Top 5 3D Platformer Games

Last year, I've recently made my own favourite top 5 2D platformer games on my gaming blog, so if any of you haven't seen my top 5 2D platformer games that I've made it last year, please go check it out on this link below:

https://zeeshanmirzasblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/top-5-2d-platformer-games.html

Okay, moving on this topic right now.

We all know that 3D platformer has revolutionised the gaming industry due to success of the game titles from the mid-90's that becoming a huge pioneer of the genres. The game such as Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, Sonic Adventures and many of the 3D platformer titles that made our gaming childhood so amazing at times. I had fun playing different kinds of 3D platformer titles when I was younger back in my days and this genres is so much different from the 2D platformer genres that features third-dimensional perspective in which has unique 3D gameplay style, creative level design that allow players to freely explore around, puzzle-solving aspects, and cartoony graphics design that appeal to all younger audience. I decided to make my list of favourite 5 game that I really enjoyed the most for the replay values, gameplay and presentation, so here is my top 5 3D Platformer Games.



5 - Rayman 2: The Great Escape

Ubisoft had proper nails it with this amazing series was known for goofy characters, wicked sense of humor, and epic platforming adventures. The developer team wanted to move forward from the 2D game with 3D perspective for the sequel of first Rayman's title. The game takes place in a world called the Glade of Dreams where it been invaded by armada of interstellar Robo-Pirates, who led by the villain named Admiral Razorbeard. The main hero Rayman, who are being locked in the prison, have managed to escape from the pirate ship along with his friend Globox, but as it both turns out got separated at the end after falling from the ship. He continues to set his quest to find Ly the Fairy, who was held captured by Robo-Pirates, and his missing friend Globox in lost whereabouts.

I find the presentation of the game is really quite fascinating that puts a positiveness of the dark storyline and memorable characters that really fits the whole series well. I love the style of cinematic design with silly gibberish voices (while PS1 version uses english spoken language) and great story dialogue that kept the game quite interesting. The game has gloomy environments and cartoony graphics design that gives a game more rich looking 3D title that really adds the game's atmosphere. Controlling Rayman is quite straightforward which he has ability to jump, use helicopter hair, his fists can be shot with energy orbs, and swing over large gaps using Purple Lums which adds the benefits of gameplay style. The game is really fun to play because of platforming adventures segments has flying rocket barrels where Rayman uses the barrels as flying rocket to reach at new areas, the giant plums that bounces through the lava stages, and riding on metal chair through laser lines where you have to evade the hazards objects. Then you will have an epic boss battles such as one eye magician where you have to jump on head-skull, the ice guardian where you have to swing with purple lums without falling into ground, and evading the head pyramid creature on lava stage which gains more variety of platforms.

This is by far not just the best sequels in the series, but definitely being the best 2D to 3D transitions of gaming. The game was available on various of versions such as N64, PS1, Dreamcast, and PC, while its also been ported to GBC as Rayman 2: Forever, PS2 as Rayman Revolution, DS as Rayman DS and 3DS as Rayman 3D.



4 - Crash Bandicoot: Warped

      

During the console wars in mid-90s where the first Playstation was hit the market in year 1994, at the times where Sony did not have their own video game mascots until Naughty Dog came over to join Sony to develop their own 3D platformer title called Crash Bandicoot which was commercially successful at the game's release has sold over 6 million units as being the eighth best-selling PlayStation game of all time. The successful of first game has spawned with numerous of sequels throughout the series, so my favourite Crash title on the series was Crash Bandicoot: Warped for PS1 and also available for PS4, XBONE, Switch and PC as part of HD remastered collection called Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy. The game takes places after the events of previous titles. The main villain Dr. Neo Cortex has landed onto the Earth and unleashes an evil entity known as Uka Uka, which is Aku Aku's evil twin brother, who joins with Cortex and plans to gather powerful Crystals which allowing them to use their energy to take over the Earth. It focuses on Crash and his sister was been informed by Aku Aku, who already senses his brother's evil plans, orders two of them to stop Dr. Neo Cortex and Uka Uka from gathering the powerful crystals by collecting themselves.

