fantastic game.

[MidnightRider]

Gunners Heaven is one I've always wanted to take for a spin, but I've yet to cross paths with it.

You realize it's an import, right? You'd probably be better off looking for Rapid Reload, the European version of it.

Beat 'em ups were definitely a genre that thrived more during the 3rd and 4th generations. That said, if you're not against importing, Panzer Bandit is said to be similar/a rip off of(not IMO though) Guardian Heroes.

[StealthLurker]

I haven't seen Nekketsu Oyako mentioned:

5894

Well it's a beat'em up not a platformer. It's also on Saturn.

.

[j_factor]

You realize it's an import, right? You'd probably be better off looking for Rapid Reload, the European version of it.

Why? It's just a run and gun; language isn't important.

[Drixxel]

You realize it's an import, right? You'd probably be better off looking for Rapid Reload, the European version of it.

Haha, yes, I realize it's an import. I'd be equally as happy to play the PAL release, but as j_factor said, language isn't a concern any way one decides to go about this game.

Another handful of platformers that just occurred to me are Hercules, Tarzan, and, on the more run-'n'-gun side, Iron Man / X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal. Hercules is actually pretty fun, I remember having a good time with the rental. Iron Man / X-O Manowar Etc. may not have been that warmly received by mags of the day, but to me it looks halfway decent, if cheesy and kind of a mess. As far as the OP's additional query about beat-'em-ups, the only thing so far unmentioned that's coming to me is Fantastic Four. It may be 3D, but it plays a lot like you'd expect a 2D beat-'em-up to.