this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2025
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For me the nostalgia glasses are turned up to the max for Crash Bandicoot.

I love the character designs, and the music is an absolute bop to listen to. (Got the first games theme as my ringtone even at 27!)

And I enjoyed a good challenge with some of its levels. The bosses were neat and I thought it was just an unusual neat idea that you jump on boxes to progress rather than punching a block for a fireflower.

You?

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[–] alienabductionsg@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 hour ago

Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Don't know about 90s, but Jet Set Willy was pretty great in the 80s

[–] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 12 hours ago

Sonic 2. It came bundled with a lot of Sega Genesis consoles.

A fantastic game that you can technically complete in a sitting.

[–] Helen@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Earthworm Jim deserves a mention. Remember when games were funny?

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 5 hours ago

Doctor Monkey-for-a-head remembers!

[–] _NetNomad@fedia.io 4 points 11 hours ago

Sonic 2 or Sonic CD depending on the day for me

[–] GooberEar@lemmy.wtf 5 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

If it's got platformer elements, then it's a platformer, right? Yes? Then Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is it for me.

I won't say it's my favorite, but I didn't see it mentioned, yet, and it definitely deserves at least one mention: Earthworm Jim

[–] Kelly@programming.dev 2 points 9 hours ago

If it's got platformer elements, then it's a platformer, right?

Yes!

But I also argue that the second half of '89 counts as 90's and that Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap was the best platformer I played in first half of the decade.

[–] ieatpwns@lemmy.world 6 points 12 hours ago

6 golden coins. Mario is so slippery and floaty

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 19 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

Super Mario World on the SNES. That game is just great. I love playing it every so often.

[–] catalyst@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago

This for sure. There are other great examples, like Yoshi’s Island or Mario 64, but World is the one I grew up with and have the most nostalgia for.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 16 hours ago

Yes! This is my standard for a good platformer.

I think being the "free" game that comes with the system hurt it's reputation. We all got bored of it, but going back to it after playing some terrible platformers really shows you how great it really is.

[–] Mugmoor@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

Donkey Kong Country 2 will always be the pinnacle of 2D Platforming, though Yoshi's Island comes in a close second place.

[–] Coyote_sly@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago

Agreed. Peak platforming.

[–] Menschlicher_Fehler@feddit.org 19 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Probably Mario 64, just because it was so revolutionary at the time.

[–] Flamekebab@piefed.social 1 points 12 hours ago

I feel like I'm the only person that grew up with Mario 64 but doesn't love it. I was really excited by it initially but when I played the game properly it just had this oppressive feeling of isolation and melancholy to it that was so off-putting.

[–] Fluffy_Ruffs@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago

It created a genre. And it was surprisingly competent at what it sent out to do. In hindsight it was a miracle. Brand new technology harnessed to birth the 3D platformer. It was amazingly ambitious all around.

[–] Flamekebab@piefed.social 3 points 12 hours ago

I'm rather a fan of Apogee's Secret Agent. I loved it back in the day and then enjoyed the HD remaster of it a few years back.

[–] Fluffy_Ruffs@lemmy.world 13 points 17 hours ago (3 children)

Mega Man X. The first one for SNES.

It was such an evolutionary leap forward from the previous MM games. Everything was bigger and better. The graphics, the music, the controls. It blew my mind at the time.

[–] rothaine@lemm.ee 2 points 8 hours ago

The soundtrack is absolute fire

[–] cccrontab@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

I spent so many hours on this game. Probably replayed it hundreds of times. The boss battles were so epic. SIGMA! And then discovering the secret shouryuken move from Street Fighter! Wow!

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

Sigma before the kids started saying it. 😂

[–] CCatMan@lemmy.one 3 points 12 hours ago
[–] AceFuzzLord@lemm.ee 5 points 14 hours ago

I'm a bit boring in terms of my favorite 90s platformer, but absolutely love Sonic 1 & 2.

[–] VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 12 hours ago

Super Mario Bros 3. It barely makes the cutoff, releasing jn 1990 in North America. But man, it is something special. I completely understand why people prefer Mario World, but Mario 3 feels like the peak of the 2d franchise for me, and everything after that is just reiterating what it perfected.

Sonic 2 and Crash Bandicoot 3 are up there, too. The first time I played Crash especially, my mind was blown. There are several games that scratch the same itch as Mario and Sonic, but I've not found a single game that feels like Crash Bandicoot. Gamers were spoiled in the 90s. ...unless you bought from a company that wasn't Nintendo or Sony.

[–] ray1992xd 9 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

If you can call it a platformer: Spyro

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 3 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Yeah. I do think Spyro is a platformer. It's a bunch of things, but I would have a hard time arguing any genre fits it better than platformer.

Edit: Also, great choice.

[–] cattywampas@lemm.ee 10 points 18 hours ago

Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 4 points 15 hours ago

The ones that were SURPRISINGLY good were the Gex games. Looks like they're getting a remaster too.

https://youtu.be/PXr2cRbo6Go

[–] mcforest@feddit.org 5 points 16 hours ago

2D: Super Mario World. It just plays smooth af. Pretty close to a perfect videogame.

3D: Rayman 2. Platformers usually have a colorful and happy world. Rayman might still be colorful, but it stands out because it's kinda grim. Gameplay wise... I should replay it, because I'm not actually sure anymore. I think all 3D platformers of this time could be a little bit janky. I remember there were some frustrating parts, at least for a kid.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

I sometimes feel like the only American that liked Bubsy. The biggest complaint I hear about it is that the jumping is super floaty; but that's it's strength! Once you get the rhythm of the game down, you're basically Tribes style skiing through the levels. It's awesome.

[–] B0NK3RS@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

I'm not really a platformer fan but Abe's Oddysee/Exodus and Kirby's Dream Land are up there.

[–] Snailpope@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko were so fun and absolutely hilarious!

[–] rotkehlchen@sh.itjust.works 3 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

I loved those too. Habe you seen the announcement of the remakes?

[–] Snailpope@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

Yes! I'm super excited to replay them

[–] DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] rotkehlchen@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 hours ago

Yes, like that.

[–] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

Probably not a platformer but I have massive nostalgia for it. Alunda