What is your favorite recent 2d platformer...?

In an effort to shed light on this wonderful genre of games that is still pumping out great experiences, I was wondering if the good people on system wars cared to share their favorite recent 2d platformer... And then sell it. Why?

I'm playing Guacamelee presently and thoroughly enjoying it... Love the throwback Metroid/gaming references, love the style, love the music and upbeat quick thinking combat... Wasn't expecting a Gianna sisters style dimension shifting element and I really like what it adds... (Gianna sisters was madly underrated imo) and the characters are humorous and fun in a caricature stereotypical way. Side questing is light and mostly unobtrusive. . It executes metroidvania style gaming fairly well, though I don't often feel like I'm ever stuck or "peering over the wall" of the wonderful things to come like really tight metroidvania games provide...

So there's my recent 2d platformer of note. Great gameplay, interesting use of game elements in both platforming and combat and a fun cast of characters and local...

Play it while wearing a ray mysterio mask for extra layers of immersion. :P

Also... Shovel Knight... If you haven't played it.... Shame on you.

Speak system wars.... What 2d platformers should we be playing?

Guacamelee too. Played it last month...awesome gameplay, visuals, pacing and music!

Games i played this gen that also loved: Apotheon, Splunky, Steamworld Dig, Rogue Legacy, Dust: An Elysian Tail...

I was gonna say Guacamelee :). It really has some very cool and varied jumping puzzles.

One game I played not long ago and absolutely adored was Strider. Everything in that game has been designed to make you feel awesome all the time. So intense with a great moveset which feels just right in your hands. I suppose it's more of a metroidvania brawler type game, not much interesting platforming going on, but def recomend it.

Super Meat Boy for very recent.

Shadow Complex for relatively recently.

Wings of Vi isn't bad either, but I haven't got very far into it.

Rayman Legends

Ori and the Blind Forest

+1

@Sushiglutton: I was so hyped for strider (or is it stryder?)Played it a year before launch and was jazzed for the full game... Then for whatever reason I just couldn't connect with the game at all... :( maybe I'll revisit!

@TheEroica: I thought it got better as you accumulated more moves. It did have a bit repetetive enviroments, but combat was fun. It's pretty short to blast through so a revisit may be worth it :). Guacamelee is the more unique and well crafted game overall though imo.

Ori and the Blind Forest and Super Meat Boy.

The latter I would say is one of the best 2D platformers ever made.

Azure Striker Gunvolt. The gameplay is as tight as the Mega Man Zero and ZX series, the bosses can be both fun and challenging, especially when aiming for S+ ranked runs, and the soundtrack is terrific to say the least. I'm so happy that this game is getting a sequel, which I'm guessing should be out early next year.

Another game that I have on steam, but haven't played much yet is Freedom Planet. The story comes off as bad fanfic and the characters look ripped off straight from deviant art, but the game itself is basically Sonic CD X Gunstar Heroes, plus it has a ridiculously good soundtrack. After I'm done with my playthrough of Skies of Arcadia, it'll be next up on my list to finish.

Rayman Origins

Ori all day...love that game

@Renegade_Fury: where can I play azure?

@TheEroica: It's a downloadable title on the 3DS.

Ori and the Blind Forest and Broforce.

for me, it would be Muramasa Rebirth

Well I haven't played rayman legends yet, but origins and Donkey kong tropical freeze are both excellent. Going to go with origins though, tropical freeze is a bit sluggish in comparison and more formulaic.

Haven't got around to new super Mario bros U or Luigi U either, I heard Luigi U is pretty good.

Muramasa Rebirth, more action then platform but an excellent 2D game with some of the best visuals ever.

Meat Boy is really good for a more platforming type of 2D

Ori and the Blind forest, also one of my favourite games of all time.

Rayman Legends, love how funny it is and the couch co-op is incredible.

Donkey Kong Returns 3D and Tropical Freeze. Level design, music, tight controllers, and perfect platforming difficulty.

one of my favorite genres.

Ori and the Blind Forest and Duck Game.

@freedom01: vanillaware rocks sO effing hard.

@Renegade_Fury: thx

@TheEroica: No problem. Gamespot actually has a review of it too, if you're interested.

DK: Tropical Freeze.

Muramasa (Wii/Vita) is not only an excellent 2D platformer/action game, but an awesome game in general. Sure, there's a lot of repetition and backtracking involved, but the orgasmic graphics and fantastic combat alleviate its flaw. I love japanese fantasy, so the theme of the game is another bonus.

Another recent 2D platformer i really liked was Rayman Origins. I haven't played Legends, but Origins was ace. Easily one of the best 2D platformers released in the last decade.

Absolute best?

Any list would be remiss without Spelunky or Rayman Origins. Aaru's Awakening is also excellent.

Ori.

1. Shank
2. Tembo the badass Elephant
3. Sonic CD
4. Raymond Legends

@nyadc: how is this game? I've been thinking about getting it. Is it worth the 20 bucks?

Alien Fish Finger... I'm not joking.

Also can't wait for Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, never played the PS2 version, so I am eager to play the HD remaster when it is released

It's hard for me to get into 2D games anymore. Idk why exactly.

I hated Guacamelee, though I have yet to try Shovel Knight. It's just too much of a gamble. I might pick it up for $5 on a flash sale.

Shantae and The Pirates Curse and Shovel Knight.

Oddworld New & Tasty

Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is one of the best 2D platformers ever made. Top 10 GOAT material.

Perfect controls, amazing level design, fantastic art, godlike music, filled with content etc...

Shovel Knight seems fantastic too, but I stopped playing my digital copy. I want to buy and play the retail release

I want to say Guacamelee since its amazing...but i will go with Shovel Knight, that game is pure gold, loved every second of it.

Rayman Legends. I haven't played Ori yet so it may change.

Oh absolutely, it's fantastic.

Same DKTF level as a normal, full item run

and a speed run

@PAL360: rogue legacy is one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite game of the past few years. Game design executed to a razors edge.

@Renegade_Fury: thread success... I'm actually going to buy that game and run it. Looks awesome.

It's an action-RPG. There is pretty much no platforming at all.

But the story, characters and graphics are top notch.

Retro Studio's Donkey Kong Country games (Returns and Tropical Freeze) are pretty much as perfect as platformers can get. Exploration, secrets, difficulty level, design, gameplay, speed runs, etc. they do it all at an exceptionally high level.

The new Rayman games and Guacamelee are undeniably amazing as well. I really have to play Shovel Knight soon.

Shovel Knight, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, and New Super Mario Bros. U are my picks.

I'll nominate FEZ as well, if only for its conceptual brilliance.

Its between Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Shovel Knight for me. Both were fantastic.

odd world new and tasty

teslagrad

the swaper

vessel

ethan the meteor hunter

rochard

giana sisters

Spelunky

Guacamelee

Shovel Knight

Axiom Verge

@leandrro: I tried so hard to like vessel.... Just couldn't get into it...

Glad to see another vote for Gianna sisters. Loved it.