Top Ten Sonic the Hedgehog Games

Today, June 23rd, 2021, is Sonic the Hedgehog's 30th anniversary. 30 years ago today in 1991 a blue hedgehog named Sonic took the gaming world by storm with a spin dash, a too-cool-for-school attitude, and a hankering for chili dogs. SPC celebrates the occasion with a special top ten list, presenting the site's picks for the very best of the Blue Blur's biggest and boldest titles. After you've checked out the picks here, which Sonic games would you select as your personal favorites? 

10) Sonic Unleashed (Multi)

The first but nowhere near the last 3D Sonic on our list of top Sonic the Hedgehog games, Sonic Unleashed brought with it an adventure around the world across themed areas based on real-life locales. Using the boost formula that future modern 3D Sonics would utilize, Unleashed also featured a beat-em-up component with some careful precision platforming thrown in via the Werehog. During nighttime stages, Sonic would transform into the burly beast, using his limbs to slash and strike enemies into submission. Whereas during the daytime hours, Sonic sped through levels, blazing a trail. A great speed-running game for the daytime levels, but pretty clunky and cumbersome during nighttime levels, Sonic Unleashed was essentially half a great game.

9) Sonic Rush (DS)

Sonic's debut on the Nintendo DS was a fantastic one, spanning both of the handheld system's screens. Levels sprawled on the dual screen setup, allowing for great verticality in levels, and offering a wider perspective on the action. The extra hardware power of the Nintendo DS gave players boss battles against Eggman's numerous mechanical monstrosities in 3D arenas, truly showing off the capabilities of the system. The introduction of Blaze the Cat was also welcomed, bringing a second adventure to enjoy with her incredible abilities and powers. And no Sonic Rush description would be complete without mentioning the stellar soundtrack composed by Hideki Naganuma of Jet Grind Radio fame, so let's not fail to mention his groovy songs that further heightened this highly capable Sonic game.

8) Sonic Adventure 2 (Multi)

I'm not going to lie here--a lot of my love for Sonic Adventure 2 is based off of nostalgia. It's also based off of the game still being rather good. I'll admit that Knuckles and Rouge's treasure-hunting segments are less than excellent, but they still show signs and semblances of entertainment. Tails and Eggman's shooter sections offer high amounts of action and platforming, while Sonic and Shadow's levels are indeed the pieces de resistance--the greatest part of this package. Sonic Adventure 2 was my first fully-fledged 3D Sonic--not counting games like Sonic 3D Blast that were quasi-3D--so it was a big deal for me. It's part of my adoration and fondness for Adventure 2, and why I hold it so dear to this day. Nostalgia's hard to shake sometimes!

7) Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN)

We couldn't go through a list of Sonic's greatest hits without visiting the game that started it all, now could we? Well, technically we could, but there's no reason to do so when 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog remains such a significant and stupendous game. It of course laid the foundation for Sonic, how he moves, how he handles, how he controls, and it's really amazing to consider all the masterful programming that went into making Sonic work in those loop de loops, blazing fast speeds ("blast processing" marketing speak notwithstanding), and slopes. What I really like most about the original Sonic is that the game gives plenty of moments for breathing. One zone opens itself up for fast speed-runs while the next requires more careful, cautious approaches. The pattern repeats to the very end of the game. 

6) Sonic Colors (Wii)

While PlayStation and Xbox platforms received the bigger entries in the Sonic franchise, "the little motion-control-centric system that could", the Wii, was pretty much given hand-me-downs and smaller Sonic experiences such as Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight, both part of the Storybook Series of games. It wouldn't be until Sonic Colors that a tried and true major release in the Sonic series would spin dash onto the Wii. The wait for a major game was really worth it, as Sonic Colors remains one of my favorite 3D entries in the Sonic series, delivering a mix of stellar 3D and 2D sections and Wisp-based transformations. With Sonic Colors Ultimate heading to all major platforms this September, I eagerly await and anticipate being able to relive my experiences from the Wii days of blasting through Eggman's theme park as the Blue Blur.

5) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (GEN)

After 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic sped onto the Genesis scene once again for a sequel, and it was everything fans wanted from a follow-up. It was bigger, bolder, and dare I say better than the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Double the length of Sonic 1, and offering more zones and variety, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 also added a second playable character, though one that would only be available via co-op and a second controller. This second character was Miles "Tails" Prower, or Tails for short, and would give beginning players (or little brothers like myself whose big brothers wouldn't let them play as Sonic) a chance to tag along with player one through the rather lengthy adventure. 

4) Sonic Generations (PS3, 360, PC)

Sonic's 20th anniversary ten years ago was punctuated by this game, giving players and longtime fans of Sonic something to celebrate over--a fantastic entry in the series. Sonic Generations brought with it two main styles of play: Classic Sonic (generally comprised of 2D levels) and Modern Sonic (generally comprised of--you guessed it--3D levels). Together, the two trekked and sped through familiar zones from pretty much every major past Sonic game, from Sonic 1 all the way to Sonic Colors, for nine zones with two acts total--one act for each version of Sonic. Save for a rather wet fart of a final boss, Sonic Generations was everything I wanted out of a 3D Sonic game, and it remains one of my favorites within the franchise.

3) Sonic & Knuckles (GEN)

As we approach the end of this 30th anniversary list dedicated to Sonic's best game, we'll be sticking strictly to 2D titles from here on out. We begin with Sonic & Knuckles. This game's cartridge used special lock-on technology to allow players to open its top and stick other Sonic games directly into it, such as Sonic 2 (to play the game entirely as Knuckles, for instance), and of course, Sonic 3 to create one extended adventure. But, we're not focused on the latter at the moment--or anything pertaining to the innovative lock-on technology presented to players. Instead, taken by itself, Sonic & Knuckles finally allowed players to assume control of Knuckles as a playable character, opening up levels considerably. Paths Sonic couldn't reach could be traveled to by Knuckles, and vice versa. The game had a solid collection of memorable zones, and one truly spectacular final confrontation with Dr. Robotnik.

2) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN)

Right from the get-go and the beginning of Sonic's adventure on Angel Island, you know you're in for something special as the character Knuckles the Echidna is introduced, the marimba synth of the first zone starts playing, and the beauty that is Sonic the Hedgehog 3's graphics and gameplay begin. Sonic 3 is a marked improvement over its predecessors--and those games were hardly pushovers--making for one marvelous platforming package of six zones of two acts apiece, accentuated by a stupendously catchy soundtrack. Sonic 3 may not have the length of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and it may have that annoying, rather unintuitive barrel in the Carnival Night Zone, but as a whole, it's a phenomenal game. However, it's not THE most phenomenal game in Sonic's 30-year history.

1) Sonic Mania (NSW, PS4, XB1, PC)

Perhaps this is blasphemy to say, but my favorite Sonic game is without question Sonic Mania. Now this is mostly because I'm not combining Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles into one game here, so if I did, this ranking could possibly change. However, as it is, Sonic Mania evoked such warm, happy feelings from this particular player. Between the masterful level designs, return to familiar zones made fresh with new level mechanics and concepts, as well as the four brand-new zones that each felt cohesive to the entire package, Sonic Mania delivered in pretty much all aspects all-around. From the music by Tee Lopes, to the art design, to the level design, to the boss encounters, to the myriad secrets and more, Sonic Mania rushed its way to the top of my list of favorite Sonic games when it launched a few years ago, and it remains at the top of the hedgehog game heap.

The Tuesday 10s: Best 3D Platformers of the Past Ten Years

After a nice, much needed week off, SuperPhillip Central is back with a brand-new article and a brand-new series of articles. Introducing: The Tuesday 10s--themed lists of some of the very best in gaming. Rather than obsess with the order of things like I would do with a top ten list, when it comes to The Tuesday 10s, these lists will be entirely unordered.

Let's kick off this inaugural edition of The Tuesday 10s with a category near and dear to my heart, the 3D platformer. It's a genre that used to be all the rage back when I was a middle school version of myself, but as you can tell by the past tense used, it's not so hot anymore. So, expect to see lots of Mario representation on this first installment of The Tuesday 10s!

I hope for this new article series to show up most Tuesdays on the site. After all, it wouldn't make much sense for The Tuesday 10s to appear on a Wednesday... Now, with all that out of the way, here are my selections for the best 3D platformers of the past ten years!

