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[andymcc]

The 8-bit illusion series (Castle of Illusion, Land of Illusion, Legend of Illusion) is, not counting super boy, probably the closest the Sega Master System got to Mario. The games, especially castle and land of illusion, are some of the very finest 8-bit platformers on any system. Gameplay wise, they are much like a mix of mario 2 and mario 1. Mickey can pick up items and throw them, similar to how you can pick up veggies in mario 2, but you can also defeat enemies by jumping on them (and pressing jump again in the air to "butt-bounce.")

Terrific, terrific games:

I much prefer these games to the Genesis Illusion games.

I own the complete carts but I have actually just barely fooled around with them. I'll have to give them both a serious play.

 

[Krejlooc]

The bonk series was always kind of unfairly labeled a mario clone:

They're pretty good games, especially for their time. My two favorites in the series are the TG-16 version of Bonk's Revenge, and the Amiga version of Bonk's Adventure (Called BC Kid on the Amiga).

 

[andymcc]

The bonk series was always kind of unfairly labeled a mario clone:

They're pretty good games, especially for their time. My two favorites in the series are the TG-16 version of Bonk's Revenge, and the Amiga version of Bonk's Adventure (Called BC Kid on the Amiga).

The Famicom/NES Bonk game is pretty good too. Super Bonk 2 (Cho Genjin 2) for Japanese SFC is one of the finest Super NES platformers-- period. Prefer it to SMW and Yoshi's Island.

 

[Krejlooc]

I own the complete carts but I have actually just barely fooled around with them. I'll have to give them both a serious play.

There's actually a third, Legend of Illusion, but it's not as good and it's very rare and expensive.

I wouldn't hesitate to call this series one of the top 5 best platformers of the 8-bit era. I vastly prefer them to the genesis illusion series. My favorite is the 8-bit castle of illusion, but it seems the most popular game in the series is Land of Illusion, the sequel.

 

[Jamix012]

Why are Nintendo fans always trying to reduce games to "Nintendo IP"-clones or -likes and create some kind of monopoly on vaguely similar concepts? Genres exist, deal with it.

Mainly because these IPs either invented, popularised or revolutionised the genre. Stop being bitter and play some fun MetroidVanias. "Mario Clones" I can see as a bit problematic because there are so many platformers, but it's ok if you're asking for a certain type of platformer similar to the Mario games. There's no implication here that Mario is it's own genre, but the OP is just asking for platformers that resemble Mario... If you have a problem with that, I don't know what to say.

 

[Krejlooc]

The Famicom/NES Bonk game is pretty good too. Super Bonk 2 (Cho Genjin 2) for Japanese SFC is one of the finest Super NES platformers-- period. Prefer it to SMW and Yoshi's Island.

I have them all, including stuff like Bonk's Return on an old Nokia N71 and the PS2 remake. I'm a pretty big bonk fan, actually. The NES port is a great conversion.

Didn't really like the SNES games, though. They felt like a continuation of where Bonk 3 took the series, with a focus on largely useless powerups.

 

[Randam]

There is alex kidd in the enchanted castle on the genesis, but its inferior to miracle world.

Honestly you'll find more sonic clones in the 90s than mario clones.

wow, really?

 

[Krejlooc]

wow, really?

Definitely, Sonic was one of the most copied games in the 90's. I think people have forgotten how big Sonic was in the day. Everything, from 1991 to about 1995, tried to ape Sonic. There are so many sonic clones out there.

Bubsy, Zool, Kid Chaos, Aero the Acrobat, Rocket Knight Adventure, Quik the Thunder Rabbit, Jazz Jackrabbit, Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Mr. Nutz, Radical Rex, Awesome Possum, etc.

 

[osoul]

Bump.

Although Giana Sisters DS is a big favourite of mine, I've found an even better clone recently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Urc23nBuE

New Super Marisa Land

It has everything I want to see in a Mario-type platformer. And it's a free PC game. The music is ridiculously great, so is the graphics, and the leveldesign is topnotch too, even if it's difficult to get all the red stars in the game and

Spoiler

beat the almost Kaizo type secret levels which made Poochy Ain't Stupid an easy ride

. Many new ideas are here that makes the game fresh, despite the majority of contents are clear Mario references.

