Informal Poll

8-Bit Avenger · Post by **8-Bit Avenger** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 12:15 am

A very important genre has nearly gone missing in this day and age - the side scroller. As technology became mightier, it spat at the 2-D adventures everyone was once so enthralled with. The NES and its platformers are now left only to nostalgics like me, and probably you, since you're here. Which is just as well, really: the NES was a damn good system for sidescrollers. That's why it had some of the best ones!That all said, what's your favorite NES sidescroller (aka platformer)?Personally, I vouch for Bionic Commando: The game that proved you didn't have to have a jump button!

RFL mAsTeR · Post by **RFL mAsTeR** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 5:35 am

Does it have to be NES/ There were some awesome side-scrollers fer the SNES.... like all the newer megamans.. speaking of which, theres a new megaman side scroller coming out for gambeboy advance.. it looks pretty awesome

Czarrillo · Post by **Czarrillo** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 10:50 am

I'm gonna go with Mega Man 2, with 3 coming in a close second.------------------
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Raincoatjones · Post by **Raincoatjones** » Wed Apr 18, 2001 5:38 am

one word:Gradius------------------
"Originality? What's that?"
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Boolean · Post by **Boolean** » Wed Apr 18, 2001 6:09 am

Aw man, you mean I have to choose? Hm, where to begin...I have to admit a partiality to SMB2, it was my first sidescroller ever. Really! We got our NES from the Shopping Channel, so it didn't come with SMB/Duckhunt or anything.Since then I'm totally hooked on the genre. All the Mario games, Bionic Commando, all the Castlevania games, all the Megaman games... Karnov and Dragon's Lair, if they weren't so darned frustrating...Anyone else remember Faxanadu? It would be pretty high on my list, if I had to rank them. A great adventure sidescroller, but it was kind of overlooked amongst the other games at the time. I liked Zelda 2 as well, but the guys with the shields were immensely frustrating until I figured them out...Okay, I'll turn off the inner monologue now.Great comic, btw! (:

Kriggs · Post by **Kriggs** » Thu Apr 19, 2001 3:39 am

FAXANADU!
Hell yeah, still got the game, play in about twice a year still. You don't get tired by it. I sing it's music at school alot

I, on the other hand, was so greatly frustrated with Zelda 2 because there wasn't much more you could do other than what you had to do. The main reason, though, I hate Zelda 2, is because my parents got it for me for Christmas instead of Zelda 1... I was devistated. Zelda 1 forever... although I like all Zeldas (or Links), I will always pinpoint Zelda 2 as my least favorite. Either mixing those two styles of gaming was a bad idea, or they went by it wrong.
I would also like to point out to Scoot/8=bit, that if you want a side-scroller/bottom-up scroller game, look for sites made by young people like me who haven't even graduated from highschool but who know how to code a game. There are a lot of me out there.
Peace out.

Frogurt · Post by **Frogurt** » Thu Apr 19, 2001 10:10 am

After much thought on the subject. I have settled on a tie... between Castlevania 2 and Super Mario Brothers. Here is my reasoning. Castlevania 2 could be picked up and played at any point in the game. If you didn't know what to do, it didn't matter. Simon Belmont and his whip is all anyone really needs to have a good time. Plus, there was a plethora of items to get. If you so desired to play through the game in its entirety, it took a while. Bonus points for the rockin' music.Super Mario Brothers. Quite frankly, I like any game in which you can simply hold foward and run and burn through the first half of the game. Despite the improvements to the following Mario Brother games, none were as instantly playable.------------------
<A HREF="http://oldskooled.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://oldskooled.keenspace.com</A>I just upkeep the site... he does all the funny stuff

Dr_Doppelganger · Post by **Dr_Doppelganger** » Sat Apr 21, 2001 12:17 am

I think everyone's forgetting an entire sub-genre of the side scrollers.
One word: Metroid.
Keep in mind that as of lately, with the PSX, Castlevania Symphony of the Night also falls under this category (oh, and how sweet it is!!)
But, as to the question, i'd say my fave 8-bit side scroller has to be Battletoads.
Now THAT was a game that needed some MAD SKILLZ. J00 K4nn07 d3ny 7h3 'TOADS!!

