Gaming Wanted: Outstanding platformers for grinding

[garbanzox]

I've played through every Mario, Wario, Yoshi and Kirby game that I can emulate, and I need more! I'm looking for unique platformers that encourage you to play levels over and over until you're sure you found every secret and grabbed every coin.

Unique gameplay mechanics are a plus (Klonoa, Drill Dozer, Little Samson, Samurai Pizza Cats, Bonk, etc). As are games with lots of secret areas (Addams Family for SNES!), especially if these secret areas require specific powerups to access (Kirby, Metroid).

I know a lot of games that fall into this category. Maybe you know some that I don't?

Any system, any decade, any region. I'm not picky. Thanks!

 

[BORTZ]

Hello, welcome to my territory.

Lets start with some obvious ones, have you played through the Sonic games for the Genesis? Kid Kamelion? Vectorman 1 and 2?

The Donkey Kong games are all good at hiding secrets. If you haven't (which im guessing you HAVE) I suggest the first 3, as well as returns for the Wii or 3DS.

Castlevania games are great platformers.

Cave Story is on ever console ever.

Mega Man games? There you go, if you havent played those, there are like 20 some good playformers there.

 

[Issac]

Duck Tales 1 and 2 for the NES.
Bubsy 1 and 2 for the SNES (the games sucks though)
... My mind is blank of titles not mentioned by Bortz or yourself at the moment.

 

[garbanzox]

Thanks for the ideas! I do know most of those.

I really want to like Sonic, but it's too fast for me. I'm a methodical sort of gamer. I'm digging my way through MegaMan, but they're a little beyond my skill level

I've heard good things about Cave Story, I'll check it out!

 

[Rocc0]

Have you tried Spelunky or Rogue Legacy? These games are not exactly what you are looking for, but they are very challenging platforming games, with tons of secrets, procedural level generation and very high replay value. I have hundreds of hours in both games myself. Also, Shovel Knight is something you might like as well, it is more standard action platformer.

All three games have been released for Windows, as well as various consoles. You can find gameplay footage of these games from Youtube very easily.

 

[garbanzox]

I've dabbled in Spelunky, it's maddening. I'll check out Rogue Legacy and Shovel Knight. Thanks!

 

[TVL]

Thanks for the ideas! I do know most of those.

I really want to like Sonic, but it's too fast for me. I'm a methodical sort of gamer. I'm digging my way through MegaMan, but they're a little beyond my skill level

I've heard good things about Cave Story, I'll check it out!

Have you played the Master System version of Sonic 1? It goes at a much slower pace and gives you plenty of reasons to like Sonic, IMO it's the best Sonic game.

Cave Story is fantastic.

 

[garbanzox]

No I've only played around with newer Sonic games, mostly GBA. I'll try the SMS version. Thanks!

 

[Lord Coolman]

Bubsy 1 and 2 for the SNES (the games sucks though)

Bubsy? Did he buttfucked you when you were 12? I mean... WHY.

NES: Megaman 1 to 6, Castlevania Trilogy, Duck Tales 1&2, Don Doko Don 2, Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril, Kirby's Adventure, U-four-ia: The Saga, Mr. Gimmick, Ninja Gaiden Trilogy, Little Samson, Blaster Master, Journey to Silius, Bucky O'Hare, Darwin Duck, Little Nemo: Dream Master, Chip 'n Dale 1&2, Ganbare Goemon NES saga. I'd also add Metroid for it's plataforming elements, but it's more of a genre mix.

SNES: Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country trilogy (u mad Vorts) Megaman X Trilogy, Ganbare Goemon SNES saga, Super Castlevania IV, Demon's Crest, Rockman & Forte, Megaman 7, Hagane, Umihara Kawase, Hameln no Violin Hiki, Earthworm Jim 2, Magical Pop'n, Kirby's Dream Land 3, DoReMi Fantasy, Sparkster, Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse, Blackthorne, Super Ghouls n' Ghosts, Skyblazer, Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman Zero.

GEN: ALL Sawneek gaemz, except Spinball, fuck Spinball. These are quite methodical games, you don't know what the hell are you talking about. Speed is something you actually accomplish after replaying the levels and getting used to them.
Shinobi 3, Rocket Night Adventures, Alien Soldier, Ristar, Wonderboy in Monster World, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Flashback: Quest for Identity (better on Sega CD), Dinamyte Headdy, Earthworm Jim (CD ver), World of Illusion, Pulseman, Quackshot, Mega Turrican, ToeJam and Earl trilogy, Revenge of Shinobi, Rainbow Islands Extra, Vectorman 1&2, Sparkster (snes ver is different), Ecco: Tides of Time, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Tiny Toons Adventures, Misadventures of Flink, El Viento, Alisia Dragoon, Aladdin, Wiz 'n' Liz.

PS1: Castlevania: SotN, Spyro trilogy, Crash Bandicoot trilogy, Klonoa: DtoF, Tomba! 1&2, Megaman X4, Oddworld Oddysee and Exodus, Ape Escape, Silhouette Mirage, Rayman 1&2, SkullMonkeys, Jumping Flash.

N64: Banjoo-Kazooie and Tooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Donkey Kong 64, Rocket: Robot on Wheels, Goemon's Great Adventure, Kirby 64, Mischief Makers, Space Station Silicon Valley.

 

[Issac]

Bubsy? Did he buttfucked you when you were 12? I mean... WHY.

Excuse me???

 

[Arras]

Does 1001 Spikes count?

 

[garbanzox]

Wow, thanks Lord Coolman. There are quite a few there I don't about, especially the Sega stuff which I've really never explored.

1001 Spikes looks fun. I never realized how much great "retro" indie stuff there is out there.

 

[ody81]

Risk of Rain's great, very grindy, the grindiest. Best with local co-op too.

 

[Issac]

La-mulana, a lot of secrets and stuff. Guacamelee! is great (secrets, unlocking abilities, metroid-esque). Fez is amazing, and can be difficult.

 

[garbanzox]

OK, I just discovered ROM hacks. It just opened up a huge new world of Super Mario. COOL!