Friday is here, my friends! Time to push through a few more hours of work/school and then enjoy the weekend. Work hard and keep moving towards that oh-so-sweet weekend time! See you in a few, short hours.
I will never, ever get tired of the platforming genre. There's just so much that can be done within the confines of a 2D space. You would think that after all these years, the genre would have grown a little stale. In all honest, I think it's only gotten better with age!
I feel like developers constantly put more time into thinking about what really makes a good, fun, memorable platforming experience. Those ideas are refined and remixed with each big platformer that comes out. Just look at how Rayman Origins took the platformer and put a unique spin on it. That right there goes to show how much life is left inthis age-old genre.
The platformer isn't ever going to die out, but there have definitely been some titles that managed to do things better than others. While platformers are largely good to amazing, there are a few titles that really stand out as top-notch experiences. Further still, those particular games feature a handful of levels that really exemplify why platformers can be a beautiful thing.
I'd love to hear from you guys about your favorite platformers/levels. I know you have plenty of content to choose from, so I'm really looking forward to learning your picks! I'm going to offer up one of my favorites, which really isn't old at all. It comes from Donkey Kong Country Returns, a title I consider to be one of the best platformers of all-time. Out of all the fantastic levels in that game, Music Madness really wows me each and every time. The perfect marriage of platforming and music.
That's my pick, now what are yours?! Leave a comment and let us know.
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Hmm, that's a tough one since platformers are my favorite genre. Off the top of my head though I'd say Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy from Yoshis Island for SNES. When you touch one of the Fuzzies floating around you get dizzy, everything warps and Yoshi stumbles around.
One of my favorite boss fights comes from that same game, it's the one where you're on the moon fighting Raphael the Raven.
My favorite level from any platform game would have to be Bramble Blast from Donkey Kong Country 2. Barrel levels were always my favorite types of levels in the DKC games, and this was one of the best. My favorite part though has to be the music; Stickerbrush Symphony is my favorite song from any video game. It was so awesome, I still remember the first time I ever played it.
Our most recent example of modern platforming brilliance is origins, this level (particularly the boss) is amazing. Especially the chase after.
I remember getting it all in one try so I felt like quite a hero.
I agree RMC, platforming is the best genre. I hope it never peters out again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW0mgGr2vwc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhd9ScBXmqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lV8kF-qqHU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKq8r-HtpY0
Gunstar Heroes Dice Palace
New Super mario bros Wii Last Boss with 4 players
Sonic 2 Chemical plant
Kirby Epic Yarn Bosses
Super Metroid (whole game)
Corpse boss fro Castlevania SON PS2
and a lot more...
Rocket Knight Adventures Giant Robot:
Alex Kidd MW Brown Castle
Castle of Illusion Master System
Super mario world star road special 2
Mighty Flip Champs Last Stage
One of thee biggest Crash Bandicoot fans right here (Naughty Dog era). That magical switch between 3D and 2D platforming always kept me on my toes. Crash 3 is kinda overrated due to his powerups, but the various worlds and challenges to run through is so fantastic. Anybody who's played knows exactly what Im talking about
Say what you want, haters, but Crash is my hero. I grew up on Crash. Twas my first series.
Off the top of my head (so it might be inaccurate), but some of my favorite 2D platform levels are...
Super Mario Bros.: World 5-1 stands above the rest IMO.
Super Mario Bros. 2.: World 7-1.
Super Mario Bros. 3: Every level... or World 1-3, World 2-6, World 3-3, World 3-4, World 6-8, World 7-3, and World 8-3.
Super Mario World: Pretty much anything involving Boos.
Yoshi's Island: The whole 5th World.
NEW Super Mario Bros.: The whole last word.
Donkey Kong Country: 2-1, 3-4, and all of Fear Factory.
Donkey Kong Country 2: The 1st half of the 1st world, World 3, and World 6.
Donkey Kong Country 3: World 5.
Donkey Kong Country Returns: Fear Factory (again) and the Volcano level.
Zelda II (because I can add it if I want): The 4th temple.
Metroid: The area around where you face Ridley.
Super Metroid (even though it's pretty much a shooter and an action/adventure game): "Lower" everything!
Kirby's Adventure: World 5 and the last World, as well as the Meta Knight boss.
Kid Icarus: The 3rd Underworld level, as well as the very last level (especially if you have all the power ups, gear, and stuffs like that).
