PixlBit

I can't resist. My April is going to be themed around Console Generation 4, which is Genesis, SNES and Game Boy (just to name the most popular systems). I want to explore platformers, but ones that have more than just straight 2D jumping/running challenges. I like exploration and a lot of action and so the "action-platformer" genre seems right for me. But, I'm also choosing platform games that I've always been interested in trying. Here's the list I have so far. 

1. A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia (1989; NES, ABaHB: Retro Collection) - I think this David Crane game has some really creative gameplay. It's labeled a "puzzle-platformer", but I'm still interested. 

2. Wonder Boy III: Dragon's Trap (1989; Sega Master System) - I have a good feeling about this one. That title just sounds like a RPG, doesn't it? Unfortuneately, it seems to be only available in its original form on SMS. I don't even have that system, but maybe I'll try another Wonder Boy game instead. 

3. Super Mario Land (1989; GB and NS Subscription service) - I figure any platformer with "Land" or "World" in it might afford me with a little of the exploration I love. 

4. Super Mario World (1990; SNES, GBA, NS Sub) - "World" has my interest. I can't stand repeating levels like in SMB3, which I nonetheless really like, so I'm hoping this will be more enjoyable to me. 

5. Kirby's Dream Land (1992; GB, Kirby's Dream Collection, NS Sub) - I've had Kirby's Dream Collection for the Wii a long time and have always been intrigued by the Kirby games I've tried. Really, this was the starting place for this month's theme, Kirby games. 

6. Super Mario Land 2 (1992; GB, NS Sub) - Thankfully, a lot of these games are on the Switch subscription service. 

7. Kirby's Adventure (1993; NES, GBA, KDC, NS Sub) - More Kirby. I recall seeing even more Kirby games on the Switch subscription service than are in the Dream Collection. I may try those out too. 

8. Mega Man X (1993; SNES, Legacy Collection) - I can never get anywhere in the main series, but the X series seems a bit different and perhaps more my style. I love the graphics of these games at least. 

9. Disney's Aladdin (1994; Genesis, Disney Classic Games Collection) - It's a classic, looks great, and maybe I can get through it. We'll see. 

10. Mega Man X2 (1994; SNES, LC) - Getting any of these games on their original systems is probably going to be a no go. Every one is a pricey cart. But thank you Legacy Collection. 

Now here is where I'd stop if I had any sense, but likely it will be that I will get past those above and need more games to play. So the list goes on. 

11. Donkey Kong Country (1994; SNES, NS Sub) - An old favorite. I was 27 at the time and remember giving myself blisters playing it so much. I have never beaten it though. 

12. Kirby's Dream Land 2 (1995; GB, KDC) - I'll break out my Wii for this. I'm so glad I picked up the Dream Collection before it got too expensive. 

13. Tails Adventure (1995; Sonic Gems Collection, Sonic Origins Plus) - This spinoff of Sonic has "adventure" in the title, so it must be for me, right? I'm keen on getting those two collections above even though I'm not a huge Sonic fan, because I love collections. 

14. Mega Man X3 (1995; SNES, LC) - Certainly I will have the X Legacy Collection on Xbox sometime in April and be able to play this. I've seen it go on sale several times over the last year. 

15. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995; GBA, NS Sub) - I've always loved Yoshi for some reason. Maybe I just like platform characters that swallow and spit out things: Blob, Kirby, Yoshi. I think it's an interesting mechanic to have in a game that gives you lots of possibilities. 

16. DKC 2 (1995; SNES, NS Sub) - I've played only a few levels of this over the years. It just seemed more difficult than the first one, but I gotta give it another shot. 

17. Kirby Super Star (1996; SNES, 3DS, KDC, NS Sub) - More Kirby -- gotta try them all. Love Kirby. 

18. DKC 3 (1996; SNES) - I saw the first two games on the Switch subscription service, but I don't remember seeing 3. That could be a problem. At one time I had all the SNES carts, but my collection is always growing and shrinking like it was a strange living, breathing blob -- things get absorbed, things get spit out.  

19. Kirby's Dream Land 3 (1997; GB, KDC, NS Sub) - That Dream Collection is so great. There are so many Kirby games in that for the Wii. 

20. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (1997; PS, Wii, Klonoa Phantasy Revierie Series) - I've always liked the Klonoa games with their 2.5 D environments and their slightly more accessible gameplay. Maybe I just need platformers for babies. Maybe that's my real theme. 

21. Wario Land 3 (2000; GBC, NS Sub) - After being totally blown away by Wario Land Shake It on the Wii recently, I have to try some other Wario games. Plus, it has "land" in the title. 

22. Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (2001; PS2, Phantasy Reverie Series) - I'm sure I had this PS2 game a while back, but at least I can get the remaster on Xbox now. 

23. Wario Land 4 (2001; GBA, NS Sub) - Switch subscription service to the rescue! It's become a really great resource for me and will be especially in April -- save me some bucks. 

And that's where I'm stopping for now. It'll be a good test to see what specific types of platformers I can get really get into. It's always been a genre I've sort of disliked because of the repetition. I'm not the sort of brain that enjoys replaying a level to perfect it. I need to keep exploring and seeing new things to keep my interest. Should be fun though.