10 Nintendo Platformers That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

As a devoted fan, I must admit that while Nintendo‘s contemporary releases often leave my wallet feeling light with their visually stunning games, their timeless classics are always within reach, catering to every budget.

Frequently, it seems like individuals are talking about these games as though they are masterpieces displayed in a museum, significant artifacts from the past that one admires for their impact, not just enjoyable video games that continue to be relevant today.

As a dedicated retro gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about the eight outstanding platformers that Nintendo unveiled during the 80s and 90s. Frankly, I believe these games could easily be re-released as modern indie titles and still manage to captivate gamers today. That’s quite an achievement!

These games continue to captivate me, and despite being decades old since their initial release, I still find joy in playing them. For those who may not have had the opportunity or time to truly experience these classics, I strongly encourage you to give them a try. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the timeless entertainment they offer.

10. Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA)

Life Could Be A Dream

If you haven’t come across the fact that Super Mario Bros. 2 is essentially a revamped version of Doki Doki Panic, then you’ve been missing out on a significant milestone in Mario’s gaming journey. It’s an incredibly enjoyable game.

In this game, we introduce the distinctive characters like Shy Guys, along with the special traits of Luigi, Peach, and Toad. It offers an enjoyable adventure where logic takes a backseat but remains delightfully entertaining.

In a nutshell, I’m quite fond of Luigi games, where I enjoy leaping over adversaries while riding on magical carpets, bypassing challenging platform sections that the game often provides as an option. Essentially, I adore any title that lets me zip around more quickly than usual.

I find one aspect of this game somewhat bothersome: collecting items when I’m squatting. It seems to disrupt the flow and make things move a little too slowly for my liking. However, overall, it’s an exceptionally zany and well-made platformer.

I don’t really enjoy picking up objects in this game while I’m crouching because it creates pauses and slows the pace. But aside from that, it’s a fantastic, extremely whacky platformer.

9. Super Mario Bros. 3

Nearly Modern

As a seasoned gamer, let me tell you, if I handed over the controller and said “Super Mario Bros. 3” to someone who’s never played or heard about video games from the 80s, I bet they’d be taken aback by how modern it still feels, even though it’s an NES classic!

The consistent quality across all eight content worlds is nothing short of amazing, as if no limitations were ever imposed on their creativity. This impression remains strong even to this very day.

The concept of a world map remains engaging, as it offers the freedom to progress through levels in your preferred sequence, and the ability to collect items for future use in your inventory adds an exciting layer of uniqueness to each gaming experience.

The design of the levels incorporates the latest Super Leaf feature, enabling players who are skilled enough to maintain their speed and navigate through obstacles, the ability to soar over challenges and uncover hidden secrets. I absolutely love this aspect!

8. Kirby’s Adventure

Puffed Up

As a dedicated gamer, I can confidently say that Kirby’s Adventure, being the second installment in the series, truly encapsulated what it means to be Kirby and pushed the NES console to its very limits. Even after all these years, it continues to deliver an enjoyable, unadulterated Kirby experience that remains fresh and fun.

Each copied ability stands out distinctly and is engaging to utilize, the boss encounters offer a suitable level of challenge to maintain excitement, and traversing stages with Burning is like blazing through them at top speed.

This game encounters occasional performance hiccups, yet it doesn’t significantly disrupt your enjoyment. It falls into the category of classic games that I can wholeheartedly praise without any reservations.

If you’re a fan of Kirby and missed out on the original Adventure or only played its remake, I strongly suggest giving it a try. It’s an excellent demonstration of ingenuity and superior game design shining through despite constraints.

7. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Mixing Things Up

Back in the day when I was gaming, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards blew my mind with its innovative approach to power-ups. It let me mix any two of Kirby’s copy abilities to create something fresh and unique each time. That’s still a gameplay mechanic that stands out in my memory!

Despite some of the 35 skills not being top-notch, this idea captivated me completely and continues to impress me. A significant part of the enjoyment comes from employing these skills against opponents to witness the resulting chaos.

In this game, you’ll find yourself playing a typical Kirby adventure, which involves consuming cakes, gathering companions, traversing a world devastated by nuclear war, and ultimately confronting a demonic angel with glowing eyes and a crystal weapon in the final battle.

In this game series, the outstanding level designs, charming characters, and exceptional music consistently impress me, much like before. The boss battles are among my favorites in the series, though it may take a while for Miracle Matter to fully execute its attacks.

6. Yoshi’s Story

A Closed Book

Amongst two-dimensional games on N64 that I’m aware of, Yoshi’s Story stands out as particularly effective in using CGI models represented by flat textures, which still look rather impressive considering the relatively basic 3D rendering technology employed at the time.

The gameplay follows along the lines of Yoshi’s Island’s previous format, but this time without the bothersome child character, making it a significant enhancement in terms of audio quality. To top it off, it features a delightful soundtrack that transitions to a fresh style every few minutes.

