Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles. See also [[Game classification]] Video games are categorized into Genres based on their Gameplay interaction Jumping puzzles or "platform sequences" are sequences of obstacles in Computer and video games particularly in the genre of platformers, where the It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps. The most common unifying element to these games is a jump button; other jump mechanics include swinging from extendable arms, as in Ristar or Bionic Commando, or bouncing from springboards or trampolines, as in Alpha Waves. Ristar ( Ristar the Shooting Star in Japan) is a Platform game Alpha Waves is an early 3D game that combines labyrinthine exploration with platform gameplay. Games where jumping is automated completely, such as most of The Legend of Zelda games, fall outside of the genre. is a Video game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and developed and published by Nintendo.

Platform games originated in the early 1980s. Already being an important genre in the beginning of the decade with the success of the Atari hit Pitfall and the Nintendo arcade Donkey Kong, it rapidly grew as the most popular genre of video game following the 1985 release of Super Mario Bros. and the success of the NES, the console where many of the most popular and influent platforming franchises debuted, notably Castlevania, Mega Man, Ninja Gaiden, Metroid and Ghosts 'n Goblins. The Atari 2600 is a Video game console released in October 1977 is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on is an Arcade game developed by Nintendo, and released in. It is an early example of the platform genre as the Gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main is a Platform game developed by Nintendo in late 1985 and published for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a sequel to the 1983 game Mario The Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated as NES or simply Nintendo) is an 8-bit Video game console that was released by Castlevania is a Video game series created and developed by Konami. The original Mega Man series is the first series of Mega Man games from Capcom, which debuted in Japan on December 17 is a series of Science fiction adventure Video games conceived by designer Gunpei Yokoi and produced by Nintendo. is a 1985 Platform game developed by Capcom for Video arcades Gameplay Ghosts 'n Goblins is a Platform game Later, in the mid 90s, the genre evolved into 3D platforming games. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer Those turned to be more based in direction than the original concept of timing jumping, and allowed the player to have more freedom in the progress of the game, rather than pre-set paths. This made 3D platformers somewhat similar to other popular genre, Action-Adventure.

The term itself describes games where jumping on platforms is an integral part of the gameplay, and came into use some time after the genre had been established. For the television channel see GamePlay HD. Gameplay includes all player experiences during the interaction with game systems especially formal ^[1][2] However, it is not a pure genre, and is very frequently coupled with elements of other genres, such as the shooter elements in Contra, the adventure elements in Flashback or the RPG elements in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or Super Paper Mario. Shooter games are a subgenre of Action game. Because "shooters make up the majority of action games" Shooting gallery Often interchangeable with released as Probotector in Europe and Oceania, is an Arcade game released in 1987 by the Konami corporation An adventure game is a type of Video game characterized by investigation exploration puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters and a focus on Narrative Flashback, released as Flashback The Quest for Identity in the US is a cinematic platformer developed by Delphine Software of France A console role-playing game is a video game genre that has its origin rooted in Video game consoles and includes game mechanics and frequently settings derived Castlevania Symphony of the Night is a 2D Action-adventure game developed and published by Konami in 1997 is a platform / Console role-playing game (RPG developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. As long as the platform mechanic remains a prominent part of the gameplay, it may still correctly be termed a platformer. Because of this, there are many diverse sub-genres of platformers. Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles

The genre has been the result of a great deal of cross-pollination of ideas between platforms and across national borders. While commonly associated with console gaming, there are many important platform games released to arcades, as well as for handheld systems and home computers. An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in businesses such as Restaurants Pubs Video arcades and Family Entertainment A handheld game console is a lightweight portable electronic machine for playing Video games Unlike Video game consoles the controls screen and speakers A personal computer ( PC) is any Computer whose original sales price size and capabilities make it useful for individuals and which is intended to be operated Europe, North America, and Japan have played major parts in the genre's evolution. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Platformers are thematically diverse, ranging from cartoony "mascot" games to science fiction and fantasy epics. A video game Mascot is usually a specific Video game character that is a trademark of a video game company brand and is actively used to promote the company or its Fantasy is a Genre that uses magic and other Supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting

At the peak of their popularity, it is estimated that between one fourth and one third of console games were platformers. ^[3] No genre before or since has been able to achieve a similar market share. As of 2006, the genre is far less dominant, representing a 2% market share,^[4] but still commercially viable, with a number of games selling in the millions of units.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Single screen era 1.2 Scrolling era 1.2.1 Second-generation side-scrollers 1.2.2 Decline of 2D 1.3 Third dimension 1.3.1 Reshaping the genre 1.3.2 Platformers into the present 2 Sub-genres 2.1 Hop and bop 2.2 Puzzle platformers 2.3 Run and gun platformers 2.4 Cinematic platformers (Prince of Persia style) 2.5 Comical action game 2.6 Isometric platformers 3 See also 4 Notes and references 5 External links

History

Single screen era

Platform games initially appeared at the beginning of the 1980s, when many video game genres were just beginning to form. is an Arcade game developed by Nintendo, and released in. It is an early example of the platform genre as the Gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main Because of the technical limitations of the day, early games were confined to a static playing field, generally viewed in profile. While platformers offered a new kind of gameplay, they still borrowed from earlier games. Frogs, an arcade game released by Gremlin in 1978, was the first game to feature a jumping character, making it the genre's earliest ancestor. Frogs is a single player platform Video game developed by Gremlin Industries in 1978. An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in businesses such as Restaurants Pubs Video arcades and Family Entertainment Not to be confused with Gremlin Graphics Gremlin Industries was an early San Diego California Arcade game manufacturer in the 1970s Players could not control the direction of the jump, however, nor was it possible to jump between different platforms, only to fall off either side of the one platform on screen. ^[5]

Space Panic, a 1980 arcade release, is sometimes credited as the first platform game,^[6] but the distinction is contentious, since the player had no ability to jump, swing, or bounce, or fall, and, as such, does not satisfy most common definitions of the genre. Space Panic is a 1980 Arcade game designed by Universal. Chris Crawford calls it the first ever However, it was clearly an influence on the genre, with gameplay centered on climbing ladders between different floors, a common element in many early platform games.

Donkey Kong, an arcade game created by Nintendo, released in July, 1981, was the first game that allowed players to jump over obstacles and across gaps, making it the first true platformer. is an Arcade game developed by Nintendo, and released in. It is an early example of the platform genre as the Gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in businesses such as Restaurants Pubs Video arcades and Family Entertainment is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on ^[7] Donkey Kong had a limited amount of platforming in its first two screens, but its other two have a more pronounced platform jumping component. This game also introduced Mario, an icon of the genre. is a Fictional character created by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Donkey Kong was ported to many consoles and computers at the time, and the title helped to cement Nintendo's position as an important name internationally in the video game industry.

