Please may we compile a list of great Famicom Platformer games.
In your eyes, is the only rule. If you think its great, Please list it.
I'll start with the obvious ones and games which I own.
Super Mario 1, 2, 3 and Mario USA.
Kid Dracula.
Rockman 1-6.
Bio Miracle Upa
Samurai Pizza cats
Ninja Ryuukenden (1&2) yet to play 3
Rolling thunder,
I may of skipped others I own, but the above games to me, are class acts.
On my way from Manuel
Pizza Pop!
Wanpaku Kokkun no Gourmet World.
Post some gems guys :)
Since platformers are my main genre, I might as well just post a list of my top favorite games ever. Here is a top 20 I compiled a while back, yes, they are all platformers, and for the Famicom.
1. Hoshi No Kirby
2. Armadillo
3. Wanpaku Kokkun No Gourmet World
4. Daiku No Gen-San
5. Kaiketsu Yancha-Maru 2: Karakuri Land
6. Tokkyu Shirei Solbrain
7. Choujin Sentai Jetman
8. Jigoku Gokurakumaru
9. Kage
10. Saiyuuki World 2
11. Kyatto Ninden Teyandee / Samurai Pizza Cats
12. Mitsume Ga Tooru
13. NY Nyankies
14. Dragon Fighter (This one barely even counts as a platformer... the platforming elements are extremely minimal)
15. Don Doko Don 2
16. Bucky O' Hare
17. Pizza Pop
18. Cocoron
19. Kamen No Ninja Hanamaru
20. Batman Dynamite
And there are a bunch of other great ones... Akumajo Special: Boku Dracula Kun, Kero Kero Keroppi No Daibouken 2, FC Genjin, Wacky Races, Mickey Mouse III: Yume Fuusen, Time Zone, Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 1 and 3, Daiku No Gen-San 2, Doki! Doki! Yuuenchi, Parasol Henbee, Tiny Toon Adventures, Ducktales 1 and 2, Chip N Dale 1 and 2, The Flintstones by Taito, Ninja Crusaders, Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu, Wai Wai World 2.... just to name a small few.
Not to mention the fact that there are also a ton of great platformers which were NES exclusives, never to be officially released in Japan for the Famicom. Some of these include Felix the Cat, Darkwing Duck, G.I. Joe, Power Blade, Kiwi Kraze, Joe & Mac (not many platforming elements here though), and Flintstones: Surprise At Dinosaur Peak.
You're in for a real treat once you play Ninja Ryukenden III... that's my personal favorite of the trilogy.
nice list - thank you for sharing buddy.
I missed castlevania on fds, I owned it bitd and have it now, can't believe I forgot that.
going to check out some games you listed :)
You are quite welcome, comrade. I hope you enjoy these games as much as I do.
A man after my own heart :) I love 2d platformers, always have, always will :)
I'm on youtube now, looking at the games you listed, the ones I don't recognise.
I'm having a great time buddy :-) Armadillo looks very very good - that was the 1st one on the list I didn't know :)
Yeah Armadillo happens to be the number 1 reason for my Famicom obsession today... great memories discovering and playing that game on emulator long ago... even better memories getting to finally play it on a real Famicom. Even though some stages are optionally, I always like to clear every single one when I play Armadillo... trust me, World 8 is actually pretty difficult. But the final boss is easy... I'd say the bosses are my least favorite aspect of Armadillo, as most of them are quite similar. But overall the graphics, music, layout, and abilities used by your hero in Armadillo posses a unique charm which no other game will ever match, from my point of view. If I had to pick a favorite stage in Armadillo... hmm, I loved the Las Vegas world altogether... but then again, the cavern levels with the giant teacups in the background were great... same with the eerily cheerful carnival-like stages near the end of the game.. I can't decide, I love damn near every aspect of that game.
2D platformers are also my favorite genre. Here's the Famicom platformers and platformer-hybrids (Rockman, for instance, is as much a shooter as it is a platformer.)
