Nineflick

A review of any great 2D video game inevitably invokes a phrase like this: “the greatest platformer since [insert name of older great platformer],” or “the best platformer of the [cartridge size] era.” Taking these myriad reviews in totality, I think it’s possible to converge on a few definitive contenders to the throne of the greatest 2D video game ever made. So let me indulge myself with this post and break them down for y’all. And just to be clear, I’m referring to action and adventure side-scrollers in this list…if I allowed a game like SimCity into the list, I’d have to consider many more, and would probably be out of my depth, anyway.

Super Mario Bros. – 1985
The case: Super Mario Bros. is the Citizen Kane of video games: great because of its lasting impact on the industry as a whole. Consider the fundamental absurdity of Super Mario Bros. – here is a world where jumping is one of your primary activities. When’s the last time you’ve ever jumped in real life? I probably jump more than the average individual, enjoying getting onto higher places, and yet I can safely say it’s been a few months since I last jumped (well, jumping rope notwithstanding).

And yet Super Mario Bros. made the concept of jumping in a video game seem like a perfectly logical activity, and for years to come to boot. Got an enemy coming your way? Why not jump over him!? This is a vaunted technique in the martial arts – trust me, I’ve got a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do (two stripes). Super Mario Bros. defined the sidescroller and defined Nintendo. And, if you can reach back into your memory far enough, you’ll recall it was pretty fun and revolutionary in its day.

Bionic Commando – 1988
The case: Bionic Commando is the anti-Mario, the game that said “why the hell is everyone jumping all over the place?” The bionic arm was fresh and fun, and to this day it remains one of the more unique video games ever conceived. It also featured a typically great score by Capcom and the kind of plot that could only take place in a 1980s Nintendo game (involving predominantly the resurrection and subsequent head-destruction of Hitler).

On the negative side of the ledger, I’d argue Bionic Commando has somewhat weak level design. The challenge is also inconsistent as you advance through the game…Area 6, for example, probably should have been one of the last levels, but instead it’s right in the middle.

Mega Man 2 – 1988
The case: Mega Man 2 is the most colorful video game of all time. It’s like the technicolor dream coat of video games. You’ve got the icy Flash Man stage, the greens and browns of Wood Man, the techno-yellow of Crash Man…you get the idea. It’s just got some of the most stunning visuals of any video game, for its time. This was complemented by an outstanding score, headlined by the faux guitar of the magnificent Wily stage music. (See also: this version.)

The gameplay was also off the charts. Sure, no one ever used the crappy “Bubble Lead” (by the way, what the hell does that mean?) And the Metal Blades were unbalancingly powerful. But the very idea of accumulating this arsenal was extremely satisfying. Mega Man 2 remains the best in the series and deservedly vies for the title of one of the best 2D games ever made.

Prince of Persia – 1989
The case: I’ve never played this game, so I can’t ramble on and on about it too much. But this game clearly made its mark in the 2D arena. Unprecedentedly smooth animation was its calling card, and supplemented by thoughtful level design and challenging gameplay it helped computer gaming strike back against the console revolution.

Super Mario Bros. 3 – 1990
The case: Super Mario 3 took everything about the first game and expanded it in every possible way. The game is much bigger, the level design more varied (not to mention near flawless), there are lots more powerups, and an interactive map took the Mushroom Kingdom to new heights. Oh yeah, and Mario could fly. Let me say that again. Mario. Could fucking. Fly. To me, Mario 3 is every inch the influential game that the first Mario Bros. was, a mega blockbuster that continues to testify to the peak of Nintendo’s powers.

Sonic the Hedgehog – 1991
The case: I’ll admit, I never understood the Sonic the Hedgehog craze, and I’m mostly including this entry for completeness. Maybe I never got far enough in the game, but I didn’t understand the appeal of going really, really fast…then abruptly hitting a wall. Where’s the fun in finding out where you can keep going really fast and where you can’t? I will give this game credit for the Green Hill Zone music, though. Does anything beat that tune? In a word: absolutely not.

Super Metroid – 1994
The case: I’d like to submit that Super Metroid cemented the concept of the “big” boss fight. Big bosses could be found in lots of games prior, but Super Metroid put the onus on developers to make everything impressively, take-up-more-than-your-TV-screen huge. But that’s not why Super Metroid is one of the great 2D platformers. Super Metroid took an idea that started with the first Zelda game – being able to see locations without knowing how to immediately get to them – and translated it masterfully into a side-scroller. That brilliant sense of exploration was only heightened by the atmospheric, high quality graphics. Throw in some incredibly cool and unique power-ups like the Speed Booster and the mighty Screw Attack (which just sounds vicious) and it’s easy to see why this game is an all-time great.

Super Mario World 2 – Yoshi’s Island – 1996
The case: When you move into the late 90’s, it becomes obligatory in these discussions to throw in sentences like “even though everyone was moving on to 3D gaming…” Yeah, Yoshi’s Island was probably passed over more than most games because everyone was rushing to the next generation. And yeah, they all missed the boat. So consider this to be another voice in the wilderness advocating for one of Nintendo’s finest forgotten masterpieces. Yoshi’s Island has truly outstanding level design, perhaps just a notch below SMB 3 and significantly improved over its rather overrated predecessor. Most impressively, practically every level introduces some clever new platforming element, constantly engaging the player. And like all of the entries on this list, Yoshi’s Island features some pretty addictive music.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – 1997
The case: It’s looking increasingly likely that Symphony of the Night will go down as the greatest game in the Castlevania series, and perhaps the last great side-scroller. I make that claim with apologies to the likes of Viewtiful Joe, a modern side-scroller that looks like it might be kind of fun, but probably does not come anywhere close to the upper echelons of gaming.

Symphony of the Night was clearly heavily influenced by Super Metroid, right down to details like a high jump power-up opening new areas and the huge creature heads leading to different levels. There are even enemies (“ectoplasm”) that strongly suggest Metroids. All of this works strongly in its favor, of course. The biggest complaint I had as I played through this game is that it’s too easy, but it actually gets significantly harder once you advance to the reverse castle. Like Super Metroid, Symphony of the Night relies on a compelling sense of exploration, appealing to the gamer to plumb the depths of a huge and multifaceted castle. It also features an impressive array of weapons and unique RPG elements that only serve to enhance the experience.