Platform
Here we have all the games in the Platform Section.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Cracking platform action in the old skool style of the Spectrum titles such as Jet Set Willy or Manic Miner (or early Western platformers, if those references are too UK-centric.) Full of innovation and plenty of on screen room to manoeuvre.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Lovely, old school platformer which has some very vibrant colours and scaling making for plenty of on screen action. The gaming is varied too with much thought and planning appearing to have gone into level design. Well recommended.
PS2
Platform
Based on the atmospheric anime from Akira creator Otomo san and set in an alternative Victorian England, Steam Boy must harness the power of the Steamball. But this only follows the latter half of the anime: an original off-shoot in the plot awaits. Fan service at its finest, this captures the feel of all those weird and wonderful steam powered contraptions along with the period setting very well.
Mega Drive
Platform
Excellent conversion by Sega of the fast action coin op legend without any cutbacks as with the Western versions, nor the scary box art. Flip from surface to air dicing opponents as you go. Captures the essence of the arcade perfectly.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Genki has a penchant for ninjas and has no issues with kunoichi (or female ninjas) either. So its great to lap up the quick paced action in this fine example of a femme fatale action platformer. Full of Eastern mysticism and great gameplay to boot.
Super Famicom
Platform
Rare developed the Donkey Kong series with revolutionary, rendered, solid visuals squeezing high level performance out of the SFC and sleek play mechanics. Team work is essential to succeed with each monkey having their own special ability: Dixie can hover in the air thanks to her rotating pony tail, Diddy can roll through enemies to get out of a tight fix. Plenty of ropes, switches and barrels make the player develop primordial levels of inquisitiveness with the backgrounds toying with anything that looks remotely interactive. Its easy to see where the series continued to go from strength to strength without any slip ups.
Super Famicom
Platform
Rare developed Donkey Kong with revolutionary, rendered, solid visuals squeezing high level performance out of the SFC and sleek play mechanics. Team work is again essential to succeed with each monkey having their own special ability: Dixie can hover in the air thanks to her rotating pony tail, Diddy can roll through enemies to get out of a tight fix. Plenty of ropes, switches and barrels make the player develop primordial levels of inquisitiveness with the backgrounds toying with anything that looks remotely interactive. And there are many bonus levels to complement the forced scrolling mine cart rides and toboggan runs to give good variety. There is also imaginative diversity in the end of level bosses making this a fine Caribbean feeling platformer.
Nintendo 64
Platform
Miyamoto san’s masterpiece was well worth the wait creating the dream world where anything seems possible he often refers to in interviews. Genki loves to challenge that penguin to one more bob sled ride down the mountain and to splash around in the gloriously realised sea. Will bring a smile to the face of the most grizzled of gaming veterans.
Nintendo 64
Platform
Miyamoto san’s masterpiece was well worth the wait creating the dream world where anything seems possible he often refers to in interviews. Genki loves to challenge that penguin to one more bob sled ride down the mountain and to splash around in the gloriously realised sea. Will bring a smile to the face of the most grizzled of gaming veterans. With added rumble feature to enhance the overall experience, if that is possible.
GameBoy Advance
Platform
A conversion of Super Mario Bros. 3 and classic platforming gameplay it is as players get misty eyed dispatch a turtle shell into a Koopa or two. Looking tip top and Bristol fashion on the GBA, it’s a pleasure to go back and savour some good, clean gameplay exploring pipes and the vast potential of completing collecting all coins.
Famicom Cart
Platform
The pinnacle of platform entertainment with a sublime blend of power ups and powerful adversaries. Yet the real dazzling gem in this treasure chest is the sheer limitless imagination that Miyamoto san and his crew have poured in, the child-like wonderment that can be copied, but never surpassed.
Super Famicom
Platform
Not a rare game, yet being regarded as a National Treasure in Japan ensures it holds its value up high. So beloved coming with the four Famicom outings of our plump plumber. (The forth outing was known as Super Mario Brothers USA in Japan.) The presentation is impeccable and the bonus Battle Game from Mario 3 is the icing on a substantial, yet very more-ish cake.
Wii
Platform
A most timely return to form from the dungareed dude – plump plumber platform gaming hasnt been this much fun since Mario 64. Oozing absolute triple A Nintendo class from the very outset, Galaxy bedazzles like a shooting star with graphical wonders and a real orchestral score. The freedom from the laws of physics has really seen Miyamoto san et al let loose and every star required is a pleasurable adventure along with a lesson in games design. The controller fits snugly, even the simultaneous 2P mode is a barrel of laughs. First class honours.
Gamecube
Platform
To tire of Mario is to lack a zest of life itself, such is the childlike twinkle in Miyamoto sans eye that shines through like the dazzling lens flair in ample evidence. Certainly exudes sunshine and a wondrous gaming world to explore.
