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

[Squilookle]

Has anyone ever actually played all of them?

Anyway, Whenever Super Mario World comes up trumps in lists of the greatest games ever made, I disagree... but I can also definitely see where they're coming from. Prince Of Persia is pretty rad too.

 

[Catfood220]

I forgot about Thomas Was Alone, a gripping story about a computer program gaining sentience. This game made me care about a bunch of squares and rectangles.

 

[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.

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

It doesn't happen in Guacamelee, or Ori and the Blind Forest (I think). Anyway I wasted an hour on the first area where I killed a bunch of enemies and collected a lot of coin and died, then the game took me back right to the start. This happened several times. So I got a refund. The game would have been so much better if dying just took you back to where you died.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

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.

Your opinion is un-original. I have seen the praise given to Megaman 2 and Megaman X 1 so much, I need to give the others a chance.

I like Megaman 1 over 2.

And I like the PS1 Megaman X games over the SNES ones.

And I used to own Megaman Legends on PS1.

And I liked Battle Network.

 

[Yoshi178]

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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Still technically a Mario game since Yoshi is part of the Mario Universe.

 

[Yoshi178]

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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Still technically a Mario game since Yoshi is part of the Mario Universe.

Yoshi's story then. Mario is nowhere to be seen in that game so there!

i don't give a shit what universe he appeared in first. at least my games are actually platformers unlike OP's

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Still technically a Mario game since Yoshi is part of the Mario Universe.

Yoshi's story then. mario is nowhere to be seen in that game so there!

i don't give a shit what universe he appeared in first. at least my games are actually platformers unlike OP's

Shyguys, Boos, Chain-Chomps, Piranha Plants, and Baby Bowser are in Yoshi's Story, still in the Mario Universe, and while we are at it, so is Donkey Kong Country. Heck I feel its a wasted opportunity they didn't make Yoshi's Island and DK Island levels in Mario Odyssy.

And say what you will but Metroid and Castlevania still heavily features platforming none the less.

 

[Yoshi178]

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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Still technically a Mario game since Yoshi is part of the Mario Universe.

Yoshi's story then. mario is nowhere to be seen in that game so there!

i don't give a shit what universe he appeared in first. at least my games are actually platformers unlike OP's

Shyguys, Boos, Chain-Chomps, Piranha Plants, and Baby Bowser are in Yoshi's Story, still in the Mario Universe.

And say what you will but Metroid and Castlevania still heavily features platforming none the less.

i haven't played any of the castlevania games.

Metroid has platforming elements sure, but platforming is definitely not the focus of that series. exploration and action is. hence why it is classified as an action-adventure game. at least the 2D games anyway.


and i already said i don't give a crap if its the same universe. they are still technically not mario platforming games. they don't even play the same way as mario platformers do.

 

[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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Castlevania has a lot of of non-Metroidvania games as well, lest you forget. I think your general point is debatable as well, as there is a lot of platforming involved and you are splitting hairs, in my opinion.

 

[Yoshi178]

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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Castlevania has a lot of of non-Metroidvania games as well, lest you forget. I think your general point is debatable as well, as there is a lot of platforming involved and you are splitting hairs, in my opinion.

i'm not splitting hairs. i'm stating fact. the castlevania games are NOT platformers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania

neither are the metroid games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid


sure both series have platforming elements in them. but platforming has never been the focus for either castlevania or metroid.

 

[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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Castlevania has a lot of of non-Metroidvania games as well, lest you forget. I think your general point is debatable as well, as there is a lot of platforming involved and you are splitting hairs, in my opinion.

i'm not splitting hairs. i'm stating fact. the castlevania games are NOT platformers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania

neither are the metroid games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid


sure both series have platforming elements in them. but platforming has never been the focus for either castlevania or metroid.

You are splitting hairs mate. A platformer is just a video game in which the game-play revolves heavily around players controlling a character who runs and jumps onto platforms, floors, ledges, stairs or other objects depicted on a single or scrolling (horizontal or vertical) game screen. It is frequently classified as a SUB -GENRE of action games. If you haven't played any of the Castlevania games how do you know? Ive played them all. The first few Castlevanias DEFINITELY fall into this category.

 

[CaitSeith]

Shovel Knight.

Mistchief Makers (N64).