I say this is a better sequel to the previous two titles with more variation of gameplay including new levels, more Crash's abilities, and mini-games that made the game worth playing. You take control of ether Crash or Coco to complete throughout the stages by collecting gems, crystals, fruits and relics, and heading to the finishing line. The whole levels are filled with hazardous objects and enemies, and it also has bonus areas where you have to complete through the area and collect everything as possible which makes the game quite challenging to play for all experienced players due to excellent level design choices. What made the game quite fun was the mini-game segment such as jet ski stages where you had to sail through the sea to the goal, motor-bike stages where you had to race against opponent to head at the finishing line with 1st Place rank, and dogfight stages where you take control of fighting plane to take down those enemy's planes which made the game quite fun to play.  Despite the awesome gameplay, I really liked the whole presentation which offers comedic characters with wicked personality, very simplistic and easy to follow storylines, different sets of locations and of course hilarious Crash Bandicoot's funniest death animations that made the game quite entertaining.

This is by far one of the Naughty Dog's finest 3D platformer titles for the Playstation system in mid-90s which is recommended for all fan of this genres, but you can also play it on PS4, XBONE, Switch and PC version through HD remastered trilogies.



3 - Banjo-Kazooie

   














After the success of Nintendo's Super Mario 64 has spread the influence to developers team to make their own 3D platformer title. Rare (A.K.A Rareware) made their own 3D platformer title which is very similar to Super Mario 64, so here are Banjo-Kazooie for Nintendo 64 which was released in mid-90's, and it was also released later for Microsoft's Xbox 360 as downloadable HD title and Xbox One as part of the Rare Replay collection.

The game focuses on Bear named Banjo and his sidekick bird named Kazooie as they set their quest to prevent Witch Gruntilda's plans to switch her beauty with Banjo's sister, Tooty. The game involves collecting jigsaw pieces to open up new level by completing challenges like solving puzzles, jumping over obstacles, collecting items, and defeating opponents which uses a similar manners as the Super Mario 64. Banjo has his ability to use his punching, jumping, rolling and swimming, while Kazooie uses her ability such as flying, shooting eggs and giving Banjo a boost which adds the variety of 3D gameplay style. The game has over 9 levels with interesting sets of locations such as mountain, snowy, desserts, beach, halloween, and many more places to explore the 3D world goodness. This N64 classic has incredible graphics for the systems hardware filled with colourful environment and scenery, smoother character's animation and really good use of special effects that shines the 3D platformer titles for N64 library.

At the game's release, it was a critical and commercial success which sold over 1.8 million copies, and they called Banjo-Kazooie a worthy successor to Super Mario 64. It was followed by later titles such as Banjo-Tooie as the being the last game on N64 which were also receiving a same praise as the original, and until Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts on X360 which unfortunately it didn't give a series any justice, poor Banjo-Kazooie had a rough times on Microsoft's consoles, so I wish Rare could come back to Nintendo once again.



2 - Sonic Adventure

I grew up playing classic Sonic games back in my days when SEGA bought out their legendary hit title for SEGA Genesis/Megadrive, so that was Sonic the Hedgehog, a 2D platformer game that became worldwide successful and gaining universally praised by critics and fans calling it the greatest game of all time. The success of the first game has spawned with numerous of sequels, spin-offs, animated TV series, and mechandises which makes Sonic becoming a popular video game mascots behind their competitors Nintendo's Mario.
There's one of the game that been transitioned from 2D to 3D for SEGA Dreamcast in 1998, so that was Sonic Adventure which is a 3D platformer game that you take control of Sonic and his friends in their quests to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds and stop Doctor Robotnik from unleashing Chaos.

Each of the playable characters have their own special abilities and storylines throughout the game. The game was mixed between open-world elements where you can able to explore the different locations and action stages is where you have to complete the stages depending which characters you playing as, so there are objectives on each characters such as Sonic, Tails and Amy must reach at the goal, Knuckles must find three missing crystals of the Master Emerald, Big must retrieve his pet frog by using his fish-rod, and Gamma must fight his way through stages using his weapon. There are some decent mini-game segments on this game such as rail-shooting where you have to take control of Tails's fighting plane before reaching to Dr. Robotnik's aircraft, The racing in twinkle park where you have to race through the stages at the end, and Sandboarding or Snowboarding part is where you have to evade the hazardous objects while reaching at the end.
Despite the game has open-world elements and action stages, there are one of the place at Chao Garden where you can spend time petting and interacting with little virtual pet named Chao, so what really made the game interesting is that you can able to transfer Chao through its VMUs unit which allows you to play mini-game called Chao Adventure which involves Chao walks through a course to evolve and improve its skills, and there are a mini-game competitions called Chao Races is where Chao has to beat the race for its performance.

