The platformer genre FAR from dead

I was just over at the xbox 360 boards, and people were complaining(shocker) about how since the new banjo kazooie game was a racing game, the platformer genre is dead. Nope, we all know that the best games on the wii are platformers, like Super mario galaxy, super paper mario, and warioland shake it. There are probably more, thats all ive played though. But for gods sake, nintendo brought back the 2d platformers. And capcom brought back the 8-bit platformer. (mega man 9). So i think this proves that while platformers are pretty much dead on other consoles, Its still doing pretty well on the wii. Which makes me happy. Oh and by the way, they announced a new zelda! just kidding. thought Id piss everyone off today. (even though I also really want a new zelda)

I was just over at the xbox 360 boards, and people were complaining(shocker) about how since the new banjo kazooie game was a racing game, the platformer genre is dead. Nope, we all know that the best games on the wii are platformers, like Super mario galaxy, super paper mario, and warioland shake it. There are probably more, thats all ive played though. But for gods sake, nintendo brought back the 2d platformers. And capcom brought back the 8-bit platformer. (mega man 9). So i think this proves that while platformers are pretty much dead on other consoles, Its still doing pretty well on the wii. Which makes me happy. Oh and by the way, they announced a new zelda! just kidding. thought Id piss everyone off today. (even though I also really want a new zelda)

tacoeater831

Nintendo is the king on making platformers, they've been doing it years before the NES days.

AND by the way, they really did announce a new ZELDA game at last years E3!!!

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

BrooklynHotBoy

Probably the best thing to happen to platformers this gen is that Nintendo no longer makes the best one.

That means hopefully they're willing to put the extra effort into getting the top spot back

platformers need to die out.

BrooklynHotBoy

Oh great, one of the basic building blocks of any game needs to be taken out

I guess you're also a fan of removing thumbsticks, buttons, and aiming reticules right?

The idea that the platformer genre should be removed is wrong both from a sales standpoint and a demand standpoint

I'm sure glad you're not part of the industry, well actually I'm sure the industry is glad you're not part of the industry. Just this console gen there's been over 30 million units of software moved in the platformer genre yet you'd rather companies not make that money. That's not even adding in the handheld varieties

Wow

platformers need to die out.

Oh great, one of the basic building blocks of any game needs to be taken out

I guess you're also a fan of removing thumbsticks, buttons, and aiming reticules right?

The idea that the platformer genre should be removed is wrong both from a sales standpoint and a demand standpoint

I'm sure glad you're not part of the industry, well actually I'm sure the industry is glad you're not part of the industry. Just this console gen there's been over 30 million units of software moved in the platformer genre yet you'd rather companies not make that money. That's not even adding in the handheld varieties

Wow

nintendo does have the best platformers now

360 has braid and a couple arcade games but as for banjo kazooie. i think rare was on crack and decided "hey lets add cars to our next banjo kazooie game and maybe it will sell more than our older ones on nintendo when we could easily make on just like those the cars will make this game the best!!"

if any of you played it.. it has the banjo feel to it like it couldve been ALOT more without the cars. they killed the brand with that

and super mario galaxy was the best thing thats happened since Super mario64.. except SMG its better. if its boring to you than whats your fun? fps ith explosions and guns shooting everywhere??

you should be happy you got such a great innovative game like SMG on the wii.

Banjo Kazooie is a racing game? D:

That's sad... :( I wish it were like the old games. =(

Ahh, well. I'll still buy it, but I'm really disappointed.

mario galaxy is THE best platforming game this gen.

braid is a good downlodable game and far better then banjos new racing game :P

but the king of platformers is NINTENDO and the best platformer is also SuperMario Bros. ;)

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

BrooklynHotBoy

Galaxy boring?, i dont know what can entertain you...

BTW Galaxy is 10000 times better than any FPS, thats why it got the GOTY and COD didnt jajaja

dont forget DeBlob, i love it!!

Yeah, I'm delighted to see that some of the Wii's more popular games are indeed platformers, the genre that I grew up loving and still do to this day. Even so, I believe that a lot more can still be done to make platformers a more appealing genre for today's gaming public. The beauty of a great platformer is that it allows a game designer to be as crazy as he/she wants to be, and as long as the gameplay is solid, the more creative you are, the better the game could end up. It's just that with so much of the game developing focus being shifted on photorealism that I think prevents platformers from really being in the spotlight once again. It also doesn't help that development costs are so high, that taking the creative energy to come up with an engaging platformer may end up going to waste because of not enough publisher and/or consumer support.

In a way, this is where I think digital distribution, such as WiiWare, can really spark some inspiration from developers without risks being anywhere as high. That being said, for platformers to truly survive, the games need intense support to become successful from a retail standpoint. ...At least this is what I believe. Anyways, the gamer in me really hopes that this genre continues to live on and maybe one day become a very respected figure in video games again.

Probably the best thing to happen to platformers this gen is that Nintendo no longer makes the best one.

That means hopefully they're willing to put the extra effort into getting the top spot back

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

Galaxy boring?, i dont know what can entertain you...