The whole IP looks interesting as the Touhou project has lots more games to offer. MegaMari seems to me a decent Mega Man clone, and the first Super Marisa Land is also on my hotlist to play even if it looks a little lesser than the New one.

 

[Chû Totoro]

... edit... I'm late didn't see the reason of the bump. Sorry (useless post)

 

[Lord British]

The 8-bit illusion series (Castle of Illusion, Land of Illusion, Legend of Illusion) is, not counting super boy, probably the closest the Sega Master System got to Mario. The games, especially castle and land of illusion, are some of the very finest 8-bit platformers on any system. Gameplay wise, they are much like a mix of mario 2 and mario 1. Mickey can pick up items and throw them, similar to how you can pick up veggies in mario 2, but you can also defeat enemies by jumping on them (and pressing jump again in the air to "butt-bounce.")

Terrific, terrific games:

I much prefer these games to the Genesis Illusion games.

Would you like to be best friends?

 

[KarasuEXE]

I much prefer these games to the Genesis Illusion games.

This guy knows what's up.

 

[vagabondarts]

The 8-bit illusion series (Castle of Illusion, Land of Illusion, Legend of Illusion) is, not counting super boy, probably the closest the Sega Master System got to Mario. The games, especially castle and land of illusion, are some of the very finest 8-bit platformers on any system. Gameplay wise, they are much like a mix of mario 2 and mario 1. Mickey can pick up items and throw them, similar to how you can pick up veggies in mario 2, but you can also defeat enemies by jumping on them (and pressing jump again in the air to "butt-bounce.")

Terrific, terrific games:

I much prefer these games to the Genesis Illusion games.

Completely agree.

 

[Spladam]

Why are Nintendo fans always trying to reduce games to "Nintendo IP"-clones or -likes and create some kind of monopoly on vaguely similar concepts? Genres exist, deal with it.

Time to learn the difference between a platformer and a Mario clone dude.

 

[neto]

How about some super dario jump!!

 

[kinn]

The bonk series was always kind of unfairly labeled a mario clone:

They're pretty good games, especially for their time. My two favorites in the series are the TG-16 version of Bonk's Revenge, and the Amiga version of Bonk's Adventure (Called BC Kid on the Amiga).

I loved PC Kid 1 and 2.

 

[Hsieh]

We stopped using the term Mario clones years ago, the proper genre term is "Platformers". Every new genre starts out being referred to as clones before getting a proper genre name.

Street Fighter clones became Fighting Games
Doom clones became First Person Shooters
DotA clones became MOBAs

 

[Red Devil]

Wait, do you want us to list like almost every mascot platformer from the mid 80s to the mid 90s plus all the Mario 64-likes?

Many were actually Sonic clones, and there were some inbetween both.

 

[PSqueak]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Urc23nBuE

Oh look! Uses the Super Ball from SML instead of the fireballs!

 

[SaintMadeOfPlaster]

It's like Mario Kart. Nintendo has perfected the formula. There's no point trying to compete.

 

[jhmtehgamr20xx]

Almost every game after SMB1.

Thread. Done.

Spoiler

J/k, obviously.

It's like Mario Kart. Nintendo has perfected the formula. There's no point trying to compete.

Except All-Stars Transformed bested them. Arguably still the best cart racer out there now.

CTR and DK Racing also beat out some of the other MK's, especially the Wii version.

 

[osoul]

Oh look! Uses the Super Ball from SML instead of the fireballs!

And what's the problem with it? The game uses some Mario items from various games, like the frog suit (suwako suit) from SMB3 and the rabbit ears (Reisen suit) from SML2. It has its own powerups that unique to this game, one of them is the mega mushroom which originates in the first Marisa Land and NSMB stole it two years later for their own good.

 

[Roto13]

In the 90s, magazines would call every platformer a Mario clone. And every beat-em-up a Final Fight clone.