The following year, Donkey Kong had a sequel, Donkey Kong Jr.. For the character of the same name see Donkey Kong Junior. is a 1982 arcade -style platform Video game by Nintendo The third game in the series was not a platformer, but it was succeeded by Mario Bros, a platform game that offered two-player simultaneous cooperative play. is an Arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. This title laid the groundwork for other popular two-player cooperative platformers, like Fairyland Story and Bubble Bobble, which, in turn, influenced many of the single-screen platformers that would follow. The Fairyland Story is a classical arcade platform video game released by Taito in 1985 in its arcade form is an Arcade game by Taito, first released in 1986 It was ported soon for numerous Home computers and Game consoles The game features twin Bubble

Beginning in 1982, transitional games emerged that did not feature scrolling graphics but had levels that spanned several screens that could be traveled between. In Computer graphics, Movies, Television, and other kinetic displays scrolling is sliding text images or video across a monitor or display Pitfall!, released for the Atari 2600, featured broad, horizontally-extended levels. Pitfall! is a Video game released by Activision for the Atari 2600 in 1982 The Atari 2600 is a Video game console released in October 1977 It became the best selling game on the system and was a breakthrough for the genre. Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle was released on the ColecoVision that same year, adding uneven terrain and scrolling pans between static screens. Smurf Rescue in Gargamel's Castle is a Video game for the ColecoVision and Atari 2600 in which the player must The ColecoVision is Coleco Industries ' second generation home Video game console and was released in August. Manic Miner (1983) and its sequel Jet Set Willy (1984) continued this style of multi-screen levels on home computers. Manic Miner is a Platform game originally written for the ZX Spectrum by Matthew Smith and released by Bug-Byte in 1983 Jet Set Willy is a Computer game originally written for the ZX Spectrum Home computer. A home computer was a class of Personal computer entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s Later that same year Epyx released Impossible Mission, which further expanded on the exploration aspect and laid the groundwork for such games as Prince of Persia. Epyx Inc was a Video game developer and publisher in the late 1970s and entire 1980s Impossible Mission is a platform Computer game for several Home computers The original version for the Commodore 64 was programmed Prince of Persia is an action-adventure Video game series created by Jordan Mechner.

Scrolling era

Like so many of the gaming firsts mentioned in this article, the first platform game to use scrolling graphics came years before they were the trend. In Computer graphics, Movies, Television, and other kinetic displays scrolling is sliding text images or video across a monitor or display Jump Bug was a simple platform-shooter, released to arcades by Rock-Ola in 1981, only five months after Donkey Kong. The Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation was along with Wurlitzer, a top maker of Jukeboxes The company which originally is an Arcade game developed by Nintendo, and released in. It is an early example of the platform genre as the Gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main ^[8] Players controlled a bouncing car and navigated it to jump on various platforms like buildings, clouds and hills. As part of a nascent genre, it was not strongly influenced by existing conventions, nor was it a major influence on games after it. In the years that followed, Jump Bug was largely forgotten, but it offered an early foreshadowing of what was to come, with uneven, independently suspended platforms and levels that scrolled both horizontally and vertically.

In August, 1982, Taito released Jungle King. The is a Japanese developer of Video game software and arcade hardware wholly-owned by RPG publisher Square Enix. Jungle Hunt is a one- or Two-player Side-scrolling Arcade game produced by Taito in 1982. ^[9] The title featured Tarzan (an unauthorized use of the character that would result in a lawsuit),^[10] with vine-swinging mechanics similar to those in Pitfall!. Tarzan is a Fictional character, an archetypal Feral child raised in the African jungle by Apes who later returns to civilization only to In law a lawsuit is a civil action brought before a Court in which the party commencing the action the Plaintiff, seeks a legal or equitable remedy Pitfall! is a Video game released by Activision for the Atari 2600 in 1982 It also featured a scrolling jump and run sequences that had players hopping over obstacles. In many ways, the gameplay was more simplistic than Pitfall!, but the scrolling proved a compelling addition to the formula. Pitfall! is a Video game released by Activision for the Atari 2600 in 1982 This same year Irem released Moon Patrol, a shooter with light platform jumping elements. is a Japanese Video game console developer and publisher, and formerly a developer and manufacturer of Arcade games as well Moon Patrol is a classic Arcade game by Irem that was first released in 1982. It was similar to Jump Bug, but the platforming was not nearly as well developed, consisting of little more than hopping over small obstacles.

In the early 1980s, home consoles did not yet have hardware support for scrolling. This made it very difficult to produce a scrolling effect smoothly on a console. Despite this, Sydney Development released B.C.'s Quest For Tires in 1983 on the ColecoVision, as well as several home computer platforms. BC's Quest for Tires is a 1983 Video game developed by Sydney Development Corp The ColecoVision is Coleco Industries ' second generation home Video game console and was released in August. ^[11] The game features large, smooth-scrolling levels and simplistic platform gameplay in which players jumped over oncoming pitfalls and obstacles, much like Moon Patrol.

Namco took the scrolling platformer a step further with the 1984 release Pac-Land. Pac-Land is an entry in the Pac-Man series of arcade Video games released into arcades by Namco, and its American distributor Pac-Land came after the genre had a few years to develop, and was an evolution of earlier platform games, aspiring to be more than a simple game of hurdle jumping, like some of its predecessors. It was not only a very successful title (and later ported to many consoles),^[12] but it more closely resembled later scrolling platformers like Wonder Boy and Super Mario Bros, and was probably a direct influence on them. is a Platform game developed by Nintendo in late 1985 and published for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a sequel to the 1983 game Mario Among its innovations were spring boards and moving platforms. It even had multi-layered parallax scrolling,^[13][14] an effect that would become much more common during the second generation of scrollers. Parallax scrolling is a special Scrolling technique in Computer graphics, seen first in the 1982 Arcade game Moon Patrol

1984 continued to be a big year for scrolling platformers. Taito released Legend of Kage,^[15] which offered levels that extended in all directions. The is a Japanese developer of Video game software and arcade hardware wholly-owned by RPG publisher Square Enix. The Legend of Kage (影の伝説 Kage no Densetsu) is a 1984 arcade game by Taito and was released for several contemporary Home computer Sega released Flicky,^[16] a simple platformer with horizontally scrolling levels that featured their first mascot character. is a multinational Video game Software and Hardware development company and a former Home computer Flicky is an Arcade game made by Sega. First released in arcades in 1984 Flicky was also released at the time for the SG-1000 Namco followed up Pac-Land with the fantasy-themed Dragon Buster,^[17] a game notable for introducing the double jump move, as well as a hub level similar to the ones used in later 2D Super Mario games. is an amusement company based in Japan, best known overseas for Video games development is an Arcade game that was released by Namco in 1984 It runs on Namco Pac-Land hardware modified to support vertical scrolling In Computer and video games, double jump refers to a Game mechanic in which a player can jump, and then in mid-air jump again By the end of the year the scrolling platform game had been firmly established, but it was not until these made their way to home consoles that the genre would be propelled to a new level of mainstream popularity.

