Platform Categories/List Help

Discussion in 'General Game Discussion and Questions' started by retr0spective, Oct 9, 2012.

  1. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
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    #1 retr0spective, Oct 9, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2014
    Greetings,

    I am attempting to make a master list of worthwhile platformers and would like to enlist the assistance of others to make suggestions of games and discuss the categories that I came up with.

    Thanks,
    retr0spective
     
  2. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
    17
    18
    Riverside, CA
    #2 retr0spective, Oct 9, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2013
    The following is a preliminary list subject to change based upon our discussions.

    HOP AND BOP

    [​IMG]
    (Image: Pizza Boy by Acne Play)

    Gameplay focuses on jumping on top of enemies. Classic examples include Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog.

    1-Bit Ninja (SD) Review
    Awesome Land (U) Thread
    Black Tie Adventure (SD) Thread
    Bounce On (SD) Thread
    Bounce On 2 (U) Thread
    Giana Sisters (SD) Review
    Kid Vector (U) Thread
    Kung Fu Rabbit (U) Thread
    Lars (U) Thread
    Little Acorns (U) Review
    Miss Claire Garden (SD) Thread
    Paper Monsters (U) Review
    Pizza Boy (SD) Review
    Pizza vs. Skeletons (U) Review
    Polyroll (U) Thread
    Rat on the Run (U) Thread
    Sonic CD (U) Review
    Sonic the Hedgehog (SD) Thread
    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (SD) Review
    Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (SD+HD) Review
    Soosiz (SD+HD) Review
    Stardash (U) Review
    Super World Adventures (SD) Thread
    Ultra Dario (U) Thread
    Wawa Land (SD+HD) Thread

    RUN AND GUN

    [​IMG]
    (Image: Star Marine: Infinite Ammo by Glitchsoft)

    Gameplay focuses on shooting enemies. Classic examples include Contra and Gunstar Heroes.

    Another Shot (SD) Thread
    Apocalypse Max (U) Review
    Arcade Jumper (U) Review
    Bit-1 (SD) Thread
    Clash Force (U) Thread
    Commander Cool (U) Thread
    Gun Runner (U) Thread
    Gunman Clive (U) Review
    Gunstar Heroes (SD) Article
    INC (U) Review
    Project 83113 (U) Review
    Random Heroes (U) Review
    Scorched Monster (U) Thread
    Star Marine (SD) Thread

    METROIDVANIA

    [​IMG]
    (Image: Swordigo by Touch Foo)

    Gameplay focuses on open-world exploration and/or adventure. Classic examples include Castlevania and Metroid.

    Akane the Kunoichi
    Astronot
    Avenger
    Beyond Dead
    Blade of Betrayal
    Bubble Pig
    Castle of Magic
    Commander Pixman
    Dark Incursion
    Demon Hunter
    Earthworm Jim
    Elemental Rage
    Emberwind
    Fancy Pants Adventures
    Frogatto
    Grokion
    Illusia
    Incoboto
    J-Werewolf
    Kale in Dinoland
    League of Evil 1&2
    Lumi
    Manos: The Hands of Fate
    Maxplosion
    Megaman 2&X
    Meganoid
    Megatroid
    Nyx Quest
    Prince of Persia Retro
    Robot Wants Kitty
    RobotRiot
    Run, Jump, Kill
    Shantae: Risky's Revenge
    Swordigo
    Terra Noctis
    The Adventures of Timmy
    Waking Mars

    PHYSICS PUZZLER

    [​IMG]
    (Image: Wimp: Who Stole My Pants? by Flexile Studio)

    Gameplay can include object physics puzzles and/or character based ability challenges. Classic examples include Penguin Land and The Lost Vikings.

    Alien Hominid
    Amazing Brok
    Archibald's Adventures
    Babylonian Twins
    Bean's Quest
    Bring Me Sandwiches
    Cavorite 1&2
    Chop Chop Caveman
    Clay's Reverie
    Cordy
    CreaVures
    Goose Cogs
    Gravbot
    Grim
    Hook Champ
    Inertia Escape Velocity
    Jazz: Trump's Journey
    Kami Retro
    Karoshi
    Lad
    Lost Winds 1&2
    Mike & Milkbox
    Miner Disturbance
    Nihilumbra
    Niko
    Ninja Boy
    Nom Nation Thread
    One Tap Hero
    Pixiline and the Jungle Treasure
    Qwak
    Rinth Island
    Rolando 1&2
    Storm in a Teacup
    Super Lemonade Factory
    They Need to be Fed (1-2)
    Unstoppable Jake
    Wimp: Who Stole My Pants

    ARENA BATTLE

    [​IMG]
    (Image: Super Crate Box by Vlambeer)

    Gameplay focuses on fighting within a closed environment. Classic examples include Donkey Kong and Bubble Bobble.

    Autoboy
    Blast Soccer
    Bloo Kid
    Bubble Bobble Double
    Chrono & Cash
    Muffin Knight
    Oh Hi! Octopi!
    Rod Land
    Spell Sword
    Super Crate Box

    RUNNER

    [​IMG]
    (Image: Mikey Shorts by BeaverTap Games)

    Gameplay focuses on speed/auto running and obstacle avoidance. Examples include Canabalt and Mirror's Edge.