BTW Galaxy is 10000 times better than any FPS, thats why it got the GOTY and COD didnt jajaja

dont forget DeBlob, i love it!!

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

BrooklynHotBoy

Mario Galaxy is a great game. I don't know what you were playing

people actually consider Super Paper Mario a platformer? lol...and a good one at that?...what a poor excuse for a game that killed a wonderfully imagined franchise.chex81

[QUOTE="chex81"]people actually consider Super Paper Mario a platformer? lol...and a good one at that?...what a poor excuse for a game that killed a wonderfully imagined franchise.AdRock92

[QUOTE="AdRock92"][QUOTE="chex81"]people actually consider Super Paper Mario a platformer? lol...and a good one at that?...what a poor excuse for a game that killed a wonderfully imagined franchise.bakingman04

people actually consider Super Paper Mario a platformer? lol...and a good one at that?...what a poor excuse for a game that killed a wonderfully imagined franchise.chex81

[QUOTE="bakingman04"][QUOTE="AdRock92"] SPM is a platformer/RPG mix. Where the other games in the series are considered to be mostly RPG with a little platforming, this one is mostly platforming with a little RPG in it. That's why it generally regarded as just a platformer (and yes, a good one at that LOL)snapfreeze

The 360 doesn't really have platformers like the other systems. Nintendo has mario, and a few others. Sony has Little Big Planet, Ratchet and Clank, Pixeljunk Eden and even though Uncharted is mainly action adventure, it does have platforming segments. Nintendo would be the way to go for pure platforming purposes. gamenerd15

Ratchet and clank a platformer? LOL! Anyways, My favourite genre of gaming is platformer. The best 2D platformer ever made is Yoshis's island and the best 3D platformer ever made is Mario Galaxy. I want the platformr to make a huge come back.

P.S. No I didn't like DeBlob.

[QUOTE="gamenerd15"]The 360 doesn't really have platformers like the other systems. Nintendo has mario, and a few others. Sony has Little Big Planet, Ratchet and Clank, Pixeljunk Eden and even though Uncharted is mainly action adventure, it does have platforming segments. Nintendo would be the way to go for pure platforming purposes. Pikminmaniac

Ratchet and clank a platformer? LOL! Anyways, My favourite genre of gaming is platformer. The best 2D platformer ever made is Yoshis's island and the best 3D platformer ever made is Mario Galaxy. I want the platformr to make a huge come back.

P.S. No I didn't like DeBlob.

Actually Ratchet and Clank is more of a Sci-Fi Action Adventure Third Person Shooter

. . . . but FPS sure are.

I've been waiting for an inovation in FPS since Half Life.

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

BrooklynHotBoy

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

BrooklynHotBoy

Banjo-Kazooie N&B is not a racing game.

Wario Land: Shake It! was unbelievably underwhelming.

Probably the best thing to happen to platformers this gen is that Nintendo no longer makes the best one.

That means hopefully they're willing to put the extra effort into getting the top spot back

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

Probably the best thing to happen to platformers this gen is that Nintendo no longer makes the best one.

That means hopefully they're willing to put the extra effort into getting the top spot back

alphamale1989

It's a great game, it's not the best this gen but it's great

Now that Nintendo doesn't make the best any longer hopefully they try to reclaim the title.

With their current direction evidence shows they're not interested but anything can happen

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

BrooklynHotBoy

*Insert your favorite genre *needs to die out. It was the hype back in the days, just as platformers are the hype now.

And *Insert your favorite game* was NOT good. That game was painfully boring.

cwutididthar becausestatingopinionsasfactsisclearly wh at the hype i s all ab out to day

*EDIT* Gamefaqs murders my posts on a daily basis

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

uh no it isn't. Ratchet Deadlocked was more of a shooter as well as up your arsenal, but the original Ratchet, Going Commando were more or less platformers. In tools of destruction you used a gel gun in order to get ready for this "jump", so yes it is a platformer with some shooting mechanics. Quest for booty puts more emphasis on the platforming aspect. All I was saying was that the 360 didn't have any platformers really and that is why people on that board say the genre is dead. I guess the Wii board really takes offense when someone says that there is something similar on another system. There is no need for retaliation. Mario could also be considered an adventure game by some because Platformers used to be known as adventure games before GTA and the whole open world adventure genre came out.

uh no it isn't. Ratchet Deadlocked was more of a shooter as well as up your arsenal, but the original Ratchet, Going Commando were more or less platformers. In tools of destruction you used a gel gun in order to get ready for this "jump", so yes it is a platformer with some shooting mechanics. Quest for booty puts more emphasis on the platforming aspect. All I was saying was that the 360 didn't have any platformers really and that is why people on that board say the genre is dead. I guess the Wii board really takes offense when someone says that there is something similar on another system. There is no need for retaliation. Mario could also be considered an adventure game by some because Platformers used to be known as adventure games before GTA and the whole open world adventure genre came out.