Nintendo's platform game Super Mario Bros., released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 established the popularity of the hop and bop sub-genre, and became the archetype for many platformers to follow. is a Platform game developed by Nintendo in late 1985 and published for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a sequel to the 1983 game Mario The Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated as NES or simply Nintendo) is an 8-bit Video game console that was released by Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles The title was bundled with Nintendo's systems in North America, Japan, and Europe, and went on to sell over 40 million copies according to the 1999 Guinness Book of World Records. Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U Its success as a pack-in led many companies to see platform games as vital to their success, and certainly contributed greatly to popularizing the genre during the 8-bit console generation. Sega attempted to ape this success with their Alex Kidd series, as well as with the Wonder Boy series. is a multinational Video game Software and Hardware development company and a former Home computer Alex Kidd, a video game character is a monkey-like boy with big ears in a red jumpsuit and was commonly regarded as Sega 's mascot until Sonic the Hedgehog debuted The later Wonder Boy games were also notable for combining adventure and role-playing elements with traditional platforming. An adventure game is a type of Video game characterized by investigation exploration puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters and a focus on Narrative A role-playing game ( RPG; often roleplaying game) is a Game in which the participants assume the roles of Fictional characters. ^[18]

Platformers went portable in the late '80s with Super Mario Land and continued to maintain their popularity, with many titles being released for the handheld Game Boy and Game Gear. is a platforming Video game developed by Nintendo for the Game Boy Handheld game console. A handheld game console is a lightweight portable electronic machine for playing Video games Unlike Video game consoles the controls screen and speakers The is a handheld video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. The Sega Game Gear is a Handheld game console which was Sega 's response to Nintendo 's Game Boy. Because of the small size, technical constraints, and blurring associated with early LCD technology, fast paced action-based platformers were more difficult to execute on handheld systems. Because of this, many handheld platformers leaned toward slower paced play styles and a greater emphasis on puzzles. After the transition of home consoles to 3D, handhelds became a bastion for 2D platform games, and they still remain popular to this day with New Super Mario Bros being a recent example of a very successful traditional platform game, selling more than five million copies in Japan and North America during its first year of release. is a Side-scrolling platform Video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld Video game console. ^[19][20]

On the NES, as well as on most 8-bit arcade hardware, platform games generally only scrolled in one direction at a time (usually horizontally). The Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated as NES or simply Nintendo) is an 8-bit Video game console that was released by This meant designers has to use a very narrow level progression, or break levels up into areas that scrolled in one direction at a time (as was the case in Metroid and Mega Man). is the first game in the ''Metroid'' series of video games It was released first for the Famicom Disk System on August 6, 1986 The first platform game to scroll in all four directions freely and follow the on-screen character's movement was in a vector game called Major Havoc. Vector game refers to any Video game that uses a Vector graphics display Major Havoc (or The Adventures of Major Havoc) is an upright and cocktail cabinet vector-based Arcade game made by Atari Major Havoc was comprised of a number of mini-games, including a simple platformer (the largest of the mini-games), along with a shooter sequence, a landing sequence, and even a Breakout clone. A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large ^[21] The first raster-based platform game to scroll fluidly in all directions in this manner is the 1984 classic, Legend of Kage, mentioned earlier. The Legend of Kage (影の伝説 Kage no Densetsu) is a 1984 arcade game by Taito and was released for several contemporary Home computer Though the multi-directional scrolling did not seem like a big deal at the time, it would become a distinguishing feature of the next generation of platformers.

Second-generation side-scrollers

The advent of 16-bit home consoles marked an evolutionary step for the genre. By the time the Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo launched, platform games were the most popular genre in home console gaming and were seen as vital for winning the console war. The is a 16-bit Video game console released by Sega in Japan in 1988 North America in 1989 and the PAL region in 1990 The Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super NES (also called SNES and Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit Video game console that was There was a particular emphasis on having a flagship platform title exclusive to a format, featuring a "mascot" character. The term mascot – defined as a term for any person animal or object thought to bring Luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common In 1989 Sega released Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle. Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is a Platform game for the Sega Genesis. The title was only modestly successful, and Sega realized it needed a stronger mascot to move Genesis units. In 1990 Hudson Soft released Bonk's Adventure featuring a character that would be positioned as NEC's mascot. Hudson Soft Company Limited is a Japanese Electronic entertainment publisher Bonk's Adventure is a 2D Platform video game developed by Red Company and Atlus and released in 1990 for the TurboGrafx-16. is a Japanese multinational IT company headquartered in Minato Tokyo, Japan. ^[22]

1990 marked the release of the Super NES, along with the much awaited Super Mario World. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super NES (also called SNES and Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit Video game console that was is a Platform game developed and published by Nintendo as a pack-in launch title for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. In order to fend off the new competition Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog. is a Platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis system ^[23][24] Whereas Nintendo's offering featured a conservative design, true to the Mario tradition, Sonic showcased a new style of design made possible by the processing muscle of its platform. Sonic featured large fields that scrolled effortlessly in all directions, as well as all manner of uneven terrain, curved hills, and a complex physics system that allowed players to rush through its levels with well-placed jumps and rolls. Computer animation physics or game physics involves the introduction of the laws of physics into a simulation or game engine particularly in 3D computer graphics, It proved to be a massive hit, was a successful pack-in with new systems, and cemented the view that platform games would make or break a console.

The Sonic character was also seen as a new model for mascots in the early 1990s, particularly for his perceived "attitude," which characterized him as a rebel from the status quo. trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is a Video game character and the Protagonist of the video game series released by Sega, as well as in numerous This "attitude" would soon become the status quo, as companies attempted to duplicate Sonic's success with their own brightly-colored anthropomorphisms. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of uniquely Human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings natural and supernatural phenomena material states and objects ^[25] Very frequently these were characterized by impatience, sarcasm, and frequent quipping to give them personality. These mascots, which included the likes of Gex, Bug!, and Bubsy, have mostly faded from relevance. Gex is a Platformer Video game series developed by Crystal Dynamics, that details the adventures of a Gecko named Gex Bug! is a Video game for the Sega Saturn. Released in 1995 in North America, Japan and Europe, it was one of the earliest Bubsy is a series of Video games released by Accolade for the SNES, Sega Mega Drive /Genesis Atari Jaguar, the PC and

Although there had long been important platform games on home computers, a second generation of platform games for computers appeared alongside the new wave of consoles. In the late 80s and early 90s, the Amiga was known as a stronger gaming platform than IBM-compatible PCs, thanks to its more powerful stock video hardware and sound hardware,^[26] and the Atari ST was solidly supported as well. The Amiga is a family of Personal computers originally developed by Amiga Corporation. The Original Chip Set ( OCS) was a Chipset used in the earliest Commodore Amiga computers and defined the Amiga's graphics and sound capabilities The Atari ST is a home / Personal computer that was commercially available from 1985 to the early 1990s Games like Shadow of the Beast and Turrican showed that computer platform games could rival the graphics and sound of their console contemporaries, and Prince of Persia featured an unprecedented level of animation. Shadow of the Beast is a side-scrolling platform computer game produced by Reflections Interactive and published by Psygnosis Turrican is a 1990 Video game programmed by Manfred Trenz. It was first developed for the Commodore 64 by Rainbow Prince of Persia is an action-adventure Video game series created by Jordan Mechner.