Akumajou Densetsu (CastleVania III)
Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun (Kid Dracula)
Armadillo
Babel no Tou (Tower of Babel) [puzzle hybrid]
Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa
Choujin Sentai Jetman
Cocoron
Cosmo Police Galivan
Doki! Doki! Yuuenchi: Crazy Land Daisakusen
Don Doko Don
Donald Land
Getsu Fuuma Den
The Goonies
Hello Kitty no Hanabatake (Hello Kitty Flower Garden)
Hi no Tori: Gaou no Bouken
Holy Diver
Kaiketsu Yancha Maru 2: Karakuri Land
Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken 2: Donuts Ike ha Oosawagi!
Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (Samurai Pizza Cats)
Kyouryuu Sentai Zyuranger (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
Madoola no Tsubasa: The Wing of Madoola
Magical * Taruruuto-kun: Fantastic World!!
Magical * Taruruuto-kun 2: Mahou Daibouken
Mappy
Mappy Kids
Mitsume Gatooru (Three-Eyed Boy)
Moai-Kun [Another puzzle hybrid]
Moon Crystal
Mr. Gimmick! ("Pipe V" pirate)
Ninja Jajamaru: Ginga Daisakusen
Nuts & Milk
Paaman: Enban o Torikaese
Paaman Part 2: Himitsu Kessha Madoodan o Taose!
Pac-Land
Pizza Pop!
Pocket Zaurus: Juu Ouken no Nazo
Robocco Wars
RockMan 4: Aratanaru Yabou!!
Saiyuuki World
SD Hero Soukessen: Taose! Aku no Gundan
Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti
Super Mario Bros. 3
Takahashi Meijin no Bug-tte Honey
Thunder Warrior (unlicensed - Micro Genius)
Ultraman Club: Kaijuu Dai Kessen!!
Wagyan Land
Wagyan Land 2
Wagyan Land 3
Wai Wai World
Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Paseri Jou
Youkai Club
Yousei Monogatari: RodLand
Yume Penguin Monogatari
This doesn't include most of the games that were released for the NES in North America, because I usually pick up the US version. These are almost all FC exclusives. I'll have to put together an NES version later.
Very nice, I have a few of them titles, my memory is terrible at times :)
Really enjoyed Wanpaku Splatterhouse.
Can't wait to look into all these :)
I'll actually be getting Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti tomorrow, that should be nice. Definitely look into Cocoron, to me if there was one game synonymous with the phrase "ahead of its time" it would be Cocoron. What an absolute masterpiece of a game, as if the character creation feature wasn't cool enough, the fact that the stages are different depending on which order you play them in is my favorite aspect of Cocoron's gameplay. It's always exciting to play because of this customization, and I love the art style and overall theme of the game. Truly marvelous. I'd say out of all the wonderful Japanese-exclusive games on the Famicom, none were more deserving of an international release than Cocoron, and Joy Mecha Fight.
:) may I ask, what is that expensive game some people mention..ickle? or something like that...
Splatterhouse is brilliant, easy, but good for a 1 man run. also has 2 endings, which I found by fluke, which is always nice :)
That'd be Seirei Densetsu Lickle, the Japanese version of Little Samson. I've never played it, but I've heard it's really good. Someday I'll play it.
Arigato :)
You are welcome, sir. I look forward to playing Splatterhouse tomorrow... so far I've only played the first stage of it on emulator, I'm sure I'll be able to no-death run it on my Famicom in no time.
I honestly think its class. I'm sure with your experience with platformers, you'll love it.
Nice variation, looks great too..
:)
Little Samson is very much a solid title. I have a PAL NES cart of it; would like to get a US version someday, but they're pushing $400 at the moment and I can't justify that. It'll have to be a thrift store/yard sale miracle for me I'm afraid.
