Platform

Here we have all the games in the Platform Section.
Super Famicom
Platform
Sound representation of the cat and mouse game to the point you’ll hear the immortal scream of Thomas. Players can cooperate as fish and footballs are bagged, the latter used as projectiles. The parallax scrolling is very impressive and the bright colours have that friendly, all American feel. The Japanese release is on the medium rare list, that’s for sure.
Playstation
Platform
Second outing on the PSX and Tomba is in fine fettle on his quest to recue his friend from the marauding pigs. Tomba is armed to the teeth with a plethora of fun weaponry. Selectable views add much to the playability of this very enjoyable platformer. Known as Tombi in Europe for some reason.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Robots in disguise must be avoided, but otherwise Optimus Prime romps through the platform levels blasting all and sundry. Nice nostalgia in many of the baddies including a T Rex look alike. Genki was always a big fan of the ones which could transform into cassette tapes, Decepticons or not. Subtitled Convoy no Nazo in Japanese or Mystery of Convoy.
PS4
Platform
Unlike most platformers super hero style jumps aren’t possible – instead a trusty fishing rod is used to latch onto platforms and guide our schoolgirl heroine around. But here she must tackle other adversaries in a sort of Power Stone meets Smash Bros battle melee.
Famicom Cart
Platform
One of the finest manga’s of its era has its bizarre moments as the heroine Lum gets to grips with Japans culture. And bizarre moments lift this platform shooting romp up above the competition as Lum transforms into a tiger when she grabs the power-up.
PC Engine CD ROM
Platform
Stunning anime cut scenes mixed up with frantic platform action. A must for game headed anime fans.
PC Engine CD ROM
Platform
Amazing anime cut scenes with a femme fatale cast mixed up with furious platform action.
PC Engine HU Card
Platform
Mightily impressive, mega mechs with multiple scrolling backgrounds delivering a titanium title for any Hu Card collection. The players robot can take to the skies along with being fitted with a weapon on each arm and a macerating machine gun mounted on the bulk. These stats can also be souped up through successfully progressing and where to improve becomes a critical issue with some mean, marauding bosses in wait.
Famicom Cart
Platform
The striking colour scheme gives Wagan Land its distinctive look, but it works well with pad in hand in practise to keep the levels clear. A very enjoyable platform romp with the developer showing a firm grasp of the Famicom’s architecture.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Brash colour scheme with chirpy gameplay to match the chipper colours. Perfectly suited to the hardware and Namcot really squeeze plenty out of the architecture both aurally and visually.
Mega Drive
Platform
Solid platform title set in a spooky forest where the lead man shoots fire from his fingers to scythe through to a cinder the evil ghouls and demons lying in wait. Strangely compelling in spite of the coin op based, money grabbing difficulty requiring pixel-perfect jumps.
Nintendo DS
Platform
Wario enjoys his spell in the spotlight as he steams around the platforms head butting blocks and finding out about Marios beloved pipes. Complete with those touches that make a game a Nintendo title such as snow falling on Marios head and turning him into a snowball to roll down the slope. Or getting caught in a bubble until Wario gets pulled up to the surface. Brings back the fun to gaming and a spring in your fingertips.
GameBoy Advance
Platform
Very tidy little romp with the usual higher level of experimentation as is often found in the Wario titles, opposed to the Mario variants. Great fun with plenty of unexpected twists and a high replay value with hidden areas to explore. Nintendo didn’t risk its more infamous license with its initial GBA release in the platforming series, but the Kyoto companys cards came up trumps anyway. Known in the West as Wario Land 4.
Wii
Platform
Extraordinary Wii platformer with Wario being the perfect host. As ever he seems to have been used as a character where the Big N can experiment a bit more on the gameplay and the Shake of the title is used to wiggle Wario into action: be it shaking out coins or performing some on screen gynastics to get through a tight spot. Beautiful settings and backgrounds, but with such a high level of interaction its hard to know what cant be grabbed hold of on screen. Some superb side levels, particularly in the submarine. Say no more other than platforming at its finest, whatever the dimension.
PC Engine HU Card
Platform
Platform action in both village and mountainous regions where you can interact Goemon style with the shopkeepers. Zany mix of robot transformation and the Japanese countryside. Inexplicably known as Keith Courage in the West.
