What happend to good platformers?
- Thread starter Ken_J
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It could have been a fun platformer but no. So much potential.Calobi said:
OT: Platformers are dying and I don't know why. Wish that there were more good ones out there now.
Perhaps platformers are less common because they are old. Everyone's played all kinds of platformers. Platformers like Mario, Sonic, and Mega Man, etc., were popular and some of the best games of their time. Given that they've been done in so many ways and have been combined with practically every other genre in some form, one could argue that they've been done to death. Platformers today have to include a name like Mario or innovate to be of interest. If LittleBigPlanet didn't have level creation or the online community, it would have been little more than a relic. Ratchet and Clank tends to be more of a shooter than a platformer at times. Mirror's Edge broke the mold with first person platforming, and the good parts were spectacular, but the game was not without its weak points (Getting the Test of Faith trophy on hard stopped being fun at many points).
If FPS games are the most popular genre as platformers arguably were in the 2D era, then the same rule might eventually apply: an FPS that just does more of the same won't sell.
There's my two cents, though I might be full of crap.
If FPS games are the most popular genre as platformers arguably were in the 2D era, then the same rule might eventually apply: an FPS that just does more of the same won't sell.
There's my two cents, though I might be full of crap.
No love for Wario Shake? Mirror's Edge 2D? N+?
There are still platforming games, it's just the "catch-all" game play just isn't as wanted as it used to be due to all those other games doing well in their genres. Due to that, due to big platformers not selling as well as they used to, we get far less clones and "me-toos" as we did in the 8-bit through the 32-bit days.
Now, we get platforming aspects in other games instead. Assassin's Creed, inFamous, Portal, and quite a few others just now use platforming as part of the new catch-all games, Sandbox.
I love good platforming, and I'll buy most every decent 2D one out there, but these days they just don't capture the same feel or want by people when they could get a strong FPS or strong Action Adventure or strong Stealth game or what have you. That and some people simply just don't have the time for collect-a-thongs as they once did or wish to spend the time learning so much memorisation just for single player.
Platformers aren't dead, they just aren't the big gaming type they once were. We still get plenty of great games from Nintendo, SEGA has Dimps make a few from time to time, old classics come back, indie and freeware are going strong, and sandboxes take more then a few thoughts from 3D platformers.
Much like Metroidvania games, I don't see it as "they are dead", just "it's niche and get far more thought into making by people who love them".
There are still platforming games, it's just the "catch-all" game play just isn't as wanted as it used to be due to all those other games doing well in their genres. Due to that, due to big platformers not selling as well as they used to, we get far less clones and "me-toos" as we did in the 8-bit through the 32-bit days.
Now, we get platforming aspects in other games instead. Assassin's Creed, inFamous, Portal, and quite a few others just now use platforming as part of the new catch-all games, Sandbox.
I love good platforming, and I'll buy most every decent 2D one out there, but these days they just don't capture the same feel or want by people when they could get a strong FPS or strong Action Adventure or strong Stealth game or what have you. That and some people simply just don't have the time for collect-a-thongs as they once did or wish to spend the time learning so much memorisation just for single player.
Platformers aren't dead, they just aren't the big gaming type they once were. We still get plenty of great games from Nintendo, SEGA has Dimps make a few from time to time, old classics come back, indie and freeware are going strong, and sandboxes take more then a few thoughts from 3D platformers.
Much like Metroidvania games, I don't see it as "they are dead", just "it's niche and get far more thought into making by people who love them".
In my opinion? They topped it a couple years later on the same console with Conker's Bad Fur Day, which not only included better storytelling, more variety of gameplay, a sense of humor and very good platforming, it also included on of the most kickass multiplayer modes on the N64. So no, Mario 64 was not the pinnacle.MetallicaRulez0 said:
On topic: I feel like the new Prince of Persia, while having questionable combat, characters and story, had excellent platforming design and visual aesthetic. It warrants a mention. As does The Maw which came out this year. I also felt that Kameo, while not being that recent is recent enough that I feel it should be mentioned. Even Shadow of the Colossus (although old) could be considered one of the best platformers of recent memory. On that topic The Last Guardian shows promise of excellent puzzle-platforming.
Overall though, I agree. The platformers we're seeing today are few and far between. There has been a downturn in those willing to tackle the genre, the shooter market being much more profitable and -with all the engines out- much easier to develop for. I miss the platformer the same way I miss the P&C. They aren't dead, they just aren't a legitimate share of the gaming industry anymore. But, despite this, we have a massive back-catalogue to go to of brilliant platform and P&C games to go back to so why be disappointed.