Super Mario Odyssey (NSW)

Speaking of which, we begin this installment with Super Mario Odyssey, the latest 3D platformer featuring Mario. Taking the idea of the large, expansive playgrounds of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine and absolutely running (and jumping) with the concept, Super Mario Odyssey featured kingdoms that stretched far and wide, offering plenty of platforming, scores of secrets, and multiple opportunities for hunting down stray Power Moons. An abundant supply was hidden throughout each kingdom, and I enjoyed searching for them all. If you wanted to be a completionist, you could do that, but if you just wanted to complete the game with the minimum amount of Power Moons, you could also opt to do that, too. I feel the abundance (or overabundance, if you will) of Power Moons was like a joyous Easter egg hunt, and those with lesser skill could go after the ones that were less challenging to collect, meaning most could beat the game by choosing their own difficulty as it were.

Then, there's Cappy, who offered the ability for Mario to capture the powers and move sets of various objects, items, and enemies, bringing a whole new element to 3D Mario. While many of these were one-offs, the captured items that were used for traversal purposes shined the most. From the sun-soaked sands of Tostarena to the Japanese-style feudal castle of Bowser's Kingdom, every kingdom brought with it new ideas, personality, and charm. I won't call Super Mario Odyssey my favorite of Mario's 3D adventures, but it is darn close.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

Now, THIS. THIS is what I would call my favorite 3D Mario game, if I had to choose. Well, it's definitely my favorite from Mario's repertoire of the past ten years, and it just comes under the wire, too, by about a month. It's of course Super Mario Galaxy 2, a game that greatly expanded on the ideas and concept of the original Galaxy, one of my favorite games of all time, period.

What makes Super Mario Galaxy 2 great is that it's pure, unadulterated platforming goodness. While not open like Super Mario Odyssey, the levels and galaxies are straight up obstacle courses with all the gravitational goodness of its predecessor put to some insanely ingenious uses. I had thought Super Mario Galaxy put the level designers' to the limit, and that they had revealed all of their tricks with that game. I was definitely wrong, as Super Mario Galaxy 2 is even more creative at times. I wanted more Super Mario Galaxy greatness, and that's exactly what I got with its brilliant, super sequel.

Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

Run, jump, and move through a wild assortment of traditional Mario obstacle courses, but this time in 3D. Yes, Super Mario 3D Land was set up essentially as your typical "point A to point B" Mario platformer but instead of being limited to 2D, another dimension was added, creating one incredible experience. 3D Land absolutely offered an amazing stereoscopic 3D experience on the Nintendo 3DS hardware, making it so enemies and objects seemingly popped out of the screen right at you, and made judging jumps easier of an activity than ever before. Super Mario 3D Land may have been built for bite-size play sessions with its mere minutes of gameplay per level, but it was a game that I wasn't able to put down for long periods of time. It's a game, like many on this first Tuesday 10, that I will continue coming back to if not to just marvel at its masterful level design and it being just plain fun to play.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Take the concept of Super Mario 3D Land and make it more suitable for a home console, particularly as Mario's first HD 3D adventure. How do you do that? Ask Nintendo, because that's exactly what they did, and made a much bigger and better game out of it (and you just saw how much I enjoyed 3D Land)! Super Mario 3D World greatly expanded on the level design of its 3DS predecessor, delivering much more complex, sophisticated, and challenging levels. The addition of multiplayer meant up to four players at once could locally scramble around the levels, either helping or hindering one another, depending on how mischievous they were feeling at the time. The Cat Suit stays near the top of my list as one of the best Super Mario power-ups to date, as it was just a blast to claw enemies, climb up walls, and just scurry about. Super Mario 3D World remains one of the few holdovers from the Wii U that has yet to be ported to the Nintendo Switch, but as rumors have hinted, hopefully we won't have to wait too long to see the game arrive on Nintendo's hybrid.