Nintendo 64
Platform
Follow up to the Super Famicom cracker. Puppet, or that should read robot, maker Dr Gepetto has just died in the sad intro, but not before telling the robot he created called Josette to master the skills he was built with in this RPG-esque adventure. Well actually its more down to the San to teach him right from wrong and not spare the rod. Josette is beautifully animated and his journey of discovery is a joy to watch unfold with heart wrenching expression. A special achievement considering this was such an early release for the N64.
Mega Drive
Platform
Forced scrolling platform action demands quick thinking at all times. Very cute, colourful and cartoony sprites and backgrounds add to the charm of this platform romp and the shooting sections provide a fun distraction.
Mega Drive
Platform
With colourful, cute and cuddly graphics Wonder Boy looks a real treat and plays like one too with light action RPG moments as you collect crucial items, top up at the local store and add to your heart count. Just watch out for grumpy mushrooms, friendly faries and bug eyed rabbits. Also Known as WonderBoy in Monster World.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Enjoyable platformer with the look of Mother 2 to the character and a nice gamepaly twist in being able to walk into the screen to visit shops and the like. An umbrella works a treat for extending jumps, for example.
Super Famicom
Platform
The Super Famicom has more platformers than commuters on the Yamanote Line first thing but this true classic platformer stands head and shoulders above the rest like an NBA player on the same train. Xandra is on a mission through the mystical land of Valkyrie to get medicine for his sick son. The main character looks like a green jelly baby but some of the gameplay is so ingenious and fresh, even after so many platform releases on the SFC. Tragically overlooked in the West. Xandra carries a tiger fork with which to attack enemies, but remains vulnerable if it gets stuck in the ground causing frantic panic to unwedge it. The star level is particularly remarkable as the platforms appear and disappear from view in a Tanabata inspired journey through the stars. This is the pure essence of gameplay that endeared fans to the format and many still wander the gaming scene in search of a return to such heady days. Bravo Namcot.
Super Famicom
Platform
Yoshi’s Island was a late Super Famicom release around the debut of the Playstation in Japan, yet its timing seemed to ask what all this 32Bit fuss was about. The crayon-like, colourful gaming world is charming with delightful, forgiving gameplay that relies on ability without any cheap shots from unseen enemies or blind leaps of faith. Yoshi’s flexibility came to the fore with eggs being launched using the intuitive targeting system to reveal secret areas – all very well providing Baby Mario didn’t stray for too long. A superb way to bow out for the SFC; a veritable ace up the sleeve from the former Kyoto playing card maker.
Nintendo DS
Platform
Sequel to the seminal Super Famicom platformer with child like cartoony crayon squiggles and cheery colours making for a bright and breezy platformer. The key as before is to not lose Yoshis passenger for too long so the punishment of instant death is lessened encouraging exploration for the hidden coins and areas. The attributes of Yoshis passenger also come into play with Peach able to slow down falls Mary Poppins style with her brolly and Mario can rebound eggs off walls for tactical shots at seemingly unreachable targets. The double screen DS is put to good use – sometimes only the bottom screen can be used to see the enemy masked up top as in the clever clash with the ghost in the mirror.
Nintendo DS
Platform
Sequel to the seminal Super Famicom platformer with child like cartoony crayon squiggles and cheery colours making for a bright and breezy platformer. The key as before is to not lose Yoshis passenger for too long so the punishment of instant death is lessened encouraging exploration for the hidden coins and areas. The attributes of Yoshis passenger also come into play with Peach able to slow down falls Mary Poppins style with her brolly and Mario can rebound eggs off walls for tactical shots at seemingly unreachable targets. The double screen DS is put to good use – sometimes only the bottom screen can be used to see the enemy masked up top as in the clever clash with the ghost in the mirror.
GameBoy Advance
Platform
Platform romp with distinct Japanese humour and cultural references aplenty, including a cheeky boss run in reminiscent of Ghouls and Ghosts. If the cliché can be forgiven, a hidden gem, or possibly more a hidden whoopee cushion.
Famicom Cart
Platform
A platform adventure with light RPG elements including a few real time stats at the base of the screen. Nothing too elaborate, but as such it ticks all its boxes and jumps through more hoops than Genki after a flask of green tea.

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