Side-scrolling Platformers?

[segaddict]

I am looking for some good side-scrolling platformers to play. I love the genre. Games like Donkey Kong Country, Sonic, Ristar, etc. Doesn't matter what system they are on. Any recommendations?

[QuickSciFi]

Disney's Aladdin - Sega Genesis
...

[goldenband]

I've vouched for this game on here before, but Tigger's Honey Hunt for N64 was a surprisingly pleasant little collectathon side-scroller.

Otherwise, Tomba (PlayStation), Jewel Master (Genesis), Little Samson (NES), and Adventures of Kid Kleets (SNES, aka Soccer Kid on other systems) all come to mind. None are "pure" platformers, though -- all have action elements to varying degrees.

EDIT: Also, Smurfs 1 & 2 for SMS are good fun. The first game is also enjoyable on Genesis, but the second one didn't appeal to me.

[Txai]

Kishin Douji Zenki (Game Gear) - Great graphics and boss battles for a GG game.

Ganbare Goemon 2 (SNES) - Cool vehicles. Three playable characters. Short and long range attacks. Some of the best music Konami produced for the system.

[GameMaster600]

Kishin Douji Zenki (Game Gear) - Great graphics and boss battles for a GG game.

Ganbare Goemon 2 (SNES) - Cool vehicles. Three playable characters. Short and long range attacks. Some of the best music Konami produced for the system.

Nyech, there's much better Goemon games. Try Legend of the Mystical Ninja or Ganbare Goemon 3, and if you can get a hold of them Oedo Daikaiten and Shin Sedai Shuumei both on PS1. Also Goemon 2 is very short.

[retro nick]

Bonk's Adventure for TG16

[Kamahl]

Sonic 3 & K
Ristar
Aladdin
Rocket Knight Adventures
Flink (Sega CD)
Dynamite Headdy
Pulseman
McDonalds Treasure Land Adventure (Yes, seriously)
Mickey Mania (Sega CD)
World of Illusion
Puggsy (Puzzle Elements)
Popful Mail (Sega CD, Adventure elements)
Monster World 4 (Adventure Elements)

These should give you the cream of the crop on the genesis.

Also ok:
High Seas Havoc
Socket

[retro nick]

Rocket Knight Adventures

I was about to edit my response to include RKA. +1 on this.

Flink (Sega CD)

I own this one, and it's gorgeous to look at, but it is SO HARD! Not sure If I'll ever be able to finish it.

McDonalds Treasure Land Adventure (Yes, seriously)

I picked this one up cheap, and yes, it is solid. Haven't had time to finish it yet. Every time, I play it, something comes up that makes me have to turn the system off for hours. I think the universe doesn't want me to finish it.


I would also like to add Earthwork Jim for Genesis, or Sega CD.

[Kamahl]

I would also like to add Earthwork Jim for Genesis, or Sega CD.

Yeah I was avoiding "platforming shooters". If you add that one Mega Turrican should probably be added too.

As for flink, I have no idea why but the controls feel a lot better on the Sega CD version. On the genesis one I'm constantly missing jumps.

[MrMatthews]

Tomba (PlayStation), Jewel Master (Genesis), Little Samson (NES), and Adventures of Kid Kleets (SNES, aka Soccer Kid on other systems) all come to mind. None are "pure" platformers, though -- all have action elements to varying degrees.

I've also heard that Ninja 5-O on the GBA and Shantae on the GBC are great little games. Haven't had a chance to play them myself, seeing as how they're next to impossible to find/afford.

[Pulstar]

Mark of the Ninja
Pid
Dustforce
Runner 2 Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
Closure
Rayman Origins
Another World: 15th Anniversary Edition
Limbo
Sonic Rush
Fez (wait for the PC version)
Thomas Was Alone
Trine 2: Goblin Menace
PixelJunk Eden
Rochard
Terraria
VVVVVV
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
'Splosion Man
Prince of Persia Classic
Sonic Generations
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Thexder Neo
Bionic Commando Rearmed
Earthworm Jim 2
Iji
Sonic 4 Episode 2
Braid
Outland
Tales From Space: About a Blob
LittleBigPlanet 2
Mega Man 9
Monster World V
Shadow Complex
Super Meat Boy (very hard though)
Spelunky
Shinobi 3
Aliens: Infestation
Shantae: Risky's Revenge
N+

You guys can diss on indie and modern platformers all you want, doesn't change the fact that they have pretty good gameplay.

[goldenband]

I've also heard that Ninja 5-O on the GBA and Shantae on the GBC are great little games. Haven't had a chance to play them myself, seeing as how they're next to impossible to find/afford.

Yeah, I've heard good things about Shantae too and am curious. I've only played Little Samson in emulation, but I was lucky enough to score Tomba! at a yard sale for something like $1. I had no idea that I'd lucked out at the time -- I didn't know anything, really, about the PlayStation library. Then I found an extra case and manual last year (no disc, alas), which leads me to suspect that it's not so much rare as sought-after.

And, rightly so. As I've mentioned elsewhere on these boards, I thought I'd missed out on a whole ton of PlayStation 2D/2.5D platformers of comparable quality, and was disappointed when I realized Tomba! was "fairly unique" (ugh) in the library.

[Txai]

Nyech, there's much better Goemon games. Try Legend of the Mystical Ninja or Ganbare Goemon 3, and if you can get a hold of them Oedo Daikaiten and Shin Sedai Shuumei both on PS1. Also Goemon 2 is very short.

I see, so these games are better because they're longer.

[MrMatthews]

Yeah, I've heard good things about Shantae too and am curious. I've only played Little Samson in emulation

Well, I was kind of ribbing you a little bit for recommending games that would be next to impossible for the OP to play outside of emulation, BUT...

I was lucky enough to score Tomba! at a yard sale for something like $1. I had no idea that I'd lucked out at the time -- I didn't know anything, really, about the PlayStation library. Then I found an extra case and manual last year (no disc, alas), which leads me to suspect that it's not so much rare as sought-after.

That seems to describe MOST Capcom games, for some reason (Tomba is Capcom, right?).

And your post reminded me, the Klonoa series is one that should be mentioned. I played the Wii version somewhat recently and found it to be quite enjoyable.

[GameMaster600]

I see, so these games are better because they're longer.

I couldn't help but facepalm.
No, that's not what I was implying at all. I'm saying if there's better games then you should get those instead. It's also a plus if the game is longer, but that doesn't make a game automatically better. I'm saying that those are overall better games, have you even played them?