In 1990, DOS PC gaming made a breakthrough in the genre. Commander Keen, released by id Software, became the first IBM-compatible PC platformer to feature smooth scrolling graphics thanks to a technique programmer John Carmack had pioneered for EGA graphics displays. id Software (ɪd officially is an American computer game developer based in Mesquite, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. John D Carmack II (born August 20 1970) is an American Game programmer, and the co-founder of Id Software. ^[27] The success of this game via the shareware distribution model prompted many others to attempt more console-styled scrolling platformers on the PC, including Duke Nukem, Jill of the Jungle, and Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure. The term shareware, popularized by Bob Wallace, refers to Copyrighted commercial Software that is Distributed without payment on a trial Jill of the Jungle is a trilogy of platform Computer games released in 1992 by Epic MegaGames. Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure is a Video game programmed by Todd Replogle and published by Apogee Software in 1992 None of these scrolled as smoothly as Commander Keen, but many were well-received. These games helped fuel the shareware model, which would drive PC gaming to greater relevance in the early-to-mid 1990s. The term shareware, popularized by Bob Wallace, refers to Copyrighted commercial Software that is Distributed without payment on a trial

Other notable platform games from this time period include Earthworm Jim, Zool, Bubsy, and Rocket Knight Adventures. Earthworm Jim is a Run and gun platform Video game starring an Earthworm named Jim in a Robotic suit who battles ZooL is a defuct Danish band that was created by guitarist Henrik Flyman as a platform for classic Hard rock. Bubsy is a series of Video games released by Accolade for the SNES, Sega Mega Drive /Genesis Atari Jaguar, the PC and Rocket Knight Adventures is a 16-bit generation side scrolling platformer produced and released in 1993 by Konami for the Frequently, console games based on film, television, and comic book licenses would be platformers, such as those based on Aladdin, Jurassic Park, James Bond, and Mickey Mouse. A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative Disney's Aladdin is a Video game based on the 1992 motion picture of the same name, released in the 16-bit era. Soon after the announcement of the 1993 Jurassic Park Feature film, based on the critically acclaimed novel by Michael Crichton, developers James Bond The Duel (known as 007 Shitou in Japan is a James Bond Video game released for the Sega Master Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is a video game released for the Mega Drive/Genesis produced by Sega of America.

Decline of 2D

At the end of the 16-bit era, some very successful platform games were released, including Yoshi's Island and the Donkey Kong Country titles, but the release of new hardware caused players' attention to gradually shift away from traditional 2D genres. Super Mario World 2 Yoshi's Island, released in Japan as is a platform Video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Donkey Kong Country ( Super Donkey Kong in Japan is a Video game developed by Rare, featuring the popular arcade character Donkey ^[28] The Saturn, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 nevertheless featured a number of successful 2D platform games. The is a 32-bit Video game console that was first released on November 22 1994 in Japan, May 11 1995 in North America The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console The, often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendo 's third home Video game console for the international market Mega Man 8 and Mega Man X4 helped revitalize interest in Capcom's blue bomber. Mega Man 8, known as in Japan is a Video game released by Capcom in 1996 and 1997 for the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn Mega Man X4 (ロックマンX4 Rockman X4) is the fourth game in the Mega Man X series For the original NASA meaning see capsule communicator. is a leading Japanese International developer Castlevania: Symphony of the Night revitalized its series and established a new foundation for later Castlevania games. Castlevania Symphony of the Night is a 2D Action-adventure game developed and published by Konami in 1997 Oddworld and Heart of Darkness kept the sub-genre born from Prince of Persia alive. Oddworld is a comprehensive Fictional universe presented in Video game form created by game developers Oddworld Inhabitants under the direction For the Joseph Conrad novel see Heart of Darkness. For other uses see Heart of Darkness (disambiguation. The Nintendo 64 had the fewest 2D platformers — only Yoshi's Story and Mischief Makers — and both met with a tepid response from critics at the time. is the Nintendo 64 successor to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game Super Mario World 2 Yoshi's Island. Mischief Makers, known in Japan as, is a side-scrolling 2D platform/puzzle Video game developed by Treasure, and published by Enix in Japan ^[29][30] Despite this, Yoshi's Story sold over a million copies in the US^[31] and Mischief Makers rode high on the charts in the months following its release. ^[32][33]

The difficulties of adapting platform gameplay to 3D led some developers to compromise by pairing the visual flash of 3D with traditional 2D gameplay. These games are often referred to as "2.5D. 25D (two-and-a-half Dimensional is an informal term used to describe visual phenomena which are considered "between" 2D and 3D "^[34][35] The first such game was a Sega Saturn launch title, Clockwork Knight released in December, 1994 in Japan (and subsequently as a launch game in the U. The is a 32-bit Video game console that was first released on November 22 1994 in Japan, May 11 1995 in North America A launch title is a Video game that has been made available to consumers synchronously with its respective Video game console, meaning they are the only available Clockwork Knight is a side-scrolling platformer Video game, released as a Launch title for the Sega Saturn in Japan S. ). The game featured levels and boss characters rendered in 3D, but retained 2D gameplay and the used pre-rendered 2D sprites for regular characters, similar to Donkey Kong Country. A boss is a computer-controlled opponent which is found in Video games Their purpose is to test the skills that the player has accumulated over the course of a game Its sequel improved upon its design, featuring some 3D effects such as hopping between the foreground and background, and the camera panning and curving around a corner. Clockwork Knight 2 is a side-scrolling platformer Video game released for the Sega Saturn in 1995

The formula has been repeated many times. Pandemonium and Klonoa: Door to Phantomile brought the 2. Pandemonium is a Platform game, published by Crystal Dynamics, for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, PC, and Nokia is a 1997 Video game developed and published by Namco for the Sony PlayStation Video game console. 5D style to the PlayStation. The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console More recently, Klonoa 2 and Viewtiful Joe have continued this tradition. is a PlayStation 2 Video game by Namco released in 2001. In it Klonoa and a new cast of friends have stumbled onto another adventure to save This article is about the first game in the series and the series in general

Third dimension

The term 3D platformer usually refers to games that feature gameplay in three dimensions and polygonal 3D graphics. Games which have 3D gameplay but 2D graphics are usually included under the umbrella of isometric platformers, while those that have 3D graphics but gameplay on a 2D plane are called 2.5D, as they are "somewhere between 2D and 3D. Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles 25D (two-and-a-half Dimensional is an informal term used to describe visual phenomena which are considered "between" 2D and 3D 25D (two-and-a-half Dimensional is an informal term used to describe visual phenomena which are considered "between" 2D and 3D "

The first attempts to bring platform games into 3D used 2D graphics, and an isometric perspective. Isometric projection is a form of Graphical projection —more specifically an Axonometric projection. These games are nearly as old as the genre itself. The first games to simulate a 3D perspective and moving camera emerged in the mid-80s. Trailblazer, released to various computer systems in 1986, used a simple linescroll effect to create a forward scrolling pseudo-3D play field where players manipulated a bouncing ball to leap over obstacles and pitfalls. Trailblazer is a Video game that requires the player to direct a ball along a series of suspended passages 25D (two-and-a-half Dimensional is an informal term used to describe visual phenomena which are considered "between" 2D and 3D In 1987, Squaresoft released 3D World Runner, a forward-scrolling action game that had players leap over obstacles and chasms. was a Japanese Video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. (Full title The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner) is a Video game developed by Square in. In 1990, an Estonian developer called Bluemoon released Kosmonaut, a forward-scrolling driving/action game similar to Trailblazer, which consisted almost entirely of difficult platform-jumping obstacle courses. ^[36] While the gameplay took place in three dimensions, and the graphics were polygonal it is considered pseudo-3D because it used a fixed viewpoint. In 3D computer graphics, polygonal modeling is an approach for modeling objects by representing or approximating their Surfaces using Polygons Polygonal The game was later remade in 1993 as SkyRoads, which experienced much wider popularity. Bluemoon 's creation of SkyRoads was a polished-up remake of the game Kosmonaut.

