The Ultimate Famicom Platformer Thread!

[Nightstar699]

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!

[ImATrackMan]

Hey, Famicom World!  

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.

[Nightstar699]

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.

[L___E___T]

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.

[Cheetahmen]

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 () 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.

[nerdynebraskan]

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.

[Nightstar699]

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?

[L___E___T]

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.

[Nightstar699]

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.

[L___E___T]

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.

[Nightstar699]

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.