Ratchet & Clank (PS4)

Tying in with the movie from the same year, Ratchet & Clank had a lot less bite to it when compared to the original game--both Ratchet and Clank had a much less strained relationship in the beginning and the character development wasn't as immense from start to finish. That said, nearly everything else about the Ratchet & Clank remake on the PlayStation 4 delivered in spades. The game, for one, looks like a million bolts. It's a game where I had to do a double take--no, triple take--just to confirm that what I was seeing was footage and screenshots from a game and not the movie itself. Various additions like upgrade-able weapons, which the original game lacked, meant that you wanted to use every weapon and gun in the game just to level them up to make them even more useful and powerful than they were. Ratchet & Clank is a shorter game than the 2002 original, but a lot of the unnecessary fat was cut and filler removed. It makes repeated play-throughs, something necessary to do for the Platinum trophy (a fun thing to go for) more enjoyable.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, Vita)

Let's continue with PlayStation platformers with a series that is sadly now in limbo. It's Sly Cooper, and his fourth game, Thieves in Time, was a globe-trotting, time-traveling adventure that granted our clever raccoon various disguises which bestowed him different abilities. Sanzaru Games definitely delivered a delightful romp with Thieves in Time, keeping in spirit of Sucker Punch's signature original trilogy, while adding their own spin to things to keep this fourth entry exciting. It's just an absolute shame that this game ended on a cliffhanger, which at this point in time remains completely unresolved. Will you ever return home, Sly--whether home to your own time, or to a modern PlayStation platform?

Tearaway (Vita) / Tearaway: Unfolded (PS4)

Whether it's Tearaway on the PlayStation Vita or its revised Tearaway: Unfolded version on the PlayStation 4, Media Molecule breathed fresh, creative life into the 3D platforming genre on PlayStation with its papercraft world. Using both the Vita hardware itself and to a lesser extent, the PlayStation 4's DualShock controller, in remarkably novel and ingenious ways, Tearaway could have easily felt like a gimmick-filled 3D platformer. Instead, its "gimmicks" were complementary to the gameplay, from touching the rear pad of the Vita to raise platforms from the ground, to drawing decorations to be plastered around the game world. Tearaway is a delightful game that took risks and mostly succeeded with each. But, what else could you expect from the masterful minds behind creations like LittleBigPlanet and Dreams?

Sonic Generations (PS3, 360, PC)

While not having nearly as many the amount of entries on this Tuesday 10 than his old rival Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog does get some representation on this list, and it's what I and many fans of the Blue Blur consider his best 3D adventure. Sure, half of it is played in a 2D perspective, but let's not split hairs here. What plays out in 3D are some of the best modern stages in Sonic history. Yes, I can hear "well, that's a low bar" from the peanut gallery, but these levels are actually well done and thoughtfully designed. They feature a combination of modern-day Sonic "boost formula" Sonic, where Sonic is cruising through stages at insane speeds, but they also feature careful, precision-based platforming sections as well. It helps, too, that Sonic Generations is in itself a love letter to Sonic fans old and new with its zone selection, picking out levels from each major Sonic game from the original Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis to Sonic Colors on the Nintendo Wii.

A Hat in Time (Multi)

Gears for Breakfast's 3D platforming tour de force, A Hat in Time, was modeled after Nintendo 64-era "collectathons" of the 3D platforming persuasion, and for the most part, it was a fun romp. Using different hats and caps as Hat Kid to unleash various powers and abilities was enjoyable, as was exploring the absolutely large and dense levels of the game. I particularly enjoyed A Hat in Time's cheeky sense of humor, which it wore on its cap like a badge of honor. Though the game played a little too close to N64-era platformers when its troublesome camera was concerned, overall, A Hat in Time brought with its plenty of personality with its robust roster of charming characters, well designed levels, and comfortable controls to make for a winner in my book--one that I can't help but take off my own hat and bow to with respect.

Yooka-Laylee (PS4, XB1, NSW, PC)

Speaking of N64-era 3D platformers of the "collectathon" variety, we have Yooka-Laylee. The story of Yooka-Laylee is the story of former designers and staffers from Rare's golden era who joined forces to form Playtonic Games. And of course, their first project just had to be a game *ahem* heavily inspired by one of the games many of the staff worked on at their time at Rare, none other than the much-cherished Banjo-Kazooie. (I'm included in that group that absolutely cherishes that game very much.)

At its core, Yooka-Laylee has a lot of interesting ideas to it, but not all of these are executed to their greatest ability. For instance, the mine cart sections and arcade game portions of Yooka-Laylee are rather dreadful, but stuff like the expansive worlds, unique challenges for each, and fun move sets for the combo of Yooka and Laylee deliver well. While the follow-up of Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a much better game than Playtonic's first go at designing a game for their chameleon and bat duo, the original Yooka-Laylee still offers enough entertainment for me to give it a hearty recommendation.

