For me the nostalgia glasses are turned up to the max for Crash Bandicoot.
I love the character designs, and the music is an absolute bop to listen to. (Got the first games theme as my ringtone even at 27!)
And I enjoyed a good challenge with some of its levels. The bosses were neat and I thought it was just an unusual neat idea that you jump on boxes to progress rather than punching a block for a fireflower.
You?
I sometimes feel like the only American that liked Bubsy. The biggest complaint I hear about it is that the jumping is super floaty; but that’s it’s strength! Once you get the rhythm of the game down, you’re basically Tribes style skiing through the levels. It’s awesome.
Donkey Kong Country 2 will always be the pinnacle of 2D Platforming, though Yoshi’s Island comes in a close second place.
I’m a bit boring in terms of my favorite 90s platformer, but absolutely love Sonic 1 & 2.
I’m not really a platformer fan but Abe’s Oddysee/Exodus and Kirby’s Dream Land are up there.
The ones that were SURPRISINGLY good were the Gex games. Looks like they’re getting a remaster too.
Super Mario World on the SNES. That game is just great. I love playing it every so often.
This for sure. There are other great examples, like Yoshi’s Island or Mario 64, but World is the one I grew up with and have the most nostalgia for.
Yes! This is my standard for a good platformer.
I think being the “free” game that comes with the system hurt it’s reputation. We all got bored of it, but going back to it after playing some terrible platformers really shows you how great it really is.
Mega Man X. The first one for SNES.
It was such an evolutionary leap forward from the previous MM games. Everything was bigger and better. The graphics, the music, the controls. It blew my mind at the time.
I spent so many hours on this game. Probably replayed it hundreds of times. The boss battles were so epic. SIGMA! And then discovering the secret shouryuken move from Street Fighter! Wow!
Sigma before the kids started saying it. 😂
Probably not a platformer but I have massive nostalgia for it. Alunda
Probably Mario 64, just because it was so revolutionary at the time.
It created a genre. And it was surprisingly competent at what it sent out to do. In hindsight it was a miracle. Brand new technology harnessed to birth the 3D platformer. It was amazingly ambitious all around.
If you can call it a platformer: Spyro
Yeah. I do think Spyro is a platformer. It’s a bunch of things, but I would have a hard time arguing any genre fits it better than platformer.
Edit: Also, great choice.
2D: Super Mario World. It just plays smooth af. Pretty close to a perfect videogame.
3D: Rayman 2. Platformers usually have a colorful and happy world. Rayman might still be colorful, but it stands out because it’s kinda grim. Gameplay wise… I should replay it, because I’m not actually sure anymore. I think all 3D platformers of this time could be a little bit janky. I remember there were some frustrating parts, at least for a kid.
Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie
Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko were so fun and absolutely hilarious!
