The platformer genre represents a pivotal moment in video games. With the release of Super Mario Bros these titles were suddenly a dime a dozen. Everyone wanted to cash in on the craze. Unfortunately this meant that a lot lost in the shuffle. Even today many of these video games have largely been forgotten about. As someone who has been playing for almost 35 years I thought it would be nice to highlight some of the more underrated platformers. This is different from a hidden gems list in that this write-up is more focused on those titles that never got the time of day. They aren’t undiscovered so much as they are misunderstood or rated poorly by critics and gamers alike. Without further adieu these are, in my opinion, the most underrated platformer games of all time. Here are my top ten picks!
#10. – Super Magnetic Neo
The Sega Dreamcast had a fantastic library but one thing it was lacking in was high quality platformers. It had plenty of them, but not many were worth playing if I’m being perfectly honest. Sonic Adventure took the limelight leaving others in the dust. Super Magnetic Neo is one of these such titles. Many improperly label this one as a Crash Bandicoot clone because of the corridor-like level designs. At first glance it looks similar, but when you really dig in you’ll find it plays quite differently. This is because of the gimmick in place. Super Magnetic Neo is, well, magnetic. Using two different buttons you can alter his magnetism to cause him to either be pulled in or repelled. The mechanic is put to good use and makes this one feel unique. It’s definitely one of the most underrated platforms, and one that most critics didn’t understand.
#9. – Mega Man 4
At this point in the series interest was wearing thin. Capcom was clearly milking the Mega Man name by releasing sequel after sequel, and so many wrote this one off immediately. They still do, to be honest. Mega Man 4 has one of the best line-ups of robot masters, and is a great cumulation of everything the series had established up to this point. Yeah, they were kind of running out of ideas at this point but I give credit where credit is due. The likes of Toad Man, Pharaoh Man, Skull Man, and the others made for some memorable themes. I was surprised to learn that Mega Man 4 got a lot of hate because in my opinion it’s better than the significantly more loved part 3.
#8. – Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Sonic Team for the most part stuck to what sold during the Gamecube days, and that was Sonic. It was surprising then that they took a chance and made an entirely original title for the platform. This was Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, and it’s easy to see why it didn’t set the sales charts on fire. Hatcher was a cutesy platformer based around a character wearing a rooster hat that pushes around an egg. This was your main means of attack, and should you lose it another would generate so the action didn’t have to stop. Critics at the time were harsh because what gamers wanted was gritty shooters. Still, Billy Hatcher persisted and the aforementioned mechanics made it one of the most interesting platformers of its time. Some have realized the error of their ways since then, but not all. It’s still a very underrated platformer.
#7. – Mr. Bones
You have to hand it to Sega for the sheer number of original titles they released for their consoles. Fans were clamoring for a 3D Sonic title, and instead they got quirky titles like Mr. Bones. It’s a very zany release wherein you play as the skeleton of a blues player who hops and bops his way through a variety of different horror themed stages. There are also segments where you play the guitar in a rhythm game like interface. Yeah it sounds strange but strictly as a platformer this one gets top marks from me. What’s particularly interesting is the fact that the camera perspective changes throughout the levels. Basic gameplay has you hopping and bopping while blasting enemies with electricity. When you take damage you lose bones on your skeleton, and this is surprisingly hilarious. Mr. Bones is definitely one of the most underrated platformers.
#6. – Kid Niki: Radical Ninja
Why this one gets so much hate is beyond me. I suppose that’s why it’s on my list of the most underrated platformers. It’s simple in execution; you play as a ninja who runs and jumps through 2D stages and twirls his sword to attack. The graphics and audio are fairly rudimentary. The worst thing about this is that everything lacks outlines but that was par for the course when it came to early NES games. The level designs are top notch with enemies constantly incoming from both forward and behind. There’s some light platforming but the controls are so responsive so you won’t have any problems with this. The best part of Kid Niki is its sense of humor. The boss characters in particular are hilarious especially with their attacks and patterns. It’s a shame everyone sells this one short because Kid Niki is actually a great platformer.
#5. – Muppet Monster Adventure
Who knew that a Muppets themed platformer would outclass just about every other platformer on the original PlayStation. Yes, that includes Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. For one thing Muppet Monster Adventure features a ton of wide open areas, and many are bigger than anything the aforementioned titles had to offer. You play as Robin the frog, nephew of Kermit, as you play through a variety of horror themed stages. Your main means of attack is by spinning (ala Crash) but there are a multitude of different power-ups. These allow you to transform into more recognizable characters, but in monster costumes. It makes for a lot of diversity in gameplay and I love it. I’m far from a fan of the franchise, but the quality here is undeniable. I imagine most pass on this because it’s a licensed game.
#4. – M.C. Kids
Here’s another licensed title that people write off far too quickly. This one is based on McDonalds, but bear with me because it’s actually really good. You play as either Mick or Mack who are tasked with collecting cards. At first this is in Ronald McDonald’s forest, but later you move on to help out just about every other mascot the restaurant had in the 90s. You play through ice, water, and forest based stages. Your main means of attack is picking up blocks and throwing them at foes. MC Kids was super ahead of its time in that your actual goal is to find items hidden in the stages before reaching the end. This means you’ll have to search far and wide, and the level designs are dare I say, amazing for the era. Gamers seem to hate this one for some reason. I think it’s the license.
#3. – Mega Man 7
To be honest I went into this one expecting to hate it. It was released after Capcom had moved on to the more edgy Mega Man X games. It’s surprising then that they revisited the original Mega Man on a 16-bit console, but I’m glad they did. Mega Man 7 is absolutely superb, and I’ll argue tooth and nail that it’s one of the most underrated platformers. The major complaint is that the sprites are too large. I admit this is an issue because it limits the play field, but the levels are designed with this in mind. Some of the platforming sequences really test your abilities and present some of the best environmental hazards in the series. It also helps that this soundtrack is absolutely incredible and one of the best of its era. Mega Man 7 got a bum rap, but is actually one of the best installments.
#2. – Adventure Island II
On a whim I rented this title as a child. I didn’t realize I would prefer it to most Mario offerings at the time. It’s sort of a different direction for the Wonder Boy series. Whereas that moved into more of an action RPG Metroidvania sort of dynamic Adventure Island II is firmly rooted in the original concept. You play as Master Higgins who has a hunger meter which depletes with time and as you hit environmental obstacles. When it runs out you die. He can collect power-ups such as hammers which gives him a projectile attack, but the real highlight is in the dinosaurs. When collected he rides atop them and gains a myriad of new abilities. You can even store these in your inventory. The level designs are simply amazing, and the inventory management gives you so many options. This one is absolutely an underrated platformer.
#1. – Mischief Makers
The Nintendo 64 was all about it’s 3D processing power. It was unmatched in this during the era in which the console launched. That’s why a 2D platformer was doomed to obscurity, and that’s precisely what happened with Mischief Makers. Treasure previously released their games on just Sega consoles, and so Mischief Makers was unexpected. It got lost in the shuffle. Mischief Makers is easily one of the best, and most underrated platformers of all time. You play as a mechanized robo maid of sorts called Marina. Her main form of attack is by grabbing enemies and shaking them. She can also latch on to items as well as use her thrusters assigned to the C-buttons. The level diversity is absolutely insane. Each concept here could have an entire game based around it. Boss battles are among the most memorable in any video game, period.