gamenerd15

The 360 doesn't really have platformers like the other systems. Nintendo has mario, and a few others. Sony has Little Big Planet, Ratchet and Clank, Pixeljunk Eden and even though Uncharted is mainly action adventure, it does have platforming segments. Nintendo would be the way to go for pure platforming purposes. gamenerd15

The 360 doesn't really have platformers like the other systems. Nintendo has mario, and a few others. Sony has Little Big Planet, Ratchet and Clank, Pixeljunk Eden and even though Uncharted is mainly action adventure, it does have platforming segments. Nintendo would be the way to go for pure platforming purposes. gamenerd15

I want to see a new Kirby game that explores the capabilities of the wii. I'd also love to see more games making use of the Balance Board. I want to see a patch on the Mario Kart Channel to use the balance board as an accelerator and brake pedal.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I can't stand most FPS games. Then again, I am an absolute Metroid fiend, but mostly for the story/ character and isolation game play. I think that was one of the few crossovers that was made into an FPS gracefully.

I think Halo is fun, but am I the only one that thinks the character design is horrible? The vehicles, weapons and most other things in those games remind me of some of the early attempts at 3D polygon 1st gen games, for systems like the 3DO and the Sega CD. They seem very unfinished and generic sci-fi by nature.

Megaman 9 brought a tear to my eye. I absolutely love it and I give Capcom much respect for having the balls to do it. I appreciate that game production attempt more than any other game that I have seen in some 15 years. It was almost like Metallica had released a good album again, or something. It hit the core of quality story and game play that we used to see on a regular basis. Things just seemed to be more creative and innovative back then. It almost seems like we're stuck in some 20 year long Twilight Zone episode. I felt like I opened a pack of Garbage Pail Kids that were 20 some years old, each of characters I had never seen before.

I wish we would see more platformers and RPG's with the story and finesse of some of the older games.

I still think one of the best games on any system to date is Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for PlayStation.

I did find Glaaxy rather boring at parts. I felt I had to force myself to actually collect the 120 stars just with Mario. Luigi, didn't even finish it.

I've never played any of Rachet/Clank, or any other PS exclusives..so I can't comment on them.

I would honestly have to say that Platformers are not dead, but their hayday is over. When Rare implouded after the sell, that's when Platformers lost their magical touch.

[QUOTE="Pikminmaniac"]

[QUOTE="gamenerd15"]The 360 doesn't really have platformers like the other systems. Nintendo has mario, and a few others. Sony has Little Big Planet, Ratchet and Clank, Pixeljunk Eden and even though Uncharted is mainly action adventure, it does have platforming segments. Nintendo would be the way to go for pure platforming purposes. SMGalaxyRulez

Ratchet and clank a platformer? LOL! Anyways, My favourite genre of gaming is platformer. The best 2D platformer ever made is Yoshis's island and the best 3D platformer ever made is Mario Galaxy. I want the platformr to make a huge come back.

P.S. No I didn't like DeBlob.

Actually Ratchet and Clank is more of a Sci-Fi Action Adventure Third Person Shooter

yeah but with a little platformy here and there.....in the first 3 at least....the 4th one was shooting rampage:lol:

I'd say right now we're going through a kind of reinventuion of the platformer genre, which is giving the genre new life after fizzling out in recent years. This gen, you have:

1. Little Big Planet: A comunity-based platformer, which lets people create levels and share them, and seems to have room for expansion, as shown by the addition of the Paintinator, and promise of other such additions in the future.

2. Super Mario Galaxy: After having so many Mario 64 clones outside of the series, Nintendo decided that it was time to shake things up, and they did this by going back and redefining the genre. Now they have basically gone and made the 3D Platformer genre what people probably were expecting it to be before seeing Mario 64. It's a now a 3D version of the 2D games, but also takes elements from the 3D games, mixed them together, and in doing so have managed to create something very original.

3. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts: More of a vehicle-based platformer. Not something that would appeal to everybody, but it is a very unique and very fun game.

4. de Blob: A very unique platformer, which has you going around painting a town. Doesn't feel like anything that I've played before, but does take a few elements from other 3D platfomers (such as missions to complete).

5. Super Paper Mario: Personally I feel that this is the least successful at reinventing the platformer (and RPG) genre, and my least favorite of the series, BUT it is not bad, and fun while it lasts.

6. Mirror's Edge: First Person Action/Platformer, first of it's kind.

7. Braid: Uses traditional platforming, but uses the twist of time manipulation to make it into more of a puzzler game, and does so extremely well. Of course, not all platformers have to reinvent the genre, and some of those platformers that don't do much new are can still be very good, but I feel that the games to reinvent the genre are giving it a new breath that it hasn't really had since the N64/PS1 era.

edit: Oh, and more on the topic of Wii having more platformers, and basically keeping the genre alive, I both agree and disagree. As my list above shows, there are some very good platformers on the other consoles. However, the Wii certainly has a much larger number of games from the genre, and definitely is helping the genre stay alive.

platformers need to die out. it was the hype back in the days just as fps's are the hype now, I would love a donkey kong game though.

and Mario Galaxy was NOT good. that game was painfully boring.

BrooklynHotBoy

go play your xbox 360