What are the best 2D platformers of all time (excluding Mario and Sonic titles)?

[dscross]

I believe the Castlevania and Metroid titles are still the best 2D platformers available out there but I want to hear some of your opinions. Might give me some ideas of new things to play as a bonus.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Does Ori and the Bling Forest count? 'cause if so, Ori and the Bling Forest...

 

[sXeth]

Hmm, it'd kind of depend where your boundaries lie in terms of combat in platformers for most things I'd recommend.

Meat Boy's kind of the obvious one to go for a pure platformer. Or the Donkey Kong countries. Commander Keen's an oft forgotten one of the 90s PC games (it had shooting but limited and generally not required).

 

[Catfood220]

Puppeteer, a criminally ignored PS3 exclusive, it was charming, witty and damn good fun. I'm dying for a PS4 re release.

 

[demoman_chaos]

Shantae needs some love, and I'd give her all of mine and then some

 

[dscross]

Shantae needs some love, and I'd give her all of mine and then some.

I love Pirate's Curse, which is the only one I've played all the way through. I also own Risky's Revenge and the original on virtual console but haven't got around to doing them yet. I'd like to try Half Genie Hero. Which is your favourite one and why?

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

Dust: An Elysian Tail

Jazz Jackrabbit 2

Metal Slug (Just pick one I guess.)

 

[demoman_chaos]

Shantae needs some love, and I'd give her all of mine and then some.

I love Pirate's Curse, which is the only one I've played all the way through. I also own Ricky's Revenge and the original on virtual console but haven't got around to doing them yet. I'd like to try Half Genie Hero. Which is your favourite one and why?

Half-Genie Hero is the only one I've played a lot of, and it is fantastic. It has only a few stages and a lot of back-tracking as you unlock new abilities but the music, animation, writing, and gameplay are all fantastic. The only thing I don't love about that game is the "Friends till the End" DLC which has you play as Bolo, Rotty, and Sky and they all are quite poo and there are a few sections that are just plain dickish. The worst part is where you have to climb up a tower while running from giant worm who acts as a kill-plane. It was at that spot in the FttE DLC that I quit the game. It was annoying with Shantae, annoying when playing as Risky, but utterly obnoxious with the trio. There are a few sections that are annoying, but most of the game is great.

Did I mention the fantastic music?:

I genuinely can't pick a favorite. It is as hard as picking a favorite from the Sonic series (though the Hard Boiled Heavies theme from Sonic Mania probably takes that trophy), they are all fantastic.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

I am disgusted by the lack of Megaman mentioned here.....

 

[Hawki]

I can't really count Metroid as a platformer - it's a Metroidvania (nah, really?). I mean, it has platforming in it, but that's not what you're really there for.

Anyway. off the top of my head:

*Another World (though as a cinematic platformer, this is very much an acquired taste)

*Bonanza Bros

*Castlevania: Bloodlines (only Castlevania game I've played, so can't comment on the others)

*Donkey Kong (not the arcade, the Gameboy one)

*Donkey Kong Country 1 & 2 (3 is okay, I guess)

*Micky Mouse: Castle of Illusion

*The Lost Vikings

*Toy Story (SNES/Genesis)

 

[pearcinator]

Rayman Legends or the Donkey Kong Country Games.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

The Donkey Kong Country trilogy! Nice to see the love as well.

 

[BrawlMan]

Rayman Legends or the Donkey Kong Country Games.

This, Dynamite Headdy, Ristar, DK: Tropical Freeze (Returns was lackluster), and Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master.

 

[Trunkage]

I believe the Castlevania and Metroid titles are still the best 2D platformers available out there but I want to hear some of your opinions. Might give me some ideas of new things to play as a bonus.

Ah, you forgot the best Metriodvania. Hollow Knight. Its fun zipping around and the combat is complex but not insurmountable with many viable builds. Also, the White Palace is insane but a satisfying platforming section.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

Guacamelee
Ori and the Blind Forest
Flashback: Quest for Identity
Prince of Persia
Blackthorne
The Lost Vikings
Fury of the Furries
Sleepwalker
GODS

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

I believe the Castlevania and Metroid titles are still the best 2D platformers available out there but I want to hear some of your opinions. Might give me some ideas of new things to play as a bonus.

Ah, you forgot the best Metriodvania. Hollow Knight. Its fun zipping around and the combat is complex but not insurmountable with many viable builds. Also, the White Palace is insane but a satisfying platforming section.

Hollow knight sucks. The rooms respawn after you've left them and if you die you have to go back to a way earlier checkpoint losing potentially hours of progress. Avoid at all costs.

 

[Shim3d]

Megaman 2
Shovel Knight
Owlboy

 

[Natemans]

Megaman 2 and Shovel Knight

 

[PointlessKnowledge]

I am disgusted by the lack of Megaman mentioned here.....

I am and always will be a huge fan of Mega Man X.

I also love Mega Man 2 a whole lot.

 

[Trunkage]

I believe the Castlevania and Metroid titles are still the best 2D platformers available out there but I want to hear some of your opinions. Might give me some ideas of new things to play as a bonus.

Ah, you forgot the best Metriodvania. Hollow Knight. Its fun zipping around and the combat is complex but not insurmountable with many viable builds. Also, the White Palace is insane but a satisfying platforming section.

Hollow knight sucks. The rooms respawn after you've left them and if you die you have to go back to a way earlier checkpoint losing potentially hours of progress. Avoid at all costs.

isn't room respawning a feature of Metriodvania? If you're just not into that style of platformer, awesome. System Shock has the same thing as well.

As to save hygiene... The only place I found this problematic is Deep Nest. They're too far apart. But you could say exactly the same thing about Dark Souls