Nov 11
Where have all the platformers gone?
Over the past few months, I began to notice something. No, not that Marky Mark deserves to be nowhere near anything named Max Payne. Instead, I have noticed a sharp decline in the amount of platforming games released for many next-generation consoles, most notably for the Xbox 360. While the Playstation 3 has great platformers like Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction, and Wii owners will be blessed this week by Super Mario Galaxy, the Xbox 360 has nothing of the sort. This is quite surprising because, with such solid platforming games like Psychonauts and Blinx: The Time Sweeper for the Xbox, one can only ask, “Where have all the platformers gone?”
Honestly, where? With the release of the Xbox 360 on November 22, 2005 came an epic platformer, one that was in the works for over four years. This game is Kameo: Elements of Power. Say what you will about the game, but it encompassed all of the key elements of a platforming game, including navigating through dozens of beautifully-crafted levels, defeating tough and engaging enemies the whole way through. The ability to morph into different creatures with different powers, each helping Kameo progress further into levels, was very unique. Despite being pushed back almost indefinitely while originally slated for the Gamecube, Kameo was well-received by nearly all of the major game reviewers. Personally, I was able to enjoy the game almost the whole way through, that is until the Gears of War was released.
After Kameo, not a single solid platformer has been released for the Xbox 360, up until a couple of weeks ago. During this long drought, the best platforming games that were released were the movie-to-video-game, Spider-Man 3, and the all-around horrid, bestiality-approving, Sonic the Hedgehog. Because these games were absolute garbage, I will not delve any further into them either than recommending that the reader beware of these titles at all cost. Really, they’ll give you AIDeS.
However, on October 30th of this year, The Simpsons Game was released for the Xbox 360. Unfortunately, due to other activities in my life, I have not yet had the chance to play this game, although I have been following it since it was announced and, therefore, know a significant amount about the game. From what I have seen, and heard from those who have played The Simpsons, the game is average at best. The platforming elements are, in short, poorly handled; controlling each character and successfully getting him from point A to point B is more of a chore than anything else. The only thing that redeemed the game, in the eyes of fans of the television show, was the excellent story, as well as the snippets of humor found throughout the game. As of now, the game is widely thought to be a marginal success, successful only because it had an already existing, loyal audience.
Is this the best that game developers can do? Is taking an existing successful franchise, throwing playful and witty quips into a slightly random story, and sloppily constructing a platforming engine that barely works all that game devs can do? At this point in time, after nearly mastering the platformer on previous consoles, the point at which Xbox 360 platformers are is disappointing. For fans of the genre who are not lucky enough to own a Wii, Playstation 3 or DS, this lack of platformers can be quite disconcerting. In all honesty, I am sick to death of the first person shooter genre, one that many game developers seem to be focusing on to combat recently released games such as Halo 3, Half Life 2: The Orange Box, and most recently Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Hopefully, this recent flux in first person shooters will eventually bring a surge in platforming games.
In September of 2006 at Microsoft’s X06 conference, a sequel to the Nintendo 64 classic, Banjo-Tooie, was announced to be in the works exclusively for the Xbox 360. Although there has not been any subsequent news on the game in over a year, the game is still hopefully in the works, holding fast for a release sometime next year. Unfortunately, this is the only platforming game, to my knowledge, that is slated to be released in the near future. However, at least it is a step in the right direction; Banjo-Kazooie for the Xbox 360 will undoubtedly be an excellent game, as Rare is working on the sequel, and, with a little luck, it should inspire other game developers to take the forgotten path and produce more platforming games.
But, for now, I’ll have to stick with The Simpsons Game, and try to pull as much enjoyment from it that a semi-loyal fan possibly can.
Categories: Editorial, Gaming Industry, Microsoft, Original Xbox, Upcoming Games, Xbox 36019 Comments so far
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Crash of the Titans was a low profile release. The demo was standard platform action. Nothing special.
Yeah, that didn’t even register on my radar or else I would’ve covered it. And Crash games used to be so good on the PSOne.
When VU got it, it was all over. Same for Spyro.
Well, at least what we have to look forward to is likely going to be a stellar platformer. The Banjo Kazooie games are well made, and Rare hopefully still has it in them.
I’m glad someone’s finally said something like this - I’ve been moaning endlessly to friends/colleagues about the 360’s state with regards to platformers, and the worrying implications for the future.