The earliest example to be found of a true 3D platformer is a French computer game called Alpha Waves, created by Christophe de Dinechin and published by Infogrames in 1990 for the Atari ST, Amiga and PC. Alpha Waves is an early 3D game that combines labyrinthine exploration with platform gameplay. Infogrames Entertainment SA ( IESA) ( is an international Holding company headquartered in Villeurbanne, Lyon, France. The Atari ST is a home / Personal computer that was commercially available from 1985 to the early 1990s The Amiga is a family of Personal computers originally developed by Amiga Corporation. A personal computer ( PC) is any Computer whose original sales price size and capabilities make it useful for individuals and which is intended to be operated ^{[37] [38]} It featured full-screen 3D graphics, true 3D movement, and a movable camera, all firsts for the genre. The environments were abstract, with simple gameplay focused on hopping from trampoline-like platforms. The game was released in North America by Data East, under the name Continuum. also abbreviated as DECO, was a Japanese video game company Their main headquarters were located in Tokyo, while their American subsidiary Data East USA was Much like Jump Bug before it, while it is believed to be the first of its kind, it is not widely recognized as especially influential (though it is sometimes regarded as a precursor to Jumping Flash!). Jumping Flash! is a Video game released in 1995 for the Sony PlayStation. ^[39] While its appearance was quite dissimilar from the popular 2D platformer of the day, it was billed as a platform game on its packaging,^[40] suggesting that it was seen as an attempt to bring the genre into 3D.

In 1994, a small developer called Exact released a game for the X68000 computer called Geograph Seal. The Sharp X68000, often referred to as the X68k, is a home computer released only in Japan by the Sharp Corporation. The game was a fully 3D polygonal first person shooter hybrid with a pronounced platform jumping component. A first-person shooter ( FPS) is an action Video game from the Shooter game The initial development of Maze War Players piloted a frog-like mech that could jump, and then double jump or triple jump high into the air, as the camera panned down to help players line up their landing. Word origin and usage The term "mecha" is derived from the Japanese abbreviation for the English word " mechanical " In addition to shooting, jumping on enemies was a primary means of attack. ^[41] This was the first Japanese 3D platformer, but it was never ported to another platform nor released outside of Japan, so it remains obscure in the West.

The following year, Exact released their follow-up to Geograph Seal as an early title for Sony's new PlayStation console. The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console Jumping Flash!, released in April 1995, is generally regarded as a direct continuation of the gameplay concepts in Geograph Seal,^[42] and was likewise a mix of first-person shooting and platforming, with similar controls and camera-work. Jumping Flash! is a Video game released in 1995 for the Sony PlayStation. The frog-like mech was traded in for a more cartoony rabbit mech, called the "Robbit. " Beyond this, the level design had an even greater focus on platform hopping, and it was released in Europe and North America as a launch title, helping it gain a much higher profile. A launch title is a Video game that has been made available to consumers synchronously with its respective Video game console, meaning they are the only available The title was successful enough to receive two sequels, and is remembered as the first 3D platformer on a console.

Bug!, a Sega Saturn game that was released in 1995, offered a more conservative approach to true 3D platforming. Bug! is a Video game for the Sega Saturn. Released in 1995 in North America, Japan and Europe, it was one of the earliest The is a 32-bit Video game console that was first released on November 22 1994 in Japan, May 11 1995 in North America It allowed players to move in all directions, but it did not allow movement along more than one axis at once — the player could move left to right, or forward and backward, but not diagonally left and backward at the same time. Its characters were pre-rendered sprites, much like the earlier Clockwork Knight. Clockwork Knight is a side-scrolling platformer Video game, released as a Launch title for the Sega Saturn in Japan The game played very similarly to 2D platformers, but it was considered a true 3D title, and even let players walk up walls and on ceilings. It was a moderate success and had a sequel, Bug Too!.

In 1995, Delphine Software released a 3D sequel to their popular 2D platformer Flashback. Delphine Software was a French Video game developer. They were famous for their games Another World and Flashback, which Flashback, released as Flashback The Quest for Identity in the US is a cinematic platformer developed by Delphine Software of France Entitled Fade to Black, it was the first attempt to bring a popular 2D platform game series into 3D. Fade to Black is a Video game released in 1995 by Delphine Software International. While it retained the puzzle-oriented level design style and step-based control and bore a strong resemblance to its predecessor, it does not meet the criteria of a platform game, and was billed as an action adventure. ^[43] It used true 3D characters and set pieces, but its environments were rendered using a rigid engine similar to the one used by Wolfenstein 3D in that it could only render square, flat corridors. This eliminated any hopping from suspended platforms. Fade to Black would set the stage for other series, such as Metroid and Duke Nukem, that would gradually shift away from the traditional platform formula while retaining many of its gameplay conventions. Metroid Prime is a Video game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube, released in North America Duke Nukem 3D is a First-person shooter computer game developed by 3D Realms and published by Apogee Software.

There was a great deal of pressure on Sony, Sega, and Nintendo to release mascot platformers before the 1996 holiday season. is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato Tokyo, Japan, and one of the world's largest Media conglomerates with is a multinational Video game Software and Hardware development company and a former Home computer is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on Sony chose to adopt an existing project by developers Naughty Dog, a small developer at the time, who had recently released the questionable Way of the Warrior. Naughty Dog is an American Video game company founded by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin in 1986 and based in Santa Monica, California Way of the Warrior is a Fighting game released in 1994 for the short-lived 32-bit 3DO. The move paid off; their game, Crash Bandicoot, beat Nintendo's new console to market in North America and was released in time for the holiday in Japan. Crash Bandicoot is a platform game published by Sony Computer Entertainment and developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation Crash would remain Sony's unofficial mascot for the next several years before going multiplatform in the following console generation.

Sega did not fare as well. They had tasked their American studio, STI, with bringing Sonic the Hedgehog into 3D. The Sega Technical Institute was a Video game development division of Sega based in the United States, unlike the AM divisions Their project, titled Sonic Xtreme, was to feature a radically different approach for the series, with an exaggerated fisheye camera and multi-directional gameplay reminiscent of Bug!. Sonic X-treme is an unreleased Platform game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series In Photography, a fisheye lens is a Wide-angle lens that takes in an extremely wide hemispherical image Its development was rocky, due in part to conflicts with Sega of Japan and a rushed schedule, and the game never made it to market.