Here's my favorite NES platformers:
8 Eyes
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Adventure Island
Adventure Island II
Adventure Island 3
Adventure Island 4 (Reproduction cart)
Adventures of Dino-Riki (vertical platforming; perspective is kind of tricky, but unique)
Adventures of Rad Gravity
Alfred Chicken
Alien 3
Amagon
Banana Prince (PAL)
Batman: The Video Game
Batman: Return of the Joker
Big Nose the Caveman (Camerica)
Big Nose Freaks Out (Camerica)
Bionic Commando
Bonk's Adventure
Bubble Bobble
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2
Parasol Stars: The Story of Rainbow Islands 2 (PAL)
Bubble Bobble Part 2
Bucky O'Hare
Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout
Captain America and the Avengers
CastleVania
CastleVania II: Simon's Quest
CastleVania III: Dracula's Curse
Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers
Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers 2
Code Name Viper
Conquest of the Crystal Palace
Contra
Super C
Contra Force
Darkwing Duck
Demon Sword
Donkey Kong Classics
Dr. Chaos
Dragon Fighter
Duck Tales
Duck Tales 2
Elevator Action
Felix the Cat
Flintstones: Rescue Dino & Hoppy
Flintstones: Suprise at Dinosaur Peak!
Friday the 13th (some platforming elements)
Gargoyle's Quest II
Ghostbusters II
Ghoul School
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor
Gyromite
Hammerin' Harry (PAL)
Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu
Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper
Joe & Mac
Journey to Silius
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
KickMaster
Kid Icarus
Kid Klown in Night Mayor World
Kirby's Adventure
Kiwi Kraze
Krion Conquest
Zelda II: The Adventures of Link
Little Nemo the Dream Master
Little Samson (PAL)
Lode Runner
Mappy Land
M.C. Kids
Mario Adventure (Reproduction cart)
Mario Brothers Arcade
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Mega Man Ultra (Reproduction cart)
Metal Force (Reproduction cart)
Metal Storm
Metroid
Mickey Mousecapade
Monster in My Pocket
Monster Party
Ninja Crusaders
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden II
Ninja Gaiden III
Noah's Ark (PAL)
Nomolos: Storming the Catsle (Reproduction)
Panic Restaurant
Popeye
Power Blade
Power Blade 2
Quattro Arcade (contains a couple of good platformers)
Rockin' Kats
Rolling Thunder (Tengen)
Rygar
Die Schlumpfe (PAL)
Shadow of the Ninja
Shatterhand
Snow Brothers
Solomon's Key (puzzle hybrid)
Fire N Ice (puzzle hybrid)
Spelunker
Strider
Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros 2J (Reproduction cart)
Super Mario Bros 2
Super Mario Bros 3
Super Mario Bros Special (Reproduction cart)
Super Turrican (PAL)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Time Diver: Eon Man (Reproduction cart)
Tiny Toon Adventures
Tiny Toon Adventures 2 (at least the train stage qualifies...)
Toki
Totally Rad
U-Four-Ia: The Saga (PAL)
Vice: Project Doom
Wacky Races
Whomp 'Em
Widget
Wizards & Warriors
IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II
Wizards & Warriors III
Wolverine
Wrecking Crew
Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
Zen: Intergalactic Ninja
(Most of these are also on Famicom, although titles are often different. You know the drill.)
I completely forgot about Monster In My Pocket, that's another one of the best NES exclusives. I liked the boss who you fought on the crane!
Hey, Famicom World! ;D
How is it that in a so-called "Ultimate" platformer thread, on a Famicom-centric forum, no one has mentioned "Gimmick!" yet?
I know this is kind of sucky as a first post (but I'm not going to count my first one until I help somebody).
EDIT: Whoops. It seems it was, although it was the pirate version that was listed.
Well, I didn't mention it because I don't think it's a good game, but if you'll notice, Nerdynebraskan did include it in his list.
Quote from: Nightstar699 on July 07, 2013, 05:30:48 pm
That'd be Seirei Densetsu Lickle, the Japanese version of Little Samson. I've never played it, but I've heard it's really good. Someday I'll play it.
WHAT. Man are you in for a treat. Yes, it's expensive but it's up there with Gimmick in the looks and visuals department and surpasses it in the platforming action department. Maybe you're saving (one of) the best for last? :)
Post Merge: July 08, 2013, 04:24:23 am
Add another edit to this as I know Nightstar hasn't played Cave Story either. ReLly, please try and play it it's very compelling. It's not complicated, but it is very polished. I like NerdNyneBraskan's term of platformer-hybrid, in hat sense it's a platformer-RPG I think. Lots of shooting, but it doesn't require the tenacity that MegaMan games do. So I wouldn't say it's as much a Plat-Shoot than it is a Plat-RPG.