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I hope you enjoyed this very first installment of the Tuesday 10s! What topics would you like to see me cover for future weeks? Let me know in the comments!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Sonic Unleashed" Edition

Sonic's newest 3D adventure, Sonic Forces, releases officially today (despite many stores breaking the game's street date). Judging on impressions, however, I think it's a better opportunity to look back on -- let's say -- brighter entries in the Sonic the Hedgehog series with this special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs.

We blaze onto the scene with both Adventure games, just in the opposite order, beginning with Sonic Adventure 2 and then Sonic Adventure. Then, we go retro with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic 3D Blast, both Sega Genesis titles. Finally, a more interesting and polished 3D Sonic than apparently Sonic Forces is, Sonic Generations is where our final VGM volume of this edition comes from.

Finally, check out the VGM Database for every past VGM volume posted on this weekly series of articles. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1506. Sonic Adventure 2 (Multi) - Escape from the City

We're rolling around at the speed of sound with this first song on this Sonic spearheaded edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, diving in to listen to the vocal theme that greeted players in the very first stage of Sonic Adventure 2, City Escape. It's a level so nice that when the 20th anniversary game for the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sonic Generations, included it within its nine chosen zones.

v1507. Sonic Adventure (Multi) - Windy Hill... for Windy Valley

This chippy and uptempo tune plays in the first section of the Windy Valley stage in Sonic Adventure. It takes places high above the scenery in a mountainous valley with a blowing wind. Once Sonic gets through enough of the level, a giant tornado scoops them up and sends them blasting into the second half of Windy Valley. While the second half of the level features a more peppy theme (a remix of a tune from Sonic 3D Blast), I can't help but prefer the chillness of Windy Hill as heard in Windy Valley.

v1508. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN) - Hydrocity Zone, Act 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 3's Hydrocity Zone is a popular one from that game, and fans had been waiting for years for Sonic Team to revisit it. It was disappointing to not see this aquatic zone in Sonic Generations, but this year, Hydrocity returned in all its bubbly, strong current glory in Sonic Mania. Who could foresee that folks behind 2D fan games of Sonic the Hedgehog would outdo this year's effort by Sonic Team in Sonic Forces? Okay, well, probably a lot of people, sadly.

v1509. Sonic 3D Blast (GEN) - Bonus Stage

I prefer the Sega Saturn and PC versions of the Sonic 3D Blast soundtrack over the Genesis one, as not only is the sound richer on Saturn and PC, but the melodies are different as well. However, I do like a good deal of the songs on the Genesis soundtrack as well. As I've already shared the bonus stage theme for the Saturn/PC version of Sonic 3D Blast, here is the theme for the Genesis game. Certainly not as jazzy and uptempo as the Saturn/PC build, but this version offers something unique and special as well.

v1510. Sonic Generations (Multi) - Collection Room (Door into Summer)

Door into Summer is a song that plays in one of the earliest zones in the 32X-exclusive Knuckles Chaotix. While the original version uses all synth, this remade version takes my favorite song from Chaotix and makes it even more pleasing to my ears with a sensational violin providing the main melody. Sonic Generations ties with Sonic Colors as my favorite all-time 3D Sonic games, so if 3D Sonic had to fall in quality (again), at least it did so before those two games came out.

Top Ten 3D Platformers

The crowd-funded Yooka-Laylee released last week, and it hopes to bring back the same feelings of fun and excitement that players had with old school 3D platformers of the collect-a-thon style. While SuperPhillip Central will be covering Yooka-Laylee at a later date to determine if that hope springs something true, for now we're going to take a look at the top ten best 3D platformers ever made. The only rule here outside of the obvious "they have to be 3D platformers" is that only one entry per series is allowed. Once you've checked out my picks, debate which ones you think deserved the top spot or if one of your favorites missed the list.

Want more 3D platformer goodness? Check out the Top Ten Underrated 3D Platformers!

