Since 1985, the debut of the first and undoubtedly most famous game in the genre (you know what I'm talking about), platforming games have endeared almost every person who's ever come into contact with a video game. While the genre did become a bit stale and repetitive after Super Mario 64 (for obvious reasons), thankfully, the genre's beginning to make a major comeback into the realms of charm and originality that enchanted us ever since the days that plumbers first started launching turtle shells into little brown mushrooms in the hopes of rescuing the princess who was always in another castle. Here, I list what, in my opinion, are the top 10 platforming games, from 1985 to the present.

As most fans of platformers know, most of the Spyro series consists of little more than Mario 64 clones (and, upon hitting the PS2/GBA, bad ones at that). The very first game in the series is the exception to the rule. Free of inane "Find the orbs/talismans/dragon eggs/whatever stupid objects we could think of" quests, Spyro has one goal at its core; free as many of the imprisoned dragons as you can and torch the ass of the creature responsible. The first Spyro is free of inane mini-games (with the exception of the always-fun flight levels); freeing a dragon consists of little more than touching it. The real challenge lies in the artfully-crafted levels, which often hide dragons in the cleverest of places and require complete mastery of Spyro's abilities. Coupled with a charming soundrack and secrets galore, it's a shame the rest of the series couldn't live up to its standards.

If the name doesn't get you scratching your head in wonder, the premise will; you are Klaymen, an indescribable being of clay who is called upon for help by Jerry-O, a Skullmonkey, when "a bad, bad man" named Klogg is hailed as King of the Skullmonkeys by Jerry-O's generally stupid and gullible race and commands his followers to build a massive machine to destroy Klaymen's home, the Neverhood (By the way, a Skullmonkey is exactly what it sounds like). Skullmonkeys is a 2D platformer with a truly bizarre sense of style. Not only are the entire game's environments made of clay, but you'll encounter such outlandish weapons as the Hamster Shield and the almighty Universe Enema to aid you in your battle against Klogg's army of Skullmonkeys. With tricky levels and an equally-bizarre soundtrack (just give the Bonus Room music a listen, and you'll know what I mean), Skullmonkeys is a truly unique platformer whose otherworldly strangeness has yet to be matched.

A rare Genesis gem that, thankfully, has gotten a lot of recent exposure, Ristar is often thought of as the Genesis's swan song, the last truly excellent game on the console before it faded into obscurity. Ristar takes Sonic's original concept of a rabbit with extendable ears that could grab and throw objects and transfers it into Ristar, an adorable little shooting star with arms that would make Stretch Armstrong whistle Dixie. The entire game focuses on using your arms to do such things as attack enemies, grab onto poles that can launch you to new places, and climbing walls. Many are turned off by its childish atmosphere; unfortunately for them, they miss out on Ristar's artfully-crafted worlds, which often feature multiple routes and limitless possiblities for completion. Combine it all with one of the most memorable soundtracks on the Genesis, and what you've got is a stroke of genius worthy of being called a classic.

Some may wonder why I've placed what has been largely hailed as the greatest video game of all time so low on the list, and that can be attributed to two things, First, its utterly horrendous camera system led to too many an unfair death. Second, it was almost TOO good, if such a thing were possible; it would unintentionally ruin 90% of the platforming genre for almost a decade due to an ungodly amount of clones. These two minor faults aside, Mario 64 is still a platforming work of art. Each and every star's task require a degree of thought and planning rarely seen in platformers since, and its wit and charm surpassed every other game of its time. Though you actually need less than half of the game's 120 stars in order to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser's insidious claws, some quality about Mario 64 that to this day I can't put my finger on compels you to go further, to get "just one more star" until, soon, you have all 120 without even realizing you've done so. With so many different twists, surprises, and secrets, Mario 64 has a unique presence that few platform games have since matched.

In a genre that had basically become an endless sea of Mario 64 mimics, the original Ratchet and Clank brought a breath of fresh air to an otherwise stale genre with its unique mission-based gameplay mixed with a massive arsenal of weapons, ranging from a Chicken Ray (it's exactly as it sounds) to a homing-rocket launcher of death. Unfortunately, its gameplay was a bit on the basic side, and while the second installment brought some new ideas to the table, it still felt like more of the same. It wasn't until Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal that the series would truly shine. Whereas a skilled player could simply beat their way through enemies with Ratchet's wrench in the two previous incarnations, Up Your Arsenal arranges them in such clever ways that to use your stockpile of weapons soon becomes an unwritten rule. No matter what kind of situation you may get stuck in, chances are you'll have a weapon that'll see you through. Surrounded by tiny little Tyhrranoid grunts? Suck 'em up with the Suck Cannon and launch 'em at that giant robot over yonder. Dropships got you cornered? Use the Devastator to blast them out of the sky. Coupled with field missions (complete with robotic soldiers that fought with AI) and a fresh batch of Arena challenges, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal is sure to satisfy any platforming fan's lust for alien blood.

