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I need a new platformer...

D

dark10x

Digital Foundry pixel pusher
After looking at the Sonic Rush thead, I have realized that I am absolutely dying for a new platformer to play. Something straightforward, fast, and fun. Unfortunately, I only have a PS2, DS, and PSP with me at the moment...but I'm sure there is something out there.

So, can anyone recommend any platformers that I may have missed (ie - Japanese only release) worth keeping an eye out for? It's a lazy day and I have nothing to do, so I might run over and look for something...but I really don't have any clues what I'm searching for.
 
Can you list all the major ones you've played? I'm pretty sure you've played all the big ones like Maximo, Jak, etc.. so it's tough to pick something out.
 
Yeah, I guess that would help.

Basically, I've played virtually every "average to great" platformer released in the US. However, I was kinda hoping that there might be some PS2/PSX platformers that only saw release in Japan worth grabbing, ya know? I have a feeling I might be reaching a bit here, unfortunately, but I figured it was worth asking...
 
I've barely played any platformers this generation

-Psychonauts
-Super Mario Sunshine
-Jet Set Radio Future
-Voodoo Vince
-Klonoa 2
-DK Jungle Beat
-Jak and Daxter
-Billy Hatcher
-Prince of Persia: SoT (if you consider it a platformer at all)


And that's it.
 
Speevy said:
I've barely played any platformers this generation

-Psychonauts
-Super Mario Sunshine
-Jet Set Radio Future
-Voodoo Vince
-Klonoa 2
-DK Jungle Beat
-Jak and Daxter
-Billy Hatcher
-Prince of Persia: SoT (if you consider it a platformer at all)


And that's it.
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Well, I've played all of those (good choices) except Jungle Beat...but I do not have a Cube here.
 
JP only platformers? I've always thought the US was a lot more platformer-friendly, where Japan was more into strategy titles, RPGs, and other niche-ish titles. The best obscure platformer I can think of is Alien Hominid...
 
Oh, and I've played both Blinx games, but I blocked those out of my memory. You may like the "concept over solid gameplay/controls" that the first one has, but much of the "new Xbox shine" has worn off. The second one is just an interactive tutorial that runs like a slideshow on a Thompson.
 
Yeah, I can't really think of any JP-only console platformers since they tend to be easy targets for localization.

Hmmmm...how about some of the DS JP-only games like Goemon?
 
Ratchet and Clank 3(This game gives me that feeling...can't explain, but I think of 16 bit platformers when I play it)
Ape Escape 2(here is your straight ahead and fast and fun platformer, imo)
God of War(if you consider it a platformer)

(Note:Jak 3 is also pretty cool, but more of a sprawling affair)
 
AniHawk said:
Klonoa 2. Your next game will be Klonoa 2.
Click to expand...
Dude, I bought that on day 1 and also own the original. It's one of my favorite platform series. :P

Man, it's looking like I might be SOL. :(

Well Screwbreaker is still JP only ;)
Also Super Princess Peach.
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Screwbreaker is actually a platformer? Didn't really look into that one. Also, Peach had caught my eye. It looked like a SNES game, which is very appealing right now. Perhaps similar to something like an old Mario game?
 
dark10x said:
Dude, I bought that on day 1 and also own the original. It's one of my favorite platform series. :P

Man, it's looking like I might be SOL. :(
Click to expand...

Oh, well then.

Maybe Donkey Kong Jungle Beat will be your thing. It's about 6 hours long and gimmicky, but it's fun in an arcadey sort of way.
 
nds-super-princess-jap.jpg
 
Starting to look like Peach might be my only real option, but based on the videos, that doesn't seem like a bad thing. It looks really fun. Hopefully they don't force you to use the touch screen very often, as that was the one thing keeping me away.

BTW, I remember drone talking about something called "Chippoke Ralph No Daibouken" and claiming that it totally rocked. I have a feeling that the game is extremely rare, though, so I doubt I'll find it...but I really don't know the status of its availability. Any ideas?

I also remember some demo of a PS2 game where you sorta flew around NiGHTS style, but then later hearing Bebpo slam it into the ground (so it was likely crap).

I've already played Umihara Kawase SFC, but I did see the PSX game on shelves recently. Unfortunately, it seems to be the same game. :\

Trying to think of some obscure games like that.
 
I also remember some demo of a PS2 game where you sorta flew around NiGHTS style, but then later hearing Bebpo slam it into the ground (so it was likely crap).
Click to expand...

Maybe that was Chain Dive where you swing around Bionic Commando/ZoE2 style? If so, yeah avoid :(
 
dark10x said:
Yeah, that's it. Chain Dive. It's a crapfest, huh? :(
Click to expand...

