Platformer Thread

[Captain N]

Well since we now have an RPG thread (and we all know Pokemon is the best rpg ever) I thought why not make a thread on platforming games? Can be about platformers, action adventure platformers, any platformer in general and anything you want to talk about them. Bet it discussing past, present or future games as well as you anticipated platforming games.

So I'll get the ball rolling, I'm anticipating Super Mario 3D World because 3D Mario with 4 player co-op sounds awesome, wish it had online though. And even if I'm not getting DKC:TF I'll be playing it since my brother is getting it.

[pspiddy]

I'm really liking Ratchet HD, though it highlights the problems most 3D platformers have; They're not Mario. 64 and Sunshine were just so, SO good. It's not fair to compare, but I can't help it.

I also missed out on Jak the first time around so I'm looking forward to that. What else did I miss out on during those PS2 years? Sly series are probably the only ones I played. I never played Crash or Spyro on PSone either...well, demos.

[TripOpt55]

Honestly other than the ones you mentioned... I'm not sure on PS2. I know you played Prince of Persia before you said and in that mold, Tomb Raider Anniversary is great.

Anyone else actually agree with me on Super Mario Bros. 3 being better than World? I feel it has better level design and platforming. Did most of the big moves forward for the franchise before World. I know I'm usually on an island with that opinion around here.

[pspiddy]

Are you trying to break the internet, Trip?!

In all seriousness though, SMW took everything that was SMB3, enhanced it and added to it. If I had the two right here in front of me I'd choose SMW for the SNES controller and graphics.

But SMB 3 is to SMB what 64 is to SMW. So I do think it was a greater leap. No, no pun...

[volvocrusher]

World is just better. Anyways, I'm also excited for 3D World, but may be more excited for Rayman Legends. That Black Betty level just looks fun as hell.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

Super Mario Bros. 2 and Sunshine are my favorite Mario platformers. that makes me insane in most circles. 3D world looks so fucking amazing its actually the Wii U game i want most that isn't Bayonetta 2.

[SanAndreasX]

Count me in as someone who liked SMB 3 better than SMW, Trip.

[chocobot]

Super Mario World all the way. I've just always liked it a lot more.

[Krubixcube]

I grew up with not many Nintendo consoles so I was all about Crash Bandicoot (2 and 3) and LATELY Rayman Origins blew my mind. Been playing Mario on the DS and Rayman was just so much quicker and so much...faster. Because each level had 2 or 3 big rooms essentially to master and you weren't penalized for dying it just really gave me the incentive to go for everything which I usually don't do. But yeah, my favorite platformer of the current generation Rayman.

Of hte PS2 gen...hmmmm, can't really recall. I've always liked platformers but never been super good at them so...

[TripOpt55]

Count me in as someone who liked SMB 3 better than SMW, Trip.

Yeah! San knows what's up. Of the people answering this question did you play 3 or World first? Other than the re-explorable world map, I'm not sure what World actually does better. I could see people liking it more for the Cape or Yoshi. Obviously there is an inherent fun factor I or people on the opposing side can't quite put into words, but I stand by better platforming and level design in 3.

3D World looks a little disapointing to me coming off of Galaxy. I have not played 3D Land though so maybe I don't know what I'm getting into. I do really like the 4 player co-op and Peach being in it as playable.

I'm more excited for Rayman, Puppeteer and Tearaway though Tearaway in particular probably won't be as platforming focused.

[pspiddy]

You lost me at "other than", Trip.

Other than some user inputs and complex equations, pong still fires projectiles better than Street Fighter II.

[TripOpt55]

Oh come on that comparison is absurd. Not sure how I lost you. Other than that one thing I prefer 3. The ability to replay levels via an improved world map (basically the level select screen is what I'm referring to if that isn't clear) in World isn't as important to me as better level design and platforming which I feel 3 has. And making most of the important moves forward for the franchise that 3 did. I prefer 3's power-ups too. So what I'm saying is World does something better, but I prefer 3 in most every other area, so I think 3 is better.

Graphics aren't a huge deal to me when we are comparing games from two different gens. Obviously World's are better, but I'd say both looked great for their time and hardware, so it's not a huge deal for me on that front.

[pspiddy]

You're now preaching to the choir. What i meant was that don't pretend the stalk of thorns is the bulb of a rose. Again, I'm always on the fence in this argument, but I love to play devil's advocate.

My analogy may be absurd, but so is saying other than yoshi and graphics and a better overworld. Plus, the games were something in the range of 6 months apart in release. If that.

[TripOpt55]

Honestly I'm trying to articulate what I like better about 3 in hopes others might equally support their position whether they agree or not. Other than you which mentioned reasons why you'd pick World, people just basically said one is better which is fine but doesn't make for as interesting a discussion, so I'm trying to stir some up!