OoT: Sorry, Yoshi. You're splitting hairs here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_game#Platform-adventure_game

 

[Lufia Erim]

Kirby's dreamland. Amateurs..

 

[sXeth]

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

I was going to throw it in, but its been quite a long while and my memory's kind of hazy on whether it was more of a platformer or a side-scroll shooter in practice.

 

[Yoshi178]

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.

Metroid and Castlevania aren't platformers. they're action-adventure games.

if you're going to exclude certain platformers. at least replace them with actual platformers

OT: Yoshi's Island

Castlevania has a lot of of non-Metroidvania games as well, lest you forget. I think your general point is debatable as well, as there is a lot of platforming involved and you are splitting hairs, in my opinion.

i'm not splitting hairs. i'm stating fact. the castlevania games are NOT platformers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania

neither are the metroid games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid


sure both series have platforming elements in them. but platforming has never been the focus for either castlevania or metroid.

You are splitting hairs mate. A platformer is just a video game in which the game-play revolves heavily around players controlling a character who runs and jumps onto platforms, floors, ledges, stairs or other objects depicted on a single or scrolling (horizontal or vertical) game screen. It is frequently classified as a SUB -GENRE of action games. If you haven't played any of the Castlevania games how do you know? Ive played them all. The first few Castlevanias DEFINITELY fall into this category.

ok fine. i checked wiki and the first 3 games are action & platforming games.

regardless platforming still isn't what the series is best known for.

 

[Yoshi178]

Shovel Knight.

Mistchief Makers (N64).

OoT: Sorry, Yoshi. You're splitting hairs here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_game#Platform-adventure_game

more like you guys are splitting hairs, cherrypicking a very small amount of castlevania titles.

like i just said. platforming is not what the series is known for. even those early games focus just as much on action as they do platforming

 

[Zombie Proof]

Shovel Knight.

Mistchief Makers (N64).

OoT: Sorry, Yoshi. You're splitting hairs here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_game#Platform-adventure_game

more like you guys are splitting hairs, cherrypicking a very small amount of castlevania titles.

like i just said. platforming is not what the series is known for. even those early games focus just as much on action as they do platforming

You're wrong. Every castelevania before Symphony of the Night (except Simon's Quest), including the Game Boy brick castelvania's all had heavy emphasis on platforming, tricky ledges, and mid air obstacle avoidance. The deliberate movement and weight of the Belmont's don't make it any less so.

 

[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

It doesn't happen in Guacamelee, or Ori and the Blind Forest (I think). Anyway I wasted an hour on the first area where I killed a bunch of enemies and collected a lot of coin and died, then the game took me back right to the start. This happened several times. So I got a refund. The game would have been so much better if dying just took you back to where you died.

I remember hating Dark Souls becuase... Well lots of things. But the pertinent one was the game not explaining how to play the game effectively. Miss one bonfire and your game difficultly skyrockets. The upgrade system was Conspiracy Theory convulates. Knowing that you can upgrade your bonfire would have been helpful.

Hollow Knight had similar issues. That going into the unknown can be painful (very unlike a Fallout game) and know where bench are to save would have reduced a lot of pain. Fortunately for me I had gone through something similar with Dark Souls, and it wasn't a problem for me. But I can understand that it could be frustrating

 

[dscross]

Shovel Knight.

Mistchief Makers (N64).

OoT: Sorry, Yoshi. You're splitting hairs here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_game#Platform-adventure_game

more like you guys are splitting hairs, cherrypicking a very small amount of castlevania titles.

like i just said. platforming is not what the series is known for. even those early games focus just as much on action as they do platforming

It's not a small number of castlevania titles - there are loads of them, it's just that Symphony of the Night helped popularise the style that became metroidvania, but it's not necessarily what they are most famous for if you are in any way familiar with the series, so castlevania is not in this argument.

But back to your original point about about whether metroidvania should be considered platformers - as far as I'm concerned, you jump around on platforms all the time. Ergo, it's a type of platformer. I've heard them described as 'explorable platformers' before. OK they aren't your classic style of platformers, but they still fall under the same rough bracket for me. It sounds like in your mind you need it to be a 'if you fall off the screen and you die' type of game for it to be considered a platformer to you. It's just two different types of platform games in my opinion.

These terms are nebulous tbh.