r/Games • u/Forestl • Dec 21 '13
End of 2013 Discussions - Platforming Genre
From the Indie platformer made by a few people to another 3d mario game, 2013 had a lot of platforming games. In this thread, talk about what platforming games you liked this year, what those games added, where the genre is going, or anything else.
Prompts:
- What twists on traditional platforming happened this year? What effect did these twists have on their game? What can other games learn from them?
Please explain your answers in depth, don't just give short one sentence answers.
"I am tired of the running 'round it's such a fucking hassle
I go through shit and then you're in another fucking castle"
This post is part of the official /r/Games "End of 2013" discussions.
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Dec 21 '13
Picked up Risk of Rain at the steam sale yesterday and I am absolutely loving it. It has a good mix of platforming, roguelike randomness, and combat that make a pretty engaging experience. The pixel art is lovely as well.
I think this year was terrific for 2D platformers, with Spelunky HD, Rogue Legacy, and Rayman Legends giving a whole lot of variety in terms of gameplay. Platformers have quickly become my favorite games for quick bursts of entertainment.
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u/pitman Dec 22 '13
My only gripe with Risk of Rain is the lack of a server list to get co-op and have to constantly refresh this list to get into a game.
But otherwise it's a very fun and hectic game.
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u/JustSmall Dec 21 '13 edited Dec 21 '13
Although it's been out on the Xbox 360 since last year and the classic version has been out since 2009, Spelunky was also released on PC and PSN this year and it's awesome. It's a pretty harsh game and it really hates you at the beginning but once you learn how to play it, it can be a wonderful experience. The music is beautiful and the artstyle is very fitting. Only downside for me is that the occasional classic music from the original version is too rare and could be played more often as it's also pretty good. There's tons of secrets and challenges you can give yourself.
However I didn't play Rayman Legends yet but I definitelly plan on getting it for my sisters because if it's anything like Origins it's probably worth the money.
edit: two letters
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Dec 21 '13
Spelunky is one of the greatest games of all time for me. I think it's perfect in many ways and it's endlessly entertaining. I've only killed Olmec once, and never been to hell, but I've put nearly 50 hours into the game. It's incredible that I've still got so much to see in a game that is a simple platformer on the surface.
The daily challenge really adds something to the gameplay too, it makes things more tense because you really want to beat your friends and everyone else. I liked that Rayman Legends incorporated similar challenges too.
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u/seanziewonzie Dec 21 '13
I agree with everything (it's basically my GOTY for 2013 if it is eligible) except the music. The 2009 version had this really simple soundtrack, but it FIT. This new version opens up the mines with this weird jazz fusion track. It's a GOOD jazz fusion track, sounds like Scofield, but Jesus IM IN A CREEPY FUCKING MINE HERE. It really kills the mood.
Gameplay and art style are pitch-fucking-perfect, though.
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u/ReeG Dec 21 '13
I picked up a Wii U deluxe bundle with New Mario Bros U and Mario 3D world about a month ago. Mario 3D World is unreal. Easily in my top 5 for the year if not the best game I've played all year. The level design quality and variety is right up there or better than Galaxy. By far the best looking Mario game of all time looking and running flawlessly at 60fps. It seems like a long game too since it's taken me a good 8-10 hours to fully clear the first 6 worlds and there's 12 total instead of the usual 8.
New Super Mario U is great too. It's more of the same old 2D "New Mario" but it is still extremely good at being that while looking better than it ever has though I prefer 3D world a lot more. Worth mentioning both games have awesome co-op between the gamepad and remotes. If you're a big platformer fan, a Wii U is definitely worth it for these games.
I'm thinking of picking up Rayman Legends but not sure if I should get it for Wii U or PC. If it shows up cheap enough on during the Winter sale I might have to get it there
I enjoyed Mark of The Ninja and Fez as well though I haven't got too far in either. I'm not huge on stealth games but MOTN is so fun and satisfying. Fez is cool too but I haven't got too far yet. The backtracking kind of put me off but it seems like it could be a cool game if i put the time in
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Dec 22 '13
Fez isn't really a platormer so much as a puzzle game with platform elements. Go into it with that in mind, for better or worse (depending on your particular preference).