I find the game quite epic is due to fast-paced gameplay style, excellent level with great objectives, cool storylines, and some decent characters except the god awful Big the Cat didn't impressed me at much, but the whole game are quite fun to play on SEGA's last consoles. I really like collecting Chaos emeralds, exploring the whole levels, spending time with Chao, playing some mini-game, and has great action including the boss battles. The best part of this game is the rocking soundtrack by Crush 40 has made the best soundtrack in Sonic series that fits the action packed 3D platformer title.
I know most of the people argued that the game hasn't aged too well for long time after the game got ported to later console platforms, but Sonic Adventure is still remains to be a all-time classics that defines the Dreamcast's system library.



1 - Super Mario 64

Super Mario are always been one of the most ironic video game franchises that changed gaming industries throughout the year. It is a huge landmark of platforming genres which was created by Nintendo's most legendary creator Shigeru Miyamoto who was known for his work of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong franchises. Back in 80's when NES hits the market in Worldwide, there was a game that made the system popular was Super Mario Bros is a simple 2D platformer that became commercially success that helped the NES becoming a best-selling system of third generation era. The success of Super Mario Bros has spawned with numerous of sequels, spin-offs, animated TV series, and mechandises which makes Mario a most beloved video game mascots in history. There is one of the game that blew me away when I had Nintendo 64 as Christmas gift in my mid-90s days, so that was Super Mario 64 is a 3D platformer which was one of the first Mario game that been transitioned to 3D world. Looks like Princess Peach been kidnapped by King Bowser once again and the plumber hero named Mario has to set his adventure to rescue her again, yeah just like every of Mario games.

You take control of Mario in a 3D world which can be controlled with N64's analogue stick which utilised the 360's degrees movement, and your goal is to rescue Peach by collecting stars throughout the objectives and beating the bowser, so you can able to access new levels and areas in Peach's Castle, but you can also search for the hidden stars at the Peach's Castle. This game featured with 15 levels that has 6 stars each to collect, so there are lot of memorable locations such as Bob-Omb Battlefield, Whomp's Fortress, Jolly Roger Bay, Cool, Cool Mountain and many more to explore. The whole presentation of the game is quite well done with different sets of locations and scenery which fits well for Mario's titles. There are some of the memorable side-enemies in the game such as Goombas, Koopas Troopas, Bob-Omb, Big Fish with Sunglasses and Piranha plant, while most of the side-boss characters such as King Bob-omb, Big Boo, Big Bully, and all others are quite looked amazing in the game. I find the gameplay is very straigntforward which helps me to learn how to use Mario's moveset such as triple jumping, backfilp, acrobat, and dive forward which adds the newest techniques for 3D platformer titles. I love exploring around the levels which encouraged me to find hidden secrets, collecting stars, puzzle-solving and battling bosses that adds the fun factor of the game, and I liked visiting most of the levels that takes place in hot, icey, sandy, watery, and gloomy environments which makes the atmosphere quite amazing for N64 titles because Nintendo's development team knew how to fit the whole game well regarding the limitation of N64 cartridge. The game has the best original soundtrack ever on Nintendo's library making it the most memorable video game music in history.

Super Mario 64 is regarded as being the most revolutionised game of 3D genre has spawn the influence to different video game developers such as SEGA's Sonic Team, Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, Crystal Dynamics, and many more. This is must own game for every video game collectors to experience the 3D platformer goodness on N64 system.



Honorable mentions:

Jak and Dexter
Ratchet and Clank series
Spyro the Dragon series
Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2
Sonic Colors
Sonic Generation
Sonic Adventures 2
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Banjo-Tooie
Sly Cooper series
Ape Escape 2
Gex 3D: Enter the Gecko


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This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging everyone. 
     

The Evil Within 2 PS4 Review

The Evil Within 2 (A.K.A Psycho Break 2 in Japan) is a survival horror game for PS4, XBONE and PC, which was developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is a sequel to 2014's game The Evil Within was originally released for PS4, PS3, XBONE, X360, and PC.

