As a developer determined to produce engaging games, I'd like to know your opinion, as a gamer, of side-scrollers, also known as platform games. Examples of this type of game are the original Super Mario Bros. series, Jazz Jackrabbit, Gods, and Donkey Kong Country.

I loved Super Mario Sunshine, but as for 2D platform games, I would still play them.

To be successful though in creating a fun side scroller, it has to have something unique and original ( like every game that revolutionizes? )

Sonic had a nice complete fast paced side scroller and I believe speed was one of the major reasons this game was fun. The idea of taking out so many enemies and collecting rings in a span of 5 seconds adds a lot of satisfaction to the player. Jazz Jackrabbit might have be copying with this idea but the PC gaming society didn't have many quality side scrollers apart from duke nukem and commander keen so it was a good choice to develop it.

Kirby took a different route to the cliche of jumping on enemies to kill them. Sucking up enemies was a great unique concept. Yoshi's island had this technique as well.

Metroid's and Megaman's wide variety of weapons really helped the game's depth. The game also became more of a "logic" game than "reflex" game like opening up walls with different types of weapons and shooting enemies with the right gun.

Battletoads and Double Dragon ( the two game series, not the 1 game) kind of gave a satisfaction to the violent side of ourselves when you start beating up stuff.

When you think of all the new side scrollers like Klonoa, Megaman, and Duke Nukem Manhatten Project, they take a lot from previous successful platform games and kind of merge them. I saw that with Megaman where they used the bike run level from battletoads and they also merged shooting and "karate" which was really cool.

Anyways, thats my take on platform games, they can be really fun, and you'll definately have people who will play them because I don't think the 3D platform games have really surpassed in enjoyability, it just looks cooler.

I'd have to agree with your points. Having enjoyed all the games you listed, I'm surprised I couldn't remember them when trying to list examples :rolleyes: MegaMan would surely have to be the king of platform games.

Since I grew up on platform games, I feel a tad biased to the genre, hence the poll. It's hard to figure out if I prefer side-scrollers because of my childhood memories of them, or because of their characteristics.

sorry, but i see commander keen as the top of all those,
combining puzzle, "violence", cool story, coordination
and ofcourse ID software :))

Hey ever played TOXIC BUNNY? It was by twlight I think. Its a south african game, great platformer.