With the release of Shadow Complex and the upcoming releases of Cave Story and La Mulana Wii, people will probably ask "Gee golly wilikers GAF, I like this frashizzle! What other games are there that are like these"? So here you go you nose picking, basement dwelling, sweaty bags of wasted nerd flesh! Here is a revamp of an older thread of mine that will try to emcompass the all amazing sub genre of Side Scrolling Adventures! Where as the old thread only had slashing adventure games, this one will focus on the shooters and offbeat ones as well. While the task at making a list like this seems arduous, the amount of games in this subgenre is relatively small compared to other genres.
If you somehow drunkenly stumbled into this thread, unknowing of what the hell I'm talking about, I will describe Side Scrolling Adventures to you in simple, easy to understand bulletpoints:
-They're 2d
-They move on a horizontal plane (that means the character moves left and right)
-Emphases on exploration and usually has backtracking
-Character building which usually results in opening up new areas
So that's the gist of it. If you know of any games missing from the list let me know and I'll be sure to add it. I have also included some simple description key words to help you quickly CTRL+F the type of game you're looking for. Here's the description list:
RPG - Contains building of experience points
Metroid-style - Like Metroid where you collect items to build character and open new areas
Persian - Like Prince of Persia with a seemless world, tricky platforming, fluid animation, but lacks character building.
MMO - Massive Multiplayer Online game
TurnBased - You and the enemies take turns in attacks (Final Fantasy style)
Atmospheric - Game gives off a good, moody atmosphere
Slasher - Game's combat is dealt with mostly sharp or blunt objects
Shooter - Game has an emphasis on projectile combat
Fantasy - Fairies, gnomes, giant mushrooms, and shit
Sci-fi - Bald space marines, lasers, robot, and shit
TopDown - Has bird's eye view gameplay segments
Platforming - Has segments that involves timed jumps
FREE! - hmm... I wonder...
UPDATE: Apparently 3 posts wasn't enough for the list so I had to hijack some of my other posts to continue on. I've also decided to separate the Persians from the rest of the list since they didn't quite fit with the others. I might do the same for some of the old C64/Spectrum adventures. Here's a table of contents to help you navigate around:
(Metroidvanias, Zelda II's, and the unorthodox)
List A (right below)
List B
List C
List D
(The Prince of Persia's and Another World's)
List A
The Guide of Side Scrolling Adventures
The list is in chronological order:
Tir Na Nog Trilogy (1984 ZX Spectrum, Amstrad, C64)
by Gargoyle Games
Screens
(Slasher, Sci-fi, Fantasy)
-Tir Na Nog Video ; Dun Darach Video ; Marsport Video none :-(
-One of the pioneers of side scrolling adventures
-Notable for its groundbreaking features like:
---Large, well animated main character
---Animated backgrounds
---Parallax Scrolling
-Dun Darach is considered to possibly be the first prequel in gaming history
-Marsport took a more sci-fi route
-Was later to be remade by Psygnosis but was later canceled
-Series has a LucasArts styled item collection system; Marsport even allowed you to combine items
More info HERE and HERE
Xanadu (1985 PC 88, MSX, Saturn)
by Falcom
Screens
(RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Second in the Dragon Slayer series
-Side scrolling adventure with top down Hylide style combat
-MAZES!
-Remade for Saturn
More info here!
Cauldron I & II (1985 C64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad)
by Steve Brown
FREE!
Screens
(Shooter, Platforming, Fantasy)
-C1 Video ; C2 Video
-A very early attempt at making an openworld adventure
-First game has a mixture of platforming a shmup like fliying sequences
-Sequel lets you take control of the bouncy, evil pumpkin and explores the witch's castle
-A 90's sequel, Super Cauldron, was made by the infamous Titus Software (Superman 64)
-Cauldron II can be play via flash HERE
-Cauldron remake can be found for free HERE
More info HERE
Dark Castle series (1986 Mac, Amiga, DOS, Gen, C64, CD-i, MSX)
by Silicon Beach Software
FREE!
(Atmospheric, Platforming, Shooter, Fantasy)
-Video
-Defeat the evil Black Knight!
-Friggin hard
-A sequel, Return to Dark Castle, was just released in 2008 for the Mac
-Play the original Dark Castle through an emulator HERE
-Get Return to Dark Castle HERE
More info HERE
Dizzy seires (1986 ZX Spectrum, C64, NES)
by The Oliver Twins
FREE!
Screens
(Platforming, Fantasy)
-Video
-Play as an egg! How eggciting! (groan)
-The series in now abandon ware. Grab them free HERE
More info HERE
Metroid series (various platforms starting in 1986)
by Nintendo
Screens
(Metroid-like, Atmospheric, Shooter, Sci-fi)
-Compilation Video
-No explanation is really needed for this classic shooter adventure series
Milon's Secret Castle (1986 NES, GB, Wii)
by Hudson Soft
(Metroid-style, Platforming, Shooter, Fantasy)
-Video
-Blow deadly bubble to destroy your foes
-Find the Hudson Bee!
-Sequel came to the SNES but was more level based than an adventure game
More info HERE
Romancia (1986 PC88, MSX2. Win 98)
by Falcom
Screens
(Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Third in the Dragon Slayer series (aka Dragon Slayer Jr.)
