What's the best platformer of all time? And why?

Serious research here! .. and I'm more interested in the 'why'? So what's your favorite platform game, and why, in your opinion, is it so good?

Cheers!

 

You're going to get a lot of different answers here, but mine would have to be Super Mario Bros 3 - it was just as good as the first game but with better graphics and gameplay.

 

You're going to get such wildly different answers here, should be interesting.

My favourite, beyond a doubt, is the Sonic series. These games were my childhood, and it is difficult to choose just one. I suppose it would be Sonic 3 & Knuckles. If that does not count, I think it would just be Sonic 3.

At the time these games were difficult for me, so it took multiple playthroughs in order to reach the end, so replayablity was high, especially when you factor the ability to complete it as three different character sets, and all the emeralds to get.

In terms of loving the game.. Where to start. I loved the speed, it was a cool game. I only got a game very occasionally as a treat, and it was a huge step up from Sonic 2. I remember being amazed at the stage transitions; with Angel Island being set alight and changing totally.. and the end of each 'act' linking to the next.

The music was - and still is- amazing. I can remember all the tunes. It is amazing how they got that sort of music out of the Mega Drive. Very few games can display music of that quality on the Mega Drive, and I also loved how the music would change from Act 1 to Act 2, subtly changing the mood also.

The enemy designs were innovative and varied. The multiple paths through a level further enhanced re playability. It really has a special place in my heart, but it is at its best when locked on the Sonic and Knuckles, where it is just epic.

Honourable mentions would be Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3. I never had a SNES so this is the version I played and adored. Beautiful; graphics, perfect level design, and a good amount of challenge. Loved the collectibles. It still shines today.

Wario land 3 I really enjoyed, that was really good fun, if a bit annoying at time.

Banjo Kazooie is also a great example of the genre. Lots of replay value, with the sheer amount of collectibles to obtain, fun levels, unique characters and lighthearted humour.

 

2D probably Super Mario World.
3D definitely Mario 64.

 

Bible Adventures!!! bescause god wants you to play this shit!!

OT: SM3, because its the best of all time without a doubt.

 

Yeah, I was going to say Sonic 3 too. It was almost everything the people who loved Sonic 2 was wishing for (Tails being able to fly as example). Preferably attached to Sonic & Knuckles, because Sonic 3 alone is a bit short...
I still remember all the talking about Knuckles, all the mistery about the "new character". The magnetic shield was so fantastic lol. Glorious days was those! =)))

In the 3D field, I agree about Super Mario 64. But there's a nice contest between the Nintendo and Rare 3D Platformers.

 

super mario world sfc
ganbare goemon 2 sfc
daimakaimura arcade
akumajou dracula x - chi no rondo pce

they're just undoubtly uber great. nothing more to say.

 

Mario Galaxy is probably bthe best 3d platformer. The difficulty level is just right, the graphics are truly special (nothing matches it on Wii) and it instills with with a sense of wonder and eagerness to explore that I haven't had since I was a kid.

 

Just out of curiosity may I ask how old you are? and all you of actually.. just curious to see how age depends on what you choose as best.

I think the sweetspot on favourite games are the great games of your era while you are between 12-20.

I am 30 now, and personally I think there could never come a game again better then the games I experianced while young purely based on age/imagination levels/stress/time and so on.

 

I guess its probably more run n' gun, but Jazz Jackrabbit is a quality game. Never quite got into platformers much tbh.

 

My time at HG101 showed me some people don't even know what a platformer is anymore (Example they think Assassin's Creed is one)

Anywho I'm going to go with popular opinion and say Mario 3. It's scale was so huge and the idea that you could play it in one sitting is utterly abserd yet you had to as it had no save feature. The scope for the game at the time is what sets it over the top and while challenging it's not an impossible game until you get to Pipe world.

 

I don't think you're going to get too many answers for 2D other than Mario, seeing as Mario essentially defined platformers. Mario 3 is pretty much the exemplar of the genre, with its varied environments and powerups.

For 3D platformers, my personal vote would probably go to Mario 64 at this point, but the historical jury is still out.

 

do metal slug and the Abe's odyssey's count? i was a very big fan of these bad boys.

I enjoyed Gromit on the nes, especially with two player, one of you controls the pipes, the other controls gromit...good times!

 

2D - SMW, controls and physics were satisfying. They squeezed so much more into that extra 1M over SMB3.
3D - ...I dunno, I think Mario 64 spawned the most imitators, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. Time will tell what the best 3D platformer is.

 

This !
Because...it IS the best platform game.

 

I don't think Metal Slug counts it's run and gun more than platformer.

As for other platformers...how about Prince of Persia?

 

Super Mario Bros. 1

It offers perfect control of the game since accelerating & breaking, jumping & fallen - it all feels naturally and intuitive.

The storyline is perfectly simple, applicable on every situation in life. A princess is being kidnapped and somebody's coming to rescue her by fighting creatures and surviving difficult situations.
The whole moral of a fairytale is here conveyed by a game from 1985.

SMB is probably the game that had the biggest influence on video games and society in general. It's one of the very few games that achieved a significant position in our pop culture way before video games were cool. When Atari was done and computers far from being game machines, Nintendo created the Famicom and it's main mascot, Super Mario Bros.

It's THE game.

 

I'm going to be my usual devils advocate asshole self and debate that what Mario did Pitfall did first.

Just like Adventure was the prototype for Zelda.

 

No argument possible, my first though was SMB3 but after reading your post I was like duhhh :thumbsup:

 

It may be a great classic, just like prince of persia which you mentioned before but it was not as widely played and enjoyed as any mario game.
First doesn't always mean the best.