RF Generation Message Board

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By now, our top 20 lists have extinguished most of the mainstream systems from the Atari era to XBox/GameCube/PS2. If anyone has suggestions for retro systems that were missed in that time frame, let me know and I'll look into it. For now, I thought it might be fun to look at specific genres, and rank some of the best all-time games of each genre.

Hopefully, this can both verify the genre defining games, but also bring attention to overlooked gems of certain game types.

For the rest of July, into early August, we're looking 2D platformers. Chances are, if you ever played an NES, you've played a 2D platformer. The game type consists mainly of running and jumping to avoid on screen obstacles and enemies. While some platformers involve a moving screen, such as Super Mario Bros., others involve a single screen to clear before moving onto the next, i.e. Bubble Bobble.

There are a LOT of options to choose from, and if takes us into part of August that's o.k., but I'm hoping that a list like this will get some attention to great games. I should also add I'm not expecting it to only cover older titles. Modern games made to fit the genre will still count.

Also, if you're unsure if a game fits the genre, it likely does. The 2D platformer is a wider genre for sure, and there are games that fit both it and other genres.

I know the month is half over, but I also know with this topic, there's plenty of time for people to participate. One of the keys to the lists working is getting a variety of opinions, so we welcome all the participation we can get.

Participants:

EZ Racer
Crabmaster
Disposed Hero
Normatron
MetalFro
Mr_Stubbes

A reminder on how to participate-

1. Make an ordered list of whatever games are your favorites for the genre being covered that month.

-Make your list about what games you think are the best examples of that particular genre, NOT necessarily the most important. (For example, Super Mario Bros. is one of the most influential games in VG history, but not many would call it a better game than SMB3)

-Also, your list needs to be limited to games you have personally played. Don't include a game just because you've heard it's good, include a game because you know it's good.

-For as many games as you'd like, try to include a few thoughts on why that particular game made your list. That way, those not as familiar with the game can see why it's one they should put on their radar.

2. Personal Message EZ Racer with your ordered list.

Just put "Top 20 games (whatever genre we're covering that month)" in the subject line. Throughout the month, I will be compiling the results, and release a full list based on votes sent in. I will be putting extra weight on games voted for the top of the lists, so please make sure that your games are listed in numeric order. The reasoning behind a private vote is so that each member's vote can be their own, not influenced by what they think others would want.

The voting cutoff each month will be the last day of the month at 11:59 EST. Because we're getting a late start on this one, don't be shy about sending in lists in early August.

Hopefully we get some fun thoughts!

Very cool! Do we consider something very action heavy as a 2D platformer, like Contra? How about something odd-ball like Bionic Commando?

Only older platforms that I don't think we've done lists for yet that could still be reasonably done are probably Arcade and PC.

Wow, I think it might be hard narrowing down a list of just 20, though the top 5-10 will probably be fairly easy. But after the obvious choices, some of the 2nd tier games may end up being harder to sift through.

I know there was a late start to this, but would love to get a bunch of participants in on this list. Even if it means bleeding it to the beginning of August.

As far as what belongs on the list, to me if the main mechanic involved is platforming, via jumping or other means, to me it counts.

I think I can come up with a list. Just to make sure this list can include both retro and modern titles correct?

Totally forgot about this. I'll try to come up with something over the next week or so

I'll be back home from camping in a few days and will finalize my list

I think you may need to do this. This is a difficult task :P

Yep, just so long as it's 2D platforming.

Mario is one of the coolest one, but did you ever play a really old game from Blizzard called Blackthorne? Awesome at least 25 years ago :-)

I played through Blackthorne about 2 years ago. It's still pretty cool.

I'm back home so I'll try and have my list in for you tomorrow

List submitted

Just submitted my list. I have the nagging feeling that I'm forgetting something, but I'm just gonna let it ride as is.

I have the same bad feeling

I submitted yesterday. This was tough! There are a lot of solid platformers out there, but how many of them are top-tier enough to be considered among the 20 best? Was harder to come up with the list than I imagined it would be.

I just submitted my list as well and feel the same way. I feel like when I made my list a lot of the games included were ones I've played/beaten relatively recently (like the past year or two). That's not to say the games I chose aren't great in their own right, but I'm sure there are some games I forgot about floating around on other lists that would fit 20 best ever moniker a lot better.