Crash Bandicoot was an excellent game, but it had two glaring faults; its gameplay was too simplistic, and it was hard to a fault. The requirement of a flawless trek through a level to get one of the game's coveted Gems was nightmarish, especially in some of the game's later stages (Cortex Power, anyone?). When Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back was released, it corrected both of these faults by eliminating the "no death" requirement for (most) gems while simultaneously making the game twice as engaging. While admittedly easy for the casual gamer, Crash 2 offers a whole new level of depth for those willing to invest the time required to collect each and every one of the game's 42 gems. Certain crucial crates are usually hidden away in the cleverest of places; a few levels have multiple sections, some of which will only unlock after entering hidden portals in OTHER levels. With subsequent games focusing more on cool vehicles instead of platforming tact, Crash 2, as of current, stands proud as the only truly great Crash game to ever see the light of day.

While often hailed as the greatest Mega Man game ever made, it is also one of the best platformers to ever grace the NES. After the excellence that was Mega Man 2, it seemed nigh impossible for another Mega Man game to top its level of genius. To many a gamer's surprise, Mega Man 3 did just that; it not only introduced such series staples as the crucial slide maneuver, Mega Man's trusty dog, Rush (who can transform into a variety of useful tools, effectively replacing Mega Man 2's Items), the awesomeness that is ProtoMan, and eight all-new Robot Masters, but it also hails as the only Mega Man game in which you are required to play through certain levels TWICE (in harder versions) and challenge the eight Robot Masters from the PREVIOUS game. Until the X series, no subsequent Mega Man game would even come close the sheer brilliance of the original series' third and arguably last excellent intsallment.

What Mega Man 3 is to the Mega Man universe, Sonic 2 is the exact equivalent to the Sonic series. While the addition of series mainstay Miles "Tails" Prower adds an interesting 2-Player co-op angle to the game, the game's true highlight is its unerring focus on sheer speed. Most levels (particularly the Chemical Plant and Aquatic Ruin zones) are designed to make the most out of Sonic's excessive horsepower; when such high levels of speed are attained, the sense of euphoric excitement one gets while playing cannot be matched. Furthermore, the Chaos Emeralds now have a use. After collecting all seven and gaining 50 rings in a level, one is granted the ability to change into Super Sonic, a superfast entity of speed and invulnerablity that allows the player to blaze through the current level with reckless abandon. Sonic 2's high-speed excitement would later be phased out with the increased emphasis on exploration placed in later installments, but the moments we got in this one game serve to place it among the best Genesis games of all time.

While Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was a beautiful game whose wit and charm could rival the almighty Mario 64's, let's face it: it was too dang cute and too dang easy. Jak II changed all that, and a few other things besides. While to the average gamer, a cross between platformer and GTA-esque action game would seemingly spell disaster, the developers of Naughty Dog found a way to make the two genres feel at home in one another's company. The dirty, dystopian metropolis of Haven City, where most of the driving and shooting missions take place, contrast flawlessly with the lush and tropical (if a bit industrialized) platforming areas outside the city walls. What is perhaps most enthralling about Jak II, however, is its engaging storyline and its seamless integration into the game; even the most frivolous missions help to somehow advance Jak's quest for revenge against the evil Baron Praxis, who turned Jak into a dark Eco-crazed monster (that you can change into at will during the game). It's a shame it didn't get more appreciation than it did, considering how it pushed the envelope for what a platforming game could be.

I know you're not surprised. Let's face it; it's almost unwritten fact that Super Mario Bros. 3 is the best platforming game of all time. Never before and never since has a platforming game so seamlessly integrated challenging puzzles, meticulous jumps across lethal chasms and oceans, and pulse-pounding action into one extravagant package. Mario 3 features a staggering variety of stages, ranging from desert wastelands and freezing glaciers to a paradise in the heavens and a world where the rules of size no longer apply. If that wasn't enough, Mario 3 also offers a treasure trove of secrets; everything from simple bonus chambers to an entire room that changes into a sea of coins in the blink of an eye can be found somewhere if you look hard enough. Mario 3 is a game that has transcended time, conquered age, and exceeded excellence to such a degree that it is no longer simply a video game, but is almost a work of art, something to be venerated. Truly, Mario 3 is a that will remain a shining example of a genre done right, in every age and for all time.

Well, there you have it; the ten platforming games that I believe exceed all others. While there are platforming games out there that take one gameplay aspect and do it exceptionally well, these games either get everything right or offer something so unique that it simply can't be found anywhere else. While some may disagree with me on some parts, anyone who has played these ten games cannot deny that they are truly excellent, each in their own right. The fact that the platform genre offers such diverse experiences is perhaps the sole reason why, amid modern gaming's massive sea of RPG's and FPS's, gamers still feel compelled to cross yet another bridge of floating ledges and stomp upon another evil henchman's noggin, all in the name of achieving the simple ecstasy of victory that is to be found at the end of the road.

List by Sinspawn_X