If you look back a generation, the success of the PS2 was in my opinion down to its variety in games: whilst I enjoyed GTA, and ProEvo, my wife would happily waste hours (and i mean hours!) playing platformers - Rayman, Jak, Ratchet&Clank etc - and they were all top games. She’d start playing them, and I’d get hooked in too! It meant the console had an appeal to everyone (throw in singstar, buzz, etc and you’re sold!). Now the original Xbox had the perceived impression of being action-based, loads of shooters, but not much variety.
I worry for the future of the 360 if it doesn’t address the lack of platformers; they’re a console staple for years, and it just adds to the impression of being a very male-oriented console. Platformers don’t have to be colourful, cute, child-friendly titles, look at the new Ratchet on the PS3 (ok, so its slightly biased by the fact its one of the few worthwhile games going on the PS3 right now, but that’s a different story); good platformers can appeal to all, and because of their inherent 3rd-person nature, it means the main character is in yer face, front-and-centre : a marketers dream! (I mean, look at Jak on the PS2, Mario, Sonic, etc etc many of the biggest gaming ‘icons’ are from platformers…where’s yours coming from Mr 360? Yes, yes, I know there’s Master Chief, but we’re talking kiddie-friendly here too!)
Personally I’m on the cusp of buying a 360 (we have one at work, I think its got the best games for me out there, and on the horizon too), but the lack of platformers and related titles makes me nervous; the new Ratchet on the PS3 and Little-Big-Planet on the horizon are starting to turn my head (only a little) in the direction of a console that’s been a laughing stock in my mind…surely if I’m thinking this, others will too, and thus Sony could sneak back into the game if MS aren’t careful.
[rant mode=off ;)]
I NEVER liked the Xbox for 3 reasons:
1.) No platform love.
2.) Felt like all shooters and racers.
3.) I’m not a fan of Halo.
Mostly 1 and 2. I’m sure if I owned an Xbox, I would love Halo.
I owned a PS2, and it gave me everything I wanted, in terms of games. I loved playing the Jak series, and I could always switch it to an FPS like XIII later, or a horror game like Silent Hill or Resident Evil. Xbox didn’t have much variety. Platformers are my favorite games, and for MS to ignore that entire genre, well, it didn’t win me over.
While I agree, the 360 definitely needs more T/E rated platform/adventure games, do they have to be classic platformers? Can’t you count crackdown? What about overlord? While not “cute” they’re still lighthearted(ish) and fun. does Marvel Ultimate alliance not count?
Still, it’d be nice to see a Next Gen Conker, or Abe’s oddyssey.
I guess by my standards, I would clump Crackdown in the action/third person shooter category and Overlord in the strategy/platformer category.
Also, Marvel Ultimate Alliance was more of a beat em up than anything.
I really want to see something a bit more traditional, like Banjo Kazooie, or hell even Conker like you said.
I think you forgot that Mass Effect is a platformer for the Xbox 360 and it is supposed to be an amazing game. so there you go. also ninja gaiden 2 is a platformer for the 360. umm i dont know any others off of the top of my head but there are a lot of them that will be released in ‘08!!!!
sorry guys i fucked that whole post up disregard it. i didnt read the whole article i thought it said exclusives. AHH
Agreed on all counts. However, I raise my hand as being one who did NOT like Ratchet/Clank.
A Psychonauts sequel (or remake for those who didn’t get to play the original) would certainly fix this problem.
Mass Effect and Ninja Gaiden are both not platformers.
Wth? I have never heard of such a thing…Mass Effect, a platformer?
Seriously…
The fuck…
I have also never been a fan of the Ratchet games, but another Conker would be beast as hell.
Yeah, I could do with another Conker…I still have my XBox remake copy (which was more deficient than the N64 one if you ask me…easier and more censored), and loved it.
The old Ninja Gaiden’s were platformers (boy, were they), but the new ones are more beat ‘em ups than anything.
Im opening an old forum here i know, but id liek my say.
Funny isnt it, how you change the perspective of the game (ninja gaiden) from 2D to 3D and add a few new moves (well ok, a lot of new moves) because we now have a few more buttons to play with, and the whole genre of the game changes.
I agree about the platformers thing on the 360, or rather severe lack of. Can’t bill gates buy out Nintendo or something? LOL. Failing that they could always pull their fingers out and develop something decent themselves. If i was them, id have had RARE design a killer new one while i had them. Ahh, recalls the days of Donkey kong on the SNES…
Suffice to say it seems the only platformers microsoft is bothered about are those 2D Xbox live Arcade things they have. I like that theyre keeping the Retro feel alive but w need new stuff too! Come on MS pull yer finger out! lol….