Favourite Platforming Game?

[Dragon]

Basically, a platform game is where you move the character around a landscape, as they jump on platforms, over obstacles, and even both, in order to progress. Arguably, the most important element in these types of games is the 'jump button'! For example, Super Mario Games star mario jumping across platforms, and you can also jump on top of certain enemies to defeat them.

That said, as the title suggests, what are your favourite platforming games, and why?

 

[Hiatus]

At the moment, it's gotta be New Super Mario Bros. U. Don't have the game anymore, but when I did, it used to be one of my most-played. Alongside that, I also like Rayman Legends. d:

 

[Satoshi Ookami]

Probably Rayman Origins... I haven't played many platformers =D

 

[Entermaid]

I love my 64 platformers the most such as Crystal Shards, Banjo Kazooie, Super Mario 64, Chameleon Twist, Mischief Makers *shake shake*, Bomberman, Donkey Kong 64, Yoshi's Story and Bad Fur Day.

If I had to pick, I will go with Donkey Kong 64.

 

[SomariFeyWright]

Favorite platformer? About a year ago, this would have been hard for me, but its a piece of cake now.

An often overlooked game of the PS1, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile.

THIS GAME IS PERFECT.

(No actual spoilers under the spoiler, but there's rant about the game's greatness in there, if you're interested.)

Spoiler:

The platforming follows a tightly-set and excellently integrated mechanic of 2.5D, being one of the first games to properly do this, in fact, even if it never gets the credit for it.

I also really love that it's a game that allows perfect integration of your enemies. You can throw them in all directions, including down to unleash a double jump. They're actually your primary means of attack; you can't attack enemies in any other way than grabbing them/throwing other enemies at them. They're an absolute necessity to playing the game properly, and many parts of the game could NOT be solved without the very much necessary enemies around to get you through it. As well, enemies are very unique and get different and even more difficult as you advance through Phantomile. Some can't even be grabbed, and some have to be killed more strategically.

And I ADORE the characters and the story. Both of these work excellently to make an emersive and fun world to explore and enjoy. The characters, though normally minor outside of Klonoa, Huepow, and arguably Karal, are all very unique with different mannerisms and are a huge blast to interact with and help out along your adventure.
The story itself is simple, but not without its twist and turns. It's fairly light-hearted, but when it reaches a turn... well, no spoilers, but it'll catch you off-guard.
Plus, on a mostly-related note, the cutscenes are SUPERB. For a PS1 game, the cutscenes look absolutely beautiful and downright breathtaking at times. They're few in number in terms of cutscenes outside of sprites, but they look AMAZING. Better than the Wiimake, that's for sure.

And if none of that is enough, it is the CUTEST THING EVER CREATED. The characters speak an adorable mix of gibberish and fully-developed fictional language inspired by Japanese, known as Phantomilean. Klonoa himself is the most adorable thing you will ever see, being a small little child of a cabbit, with extremely long ears, a dog collar, big yellow eyes, red shorts, lack of a shirt, and he's just... D'aww...

I love the game to death, and I love EVERYTHING it has to offer. It's more than worth the six bucks one can buy it for on the PSStore (since finding the original is expensive as all hell.)

 

[Kung Fu Ferret]

Donkey Kong 64 and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle are my favorites...

 

[Luck]

Favorite 2D platformer is the original Rayman. It's damn hard and it's really well designed, plus the art style is fantastic.

Favorite 3D platformer is Spyro The Dragon. 2 and 3 are great and all, but the simplicity and childish innocence seem much more fitting for Spyro than minigames and constant power-up gates.

 

[inzain786]

I'm stuck between Super Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, and Super Mario Sunshine. All great platformers that I loved, but I can't for the life of me pick just one :(

 

[skyluigi2]

If we're talking about 2D platformers it's definitely New Super Luigi U. For 3D ones, it's either Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario Galaxy.
So basically Mario is the King of Platformers. But we all knew that already, right?

 

[Spinosaurus]

If we're talking about 2D platformers it's definitely New Super Luigi U. For 3D ones, it's either Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario Galaxy.
So basically Mario is the King of Platformers. But we all knew that already, right?

In a game design perspective? No doubt. NSMBU is king of 2D platformers, and either Galaxy got the 3D space.

But my favorite are either Wario Land 4 or Donkey Kong Country Returns.

 

[CliCliW]

^ I played DK Country Returns on the 3DS and I wasn't really gone on it TBH.

Wow.... Most of the games I play involve Platforming to an extent. Some of my favorites are Mario 64, Banjo Tooie, Donkey Kong 64, Jak and Daxter, Spyro and Crash Bandicoot.

I want to say I love Rayman but I ALWAYS end up ragequitting cause it's so difficult...

 

[pompayyy]

ANY KIRBY GAME IS THE BEST PLATFORMER EVER.

 

[Olli]

Hmm, platforming games definitely haven't been top priority on my list of games to play as of late, though I know I've played a good deal of platforming games over the years. To be honest, as generic as it may be, I'm gonna stick with the games of the Mario franchise; more specifically Super Mario Bros. 3. It may be outclassed by the New Super Mario Bros. games, though I've never actually played any of those, so I can't really compare. And in any case, SMB3 is a game that I've come back to so many times over the years. I've never actually beaten it, partially due to often giving up on it too early, or losing interest a while into the game, unfortunately. But even though that's the case, it's definitely a game I still enjoy playing every once in a while, and I'm sure I'll beat it sooner or later; granted my Wii doesn't die on me D:

I also really enjoyed the one Mega Man game I've played, and as enjoyable as it was, I don't really think it can take the spot of SMB3 though. However, I definitely want to try out more Megaman games!

 

[lanel]

Does Super Mario Bros counts?

 

[Fernbutter]

I enjoy Kirby games better that anything else for some reason, then If I had to choose anything else it has to be any mario game that can be 3D or 2D

 

[Mew]

Does Super Mario Bros counts?

I honestly can't tell if gaming systems are gaming systems unless they are Nintendo


Anyways, I will say Sonic 2. DEBUG MODE IS SOOOOO FUN.

 

[Metricus]

I know it might be cliche, but mine is Super Mario World for the SNES. It's one of only a few games that I credit with making me a gamer and to this day I can still become engrossed in it.

 

[pokemasta92]

Spyro back in the day, Ratchet & Clank series now.

 

[Tsutarja]

For something classic, I'd say Ice Climber.. it was a game that my mother exposed me to because she played it back on the NES, and bought it for me when it was ported for Nintendo's "Classic NES Series" for the Game Boy Advance.

 

[DowntownDumpling]

Super Mario Galaxy or Super Mario 64. Huge, open-ended worlds, clever and inventive level design, universally catchy music, vibrant and pleasing color schemes that don't just resort to the constant red, blue, yellow, and green... what's not to love? ...Okay, I hate the traditional Mario storylines, but that at least doesn't interfere with the gameplay.

Other contenders: Sonic 3, Sonic Colors; SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom (it's much like Mario 64), Super Meat Boy.