    Bitless
    Canabalt
    Cheeseman
    Choco Run
    Don't Run with a Plasma Sword
    Frenzy Pop (SD+HD) Review
    Hook Worlds
    IX-Runner
    Kid Tripp
    Mega Run
    Mikey Hooks
    Mikey Shorts
    Mirror's Edge
    Mos Speedrun
    Pix'n Love Rush
    Rayman Jungle Run
    Robot Unicorn Attack
    Super Quick Hook
    Wind-up Knight

    Please let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas on these categories and suggested titles. I will add links to articles, reviews, and discussions as time permits.
     
  3. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
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    I forgot to add Physics Puzzle Platformer to the list (object movement, catapulting, and multiple characters mechanics included) and found this nice article on platform game classifications on Wikipedia that I would like to take a closer look at: http://bit.ly/UQ0X8H
     
  4. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
    17
    18
    Riverside, CA
    An updated Category list based on the referenced article:

    Hop and Bop

    Gameplay focus is jumping on enemies. Classic examples include Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog

    Run and Gun

    Gameplay focus is shooting enemies. Classic examples include Contra and Gunstar Heroes.

    Metroidvania

    Gameplay focuses on expansive open-world exploration and adventure. Classic examples include Castlevania and Metroid.

    Physics Puzzle

    Gameplay can include object physics puzzles and/or character based ability challenges. Classic examples include Penguin Land and The Lost Vikings.

    Arena Battle

    Gameplay focuses on fighting within a closed environment. Classic examples include Donkey Kong and Bubble Bobble.

    Auto-Runner

    A modern category born from the practice of speed running through classic platform games. Examples include Canabalt and Mirror's Edge.

    Please let me know your thoughts and game suggestions.
     
  5. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
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    Riverside, CA
    I added a preliminary list in the second post.
     
  6. Greyskull

    Greyskull Well-Known Member

    Dec 13, 2009
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    Photographer/Social Sciences adjunct/sweet sweet l
    Fort Lauderdale
    What about non-autorunning speedrun platformers. In other words, platformers in which the main goal is to get from a to be as quickly as possible. For example, 1000 Heroz (err...forgot the name, it's by RedLynx...more of a racing game on foot, actually), Mos Speedrun, etc.

    One category which I believe should be included is Adventure Platformers, especially when you consider their popularity. Those games which straddle the line between an adventure/rpg and a platformer. Swordigo, Swords & Sorcery, etc.
     
  7. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
    17
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    Riverside, CA
    Excellent suggestion with the former - I changed the category to Runner instead of Auto-Runner. Concerning the latter, the adventures such as Swordigo fit into the Metroidvania category. Unfortunately the beautiful Sword & Sworcery is a point and click adventure rather than a platformer.
     
  8. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
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    Riverside, CA
    I'm trying now to figure out where Kung Fu Rabbit and Run, Jump, Kill! would fit in. I may have to create a separate Hack & Slash category. Any suggestions? Also, do you know of anything similar?
     
  9. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
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    Now I have Undead Ocean to add to the Above Hack & Slash Category.
     
  10. Janni

    Janni Well-Known Member

    Aug 10, 2012
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    great effort, thx!
     
  11. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
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    Riverside, CA
    You're welcome. I love platformers ... and making lists. I will add specifications and links when I reach a stopping point on the progress of the list. If there is anything you would like to add please let me know.
     
  12. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
    17
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    Riverside, CA
    Looking at Gorilla Gondola, but not sure if it is appropriate for the list.
     
  13. Janni

    Janni Well-Known Member

    Aug 10, 2012
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    i love buying games from lists, so links to app-shopper or store will be just fine... getting the new ipod next month, so i'm probably going to catch 'em all :)

    ps: you may want to add "rod land" to the arena list
     
  14. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
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    Riverside, CA
    Thanks, I added Rodland.
     
  15. Janni

    Janni Well-Known Member

    Aug 10, 2012
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    i'm missing (or probably overlooking):

    bring me sandwiches
    apocalypse max
    chop chop caveman
    kung fu rabbit
    ninja boy
    run roo run
    ...
     
  16. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
    17
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    Riverside, CA
    Thanks for your help! I added them to the list.
     
  17. Janni

    Janni Well-Known Member

    Aug 10, 2012
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    though not so sure about "run roo run" anymore... sorry, can't remember if he also jumps on platforms... probably its just a runner/jumper
     
  18. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
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    I was a little hesitant myself. It is mostly an auto-puzzler, I'd say in a similar vein to Burger Cat. Perhaps it is best to remove it.
     
  19. Yeah, i would say it is a jumper timing game not platform too. Great list!
     
  20. retr0spective

    retr0spective Well-Known Member

    May 24, 2011
    915
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    Riverside, CA
    Thanks, let me know if there is anything you would like to add to it.
     

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