The stages possess an adventurous vibe that encourages you to leap and hover over hurdles in an attempt to gather as many melons as possible. Moreover, the sense of accomplishment is immense when you witness all items amassed simultaneously at the end of each level.

Playing this game today reminds me of the unique charm of the original N64 graphics, with their distinctive “jank.” Despite its rough edges, I’ve grown to appreciate the quirky, vintage computer-generated style and the way each setting is visually designed. I still find myself amused by Cloud N. Candy’s agonizing death scenes.

The game’s aged graphics, or “jank,” as some call it, might not be perfect, but playing it now makes me cherish the originality of the old-school CG aesthetic and how each environment is crafted. I still find myself chuckling at Cloud N. Candy’s drawn-out demise.

5. Kirby Super Star

Everything All At Once

The developers of Kirby found great satisfaction in excelling with the hardware they had, and as a result, they packed Kirby Super Star with multiple top-tier Kirby games that offer unique experiences.

In this fresh take on the series, you’ll experience a revamped version of Kirby’s Dream Land, a classic Kirby adventure, a high-speed racing mode set to pulsating tunes, a treasure hunt filled with homages, and an innovative, open-ended Kirby game that pushes boundaries.

Each part is fantastic and seems to share common themes, creating an overall exceptional and harmonious gaming experience, enhanced by a few embedded mini-games to further enrich it.

In this game, you were introduced to companions who join you on your adventure. You have the ability to assign them powers, and they can significantly enhance the experience when playing cooperatively. Overall, it’s an incredibly fun time.

4. Super Metroid

Genre-Defining

Among all Super Nintendo games, none has aged quite as gracefully as Super Metroid over the years, earning it high praise. Furthermore, it set a benchmark in gaming, serving as an exemplary model for many subsequent titles.

The game is fantastic; its map gives a sense of expansiveness while subtly directing you towards crucial areas without confining or directly pointing out your destination. Instead, it uses a subtle, guiding force to nudge you along.

Although the controls might seem somewhat outdated, they efficiently utilize every button on the controller. With time and practice, mastering the art of wall jumping becomes second nature, and your muscle memory will no longer forget this skill.

As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but relish in the thrill of executing strategic moves such as precision-timed wall jumps to break the sequence, or mastering techniques like bomb jumping and performing mach balls to conquer the game quicker with each playthrough. It’s incredibly gratifying!

3. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Drawn To Life

On the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the SuperFX chip played a remarkable role, particularly in Yoshi’s Island, where its influence was abundant and resulted in an extraordinary artistic style enhanced by visual effects that seemed almost unattainable given the technology at the time.

Even though the entire game shares the same sprite restrictions as other elements, its visual appeal remains striking to this day. The unique hand-drawn style using colored pencils sets it apart, and the execution is clean and aesthetically pleasing.

Yoshi games offer top-notch gaming experiences, challenging players with projectile accuracy, allowing for swift level navigation, and making players cringe with the sound of a distressed child upon being struck.

This game excels in every category. Each level offers enjoyable adventures filled with innovative, imaginative twists, making it a benchmark for all future Yoshi games, despite the fact that it may not be as closely related to Super Mario World 2 as its title suggests.

2. Kirby’s Dream Land 3

Coloring In

Without a doubt, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 boasts an exceptional art style among all 16-bit games I’ve encountered. Its enchanting, crayon-esque aesthetic gives the impression of being hand-drawn, despite being pixel art sprites in reality.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, the game is a blast to play! Every stage offers an additional goal that pushes me to delve deeper and think critically about my actions. This extra layer adds a depth that sets it apart from many platform games out there today.

Beyond that, the multitude of skills that adapt based on the animal companion you choose ensures my move-set remains diverse, with unique twists added to it, complemented by the mobility adjustments these friends bring along.

It’s just a solid title all around and an incredibly underrated Kirby game. I’ve never gotten over how lovely the art is, and whether you’re up for exploring or just want to run through the levels, it remains a great time.

1. Super Mario World

Jump Up, Don’t Be Scared

In essence, Super Mario World stands as one of the strongest, consistently excellent platform games ever made, and remarkably, it was developed just a few years after Mario 3, suggesting that Nintendo managed to establish a winning formula rather swiftly.

The positioning is spot-on, allowing Mario to sprint effortlessly through every stage while maintaining a consistent pace, and the inclusion of cape abilities and spin jumps only serve to enhance the thrill of speeding along.

The layout of the levels recognizes the significance of smooth progression. As a result, it seldom halts you unexpectedly, and achieving flawless runs through every stage becomes quite engaging. The experience moves seamlessly and leaves you feeling amazing.

It’s hardly surprising that there remains a sense of mystery surrounding this game, given its enduring appeal and the fact that it continues to be enjoyable today. It seems as though it was crafted with an ideal balance of exploration and platforming, all set within a captivating 2D environment.

2025-04-06 19:40