-Harder than the hardest of wood
-30 minute time limit!
-The king cuts that in half if you talk to him too much!
-A man in a cloud will kill you if you talk to him twice!
-Wonky combat system!
-Cursed items which force you to start over!
-Remade for PC in 99.
-For masochists only!
More info here!
Valis: The Fantastic Soldier NES (1986 NES)
by Telenet Japan Co
Screens
(Shooter, Fantasy, Kinky)
-Video
-Play as the scantly clad Yuko who battles evil minions with her sword, Valis.
-Unlike the other versions, the NES one has a more of an openworld, mazelike design
-Not very good
-Get a fan translation HERE
-More recent entries of the series evolved the series to include touching moments of lesbian sex and tentacle rape.
More info HERE
Bio Senshi DAN aka Bio Warrior DAN (1987 NES)
by Atlus
Screens
(Platforming, Slasher, Metroid-style, Sci-fi)
-Video
-Travel back into time to the year 1999 to save the world from the vicious Increaser
-Was localized but never released overseas (as Bashi Bazook)
-Get a fan translation HERE
More info HERE
Chester Field (1987 NES, C64)
by Vic Tokai
Screens
(Platforming, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Very Zelda II-esque
-Was finished for localization but never ended up getting released overseas
-Get a fan translation HERE
-More info HERE
Faxanadu (1987 NES)
by Falcom and Hudson Soft
Screens
(RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Tough as nails
-Side game from the Xanadu/Dragon Slayer series
More info here!
Legacy of Wizard / Dragon Slayer IV (1987 MSX, MSX 2, NES)
by Falcom
Screens
(Slasher, Shooter, Fantasy)
-Video
-Play as multiple characters including a pet dragon, each having a unique characteristic.
-Another tough game
-Mazes, mazes and mazes
More info here!
The Maze of Galious (1987 MSX, NES)
by Konami
Screens
(RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Lots of mazes!
-Also known as Knightmare II: Maze of Galious
-Was later reprogrammed for the PC. You can get it here!
More info here!
Golvellius I & II (1987 MSX, Sega Master System)
by Compile
Screens
(Slasher, Fantasy, TopDown)
-Video
-Seek out Golvellius and rescue the beautiful Princess Rena!
-Contains both top down and side scrolling combat.
More info here!
Dr. Chaos (1987 NES)
by Marionette
Screens
(Slasher, Shooter, Fantasy, Atmospheric)
-Video
-Richard Moll reprises the undead Vietnam buddy from House!
-Sidescrolling action, intercut with first person navigation
-Very similar to Goonies 2.
-Pretty durn tough!
More info here!
Rygar NES version (1987 NES)
by Tecmo
Screens
(Metroid-style, Slasher, Platformer, TopDown, Fantasy)
-Video
-Unleash the powa of disc armor!
-Unlike the arcade, the NES version was a more open world adventure
-Has a mixture of topdown and sidescrolling action
More in HERE
Wonderboy II aka Wonerboy on Monster Land (1987 Arcade, SMS, Amiga, PCE, C64, Wii)
by Sega
Screens
(Metroid-style, Fantasy, Slasher, Platforming)
-Video
-First in the Wonderboy series to go the adventure game route
-Monster World II ditched the adventure elements for a more SHMUP like experience
-The sequels after MWII went back to the adventure game style
More info HERE
Zeliard (1987 Ms-Dos)
by Game Arts
FREE!
Screens
(RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-By Game Arts! You know, the company that brought us Lunar!
-Play as the Duke!
-Has been labeled as abandonware.
-If you grab a DosBox you can get the game here!
More info here!
The Sorcerian Series (started in 1987 for many consoles)
by Falcom
Screens
(RPG, Slasher, Fantasy)
-Video
-Fifth in the Dragon Slayer series.
-Only game on this list to have a part system.
-Probably the most complex of the SSSrpgs on this list
-A 3d version was made for Dreamcast, but looks horrid
More info here!
Goonies 2 (1987 NES)
by Konami
Screens
(Metroid-style, Fantasy, Slasher)
-Video
-Its Goonies!
-Its the unofficial sequel to Goonies!
-No truffle shuffle
-Fight evil bugs and pirates with a yoyo!
-Cyndi Lauper music!
-First person sections!
-Varied environments!
-Very similar to Dr. Chaos!
-Its Goonies!
Simons Quest: Castlevania 2 (1987 NES)
by Konami
Screens
(RPG, Atmospheric, Slasher, Fantasy, Platforming)
-Video
-First Castlevania RPG
-Not stuck in a castle
-Day and night cycles
-One boss
-Poor translation with vague clues
-Memberable and eerie music
Adventures of Link: Zelda II (1987 NES)
by Nintendo
Screens
(Metroid-style, RPG, Slasher, Fantasy, TopDown, Platforming)
-Video
-Its Zelda
-I guess the CD-I ones can be added to this list but nah.
Zombie Hunter (1987 MSX, NES)
by- Hi-Score Mediawork
Screens
(RPG, Slasher, Fantasy, Platforming)
-Video
-Grinding is a must
-Unfortunately it is easy to overpower
-Not as cool as the pictures and title make it out to be
-Never released overseas
-Get a fan translation HERE
