Platformers are among the oldest and most iconic genres of gaming. Countless developers have taken a stab at the formula. Each wants to put a unique stamp on the tried-and-true gameplay. Among such ample competition, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.
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That’s certainly not for lack of merit. Many one-off attempts have contributed novel spins on the platforming genre. Fans owe it to themselves to play them through emulation, ports, remakes, or tracking down an original copy. However the method, these hidden gems are worth a second look.
6Tearaway
From the creators ofLittleBigPlanetcomes an enchanting adventure tailor-made for the PS Vita. Players must guide their custom character (a living envelope) through a world made entirely of paper. Of course, they have the standard running and jumping, but these are enhanced by every aspect of the handheld’s functionality.The front touchscreen, rear touchpad, and motion controls all get ample use here. More importantly, these feel less like cheap gimmicks and more like intuitive extensions of normal gameplay. Unfortunately, that specialization is where the problem lies.
Tearawaylatches itself firmly to the Vita, which is notorious for poor sales. That said, the console port is still worth playing. It may not have the same depth of control, but the intricate craftsmanship still shines through. The creators build an infectiously unique world from familiar material, and it’s always exciting to explore.
5Tarzan Untamed
One of the more exciting aspects of Tarzan is how he effortlessly slides through the treetops. The Disney movie portrays this better than any other, and this tie-in emulates that movement. In this odd mix of 3D and 2.5D platforming, playersdash across the jungleat high speed. Once they get a flow going, they feel every bit like the graceful ape-man. It’s similarly satisfying toSonic the Hedgehog. Sadly, the game also comes with the same frustration.
Tarzan Untamedpeppers the path with obstacles. The game’s physics don’t always make these easy to avoid. Tarzan has no tangible sense of momentum, which makes seemingly simple jumps downright agonizing. Again, though, the game is exhilarating after getting the pattern down. In fact, it’s still the best tree-surfing sim. Take that for what it’s worth.
4Monsters, Inc. Scream Team
Plenty ofDisney tie-ins in the 1990s and 2000swere platformers. Most people point toToy Story 2: Buzz to the RescueorAladdinas standouts, but kids also got an enjoyableMonsters, Inc. adventure. To train for their eventual jobs, Mike and Sully undertake the gauntlet of Scare Island. Here, they must enter doors to various exotic environments and scare the robotic kids in each one. Such a setup is simple.
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Scream Teamdoesn’t rewrite the script on 3D platforming, but it adapts that script admirably. While the level themes are somewhat stock, they all feel alive thanks to the energetic score and striking colors. The game cements that with the surprising amount of activity onscreen, from enemies to machinery. Overcoming these obstacles and scaring the robots is always satisfying, due in no small part to the gut-busting scares from Mike and Sully. These elements add up to a charming experience for its quaint fun. Not to mention, it winds up as a better prequel thanMonsters University.
3Space Station Silicon Valley
Dan Danger and Evo are definitely a dysfunctional duo. Their task is straightforward: investigate a space station hijacked by a villainous brain. However, their bickering reduces Evo to pieces.The robotic heromust then take control of the space station’s various animals to complete his mission. Such a concept would later come to prominence in titles likeSuper Mario Odyssey.
Here, it’s clearly in its early stages. The animals' speed and controls are sometimes hard to gauge, and the puzzles aren’t always as clear as they should be. Thankfully, creativity outshines these issues.
That goes double for the humor. The visual gags and immature jabs never get old. In many ways, Dan and Evo mirror gamers' sensibilities. For instance,they opt to turn on the “big computer thing” just to see what happens. That timeless comedy is every bit as effective today, as it’s exactly the mindset that players have when exploring a new title.
240 Winks
Dreams are windows into the imagination, so it’s surprising thatmore games don’t take advantage of that. Luckily,40 Winksrecognizes that potential, propelling a pair of unsuspecting siblings into a perilous dreamscape. They navigate worlds based on prehistoric times, space travel, medieval knights, pirates, the ocean floor, and Halloween. This obviously makes for tremendous variety in level design.
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Hand-in-hand with those levels is the inspired gameplay. The jumping and melee attacks are standard for a 3D platformer, but the real meat comes when the game supplements these with costumes. The worlds have new outfits for the kids, with each one carrying its own powers. For instance, the caveman costume has a vomit attack while the robot outfit has advanced weaponry and a double jump. The siblings use these to fight everything from zombies to dinosaurs. As a result, the gameplay is constantly fresh as players live out all the adventures they imagined as children. Not to be on the nose, but40 Winksis every kid’s dream.
1Decap Attack
Most horror games see players as human beings combatting monsters.Decap Attackbreaks tradition with a mummy protagonist. Chuck D. Head is on a quest to stop a demon. To do so, he must defeat numerous grotesque creatures by using his head as a projectile. That’s where the title comes from, but it also may have driven parents away.
For obvious reasons, the game isn’t as accessible or kid-friendly asMarioorSonic. Of course, it wears that stigma proudly as part of its style,which mixes slapstick comedy and gothic horror into an amusing blend. In that sense, one could see it as a precursor toMediEvil, albeit with tighter controls and more focused gameplay. If that game could get multiple re-releases and a remake, why notDecap Attack?