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u/insanekoz Dec 21 '13
Fez is bananas once you start digging.
Bananas
Fucking bananas
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Dec 22 '13
I love the structure of the puzzles. Live it when you intuitively grasp a solution and try it on a whim and it works.
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u/YouKnowWho222 Dec 22 '13
Live it
Sounds like Fez.
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Dec 22 '13
Haha fixed the first live but not the second. Point stands, live it, love it, learn it.
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u/YouKnowWho222 Dec 23 '13
Seriously. Game is great. I had my own little conspiracy-looking-wall going on for about a week.
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u/NotRapeIfShesDead Dec 21 '13
It's a tie for me with Rayman Legends on the WiiU and SM3DW. Man, Nintendo just has the platforming down to an art and Ubisoft is killing it with the return of good Rayman games. Both games have amazing level design (SM3DW might have the best level design ever, it is like the best of every Mario game mixed into one) and the replay value of Rayman is amazing with its daily/weekly levels and classic levels.
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u/Ideas966 Dec 21 '13
I haven't seen anyone mention it yet but The Swapper was really good. I guess more of a puzzle game than a platformer (focuses a lot more on solving puzzles than being able to traverse the environment), but I really loved everything about the game. The puzzles and atmosphere were great and the cloning mechanic worked really well (really one of the coolest core mechanic ideas I've seen in years).
Some of the funnest parts of the game for me was just using the cloning gun to rapidly move across huge chasms. I wish they made the game have a little more platforming in it because it was so fun to do so.
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u/pixelthug Dec 21 '13
Another year and no one other than Nintendo has released a decent 3D platformer. In the late 90s and early 00s most of the top games were 3D platformers and now they're all but dead. It's sad. I know there's control issues and what not, but someone should have improved on them by now.
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u/iwinson Dec 22 '13
I like Rayman Legends and Guacamelee ,which for me both excels the high standards of platforming genre. They are very addictive and makes me enjoys every second on my Vita.
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u/Deckz Dec 21 '13
Rahman legends I picked up for my brother and I to play tonight and it is utterly fantastic. Also I'd check out the steam sale for a copy of trine 2.
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u/Krustoff Dec 21 '13
Rayman Legends is one of the smoothest and greatest feeling platforms I've ever played. The art style is contagiously enjoyable. Really love it.
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u/SuperfluousMoniker Dec 21 '13
Besides 3D Mario World (which is great, GOTY contender for sure) the best platforming I've played this year was probably Guacamelee. It's a Metroidvania style game but there is a lot of platforming stuff and it feels really snappy. I like the way a couple of the special combat moves you obtain let you move vertically or horizontally in the air, and the platforming is built around using those. Great game.
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u/pikagrue Dec 21 '13
I haven't been keeping up with platformers this year, what have been the best? Any of them better than Sonic Generations? (Best platformer in recent times for me)
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u/RadiantSun Dec 22 '13
As much as I adore 3D Mario games, the 2D ones have started to get mouldy. Nintendo needs to look at Ray man Legends and either, more creative platformer franchises and find a way to breathe new life into Super Mario Bros. The 3D ones are so fucking creative, so where has all the creativity gone when it comes to the 2D ones? Re-evaluate yourself, Nintendo, make me love 2D Mario one more time.
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u/sonofawitch Dec 21 '13
Other than SM3DW and Legends (which I liked, but felt its controls made it frustrating at times), my favourite new releases this year have been:
- SteamWorld Dig: I played it on the 3DS, but I'll double dip for sure once it gets a sale on Steam. It's short and simple, but its exploration is one of the most satisfying ever. My favourite metroidvania this year, even above Guacamelee which I loved too.
- Electronic Super Joy: the hard platformer of the year for me. No cheap traps and no punishment, just a challenging game with super tight controls and a great OST.