3 years ago, I have reviewed the first The Evil Within, which I've regarded the game as being really good horror game for modern day gaming, so if you want to check out my review on The Evil Within, the link is down below:

The Evil Within PS4 Review: https://zeeshanmirzasblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-evil-within-ps4-review.html

Okay moving on this game now. My thoughts and final opinion on this game has turned out to be a amazing horror experience. Many fans of the survivor horror genres have argued that the sequel are far more better than the originals due to improved character's development and storylines, soild atmospheres and much larger gameplay design that made the game quite entertaining, so the answer is they are absolutely right and I actually prefer this sequel over the original. The Evil Within 2 has given me a positive impressions that the game has to offer, so I was amazed that the creator behind Resident Evil series did such amazing job of how his development team can keep up with the project that turned into a finest horror game of this generation.

So without go further do, lets start the review.



Presentation

This game takes place after the events of the original game. The story focuses on main protagonist named Sebastian Castellanos who had left his police department after his terrifying experience of Beacon Mental Hospital. Due to loss of his family has caused his regular lifestyle to becoming alcoholic and pissed off until he was approached by his former partner Juli Kidman, who currently worked with MOBIUS, reveals to him that his daughter Lily is still alive which he never believed her until he was been taken to secret MOBIUS facility and accepted Kidman's help that lead him into the STEM system entering at nightmarish locations that filled with horrid creatures, so his mission is to search and rescue his lost daughter.

So far what I've noticed about the story perspective is somewhat different from the first game. I gotta be honest with the story of the game are actually bit better than what I've expected because the storyline has interesting dialogue that keeps the game's story going forward as long as you can able to get used too by watching more important cutscenes that keeps getting far better and better. I was surprised that they managed to improve the character's development that keeps them more interesting. Sebastian Castellanos is quite aggressive than was before which he looked like a pissed off version of Sad Keanu and then it has Juli Kidman haven't changed a lot since the first game, but they still managed to make her personality quite decent to keep it more ongoing throughout the story. Most of the villains in the game are surprisingly better than the first ones. It has crazy middle-aged emo named Stefano Valentini and demonic priest named Father Theodore are the main highlights of the whole game, while I don't recall Sebastian's wife Myra a villain which she was already being cursed by the Theodore's evil power which led her into a monster, but she still aims to protect Lily by keeping Sebastian away from her, while he sworn to save his daughter by getting her out of nightmarish places that don't belong here.

The presentation of the game are just gory as the first game. It mixes between survival and psychological aspects of the game that filled with disturbing settings of the environments and hallucination effects that makes the game feels more delusional and terrifying to look. It's feels like I'm inside of dark places that I cannot able to escape from the nightmare places that filled with dead corpses, blood-shattered floor and sadistic medieval themes which adds the genuine game's atmosphere.       

Overall, they have improved the story and characters, and of course it still has gruesome presentation. 



Gameplay

You take control of Sebastian Castellanos to complete each chapters to progress throughout the story.

This game features a larger levels of the game which you can able to explore any of the areas, so you can able to search for collectable items, objectives including side-missions, and resources such as hints which can be appeared on the map options.
I believed the controls scheme is somewhat newly updated, so your sprint and sneak button are now placed onto thumbsticks button which makes it easier to control, but you can always set to classic controls from the option menu depending on your suitable playstyle.
Your character can able to sprint by pressing run button to evade from the enemy nearby and you can do stealth by pressing the sneak button to avoid getting caught by enemy nearby which you will able to notice the eye symbols on top of the screen describing how the enemy reacted to noise of footsteps and noisy environment, but you can also distract them by throwing bottles in random places. Using the flashlight will help able to help you through pitch black area and you have communicator device which allows you to spot the hidden signals nearby for its new location and revealing voice documentary.

The combat mechanics has selection of weapons and performing melee attacks. The handgun pistols are pretty basic for its balanced range, the shotgun can give a heavy kills in close range, the assault rifle and sniper rifle are acceptable for its long range and flamethrower allows you to burst fire at the enemies causing to burn them alive. The crossbow weapons has the variety of bolts such as explosion, shock, smoke, harpoon, and freeze which are very handy for its in-game battle. You can perform the melee for its close combat, while its also worked for the stealth attack. Once you have collected the materials such as gunpowder, metal, herbs, nails and others you can able to craft your bullets and bolts for your certain weapons, while you need to craft herbs to create medical items which restores your health bar. After collecting the weapons parts and green gels, you can use them through the Sebastian's office in which you can able to upgrade your weapons through workbench allowing to improve your fire rate, reloading time, firepower, and accuracy throughout your weapon selection and the green gel can upgrade your character's abilities through customisation seating which allows you to select these 5 divided trees to improve your health, stealth, combat, recovery and athleticism that benefits your character's abilities.