Re: Graphics. That ignores the larger gap in Japanese release dates right? But forget that even. Regarding graphics, what I mean is I rate graphics by comparing them to games that releases in the same time period on similar hardware. God of War 2 (PS2) released after Gears of War (360). But when we praise God of War 2's graphics we compare it to other PS2 or Xbox/Gamecube games not 360 and PS3 games right?

Re: Yoshi. Again I like 3's powerups better. Period. But I am not so blind that I can't see why someone might prefer World's powerups (assuming we lump Yoshi into them) due to the Yoshi factor. I personally do not though.

I can't argue the overworld, but don't think it's nearly as important to me as the many other things I've mentioned that I prefer about 3. I'm not saying that someone liking World better is crazy or something, but just looking for some discussion on why. Maybe that is where I was coming off wrong. Maybe I was sounding like taking the opposing position was crazy. I obviously don't think that. I love World too.

And these are like 1 and 2 on my all-time Mario game list (maybe on my all-time 2D platformer list, I might rank Yoshi's Island ahead of World on that list though). I realize I'm splitting hairs, but just think it'd be more fun to actually discuss why. Which is why I was pitching that Zelda thread of a similar nature, but am not sure anyone wants to get into a discussion of this nature.

[SanAndreasX]

I like the level structure and game mechanics of SMB3 a lot better. I also loved SMB3's far greater variety of power-ups, and I like said power-ups better than what SMW has to offer.

[chocobot]

I'm okay with admitting that I prefer World for better and more colorful graphics and Yoshi. I really love Yoshi. I honestly can't remember if the platforming and level design are that much better in 3 though, so I should probably play it again. I think I'll do that thanks to this discussion.

Trip, I agree with you about 3D World though. I was expecting something really awesome like the Galaxy games but 3D World looked really underwhelming... I'm not very excited : (

[Captain N]

Super Mario World all the way. I've just always liked it a lot more.

I agree, SMB3 was great, but SMW is perfection.

[Captain N]

3D World looks amazing, yeah it seems like a step down from the Galaxy games but it still looks fun and they finally delivered 4 player co-op in a 3D Mario game. Wish it had online though, online would be a hoot.

[avidacridjam]

Super Mario Bros. 3 was the more innovative while Super Mario World is expansive and more refined. I think both have great level design and power-ups. Yoshi isn't necessarily a deal-breaker (since you couldn't use him all the time) but I loved him. I liked the hidden stuff in levels that would add new areas to the map; the world would expand as you progressed.

I think the enemies in World are stronger; the battles with the Koopalings are more challenging and some of the new enemies (Chargin' Chuck, Magikoopa) were great. I also prefer the Bowser fight in World.

I truly think it depends on what day you ask me, but I think I'll give it to World.

[pspiddy]

I finished the 1st Ratchet. It's a really fun game and I look forward to the next two. There's not a lot of replay value that I expect out of platformers, but considering the collection was $8 I'm very much satisfied. I'd pay that for this game alone.

Probably gonna finish up this collection before moving on to Jak. Wish me luck!

[Captain N]

I'm probably gonna start up the Jak games once I'm done with New Vegas.

[volvocrusher]

As Ratchet goes on it feels a lot less like a platformer and more like a shooter. The first was definitely a platformer, but I'd call UYA a shooter. If it were made today, it would be condemned by many for "abandoning its roots" even though that change was 100% for the better.

[TripOpt55]

Eh I don't know about that. Jak and Sly both got shit for going away from their platforming roots in the sequels (not me per se but gamers in general) back then. I think the fact is Ratchet was never that good of a platformer so people took the change better.

[volvocrusher]

Well gamers today are a lot more whiny than they used to be.

[TripOpt55]

Well I can't argue with that!

[pspiddy]

Since I'm playing catch up with you guys on 3D platformers, I'm curious if any of you have ever played my absolute favorites: Jumping Flash! or Jumping Flash! 2: Big Trouble in Little Moo?

3D was still relatively new and these games blew me away. I still play them when I go on obscure games benders. The first is on the PS store while the 2nd is not. Unless you count it being the box art on display for the Test Drive Unlimited download...wtf?!

[TripOpt55]

I have not played Jumping Flash. Has it held up well controls-wise? I might give it a go. It's like a first person platformer right?

[pspiddy]

I have not played Jumping Flash. Has it held up well controls-wise? I might give it a go. It's like a first person platformer right?

The gameplay has held up superbly. I don't know if the PSN d/l supports analog (highly doubt it) but the d-pad works fine. Graphics are terrible but it's still a great experience. Also, no idea if it's a title you can d/l to PS3 and then transfer and install on Vita. If it is I would definitely purchase it.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

With PS One games on Vita you can map the dpad to the analog stick. I think you might be able to do that on PS3 too maybe

[pspiddy]

Jumping Flash 1&2 are, indeed, in the Vita store. I just purchased them @$6 each. And yes, you can map the d-pad to the analog. The game looks a lot better on the Vita than it does on the PS3 and big screen.

They're both super fun and worth it, but if you only get one I'd go with 2.

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