Reshaping the genre

In 1996, Nintendo released Super Mario 64. is a Platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Until this time there had been no established archetype for bringing platform games into 3D. Mario 64 set a new standard and would be imitated by many 3D platformers to follow. Its gameplay allowed players to explore open 3D environments with greater freedom than any previous attempt at a 3D platform game. Players no longer followed a linear path to the ends of levels, either, with most levels providing objective-based goals. There were, however, a handful of "boss" levels that offered more traditional platforming, and showed what a more direct conversion to 3D might have been like.

Some argue that many modern 3D platformers, especially those influenced heavily by Mario 64 are not platformers at all, or at least are not really an extension of 2D platformers. ^[44] Super Mario 64 brought a change in the goals of some platformers. is a Platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. In most 2D platformers, the player only had to reach a single goal to complete a level, but in many 3D platformers, each level had to be combed for collectible items such as puzzle pieces (Banjo-Kazooie) or stars (Super Mario 64). Banjo-Kazooie is a platform and action-adventure hybrid Video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo in is a Platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. This allowed for more efficient use of large 3D areas and rewarded the player for thorough exploration, but they also often involved more elements of action-adventure games, and less jumping on platforms. However, not all 3D platformers were like this. Crash Bandicoot and Sonic Adventure featured more linear action-oriented obstacle courses, similar to the traditional platform model. Crash Bandicoot is a platform game published by Sony Computer Entertainment and developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation is a Video game created by Sonic Team and released on December 23 1998 in Japan by Sega for the Sega Dreamcast and is the first game in the

As platform games settled into this new free-roaming model, it became necessary for developers to program a dynamic, intelligent camera. This was a non-issue with 2D platformers, which were able to maintain a fixed viewpoint. The addition of a free camera also made it more difficult for players to judge the exact height and distance of platforms, making jumping puzzles more difficult. Jumping puzzles or "platform sequences" are sequences of obstacles in Computer and video games particularly in the genre of platformers, where the Some of the more linear 3D platformers, like Tork and Wario World use scripted cameras that allow for minimal player control. A torque (τ in Physics, also called a moment (of force is a pseudo- vector that measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object about Wario World is a Platform game developed by Treasure and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. Others with more open environments, like Mario 64 and Banjo Kazooie needed intelligent cameras that follow the players movements. Banjo-Kazooie is a platform and action-adventure hybrid Video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo in ^[45] These intelligent cameras are not perfect, and require the player to adjust the view at times when the view is obstructed, or simply not facing what the player needs to see. Other games like Sonic Adventure use a combination of scripted angles and free control, which has presented its own unique problems. is a Video game created by Sonic Team and released on December 23 1998 in Japan by Sega for the Sega Dreamcast and is the first game in the There has not been an agreed-upon solution to the camera problem, and most games in the genre are prone to at least some of these issues. ^[46]

Platformers into the present

3D platformers never managed to achieve the kind of popularity or relevance that 2D platformers held. As a hit-driven business the great majority of the Video games industry 's software releases have been commercial failures Much of this is simply the result of a diversified market. Final Fantasy VII was a major commercial breakthrough for RPGs, first person shooters were steadily rising in popularity, and more complex action-adventure games like Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid were capturing consumers' money. is a Console role-playing game developed by Square (now Square Enix) and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the A console role-playing game is a video game genre that has its origin rooted in Video game consoles and includes game mechanics and frequently settings derived A first-person shooter ( FPS) is an action Video game from the Shooter game The initial development of Maze War is a stealth-action Video game directed by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published Even so, Tomb Raider became one of the best selling series on the Sony PlayStation and many of the Nintendo 64's best sellers were first and second-party platformers, like Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64. Tomb Raider is a Video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console The, often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendo 's third home Video game console for the international market is a Platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Banjo-Kazooie is a platform and action-adventure hybrid Video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo in (abbreviated as DK 64) is a platformer Video game developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64. ^[47]

By the sixth generation era, platformers were no longer seen as hot system-sellers. The sixth-generation era (sometimes referred to as the 128-bit era; see "Number of bits" below refers to the computer and Video games Sega finally produced a 3D Sonic game, Sonic Adventure, on its new Dreamcast console. is a Video game created by Sonic Team and released on December 23 1998 in Japan by Sega for the Sega Dreamcast and is the first game in the The is Sega 's most recent Video game console and the successor to the Sega Saturn. It used a hub structure like Mario 64 but featured more linear, action-oriented levels, with an emphasis on speed. Although the game was a hit, it was not enough to save the Dreamcast from an early discontinuation in 2001. ^[48]

Nintendo launched its GameCube console without a platform game, but in 2002, it released Super Mario Sunshine, the second 3D Mario game. The, often abbreviated as GCN, is Nintendo 's fourth home Video game console and is part of the sixth generation console era. is a Platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. While the title was well-received at its time of release, it has since received criticism regarding such factors as its low number of levels, the lack of variety in its locations, and its level design, which featured an abundance of open space making for a much slower pace. ^[49][50]

Other notable 3D platformers trickled out during this generation. Maximo was a spiritual heir to the Ghosts 'n' Goblins series. Maximo Ghosts to Glory (also known as just simply Maximo in Japan and Europe is a 3D Hack and slash Platform game developed is a 1985 Platform game developed by Capcom for Video arcades Gameplay Ghosts 'n Goblins is a Platform game Billy Hatcher offered Yuji Naka's take on a Mario 64-influenced platformer, and Psychonauts became a critical darling based on its imaginative levels and colorful characters. Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg is a Video game for the Nintendo GameCube that was developed by Sonic Team is a Video game designer, programmer, the former head of Sonic Team, a group of Sega programmers/designers the lead programmer of the original Psychonauts is a platform Video game created by Tim Schafer (known for several LucasArts adventure games such as Grim Rayman's popularity continued, though the franchise's third game was not received as well as the earlier two. Rayman is an Anthropomorphic Video game character and is the official mascot of the video game publisher Ubisoft. ^[51][52] Naughty Dog abandoned the Crash Bandicoot series in favor of Jak and Daxter, a series that moved further away from real platform action with every sequel. Naughty Dog is an American Video game company founded by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin in 1986 and based in Santa Monica, California Crash Bandicoot is a platform game published by Sony Computer Entertainment and developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation A hybrid platformer/shooter game from Insomniac Games called Ratchet & Clank further pushed the genre away from traditional platform hopping. Ratchet & Clank is a series of 3D platform / shooter video games The franchise is developed by Insomniac Games for the console

Platformers remain a vital genre, but they have never recaptured the popularity they once held. In 1998, platform games had a 15% share of the market (and even higher during their heyday), but only four years later that figure had dropped to 2%. ^[4] Even the much acclaimed Psychonauts experienced modest sales at first, leading publisher Majesco to withdraw from high budget console games^[53] although its sales in Europe were respectable^[54], and franchises like Tomb Raider began to sag. Psychonauts is a platform Video game created by Tim Schafer (known for several LucasArts adventure games such as Grim Majesco Entertainment is a Japanese / American Video game publisher founded in 1986. Tomb Raider is a Video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. Other forms of third-person action games have cut into the sales of platformers, while genres such as RPGs and first-person shooters have continued to grow in popularity. A console role-playing game is a video game genre that has its origin rooted in Video game consoles and includes game mechanics and frequently settings derived A first-person shooter ( FPS) is an action Video game from the Shooter game The initial development of Maze War A larger and more diverse video game market has developed, and no single genre has managed to achieve the same kind of dominance that platform games did during the 8, 16, and 32/64-bit console wars.