Earthworm Jim: The whole 2nd and 4th worlds.
Earthworm Jim 2: The 1st part of the 5th world.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Green Hill Zone, Scrap Brain Zone, and the final zone.
Sonic 2: Emerald Hill Zone and Chemical Plant Zone.
Sonic 3: Angel Island Zone and the last 2 zones.
Sonic & Knuckles: All the above mentioned levels.
Sonic Generations: All the above mentioned levels that were in Sonic Generations.
Sonic Advance: The opening zone.
Sonic Advance 2: The last 2 zones (which were the only real challenge).
Sonic Advance 3: The 4th and 5th zone.
Castlevania: The opening areas, and pretty much all the bosses and the immediate areas around them.
Super Castlevania 4 (even if it only has some platform aspects in it): Everything from 1/3rd of the game on.
Ahhh... this is too hard. I can't remember many levels since a lot blur, especially in Nintendo games with the themes for multiple stages.
I know, from Sonic, I always loved Ice Cap Zone (S3) and Flying Battery Zone (S&K), but that may very well have been because of the music.
I loved all of Mighty Switch Force.
Metroid games.
Hmm... Yeah, I'd have to dig deep into my memories.
The beat in that Music Madness level (which i had previously never heard) was so unreal when I just watched that video that I had to look it up. Sure enough, my inquiry went very rewarded!
Produced by: Kenji Yamamoto
"Kenji Yamamoto is notable for composing music in many titles of the Metroid series, mainly Super Metroid and the Prime trilogy."
Thank you for this, RMC.
If I had to pick JUST ONE, it would be Emerald Coast from Sonic Adventure. It gives me chills every time I play it and it never gets old.
Other than the SNES Mega Man X Trilogy, my favorite 2D platformer is Aladdin on the Super Nintendo. I know that the popular opinion is that the Genesis version is better but I disagree. I know I have a lot of nostalgia for the game, but I don't think that's clouded my opinion too terribly much... The music was superb and the level designs were excellent. The one that sticks out in my mind is the first two levels, and the first Cave of Wonders stage.
That's 2D platformers, of course. My favorite 3D platformer is Pac-Man World 2. That game deserved so much better. It seems like a really high-quality game that nobody wanted to play. It's really sad.
Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet from galaxy 2. Awesome music and incredible design. Best music is from the genesis era sonic games.
And I agree that DKCR is the best 'new' 2d platformer
In no particular order:
Kirby's Adventure: Everything.
Sonic CD: Stardust Speedway Act 1, Act 3.
Kirby's Dreamland 2: World 7
Sonic & Knuckles: Lava Reef Zone, Hidden Palace Zone
Pulseman: Anything in that game's "digital world".
Super Mario Galaxy: "Luigi's Purple Coins" (Toy Time Galaxy)
Super Mario Galaxy 2: "The Perfect Run" (Star 242)
Kirby's Return to Dreamland: Everything, once again.
Sonic Generations: Rooftop Run (Modern), City Escape (Classic)
Mutant Mudds: Secret 4-1 (because I am a tortured soul)
Oh boy, where to start with my favorite genre...
Many of the more notable levels and games were already mentioned above so I'll choose some other choices from more recent games:
Sonic Colors - Planet Wisp Act 1
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - Battle For Storm Hill
Banjo-Kazooie - Treasure Trove Cove
This one really impressed me a whole lot, and there were a lot of great platforming levels in this game.
I also like these as well:
does this count? this level sticks so firmly in my mind. and that music! i still make mario go "yeah, yeah, wa hoo!" to the music. I also don't think a 3d mario has ever controlled better than the mario in Super Mario 64. Not talking about the DS version though, eek!
I know most people hate this level, but playing through Banjo Tooie again recently gave me a whole new outlook on this place. It's so...stupidly complex, that it's very easy to get lost, but y'know what? I had a damn blast trying to remember where the hell I was supposed to go next, or figuring out which room led where, or how to get that one lone battery off that high ledge. Even getting into the place is a puzzle in itself. Now that I'm older and better at games, the lack of hand holding and the absence of simplicity just feels really refreshing and fun imo.
Also, the music is brilliant.