 

[FinalxxSin]

Isn't that Flappy Bird game that is no longer up a Mario clone?

 

[Dark_castle]

Isn't that Flappy Bird game that is no longer up a Mario clone?

Flappy Bird used certain assets of SMB, but the gameplay is completely different.

 

[royox]

How about Sega's original Mario Clone?

This is actually a really good mario clone. Really fun if you dig the 8-bit mario games. The sequels to this progressively get worse, however, except for the last game in the series, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, which is a shinobi clone, not a mario clone.

How's Alex Kidd a Mario clone?

Now every 2D platformer game is a mario clone?

 

[Castef]

Even before seeing the Zelda clones thread I was thinking about Mario clones today.
And I couldn't think of any.
I'm talking about jump n' runs with power ups.
Are there any?
I don't even know if Gianna sisters has power ups.

The Great Giana Sisters is a straight-up clone, filled with power-ups.

Then, back from the 8 Bit/16 Bit era you have:

- Hard'n Heavy (C64/Amiga)

- Apprentice (Amiga - wonderful game)

- Terry's Big Adventure (C64/Amiga)

 

[Neff]

There are many, many clones, but very few good ones.

The only game to come close to building on what made SMB unique is the first Sonic the Hedgehog imo.

How's Alex Kidd a Mario clone?

Alex Kidd (and Wonder Boy before it) was unquestionably a deliberate effort on Sega's part to create their own Mario.

 

[Powdered Toastman]

Charlie the Duck was quite a nice 'Mario clone'. Super Angelo by the same maker is an even bigger rip-off though

 

[DedValve]

Even before seeing the Zelda clones thread I was thinking about Mario clones today.
And I couldn't think of any.
I'm talking about jump n' runs with power ups.
Are there any?
I don't even know if Gianna sisters has power ups.

Billions.

Then again, Mario practically invented the genre so pretty much any game that is just a simple 2d platformer with powerups and no gimmicks can be considered a clone even if they didn't set out to be and that is a fucking lot.

 

[osoul]

Giana Sisters has 7 powerups:
Ball (exactly works as Mario Mushrooms)
Lightning (works as the Fireflower)
Double Lightning (fireball bouncing, not that useful)
Strawberry (extremely useful homing missile, something a Mario game could have)
Clock (freeze enemies for seconds, activated by Spacebar... useful in some hacks, where more challenge come from enemy placement)
Bomb (a quite useless powerup, press Space to kill all on-screen killable enemies)
Waterdrop (very useful powerup, you can go through fires until you get the next PU)
Lollipop (Giana's 1-UP Mushroom)

Speaking of hacks, Giana Sisters has some worthy sequels with the use of Giana Sisters Construction Kit, although no levelpacker included there. My favourite might be Furry Knibble Girls, but Franky's Horror Trip 1 and 2 are good too.

Also Hard N Heavy is considered the real sequel because many team members were included in the making of it, and the original title was planned as Giana Sisters II, until the lawsuit from the big N stroke.

 

[osoul]

Charlie the Duck was quite a nice 'Mario clone'. Super Angelo by the same maker is an even bigger rip-off though

Mike Wiering, the author of these games was the author of the "famous" 6 level Mario game spreaded through the PC (some versions even have 4 levels only).

I actually like this one a bit, it certainly has some fine leveldesign, and the graphics are nice as well.

 

[Placiibo]

Yay for absurd generalizations

Not that absurd. I have seen people call Rayman, Crash Bandicoot, even LBP 'Mario clones'. There are definitely some people who think in terms of full genres being Nintendo IP clones.

Interestingly there were rudimentary platform games before Mario and DK. Mario invented the side scrolling level IIRC.

 

[osoul]

Mario invented the side scrolling level IIRC.

Not really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BiMYjVvhxE

 

[spookyfish]

Not really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BiMYjVvhxE

LOVED B.C.'s Quest for Tires on my CoLeCoVision. Timing the jumps = impossible.

 

[Belgian Dude]

Charlie the Duck was quite a nice 'Mario clone'. Super Angelo by the same maker is an even bigger rip-off though

I can't remember how I had it (I think it was one of those CDs with 100 different games) but Charlie the Duck was my introduction to 2D Platformers. I loved it so much.
Also Super Angelo!

