Ever wondered what video games like Mario Super Bros. are known as where your character jumps around from platform to platform fighting adversaries and completing missions? Such games are called platformers, or when specifically 2D they are called 2D platformers. But What is a 2D platformer game exactly? In this blog, we will find out what is a 2D platformer and what different subgenres it has. Let’s discover the quick methods to distinguish between various subgenres of platformers.
What is a 2d Platformer Game?
The term “Platformer” refers to a video game genre where you engage in a play that is all about running and jumping, and the objective in these games is to reach a certain point, from one end to another. In platform games, the platforms or terrains are uneven, and overcoming them is ultimately the challenge.
This subgenre of action video games is mostly infamous because of the retro titles that take place in 2D. The video game genre may have evolved massively, and the newer titles have circulated all around the world but people still opt to play 2D platformers instead of experiencing modern games. The credit goes to commercially successful video games like The Mario Super Bros, Dead Cells, and Sonic the Hedgehog, as they are all based on 2D platforming experience. They all approach the genre pretty much the same.
These world-class titles boast platformer mechanics, allowing players to experience how intricate and mesmerizing the action genre can be.
The advent of the classic platformers increased the genre’s relevancy, and since people still rate platformers highly, modern games aim to imitate classic titles.
Core Mechanics of 2D Platformers
The availability of jump and basic movement buttons is the defining element of the platformers, players have to complete any given stage by using the movement and jump buttons. In some cases, platformers include climb or crawl buttons, which realistically is a testament to the brilliance of those meticulously presented games.
In platformers, the designs of levels are intricate and astonishing. The unique platforming experience is all due to the distinctive pattern of the levels that most platforming games use. Sometimes, the obstacles are the huge gaps between the platforms.
Platformers also include adversaries that lurk around the platforms. Whoever the enemy might be, the goal is to either defeat them or outmaneuver them. Since most platformers are challenging, players apply different tactics to complete the stages that may appear too difficult.
Generally, most 2D platformers feature moderate-paced play, where decision-making can’t be problematic. However, immersing in platformers with fast-paced gameplay can be a bit of a hustle. You either have to aim for the completion of the game in one fell swoop, or work strategically to complete the game.
What is a 2d Side-scrolling Platform Video Game?
All side-scrolling games are platformers, but all platformers can’t be side-scrolling games. Side-scrolling is also a type of platformer genre, where the camera follows the central character. The players view the game’s content through a side camera.
It’s impossible for the games that take place in 3D to be considered platformers because the camera angle in those games isn’t sidewise. The games mentioned earlier are all side-scrolling titles. Taking place in 2D, those video games feature a protagonist who is always followed by the camera. It doesn’t matter if you refer to side-scrolling games as 2D side-scrolling games, because the genre only features games that come in 2-Dimensions.
Why 2D Platformers Are Still Relevant
To date, many dynamic corporations invest try to acquire sponsors to create platformers. The reason to do so is because the genre is still alive. While some fans don’t even understand what is a 2D platformer game, others prefer platformers because they are more enchanting than highly graphics-fidelity games. There are several factors affecting the relevance of Platformers, let’s discover a few.
- Accessible and Simple: Platformer games are unlike those games where you need to read an entire manual just to get started. Understanding game mechanics in platformers is easy. Platformers are still relevant because purchasing or acquiring highly intriguing titles is frankly very lightwork.
- Innovative and Dynamic Genre: The core mechanics for platformers can’t be changed, but the concept surely can be. This is essentially why every other platformer is authentic and different from the other. Platformers can be extremely dynamic, making changes to the theme and setting gets you a new creative title ready.
- Nostalgia Factor: Platformers offer intensive gameplay even though the genre has evolved and is already past its peak. Sometimes the biggest factor for its relevancy is the gamers’ emotions and connection with the genre. They play classic cults like Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog to evoke the nostalgia.
Final Words on What is a 2d Platformer Game?
2D platformers or platformers are a subgenre of action video games where the protagonist or the central character takes on challenges in the 2-dimensional environment. The challenges are the uneven platformers, different terrains, persistent adversaries, and sometimes the environment itself. In 2D platformers, the screen scrolls to the sides, which makes the game predictable, fascinating, and exhilarating.
Share your perception of the genre, and tell us “What is a 2d platformer game?” through the comments. Tearsgamers brings you exciting quality content, make sure to check out our new blogs.
FAQs Related to “What is a 2d Platformer Game”
What does 2D platformer mean?
Platformers take place in both 2D and 3D, however, people are more familiar with 2D platformers. The challenge in platformers is to beat the stage by jumping on uneven platforms or blocks.
What is considered a platformer game?
A video game where you have to run and jump on uneven terrains and grounds, whether it takes place in 2D or 3D, these games are called platformers.
Is Mario a 2D platformer?
Mario the classic platformer was a 2D-based game. Similarly, one of the most recent titles Super Mario Bros. Wonder is also in 2D.
What is the hardest platformer game?
If you can bear to not break your mobile out of pure rage, Trap Adventure 2 is something you just can’t miss out on. People claim it is one of the most challenging video games.
Who is the king of platformers?
When talking about platformers, Super Mario has to be mentioned in the conversation, it has paved the path for modern platformers and is considered the king of platformers due to that reason.
Are platformers good for your brain?
Platformers encourage critical thinking, improve motor skills, enhance memory, and also level up reaction time. Platformers indeed are good for your brain.