Despite a much smaller presence in the overall gaming market, some platform games continue to be successful. 2007 saw the release of Super Mario Galaxy and Ratchet & Clank Future to positive critical and fan reaction. Ratchet & Clank Future Tools of Destruction (known as Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction in most PAL regions Tools of Destruction ^[55][56][55] Super Mario Galaxy even went on being both the Best Game of 2007 on IGN and Gamespot, and the fourth best reviewed game of all time. IGN (abbreviated and formerly known as I magine G ames N etwork is a multimedia news and reviews Website that focuses heavily on Video GameSpot is a video gaming Website that provides News, Reviews Previews Downloads and other information 2008 is expected to receive three highly expected platforming games: LittleBigPlanet, Sonic Unleashed and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

Sub-genres

There are many games that are platformers that do not adhere to any of the sub-genres below, but the following are some of the more recognizable archetypes for different platform styles. LittleBigPlanet (sometimes abbreviated to LBP and developed under the working title The Next Big Thing) is an upcoming puzzle Sonic Unleashed, also known as in Japan Sliding across the ground also returns and a new feature Speed Drift allows Sonic to slide around a corner at high speed Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts is an upcoming CMS and Platform game in Rare 's ''Banjo-Kazooie'' series, first announced at the There are many more vaguely defined sub-genres like "action-platformer" and "platform-adventure" that are not mentioned here because they are not as easily defined.

Hop and bop

Mario is recognized as the originator of this style, and it became even more popular in the 16-bit era with games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Bubsy, and Donkey Kong Country. is a Platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis system Bubsy is a series of Video games released by Accolade for the SNES, Sega Mega Drive /Genesis Atari Jaguar, the PC and Donkey Kong Country ( Super Donkey Kong in Japan is a Video game developed by Rare, featuring the popular arcade character Donkey The defining trait of a hop and bop is that enemies are defeated primarily by jumping on their heads. It is also generally the case that these games feature very colorful, cartoony imagery and characters. While a few 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 allowed players to defeat enemies by jumping on their heads, this was not the main means of dealing with enemies. is a Platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The problems of manipulating a character in 3D with enough precision to jump on enemies makes this a predominantly 2D genre. Sonic Adventure introduced a homing-jump to allow this mechanic to work in 3D, making it a rare example of a 3D hop and bop. is a Video game created by Sonic Team and released on December 23 1998 in Japan by Sega for the Sega Dreamcast and is the first game in the

Puzzle platformers

These games are characterized by their use of a platform game structure to drive a game whose challenge is derived primarily from puzzles. Doki Doki Penguin Land, released by Sega for the SG-1000 is perhaps the first example, though the genre is diverse, and classifications can vary. The, which stands for Sega Game 1000, is a cartridge-based Video game console manufactured by Sega. Doki Doki Penguin Land had a more popular sequel on the Sega Master System released in North America and Europe as simply Penguin Land. The Sega Master System is an 8-bit cartridge-based Video game console that was manufactured by Sega and was first released in 1986. Penguin Land, known as in Japan, is a Sega Master System game and the second game in the Doki Doki Penguin Land series The game allowed players to run and jump in typical platform fashion, but they could also destroy blocks, and were tasked with guiding an egg to the bottom of the level without letting it break.

The Lost Vikings was one of the more popular titles in this genre, as well. The Lost Vikings is a side-scrolling puzzle / platform Video game series which was developed by Blizzard Entertainment It featured three characters with different abilities that could be switched between. Players had to use all three characters to aid each other to reach the level goals.

This sub-genre has a strong history on handheld platforms. Wario Land 2 moved its series into the puzzle-platformer genre, as well, by eliminating the element of death and endowing status ailments (like being squashed or lit on fire) with different powers to solve puzzles. Wario Land II is a Video game released for the Game Boy in 1998. Wario Land 3 continued this tradition, while Wario Land 4 was more of a mix of puzzle and traditional platform elements. Wario Land 3 is a Video game released for the Game Boy Color in 2000. Wario Land 4 (known as Wario Land Advance in Japan is a Video game released for the Game Boy Advance system in 2001 The Game Boy update of Donkey Kong was also a successful portable puzzle-platformer and it later has a sequel on Game Boy Advance called Mario vs Donkey Kong. is a platform game developed by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game system which also contains puzzle elements Mario vs Donkey Kong is a Game Boy Advance Spiritual sequel to the first Donkey Kong game for Game Boy. Toki Dori was another handheld game in the genre. Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, the first handheld title in its series, was also a puzzle-platformer. Klonoa Empire of Dreams ( Japanese: Kaze no Klonoa Empire of Dreams or "Klonoa of the Wind Empire of Dreams") is a Video game

Run and gun platformers

Main article: Run and gun

The run and gun platformer genre was popularized by Konami's classic Contra. A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large () is a leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys Trading cards, Anime, Tokusatsu, Slot machines released as Probotector in Europe and Oceania, is an Arcade game released in 1987 by the Konami corporation Gunstar Heroes and Metal Slug are also among the most popular examples of this style. is a Run and gun Video game developed by Treasure Co Ltd and published by Sega. is a Run and gun Video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform created by SNK. Side-scrolling run and gun games are an attempt to marry platform games with shoot 'em ups, characterized by a minimal focus on precise platform jumping and a major emphasis on multi-directional shooting. A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large These games are sometimes called platform-shooters. This genre has strong arcade roots, and as such, these games are generally known for being very difficult, and having very linear progression, without backtracking.

There are games which feature a heavy degree of shooting but do not fall into this sub-genre. Mega Man, Vectorman, Jazz Jackrabbit and Earthworm Jim are all platformers with a heavy focus on action and shooting, but unlike Contra or Metal Slug the platform jumping elements, as well as exploration and back-tracking, still figure more prominently. Vectorman is a Platform game developed by BlueSky Software and published by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Jazz Jackrabbit is a series of platform Video games and may refer to the following Jazz Jackrabbit (computer game, a platform video game Earthworm Jim is a Run and gun platform Video game starring an Earthworm named Jim in a Robotic suit who battles is a Run and gun Video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform created by SNK. Run and guns are generally very pure and, while they sometimes have vehicular sequences or other changes in style, they stay focused on shooting throughout.