 

[SparksterMeta0]

There is a fun (may vary) little Mario clone called Super Bunny Land I played on my iPad a couple years back.
https://youtu.be/nGkHc6tGtvk

 

[KoopaPoopa]

http://www.digitiser2000.com/main-page/10-blatant-mario-rip-offs

I'm so happy that Digitiser is back:

"Sega's first attempt at a Mario-style corporate mascot was the wholly unappealing Alex Kidd, a big-eared, dungaree-wearing, fist-happy, pillock who enjoyed punching bricks. Basically, he's the village idiot. Just look at him, for pity's sake. Look at his stupid head."

 

[protomouse]

Yep.

Wow. Crazy.

 

[Lionel Richie]

Fucking Cat Mario...

 

[Lebon14]

New Super Marisa Land

It has everything I want to see in a Mario-type platformer. And it's a free PC game. The music is ridiculously great, so is the graphics, and the leveldesign is topnotch too, even if it's difficult to get all the red stars in the game and

Spoiler

beat the almost Kaizo type secret levels which made Poochy Ain't Stupid an easy ride

. Many new ideas are here that makes the game fresh, despite the majority of contents are clear Mario references.

The whole IP looks interesting as the Touhou project has lots more games to offer. MegaMari seems to me a decent Mega Man clone, and the first Super Marisa Land is also on my hotlist to play even if it looks a little lesser than the New one.

Welcome to the Touhou Project fandom where Japanese have fun retaking classic games and remake them in the Touhou universe. Mario is no exception.

Touhou Kart (Mario Kart)
Toumon (Pokemon)
Touhouvania (Castlevania)
Touhou Mother (Mother / Earthbound)
MegaMari (Megaman / Rockman - which you mentionned)
I bet there's a fan game based on Resident Evil / Biohazard
...

Obviously, those aren't the actually game name (except for Touhou Mother) but you get the gist of it.

 

[Krejlooc]

Mario invented the side scrolling level IIRC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFR7obWZ3uM

 

[Blues1990]

Does 'Default Dan' count?

 

[Cipherr]

Unless my memory fails, didn't the official trailer for it have super smash bros as the tag on youtube?

Yes it did. The guy that barged into the thread with the "Nintendo fans" bs used an awful game as an example. They never tried to hide that PSABR was heavily inspired by Smash.

That's pretty damning to those folks in denial.

It always amuses me how folks go out of their way to deny what clearly clones.

Oh it was, I remember the GAF thread. lol.

 

[osoul]

Welcome to the Touhou Project fandom where Japanese have fun retaking classic games and remake them in the Touhou universe. Mario is no exception.

Touhou Kart (Mario Kart)
Toumon (Pokemon)
Touhouvania (Castlevania)
Touhou Mother (Mother / Earthbound)
MegaMari (Megaman / Rockman - which you mentionned)
I bet there's a fan game based on Resident Evil / Biohazard
...

Obviously, those aren't the actually game name (except for Touhou Mother) but you get the gist of it.

I've seen some videos recently about these games, and I have to say they are rather high in quality considering graphics, music and gameplay. If it's not the fear of a possible Nintendo lawsuit, some of them could be or could have been commercial games with more exposure. I'm baffled how poor is the internet documentary of NSML with no written walkthroughs, secrets, easter eggs etc., despite a cornucopia of them in the game.

 

[osoul]

Heavy bump of an 8 year old thread.

Recently discovered that the last installment of a pretty obscure (but very interesting) SMB clone is actually released COMMERCIALLY on the Steam. This really hasn't happened since Giana Sisters in 1987 (Giana DS was a Nintendo game, so that one doesn't qualify).

It doesn't match the outstanding quality of New Super Marisa Land (which almost has the depth of SMB3/SMW probably and is freeware), but worth a look at least.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Mario clones started a long time ago.

 

[Chronicle]

Sonic

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

I don't consider Sly Cooper a Mario Clone but I love those games