Indie platformer videogames primer

Platform games — platformers — ruled the videogame school in the '80s and early '90s, but 3D gaming pushed the Marios and the Sonics to the side. But old videogame genres never die, they just become the domain of dedicated, talented fans.

Metafilter's "Archagon" has collected a couple dozen stand-out titles from the indie platform gaming scene, provided some context, and given a great template for understanding where platformers went once they were no longer the concern of Triple-A developers. And considering there are fan-made titles like "Might Jill Off", a charming BSDM-themed game (some art from which is seen here), it looks like the platformer scene is still alive and and jumping.

Indie platformer extravaganza! [Metafilter via Waxy]

Previously • Clever Indie Game: Fez

[#1 posted by Enochrewt , June 24, 2008 10:57 AM]

Not exactly indie, but LittleBigPlanet is a platformer that will rule all others. It's not really 2D either, but you could make the argument that Super Mario 3 wasn't as well.

[#2 posted by Joel Johnson , June 24, 2008 11:08 AM]

Yeah, Little Big Planet looks great. Can't wait for that one.

But how can you argue that SM3 wasn't 2D? Don't give me that "bend down on the white lumps to fall behind the screen" bit, either, or I'll cut ya!

[#3 posted by Enochrewt , June 24, 2008 11:38 AM]

Dammit, that's exactly what I was was going to say. While the game wasn't rendered in three dimensions the character could move in three dimensions.

*Whimper*
Don't cut me please

or does the overhead view in the world select count?

[#4 posted by Joel Johnson , June 24, 2008 11:49 AM]

CUT CUT CUT

[#5 posted by the_boy , June 25, 2008 12:50 PM]

For all it's to-the-masses bit, the Nitrome games I have found over at miniclip have all been fantastic. Most are platformers with one simple little quirk, but they are damn near perfect for 10 minute gaming breaks. Of special note has to be "Dirk Valentine", which is a tongue-in-cheek steampunk adventure

[#6 posted by Amplifier , June 25, 2008 7:41 PM]

I'll have to put my hand up for n here.

It's got a great visual aesthetic, lovely fluid motion and fiendish level design.

The ragdoll when you die is nice to, which is good because you'll be seeing that over and over. But when you finally perfect your run through a level, ah the sweet joy. Ninjas FTW!

[#7 posted by Joel Johnson , June 25, 2008 7:51 PM]

Since posting this I've been working on Cave Story for the first time. It was totally not what I expected. When you start out it's a pretty traditional platformer, but I'd only ever seen clips of the end which made me think it's a shooter. (I understand the progression from one to the other now.)

It's neat but I doubt I'll beat it. It's getting difficult!