Cinematic platformers (Prince of Persia style)

This is a well recognized sub-genre without an agreed-upon name, usually distinguished by its likeness to Prince of Persia, the title that is the most direct archetype for the style. Prince of Persia is an action-adventure Video game series created by Jordan Mechner. It should be mentioned, however, that Impossible Mission pioneered many of these conventions years earlier. Impossible Mission is a platform Computer game for several Home computers The original version for the Commodore 64 was programmed Flashback, Another World, Blackthorne, and the first two Oddworld games all helped to popularize this style. Flashback, released as Flashback The Quest for Identity in the US is a cinematic platformer developed by Delphine Software of France Another World, known as Out of this World in the US and Outer World (アウターワールド in Japan is a 1991 Blackthorne ( Blackhawk in some European countries is a computer and Video game, a cinematic platformer, that was developed Oddworld is a comprehensive Fictional universe presented in Video game form created by game developers Oddworld Inhabitants under the direction These games blend action, adventure and puzzle-solving elements. An action game is a game that challenges a player's speed dexterity and reaction time An adventure game is a type of Video game characterized by investigation exploration puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters and a focus on Narrative They are characterized by having very fluid, life-like animation (usually rotoscoped), step-based control (where the tap of a button will play out an entire animation or step), and screens that do not scroll (even when the hardware could support it effortlessly). Rotoscoping is an Animation technique in which Animators trace over live-action film movement frame by frame for use in Animated films Originally The ability to grab onto and climb up ledges is also very common in these games, but there are a few examples of games that do not have this feature and are still categorized in this sub-genre. These games were highly influential of the Tomb Raider series. Tomb Raider is a Video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. Due to the similarities, it is common to regard cinematic platformers as a subset of action-adventures.

Cinematic platformers are sometimes called French platformers, as genre-defining games like Another World, Flashback and Heart of Darkness are designed by French game designer Eric Chahi for French companies Delphine Software and Amazing Studio. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Another World, known as Out of this World in the US and Outer World (アウターワールド in Japan is a 1991 Flashback, released as Flashback The Quest for Identity in the US is a cinematic platformer developed by Delphine Software of France For the Joseph Conrad novel see Heart of Darkness. For other uses see Heart of Darkness (disambiguation. A "game designer" is a person who designs Video games or one who designs traditional games such as Board games Video Games Designer A video game designer Éric Chahi is a French Computer game designer best known as the creator of Another World (known as Out of This World in the Delphine Software was a French Video game developer. They were famous for their games Another World and Flashback, which

Comical action game

This genre lacks a commonly agreed upon name in the West, but are most commonly called "comical action games" in Japan. ^[57][58] The original arcade Mario Bros is generally recognized as the originator of this genre, though Bubble Bobble is also highly influential. is an Arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. is an Arcade game by Taito, first released in 1986 It was ported soon for numerous Home computers and Game consoles The game features twin Bubble These games are characterized by levels that are only one screen (and thus do not scroll), and cooperative 2-player action. A level is cleared when all enemies on the screen have been defeated, and vanquished foes usually drop score bonuses in the form of fruit or other items. CAGs are almost exclusively developed in Japan and are either arcade games, or sequels to arcade games (though they are also a common genre among amateur doujinshi games). also sometimes called, are Video games created by Japanese hobbyists or hobbyist groups (referred to as "circles" more for fun than for profit essentially the Some more popular examples include the likes of Don Doko Don and Snow Bros. Don Doko Don is a 1&ndash2 player platform Arcade game by Taito made in 1989. Snow Bros is an Arcade game released in 1990 by Toaplan. It is a Platform game similar in gameplay to Bubble Bobble. In more recent years Nightmare in the Dark and Zupapa on the Neo-Geo have carried the torch.

Isometric platformers

Arguably a sub-genre of both 3D and 2D platformers, isometric platformers present a three dimensional environment using 2D bitmaps for graphics. Isometric projection is a form of Graphical projection —more specifically an Axonometric projection. Although games like Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy games are technically isometric, in gaming the term is generally used to refer specifically to games that use the ¾ perspective. Secret of Mana, known in Japan as, is an Action role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo is a Console role-playing game developed and published in Japan by Square (now Square Enix) in and published in North America by Nintendo Although not the first isometric games, the earliest examples of isometric platform games are the arcade game Congo Bongo in the arcade and Ant Attack for the ZX Spectrum, both released in 1983. Congo Bongo ( J:) is an Arcade game developed by Ikegami Tsushinki and released by Sega in 1983. Ant Attack is a ZX Spectrum computer game by Sandy White. It was published in 1983 by Quicksilva, and converted to the Commodore The Sinclair ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal Home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd

Knight Lore, an isometric sequel to Sabre Wulf, helped to establish the conventions of early isometric platformers. Knight Lore is a computer game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1984 Sabre Wulf is a ZX Spectrum Video game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1984. This formula would be repeated in later games like Head Over Heels, and Mystic Towers. Head Over Heels is an Arcade adventure, released in 1987 for several popular 8-bit Home computers and subsequently ported to Mystic Towers is a Computer game created by Australian developer Animation F/X and published by Manaccom domestically and Apogee These games were generally heavily focused on exploring indoor environments, usually a series of small rooms connected by doors, and have distinct adventure and puzzle elements. Later, Japanese developers would blend this gameplay style with that of Japanese action-adventure games like The Legend of Zelda to create games like Land Stalker and Light Crusader. is a Video game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and developed and published by Nintendo. is an Action role-playing game that was developed by Climax Entertainment originally for the Mega Drive/Genesis. Light Crusader is an Action RPG developed by Treasure and published by Sega. While these games are more generally thought of under the broader umbrella of action-adventures, they are still very much isometric platformers, and an extension of earlier games in the genre. This influence would later travel to Europe with the Adeline Software's sprawling epic Little Big Adventure, which blended RPG, adventure, and isometric platforming. Little Big Adventure ( LBA) is a PC game made by Adeline Software International and first released at the end of 1994 A console role-playing game is a video game genre that has its origin rooted in Video game consoles and includes game mechanics and frequently settings derived An adventure game is a type of Video game characterized by investigation exploration puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters and a focus on Narrative

Before consoles were able to display true polygonal 3D graphics, the ¾ isometric perspective was used to move some popular 2D platformers into three dimensional gameplay. Spot Goes to Hollywood was a sequel to the popular Cool Spot, and Sonic 3D Blast was an attempt to do the same for the Sonic series. Spot Goes to Hollywood is an action video game released by Virgin Interactive for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis as the sequel Cool Spot was a Mascot for 7 Up in the first half of the 1990s Sonic 3D Blast Flickies' Island (titled Sonic 3D Flickies' Island in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and called

See also

• List of platform games

Notes and references

External links

• Platformer Update
• Platform games at MobyGames
• Online Platform Games
• Open Directory - Games: Video Games: Platform
• The evolution of gaming: computers, consoles, and arcade from Ars Technica

MobyGames is a Website devoted to cataloging computer and video games, both past and present Ars Technica (ˌɑrz ˈtɛknɨkə Latin for "Art of Technology" is a Technology -related Website that caters to PC enthusiasts covering technology

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