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What hard-as-nails 2D platformer is your personal favorite?
- Thread starter ScOULaris
- Start date
Davey Cakes
Member
This was pretty easy for me honestly, but I'm versed in platformers. Plus I never attempted flip mode, no death mode, or getting the best times on the Super Gravitron so I guess I never really delved into the toughness the game provides.
Poimandres
Member
I played through the base game, then was like "nope, not doing any of the optional stuff!". I think I would literally die if I attempted that! haha
Absolutely. One of my all-time favorite indie games. Knytt Stories is up there as well.
Sword Of Doom
Member
I'm with you OP. N++ would be my pick. That game just grabbed me in a way I was not expecting.
I didn't find it that difficult tbh, and I'm not that great at difficult platformers
I didn't find it that difficult tbh, and I'm not that great at difficult platformers
Chill Penguin
Member
Classic: Aside from Mario, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts holds my most fond memories of a 16 or 8 bit platformer. Loved it, bought a SNES a year or so ago just to replay it and still love it.
Modern: Gotta go with the crowd and say Super Meat Boy. Tightest controls I've ever used, it's really amazing. Shoutout to Ori, though I don't think it's "hard-as-nails".
Modern: Gotta go with the crowd and say Super Meat Boy. Tightest controls I've ever used, it's really amazing. Shoutout to Ori, though I don't think it's "hard-as-nails".
SciencePilot
Member
I liked Super Meat Boy but I played it with an Xbox controller, which was rough. Definitely not the right controller for the job, and I think that dampened my enjoyment of it. Also not a huge fan of the art/story/etc. Game is good otherwise. You feel like a total ninja playing that game.
So because of that I may go with Mega Man 2 and/or 9 as my favorites. They feel super great to play, and I love the art and music. Are they hard enough though? Not sure if they count in the hard-as-nails category, but I don't think there are any platformers harder than them that I really love.
I see other people here mention Cave Story, VVVVVV, and the DK Wii/U games, and I love those, but I definitely wouldn't put them in the hard-as-nails category. Those are games that have a couple of hard parts, but aren't really hard throughout the majority of the experience.
So because of that I may go with Mega Man 2 and/or 9 as my favorites. They feel super great to play, and I love the art and music. Are they hard enough though? Not sure if they count in the hard-as-nails category, but I don't think there are any platformers harder than them that I really love.
I see other people here mention Cave Story, VVVVVV, and the DK Wii/U games, and I love those, but I definitely wouldn't put them in the hard-as-nails category. Those are games that have a couple of hard parts, but aren't really hard throughout the majority of the experience.
nextgeneration
Member
Probably a game that most people haven't even played or heard about - Electronic Super Joy.
Actually a good answer, it's basically a platformer in disguise and a ridiculously hard one with an instant retry loop that hooks you just like the SMB and N++ games.
Forget just going for high score, even completing levels is a challenge.
JaseMath
Member
Does La-Mulana count? If so, I'm tempted to say that.
OP says tough as nails, not poorly designed.
I'm with you on this. I find the level of challenge in Ori or in the recent Rayman games to be the sweet spot, more so than the ultra hard Meat Boys and N++es of the world.
Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden 2 on Nes are probably the only two games of this type that have ever really grabbed me.
The Mega-Man games also have some tough sections, but I don't think they're really tough enough to qualify for this sub-genre. Mega-Man 2 is basically the perfect difficulty curve for me.That game gets it just right.
I'm not sure I can ever enjoy platformers like Super Meat Boy where insane difficulty is basically the main attraction. I enjoy tough games, but I prefer it when the difficulty builds in a natural sort of way over the course of the whole game. And the game has to draw me in some other way to keep me going through the frustration. In the Ninja Gaiden games, it was the music and the cool atmosphere that kept me playing even when the game started to get really brutal.
Super Meat Boy is a very tight platformer, and I sort of liked what I've played of it, but it doesn't have anything that really hooks me outside of the joy of overcoming a tough challenge.
Still, I may try it again someday. The basic gameplay mechanics are all very well executed, and it might win me over if I keep going for a while.
The Mega-Man games also have some tough sections, but I don't think they're really tough enough to qualify for this sub-genre. Mega-Man 2 is basically the perfect difficulty curve for me.That game gets it just right.
I'm not sure I can ever enjoy platformers like Super Meat Boy where insane difficulty is basically the main attraction. I enjoy tough games, but I prefer it when the difficulty builds in a natural sort of way over the course of the whole game. And the game has to draw me in some other way to keep me going through the frustration. In the Ninja Gaiden games, it was the music and the cool atmosphere that kept me playing even when the game started to get really brutal.