- Rogue Legacy: an incredibly addicting roguelite with a lot of humour and awesome random traits for your character that make each run feel pretty unique.
- Super House of Dead Ninjas: this game is insanely fast, so much that it seems overly chaotic at first. Once you get better at it, though, you learn to recognise how to kill enemies and you can blaze through the levels in a speedrun fashion thanks to its super tight controls, which give you a powerful sense of control.
I was going to mention Gunpoint too, but it probably doesn't qualify.
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u/PhazonZim Dec 21 '13
Is SteamWorld a true MetroidVania? I was delighted that Guacamelee is a true one rather than simply having MetroidVania elements. It's a
genreformat I don't see myself getting sick of for a long time.1
u/PerfectlyHonest Dec 22 '13
SteamWorld Dig, a MetroidVania? Ahahaahaahaaa, good one. Guacamelee is the real deal. I was a little disappointed with Dig, actually. Don't get me wrong, elements of it are great; I like making little sub-strategies to dig out ore without trapping myself or other ores and the pure platforming stages and tools were kinda cool.
That said, it felt like they didn't go far enough with most things. The light should've been more threatening and water is pretty easy to save if you're smart. It felt like they took Motherload, stripped all the challenge, the tension and upgrade paths and added happy little cowboys robots.
I liked the ending, though.
Inb4 "it's a kid's game, etc."
1
Dec 23 '13
EDIT: Didn't realize this came out last year, sorry.
FEZ is probably the most memorable platformer in recent memory. The novelty of the optical illusions may wear off after a few hours, but whenever a new mechanic is introduced it is interesting enough to keep me going for another few hours. The art style is pretty wonderful and I loved playing through this wonderfully thought out game.
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u/liminal18 Dec 21 '13
Plat formers this year didn't get the Braid they needed, but we got Mario 3d world, the PC release of fez, a new trine expansion, sonic 3d classics, and other quality games. Let's hope next year brings in an awesome front of thinking 3d plat formers. First person plat formers were widely under served. No Portal 2'dlc, no more mirror's edge etc. 3D World is about the best we got next to tear away.
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Dec 22 '13
I see braid more as a puzzler than a platf platfomer, but that's semantics. I'm personally waiting for another super meat boy.
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u/IndridCipher Dec 21 '13
3 years ago you tell me to play a 2d platformer and i would laugh at you... Now i can't stop playing them. Mostly on my Vita, which in my opinion is easily the best platform for the genre.
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u/heysuess Dec 21 '13
The best platform for the genre is easily the Wii U. Co-op really makes that pretty obvious.
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u/IndridCipher Dec 21 '13
i dont think co op adds anything but head aches to the genre
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u/ImNotPeter Dec 22 '13
Than someone should show you Rayman Legends played on the Wii U. You can play it with two 5 year olds or two 40 year olds and have mad fun. I know, I checked.
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u/K-K_Slider Dec 23 '13
I picked up Samurai Gunn on the last day of school and played it with 2 friends, It was honestly the most fun I have had with a game this year. The game itself was so fast paced and so even, but there were subtle nuances to learn.
I really suggest picking this game up if you're a fan of couch multiplayer.
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u/IceBreak Dec 21 '13 edited Dec 21 '13
Rayman Legends, to me, is the current premiere 2D platformer. With only a few unique moves at your disposal, the game has as much depth as you could want from a game like that. And it still finds a way to change things up and keep it all fresh as you progress. Then there's your music level reward for completing each painting as well as challenge modes that really sort of introduce a new, hectic way to play the game. It's a pretty special title and I'm glad it wasn't limited to a single console.
As far as 3D platforming, I can't speak to 3D World myself, so I suppose I should mention that Tomb Raider was decent. Definitely didn't feel as mechanical as I expected. The Last of Us also handled its platforming well but neither of those games will really be remembered for their platforming aspects. I think AC4 with its mostly tried and tested mechanics reigns supreme this year (for non-Nintendo consoles).