Time for some also-rans


One 20th place vote

Lost Vikings 2

Mickey Mania

Tiny Toon Adventures

Wario Land

Tiny Barbarian



One 19th place vote


Aladdin (Sega Genesis)

Limbo

Metal Slug 2

Metal Storm

Prinny Can I Really be the Hero

Commander Keen in Aliens Ate My Babysitter


One 18th place vote

Skyblazer

Comix Zone


One 17th place vote

Vice Project Doom

Pulseman

Strider

Ninja Gaiden


One 16th place vote

Cave Story

Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers


One 15th place vote

Rayman

Shatterhand


One 14th place vote

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Dynamite Headdy

Mega Man X4

Shinobi III


One 13th place vote

M.C. Kids

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

New Super Mario Bros Wii


One 12th place vote

Castlevania

Little Big Planet


One 11th place vote

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

Ducktales: Remastered

Super Mario Bros.

Bonk's Revenge

Oh man, I think 8 games from my list are already in the also-rans  :laugh:

More also-rans

One 10th place vote

Super Meat Boy

Super Mario All Stars

Mega Man 4

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Ristar

Super Castlevania IV


One 9th place vote

A Robot Named Fight

Castlevania: Bloodlines

Celeste

Super Mario Maker


One 8th place vote

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

New Super Mario Bros U

Metroid Fusion


One 7th place vote

Axiom Verge

Shantae: Half Genie Hero


One 6th place vote

Earthworm Jim 2

Metal Slug

Mickey Mouse in the Castle of Illusion


One 5th place vote

Kirby Superstar

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

Bubble Bobble


One 4th place vote

Bionic Commando


One 3rd place vote

Dead Cells

Freedom Planet

Super C

The Messenger

Damn I've had 12 go down in the also-rans so far. Some games I figured would end up here just because there are so many great platformers out there that there was bound to be a good number of single votes. That being said there are definitely a few that I'm surprised didn't get more than one vote.

Holy cow, half my list is gone. Also, someone voted for Tiny Barbarian??? That game pissed me off so bad :slick:

Yeah that was me lol. I’m a glutton for punishment and really like Tiny Barbarian.

I need to look up Tiny Barbarian now

Here’s my list for top 20 Platformers.

1. Rayman Legends
2. Super Mario Bros. 3
3. Cuphead
4. Mega Man X
5. Shovel Knight
6. Earthworm Jim 2
7. Axiom Verge
8. Donkey Kong Country
9. Celeste
10. Super Meat Boy
11. Super Mario Bros.
12. Mega Man 2
13. Kirby’s Adventure
14. Sonic the Hedgehog
15. Rayman
16. Cave Story
17. DuckTales
18. Skyblazer
19. Limbo
20. Tiny Barbarian

1.   Super Metroid
2.   Super Mario Bros. 3
3.   Super C
4.   Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
5.   Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
6.   Metal Slug
7.   Super Mario World
8.   Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon
9.   Contra
10.   Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
11.   Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
12.   Castlevania
13.   Ori and the Will of the Wisps
14.   Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
15.   Shatterhand
16.   Donkey Kong Country
17.   Vice: Project Doom
18.   Cuphead
19.   Metal Slug 2
20.   Shovel Knight

20. Lost Vikings 2
19. Prinny Can I Really Be The Hero
18. Kirby's Adventure
17. Ninja Gaiden
16. Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers
15. Duck Tales
14. Mega Man X4
13. M.C. Kids
12. Donkey Kong Country
11. Sonic Mania
10. Mega Man 4
9. Little Nemo
8. Donkey Kong 94
7. Super Mario Bros 3
6. Super Mario World
5. Bubble Bobble
4. Mega Man 3
3. Mega Man 9
2. Shovel Knight
1. Mega Man X

I think my problem at the time was, I wasn't playing optimally. This was before I bought any 3rd party controllers for the Switch that have a better d-pad than the Pro controller does, or at least the original Pro controller. I had so many bad diagonals. Also, some of the flow of that game didn't click with me. If I went back and tried it again with the 8bitdo M30, I might fare better.

Oh God I can't. Look, I'm new here and I want to participate, but between all the consoles and the sub-genres in platformers I just can't get a list done. Is Mega Man a platformer? Is Symphony of the Night a platformer?

I didn't know you can still download blackthorn :-) I will have a look. (http://sverigescasinosida.com) Just don't have a too much time to play, and I hope it still awesome like before :-)