Super Meat Boy is a very tight platformer, and I sort of liked what I've played of it, but it doesn't have anything that really hooks me outside of the joy of overcoming a tough challenge.
Still, I may try it again someday. The basic gameplay mechanics are all very well executed, and it might win me over if I keep going for a while.
La Mulana isn't poorly designed, but it's also not really a pure platformer.
my man. I love this game (mainly for the soundtrack/aesthetic, bc it's HARD AS BALLS).
This is an excellent post. Chasing SS in Dustforce is a zen-like experience, I can't get frustrated with the perfection required when the second to second gameplay feels so good. It's also one of the most gorgeous game I've ever seen, which is not required but it's much appreciated.
Red Liquorice
Member
Legend of Hero Tonma, Ghouls & Ghosts. This is my childhood distilled in a glass.
LOHT is probably harder than GnG since it's a one touch and die game, even GnG has two touches.
LOHT is probably harder than GnG since it's a one touch and die game, even GnG has two touches.
100%'ing this game is my second most impressive gaming achievement. Third is finishing all of F-Zero GX story mode on Very Hard, and first is, obviously, defeating Christopher Robin.Jumper 2 is my pick. Unlimited lives, but crushingly difficult levels. It was a clear inspiration for Supe r Meat Boy, and in fact, Jumper's character, Ogmo, was unlockable in SMB.
mattmakesgames.com
Still giving it to VVVVVV, though, since I loved the structure and level design.
aygomyownroad
Member
Ori and the Blind Forest is amazing and has a great story to go with it.
I was close to tears at some of the stages it was so frustrating especially the chase sequences.
Also Super Meat Boy
I was close to tears at some of the stages it was so frustrating especially the chase sequences.
Also Super Meat Boy
I don't like platformers being overly difficult, what I vastly prefer is consistent difficulty, I want world 2 and world 7 to be the same difficulty just different challenges and design.
As for the question I'd go with Donkey Kong Country Returns, that game was amazing and really stood out and above the competition. I thought it was a touch too difficult but it was fun enough that I was motivated to beat it.
As for the question I'd go with Donkey Kong Country Returns, that game was amazing and really stood out and above the competition. I thought it was a touch too difficult but it was fun enough that I was motivated to beat it.
ManUnkindH
Member
Mine has to be Donkey Kong Country Returns, I don't have a Wii U so haven't had the chance to try the new one yet.
cj_iwakura
Member
This is my vote. You will NEED those 1,000 lives.
Shhhhh you won't make any friends with opinions like that.
I felt that way about most of the boss fights, but I thought that the normal levels showcased some of the better 2D platforming design I've seen in a long while. It's the perfect mixture of spectacle, hidden secrets, and optimal speedrunning paths.
Theanine3D
Member
Rayman Origins for sure. It was really challenging, but not impossibly or frustratingly so.
I really don't like the modern bite-sized infinite-retry level structure seen in games like Super Meat Boy and N+. Far too little tension there for me, on top of a general lack of aesthetic (and often mechanical) variety.
SMB2J is pretty high up for me, but there are so many good contenders. The entire Makaimura series, The Super Shinobi, Raf World, Contra Hard Corps, Ninja Ryukenden, Gimmick!... It's extremely hard to pick a single one.
SMB2J is pretty high up for me, but there are so many good contenders. The entire Makaimura series, The Super Shinobi, Raf World, Contra Hard Corps, Ninja Ryukenden, Gimmick!... It's extremely hard to pick a single one.
Imp the Dimp
Member
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is pretty damn hard when you try to 100% it (or 105% or whatever it was), especially the bonus world. I think that one's the best hard platformer. VVVVVV and SMB are great too.
The controls are really simple, so you could easily play with either a controller or KB in my opinion.
Imp the Dimp
Member
Both are fine.
I laughed so loud. I'm so glad I find people that think just like me around here.
Sadly, I don't think I even beat the game, let alone get 100%. I did beat F-Zero GX. Never got past Piglet though.
You're my best friend because you like Spelunker HD. I literally bought a PS3 because of Spelunker HD.
wesleyshark
Banned
Suuuuuuuper meeeeat boooyyy
manueldelalas
Time Traveler
Then it counts!
BasilZero
Member
Just finished this myself - the deluxe "for the super players" version is harder cause of the camera though it doesn't have worlds 9 and afterwards though.