So far, the combat mechanics is quite playable at the times which I didn't have any problem in the game. The weapons are quite useful for its survival with acceptable aiming controls, great shooting collisions and fine melee hit detection that made the combat gameplay plays good. The character's movement are also great for its both stealth and lethal purposes especially with having an options to change controls types for its preferred gameplay style. Upgrading the weapons and abilities can be also rewarding which helps the player to make them stronger and powerful. I really enjoyed exploring around the levels which adds the new discovery in the levels, the side-missions are also pretty good, but it's kinda bummer that it only has 3 side-missions, so I wish they could have added more side-missions in the game would have been nice. The whole action in the game are very entertaining when fighting with bunch of monsters including boss battles that keeps you satisfied with this game. There are options to change perspective from Third-Person to First-Person view, but I finding the FPS view is bit clunky compared with Resident Evil 7, so I kinda prefer playing The Evil Within 2 with normal third-person view. 
I'm very glad that the developer teams did keep up with this project that made the game really fun to play.

Overall, it has larger levels, great combat gameplay and entertaining battles.



Graphics

The game was running on STEM engine which uses a heavily modified version of Id tech 5. It allows the graphics engine to render a better texture mapping, environments and the use of animations. So far, the character's animation is looked quite realistic for the newer title, as you can see their facial features and body movement is just amazing in the whole game. The level environments are quite detailed in the game as you can see the whole design of houses, buildings and others has great use of textures mapping to make it look more clearer. I also loved the gory special effects that has blood splatted everywhere on the floor and it also fills with the body organs of dead corpses that are really terrifying indeed and it has the variety of illusion effects for its psychological purposes to make you feel even more mindf**ked in the game. It's very well done for its quality graphics that looked even better when running on 4KTV which adds the full crispy look of the game itself.


Overall, it has realistic character's animation, clearer environments, and terrifying special effects.       



Music and Sounds

The music is quite similar to the first game as it did such a good job for its composing the original soundtrack. It adds the mood of the game which features a sinister music part for its darker sequences and some are a bit calmer music in different cinematic part. I'm surprised that the cover version of Duran Duran's songs Ordinary World was featured at the end credits is sounds pretty good to listen. I say I really liked the dark atmospheric of sound effects which fits really well on the darker settings of the game as you can able to hear the hellish background voices of monsters and some of them are disturbing shock screams which adds the horror creepiness in the game. I also liked the part where I get chased by the crazy ghost bitch that really scares the shit of me with my PS4 controller, so that means you can able to hear her voice through the speaker which is kinda impressive for the horror titles. I believe the voice cast has improved over the first originals, which adds the character's personality and it uses the better dialogue to keep the story more interesting which gets the whole job done right.


Overall, it has great music, hellish sound effects and improved voice over. 



Special Features

The game featured with Last Chance DLC pack which features burst handgun and other items. It also has new game plus, 2 mini game mode such as score attack and gallery shootout, and FPS mode through updatable patches. You can also earn a collectables in single-player campaign such as figurine, sildeshow photos and others.


Overall, it has DLC pack, collectables, mini-game, and new game plus.



Advantages

Gruesome presentation

Improved story and characters

Great combat gameplay

Large levels to explore

Realistic graphics

Impressive music and sounds

Decent special features



Disadvantages

Clunky FPS Mode

Short side-missions



Final Verdict


Presentation 7.5/10 - Improved story and characters, and gruesome presentation.

Gameplay 8.5/10 - larger levels, great combat gameplay and entertaining battles.

Graphics 8.5/10 - Realistic character's animation, clearer environments, and terrifying special effects.

Music and sounds 8.5/10 - Great music, hellish sound effects and improved voice over.

Special Features 8/10 - DLC pack, collectables, mini-game, and new game plus.


Overall 8.5/10 - The fans of the genres will able to enjoy their horror experience of this excellent sequel to the first original. I was satisfied with the dialogue plot and character's development which makes a magnificent improvement that keeps the story ongoing. Due to gruesome presentation which features psychological themes and delusional scenes that made the game quite bloody fun to watch and I was impressed with the use of combat gameplay and larger levels which fills with entertaining boss battles and exploration for newer discovery. So far, its genuinely a better sequel of the series and I hope the creator will able to make another The Evil Within game in the future. If you're into with the horror genres for gaming then go buy this game.


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