Super Famicom
Platform
Miyamoto san’s finest moment? Certainly packed full of the creative genius of a man who can recall the innocence and fun of childhood. Vast diversity from the spooky Ghost House levels and their translucent ghouls to bouncing off fugu fish over sea levels to skimming under a platform ledge with cape fully extended to swoop in on that hidden coin. Perfectly suited to the 2D medium and so much to explore to obtain a perfect score. Set a bench mark never realised again and that was on the machine’s release. The finest 2D Mario title amongst some pretty strong competition.
Super Famicom
Platform
Miyamoto san’s finest moment? Certainly packed full of the creative genius of a man who can recall the innocence and fun of childhood. Vast diversity from the spooky Ghost House levels and their translucent ghouls to bouncing off fugu fish over sea levels to skimming under a platform ledge with cape fully extended to swoop in on that hidden coin. Perfectly suited to the 2D medium and so much to explore to obtain a perfect score. Set a bench mark never realised again and that was on the machine’s release. The finest 2D Mario title amongst some pretty strong competition.
Super Famicom
Platform
Imaginative bosses and use of the console’s splendid palette make Super PC Kid a very colourful game. Transformation are in there as in the seminal PC Engine versions: this time PC Kid can change into an ostrich, a crab or a dragon. Putting the fun and blue skies back in gaming. Also known as Super Bonk.
Super Famicom
Platform
Also known as Genjin, this wee man has to rate as one of the coolest and talented game characters around. Spin, head slide, bite, climb trees and waterfalls, perform rhythmic gymnastics, turn into a bird, a drill, an angel, even a tank to help deal with some even more zany adversaries. Putting the fun back into gaming.
Super Famicom
Platform
Also known as Genjin, this wee man has to rate as one of the coolest and talented game characters around. Spin, head slide, bite, climb trees and waterfalls, perform rhythmic gymnastics, turn into a bird, a drill, an angel, even a tank to help deal with some even more zany adversaries. Putting the fun back into gaming.
Super Famicom
Platform
With an unlikely looking hero in the shape of a small crocodile and dinosaur look a like, players fire the katakana sound ‘Gya’ out of their mouths to stop crabs and octopuses attacking. Plenty of Japanese zaniness in the appearance of lucky cats and a quick bonus game of bingo.
Super Famicom
Platform
With an unlikely looking hero in the shape of a small crocodile and dinosaur look a like, players fire the katakana sound ‘Gya’ out of their mouths to stop crabs and octopuses attacking. Plenty of Japanese zaniness in the appearance of lucky cats and a quick bonus game of bingo.
Super Famicom
Platform
Fun and colourful platforming escapades. Genki particular holds a flame to the level which zooms out making the platforms look smaller so the speed players can zip through. Plenty of challenges from some unusual ghosts and animals including random game of snap help the series humour shine through.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Takahashi is the star of the Adventure Island series and fans of that and Wonderboy will be right at home. The fairy character tosses projectiles out to help clear a parth through the colourful levels from an innocent age of gameplay. Plenty of opportunities to savour the Break Out style bonus levels. Proper title: Takahashi Meijin no Bug tte Honey.
PC Engine HU Card
Platform
Set in a Japanese flavoured hell like world, Tarosuke must try and find his way past spooky, limbless ghouls and angry devils to meet King Enma with nothing more for sustenance than hell rice bowls and steamed buns.
PC Engine HU Card
Platform
Set in a Japanese flavoured hell like world, Tarosuke must try and find his way past spooky, limbless ghouls and angry devils to meet King Enma with nothing more for sustenance than hell rice bowls and steamed buns.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Set in a Japanese flavoured hell like world, Tarosuke must try and find his way past spooky, limbless ghouls and angry devils to meet King Enma with nothing more for sustenance than hell rice bowls and steamed buns.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Classic Capcom gampelay with its traditional coin op slickness. Players use a sword to block aerial attacks from kite floating bombers and less subtly dispatched numbers from building block windows. Platform lifts, great pacing an even an armadillo armoured boss who rolls up to avoid attacks – its all in there. Known as Trojan in the West.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Turtles on platform this time avoiding blokes with chain saws – usually a good policy in Genki’s humble experience. Makes good use of the turtles nature and taking to underwater sections. April’s always on hand to offer support.
Famicom Cart
Platform
A fitting tribute to a fine story due to the amount of unregulated fun and adventure in the game. The rafting sections are superb: firing at flying frogs, avoiding whirlpools and grabbing power ups. The platform sections can look a little rudimentary at times, but gameplay innovations such as being able to take to the skies with feet wrapped in fluffy cloud; turning the action into a side on shooter. Genki just fears the appearance of Injun Joe.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Genki Gurus will be more than aware of our unhealthy penchant for ninjas. Still at least it doesn’t result in donning ninja suit and heading for the local park to test our skills. Yet few would be able to turn down Kage’s charms as or hero runs through the snow laden forests taking down opponents as you may clearing a path through the bamboo. Indoor levels show off some beautiful screens and more varied adversaries donning big bowled hats of a pilgrim. Yet rescuing the kimono clad princess makes it all worth while.