Yeah :\

It's been really tough finding platformers this generation. They're my favorite genre but there's just been so few and the number keeps dwindling. Platformers don't seem to be all too popular in Japan and they don't sell well in the US either so they're on their way out ;_;

Best bet would seriously just be looking through old GBA games as there were so many GBA titles (and many JP-only ones) that there has to be some platformer stuff that few have heard of.
 
have u tried those starfi (stafi? starfee? estrellita de mar?) games for GBA?

never played them, but some people seem to like those and beg for an american release.
 
chippoke ralph no daibouken! on ps1! it's more action-platform than platform, but it's really well-designed and arcadey and replayable. it's kind of expensive/hard to find, but it's officially better than any of other games in this thread.

here's a review with some screens: http://users.pandora.be/twin-dreams/PSone/Chippoke_Ralph.html

edit: i guess this isn't the first time i've recommended it... :lol
 
Well, I went with Princess Peach. :P What the hell, it looks fun. Didn't really see anything else. It was crazy out there today, though. I guess the holiday brings everyone out...

Couldn't find Chippoke Ralph anywhere, as expected.

Jungle Beat was the first game that came to mind when I read the topic. Too bad you don't have a Cube.
Click to expand...
Oh I have a GC, but not in Japan (didn't bother bringing it).
 
Jak and Daxter.

The sequels don't exist. Usually I'm fine with sequels, if they're not as good as their predecessors but this is the one time I'm willing to think that Jak and Daxter has no sequels.
 
Good choice going with Super Princess Peach. It looks fun and definitely has that early Mario feel to it.

Definitely check out Jungle Beat when you get the chance though. Brilliant game.
 
Shompola said:
Croc for playstation? Pandemonium for playstation? These games must be dirt cheap second hand by now.
Click to expand...
Heh, believe it or not, I've played both of those games and their sequels. :\

Unfortunately, there really isn't a whole lot that I *haven't* played (in this genre), it seems. :(
 
Shompola said:
The Abe series for Playstation? Heart of darkness for Playstation?
Click to expand...
Heh, yep. Those were pretty slick games, actually. Not many games of that sort around anymore...
 
8bit said:
Ape Escape 3 is great fun.
Click to expand...

Actually yeah. This is still JP-only so maybe you didn't play it? AE3 is great except for the end level which sucks like the end level to AE2 did.
 
Ape Escape 3 is great fun.
Click to expand...
Bebpo said:
Actually yeah. This is still JP-only so maybe you didn't play it? AE3 is great except for the end level which sucks like the end level to AE2 did.
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You guys did it! I didn't think any console platformers would be found, but sure enough, I have not played AE3!!!

So now I have TWO platformers to play. :)

On a side note, is the music any good in AE3? I enjoyed AE2, but the soundtrack was so boring. What's with platformers these days and bad music? With a few exceptions here and there, most of them are so uninspired in that area these days...
 
There's a few decent pieces IIRC (the Alpine Mountain section and
belly dancer
boss battles stick in my mind), and I can't think of any of the music in AE3 being particularly bad.
 
Pac 'N Roll is sort of a rolly platformer.. type thing. It's more platformer than anything else, really. It's out in the US, but hey, if you can find it cheap, go for it! It's straightforward, fast AND fun :P

Though I doubt they've reached Japan yet, think about trying to get some of those Double-Packs that are popping up. I got the Rayman Pack [Rayman Advance + Rayman 3 GBA], and the Crash Bandicoot Pack [Crash N-Tranced and Crash Nitro Kart], and am having a blast with them. If you haven't played Donkey Kong Country 3 yet, that's about out now too for GBA, and at a lower price, oddly [About $40AU?]
 
elostyle said:
Some peach impressions would be appreciated :)
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Don't worry, I'll be playing that tonight before bed. I'll post some impressions tomorrow or something. :)
 
Pac-Man World 3!


















*snickers*

EDIT - Although to be honest, Pac-Man World 2 wasn't that bad of a game. Simple, but charming. Of course, the decentness of the game was completely offset by the terrible terrible camera system that rendered the game virtually unplayble by the time i got to the Volcano. I'd have finished the game by now if it weren't for that -_-
 
polg said:
have u tried those starfi (stafi? starfee? estrellita de mar?) games for GBA?
Click to expand...

The Starfi games are overrated mediocrity. :/ I bought 2 for cheaps (2800 yen?) when I saw it in Akihabara and then bought 1 used off of someone. Starfi 2 is absolutely boring. You simply cannot die. Levels require little thought, but a lot of time. I did beat Starfi 2, and although they put a lot into the game (new levels open up), it's just not fun to warrant playing through it. And thus Starfi 1 remains on my shelf unplayed.

I really should sell them to someone who would enjoy them more.

Oh and back on topic. The last Starfi game came out in summer of 2004 so it's hardly a new release that would have escaped dark10x's notice.
 
I understand that Kya: Dark Lineage game is actually grossly underrated. Did that make it to Japan?

Did anyone else love Pac-Man's two-frame victory dance from the PSone Pac-Man World? Namco Hometek really goes above and beyond sometimes.

*Edit* - And anyone who claims to have any inside knowledge of the industry, are there any publishers showing interest in bringing Ape Escape 3 to North America? How can Sony release that hack-job AE port on PSP, but not the greatest platformer on PS2? I DEMAND SUSTENANCE AND COUNTER-INTUITIVE PERSUASION!
 
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