BkdTatrHrt · Post by **BkdTatrHrt** » Sat Apr 21, 2001 9:39 am

Ninja Gaiden without a doubt. That is definately the most rewarding 2D game I've ever played. It's mind numbingly hard, and sometimes for the wrong reasons, but if you invest enough time into it the payoff is all worth it.

Accuracy · Post by **Accuracy** » Sat Apr 21, 2001 11:44 am

Kirby's Adventure is the best game ever! It was just so... fun. And you've got to love being a little creampuff with a sword.

Rhubarb · Post by **Rhubarb** » Sun Apr 22, 2001 5:19 am

Hmm... I'd have to agree on Kirby. Definately the best sidescroller on the NES.But what about the other systems? Here's my votes...
Genesis: Gunstar Heroes
SNES: Metal Warriors
Sega CD: Popful Mail (has anyone else played this?)
Sega Master System: WonderBoy in Monsterland
PSX: Castlevania:SOTN
N64: Is there any? I can't remember...~RhubarbP.S. My fave game for NES would have to be Gaurdian Legend. It r0XX0rs

Drastic Measures · Post by **Drastic Measures** » Sun Apr 22, 2001 8:20 am

Well, if we only go by the criteria of "side-scroller" my vote is for Tecmo Super Bowl, by far the greatest sports game ever. Who says it has to be an action game? Though, if I was to choose an action game, I'd have to agree with the man a couple entries above me and say Battletoads. What other game had heros named Pimple, Rash, and Zitz, and the Turbo Tunnel has some of the greatest music in NES history.------------------
Helping solve the world's problems through overt cynicism and derision

Rhubarb · Post by **Rhubarb** » Mon Apr 23, 2001 1:33 am

Although I haven't played Yoshi's Island 2, you're right, I did forget it. However, Paper Mario isn't a side scroller. It's just a 3-d world with 2-d objects... At least, as far as I've seen.

MetalMan · Post by **MetalMan** » Mon Apr 23, 2001 2:02 am

My favorite would have to be Megaman 2, with 1 a close second. I, too have Faxandu, but it's a bitch to get far in, and I can't figure out how to don the Dragon(?) Armor/Sword/Helmet in the Big Tree place, so I don't know how to get any farther. Plus, my Nintendo is starting to wack out, so I can't finish my FF1 party of Bmage, Bmage, Bmage, Wmage. Looks like it's time to find a new NES.

Kasaii · Post by **Kasaii** » Mon Apr 23, 2001 5:46 am

N64 has nabbed a couple;
The Yoshi one (Yoshi's Island 2, or something like that)
and Paper Mario (which is really funny, if somewhat silly.)
As for NES, my fav would have to be Battletoads, also.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Tue Apr 24, 2001 1:39 am

Side Scrollers, oh how I've missed thee. Nes was the system for sidescrollers, and there were so many. Metroid, Mario, Megaman, Bionic Commando. But does no one remember Contra!?!? I know all of their efforts have been crap as of late, but the first Contra game was the one game I think everyone should play. If it wasn't for Contra I'd never have talked my dad into buying our first Nes. The greatness of that game cannot be denied. A close second with me would be the first Ninja Turtles Game, no not the Arcade version. Anyway, remember: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, a, b START.------------------
Ken
Those Who Can't Draw

MetalMan · Post by **MetalMan** » Tue Apr 24, 2001 3:56 am

Actually, I think it's up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A start, as opposed to AB start. Don't forget to throw in the Select before start for 2 players. Contra rocks, stupid beat up NES doesn't, want a new one.

SimonBob · Post by **SimonBob** » Tue Apr 24, 2001 4:23 am

Contra, definitely. And Super C. *zap zap zap*But hold on, nobody mentioned Exitebike. It's arguable (I know, lack of guns and all that) but when was the last time anyone had so much fun with a level-creation tool? No skill required, not like today's 3D games *coughHalfLifecough*

Frogurt · Post by **Frogurt** » Tue Apr 24, 2001 6:41 am

Although Excitebike did delve into the world of the 3rd dimension... ------------------
<A HREF="http://oldskooled.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://oldskooled.keenspace.com</A>I just upkeep the site... he does all the funny stuff

M3wThr33 · Post by **M3wThr33** » Tue Apr 24, 2001 7:30 am

Well, my favorite side-scroller is Super Mario Advance. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif"> I already got mine! Hehehehehehe------------------
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