Of course, it's not for Famicom, but it has a great vibe that's in line with PC Engine games.
Quote from: L___E___T on July 08, 2013, 04:18:14 am
Quote from: Nightstar699 on July 07, 2013, 05:30:48 pm
That'd be Seirei Densetsu Lickle, the Japanese version of Little Samson. I've never played it, but I've heard it's really good. Someday I'll play it.
WHAT. Man are you in for a treat. Yes, it's expensive but it's up there with Gimmick in the looks and visuals department and surpasses it in the platforming action department. Maybe you're saving (one of) the best for last? :)
As someone who has the game (;D) I'd say it's definitely one of the best games on the system and shows off what the Famicom was capable of graphically. ;)
Also, I'd agree with most of nerdynebraskan's list, although it's a bit of a stretch to call games like Fire 'n Ice and Adventures of Dino Riki platformers.
They are a stretch, Cheetahmen, but there are definite platforming elements in these games which prompted me to include them.
Dino-Riki is a shooter-platformer hybrid, with the catch that the game has an overhead perspective and the platforming perspective is vertical rather than horizontal. For that matter, I should've included Gremlins 2 for the same reason.
Solomon's Key and Fire N Ice are action-puzzles, but the action does involve some timed jumping (which is a definite staple of the platform genre).
And yes, Gimmick is a sweet platformer. I only noted the pirate version because it's the one I own. I'd love to have a legit copy someday, but it's a bit pricy for me right now. I compiled my lists by taking my collection lists, and cutting away 1) games with negligible-to-no platforming and 2) so-so games that I've kept for less than objective reasons. For that reason, the list is not quite complete, but I can stand by my recommendations as they're all ones I've played several-to-many times.
Also, Lickle/Little Samson is an awesome game as well. Multiple player characters (with different abilities), top-notch graphics... it's an absolute gem, which is only obscure because it was released on a dying platform by a company that didn't advertise it worth a crap. Both it and Gimmick will cost a small fortune for an original copy, but if you can afford them you won't regret them.
Yeah I know, I really want to play Lickle... it looks great, perhaps I'll get it with my next purchase. But from what I saw it seems to go for $50-$70 even on Japanese sites, would you guys all vouch that it's worth that?
Absolutely. Got one from Manuel and would recommend it in a heartbeat. Please try and get it in the next round of buys, it's pretty made to order for your tastes. Imagine Kirby meets Ninja Gaiden in looks and tone, with those cutscenes replaced by in-game narrative. I'd place it on the Masterpiece list along with SMB3, Gimmick, Rockman 2, Akumajou Dracula. It's as beautiful and replayable as each of those and it'll offer a comfortable level of challenge for an experienced player like you.
Yeah I've never even tried it, I saw a gameplay video of it on YouTube and the graphics were great. I look forward to trying it when the day comes... hopefully next time I buy a few games, Lickle will be one of them.
I have a game to add to my list... Gun-Dec. I just got done beating it for the first time, and it was absolutely incredible. I usually don't pay attention to cutscenes at all, but they looked really nice in this game. Altogether the game reminded me of Ninja Gaiden, and Ninja Crusaders (which makes sense, as it's by the same company). There was couple nice little driving stages, and first person shooting stages for some variety. A lot of times multi-genre games get on my nerves, but the non-platforming stages here were pretty nice and painless. Highly recommend it.
I have Gun Dec on the way as well, can't wait! Though I don't have a clue what's going on otherwise in the cutscenes. I suppose there's always the NES version, Project Vice.
The dude in the last cutscene before the endboss... he looked like Mel Gibson. Not even sure if that was your hero, or the bad guy. Yeah I had no clue what's going on either, but the game was incredibly fun, and the graphics were great both cutscenes, and in-game. Congratulations on your purchase, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.