Top 25 platformers of all time

[Strider]

At Retro Gamer we love feedback from readers and are constantly looking for ways to integrate your thoughts and opinions into the magazine.

Anyway, I'm very interested in knowing your top five platform games of all time. Do you still have a soft spot for Jet Set Willy? Does Mario take you to places that no other gaming character can reach? Let us know and we'll print the best answers in a future issue of the magazine.

Please list your top five platformers (for any system) and a brief sentance on your favourite title.

[jimmbob]

List may change slightly!

5. Earth Worm Jim (Mega Drive)
4. Sonic 1
3. Boogerman (Mega Drive)
2. Ico
1. Super Mario World

The reason SMW is my fave, is basically I was a kid when I got a SNES and that game for Christmas. Not being able to afford any new games (Ever!) forced me to get good at it. It's probably the last game I finished with an honest 100% completion.

Let us know and we'll print the best answers in a future issue of the magazine.

(I'm not getting in the magazine am I?)

[gossi the dog]

Does this include 3D platformers? Or is it 2D only?

[Mus]

Here is my top 5..

1. Prince of Persia - Atari ST
2. Roller Coaster - Speccy
3. Manic Miner - Speccy
4. Jet Set Willy - Speccy
5. Chuckie Egg - Speccy

[Strider]

Any platformer for any system

[Jason]

1 Super Marioworld - Snes
2 Super Mario 64 - N64
3 Banjo Kazooie - N64
4 Bounty Bob Strikes Back - C64
5 China Miner - C64

[DKTronics]

1. Manic Miner - ZX Spectrum
2. Mario 64 - N64
3. Bounty Bob Strikes Back - Atari 800XL
4. Chuckie Egg - BBC B
5. Impossible Mission - Commodore 64

Others, could include

Earthworm Jim - SNES
Super Mario World - SNES
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Megadrive
Another World - Amiga 500
Flashback - Amiga 500
Wanted Monty Mole - C64 - Mostly for that soundtrack.

[jimmbob]

I assumed you wanted retro titles. I've added Ico to mine then. Is there anything seriously considered to not be a platformer?
For instance is Prince of Persia Sands of Time considered an adventure game?

[Geoff D]

1. Super Mario World - Snes
2. Super Mario 64 - N64
3. Super Mario Bros 3 - Nes
4. Yoshi's Island - Snes
5. Super Mario Bros - Nes

SMW is as near to perfect as any game has ever reached for me - beguiling in its simplicity, it quickly becomes a need to complete the game in its entirety. Beautifully paced, excellent memorable music, bright, colourful graphics & sublime control, it's what every platformer should aspire to better.

Edited to rejig positions 4 & 5.

[jimmbob]

I'm spotting a theme Geoff.

[Geoff D]

I'm spotting a theme Geoff.

It would appear that I'm fond of Mario games...

[fallenangle]

I wouldn't describe Ico as a platformer, if it was you'd also have to include the Tomb Raiders, Soul Reavers, Shadow Man and a host of other action/adventure games with platformy elements.

My 3 favourites:-

1). Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
2). Ratchet & Clank 2
3). Rayman 2

[Skull Commander]

1. Super Mario World (Snes)
Perfect level design, great graphics, great music, and one of the few games I can play over and over without ever getting bored.

The rest:

2.Super Mario 3
3. Super Ghouls 'n' ghosts
4. Super Castlevania
5. Plok!

[TheForce]

1) Mario 64;
not much to say about it,..... it's excellent, what else can I say ?!

2) Yoshi's Island
3) New Zealand Story
4) Banjo Kazooie
5) Super Ghouls n Ghost

[Max P.]

I guess the answer to the best ever is found in the ONE top platformer topic ie SMW?!

Anyway:

1. SMW - SNES
2. Yoshi's Island - SNES
3. Super Mario All Stars - SNES (can I include that?!) If not substitute Super Shinobi for Megadrive.
4. Rainbow Islands - Various
5. Chan and Chan - PC Engine