Pretty much anything in this game, especially the train section
DKC - Stop and Go Station: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyMoO0SesGk
DKCR - Switcheroo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55xOhTRxmoY
I loved a LOT of the levels in Rayman Origins. My personal favorites would be pretty much all of Gourmand Land--a level which combines your standard fire 'n' ice world theme with a food level theme. The icy levels are all set in a frozen paradise full of waiters, cocktail umbrellas, fruit punch, and other cooking accoutrements (like, uh, talking forks). The "fire side" is set in a roaring kitchen with dragon chefs, chili pepper vines, "lava" soup, and fire-spitting tubes of hot pepper paste. Both sides have incredible music! However, I think the award for sheer, demented brilliance probably goes to the last true level, "Mecha No Mistake." If you haven't played the game... no words can describe the literally crushing insanity. But it is hellacious in a hilarious way. Like I was literally laugh at some of the dirty tricks it pulled... probably to keep myself from crying at my loss.
As for other 2D games, I love Evergreen Lift from Kirby's Epic Yarn. I'm a sucker for a Christmassy snow level, and Evergreen Lift is exactly that! But it's also interesting in that it's an autoscrolling stage whose scrolling you can control, so you can sort of take it at your own pace... but you have to force it to scroll now and then, or else you can't progress!
A Boy And His Blob had some good levels, too. I think I'm most partial to the first few levels on Bloblonia, the third world. In addition to some quirky music, they had unique, involved puzzles that required the use of many powers, and some funky scenery. Plus, it's my favorite world-hub, with the blob friends, and unlockable storybook and sound test.
Klonoa is a real overlooked gem! One of my favorites from that game is Jugpot, and I always think of that level when I think of that game. In addition to its beautiful scenery, it was the first level in the game where the challenge really went up, as collecting all the gems and finding all the hidden Phantomilians was actually tough in that on!
Of course, I was raised on a Game Boy, and that had no shortage of good platformers on it. The Donkey Kong Land games were more than just watered-down versions of their bigger selves! The first Donkey Kong Land had some great levels, including one of my favorites, Blimp Off. That turned the K-O-N-G tile collecting on its head! In that level, you had LOTS of KONG tiles to collect, and machines across the level would turn them into bridges for you. More tiles meant easier jumps! A clever mechanic, backed up by awesome music.
And speaking of the Game Boy, we can't forget Shantae! That game's a Metroidvania, so it has more "dungeons" than "levels," but the last dungeon is my favorite. It had cannons that could shoot you places, just like DKC! It had warps! It had a neat transformation that turned you into a harpie and let you fly and claw enemies from the sky! It was mega good fun.
Yoshi never had his own game on the regular Game Boy, which was a pity. Not a platformer, anyway. I like both Yoshi games, but if I had to pick a favorite from each? In Island, I'm a big fan of the first Monkeys level. That level was muddy and slippery and gave you tons of watermelons to pit watermelon seeds! Story has some good levels, but my favorite is 3-2, Tall Tower--in addition to beautiful cello music, it has a lovely asthetic, bouncy springs, and leaf surfing! IT always makes me think of my childhood.
We've sort of been ignoring 3D platformers here, but I've spent a lot of time on 2D ones. So just know that some of my 3D favorites are: Freezeezy Peak and Click Clock Wood from Banjo-Kazooie, Terrydactyland and Cloudcuckooland from Tooie, Fungi Forest from Donkey Kong 64, Pyramid Scheme from Rocket: Robot on Wheels, Charmed Ridge from Spyro 2, Bamboo Garden and Firefly Bayou from Spyro 3, Atlantis and the Ice Palace from Spyro: A Hero's Tail, Tempest Peak Manor and Summit of the Sages from Vexx, and hmm... Nobody's heard of this one, but I really like the "Pirate Panic" levels from a little game called 40 Winks.
Wow that's tough. Many, MANY to choose from.
Can I cheat and say most of SMB 3, World, 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Tooie and DKCR?
My favorites being probably those with Rollercoaster-esque levels, like the Donkey Kong Country ones, but since 2009, World 8-7 from New Super Mario Bros. Wii is probably my favorite of these kind of levels, where you have to move thorugh the "wagon" and not sit on it and just jump, I'd like to see that kind of stages more often, and as a matter of fact, I'd love to see that Bonecoaster stage from NSMBMii (the rollercoaster inside a dark cave) on NSMBU.
The entirety of Super Mario Bros 1 still impresses me. There was so much thought put into the layouts and into the pacing of the levels and world themes. It is really amazing to break apart the game and study it, and of course, it's a hell of a good time to play, too!
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