10) Ape Escape 3 (PS2)

In Ape Escape 3, your goal was simple: capture all of the loose monkeys in each level. Starting levels were quite small in scope, but by the end of the game you were searching through massive expanses on your search for those dastardly unruly simians! The game used the right analog stick as your means to control the net. Careful precision and timing enabled you to nab a monkey, instantly capturing it. Some apes were in plain sight while others required a good deal of exploring, some platforming to do, and searching. Ape Escape 3 didn't have as many gadgets to assist on the journey, but instead there were abilities to morph instantly into different forms. Each form offered advantages and disadvantages in how to capture the various monkeys seen in the levels. It was an atypical 3D platformer for sure, but Ape Escape brought me lots of joy from not only finding and capturing apes, but also with its Metal Gear Solid tie-in mini-game.

9) Spyro the Dragon (PS1)

It's amazing how much Insomniac Games has moved up in the gaming ranks since Spyro the Dragon. From creating a wonderful duo with Ratchet and Clank to now creating the first great-looking Spider-Man game in ages, Insomniac is a giant. That's not to say that Spyro the Dragon is beneath the developer now, as the original PS1 games are tremendous to play. I have nostalgia and lots of fun to this day playing the very first Spyro the Dragon, whether it's entering the worlds to find gems from treasure chests, saving Spyro's crystallized dragon elders, or taking time to take to the skies in the numerous flight segments. Spyro had but two means to attack, but they were good enough to get the job done-- a charge attack that rams his horns into enemies and the ability to char foes with his fire breath. I prefer Spyro the Dragon compared to the still-amazing sequels due to how much simpler the adventure is in scope.

8) Sonic Generations (PS3, 360, PC)

After getting half of the game right with Sonic Unleashed and an entire game done right with the Wii's Sonic Colors, it seemed that Sonic Team had a good handle on what fans wanted out of 3D Sonic the Hedgehog games. For the 20th anniversary, the developer wanted to set out to make the ultimate Sonic the Hedgehog game, and that game was none other than Sonic Generations. The HD versions sported magnificent levels based on every major Sonic the Hedgehog, such as Sonic 1's Green Hill Zone, Sonic 2's Chemical Plant Zone, Sonic Adventure's Radical Highway, and even making a level from the worst 3D Sonic (Sonic 2006), Crisis City, actually playable AND enjoyable. Combining two play styles, Classic Sonic's 2.5D levels with Modern Sonic's mostly 3D levels, Sonic Generations turned out to be a stellar entry in the series even with a poor final boss battle and some annoying in-game missions.

7) Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (PS1)

Crash returned from his original 1996 platforming adventure with Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back. While the gameplay of the original didn't see much in the way of tweaking (after all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it), something that did receive tinkering with, the awful save system from the original Crash Bandicoot, was. This offered a much more enjoyable experience without the headaches and annoyance the original save system caused. The corridor-like levels returned with Crash Bandicoot 2, giving players challenging obstacle course-styled levels that demanded precision and carefully timed jumping. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back remains my favorite of the Crash Bandicoot trilogy for the original PlayStation.

6) Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (PS2)

Before Sucker Punch showed us an open world setting with explosive powers from the main character in the Infamous series, they made a trilogy of 3D platformers incorporating careful stealth and action gameplay with the Sly Cooper series. The team of Sly Cooper the Raccoon, Bentley the Turtle, and Murray the Hippo joined forces to commit several capers throughout the series, but the game that stands out for me is the original, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. Featuring less open world shenanigans and more straightforward level design, Sly Cooper's first platforming/stealth offering delivered amazing level design, a cast of fun characters, and a great dynamic between the Sly Cooper squad. From avoiding deadly laser grids to hiding from colossal enemies, Sly Cooper's premiere outing was a fantastic adventure.

5) Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)

After parting ways with Crash Bandicoot, Naughty Dog designed a new duo of platforming icons in the form of the silent Jak and his comic relief, Daxter. Built as a game modeled after 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie where the goal was to collect special objects from doing specific platforming tasks and other challenges, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy delivered a copious amount of difficult but always fair platforming, expansive interconnected worlds (with seldom a loading screen), and intense boss battles. It's just a shame that Naughty Dog lost the plot for the series by turning it in a cringe-inducing, tryhard, edgy take on the 3D platformer inspired by Grand Theft Auto III with the following sequels.

4) Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Multi)

A game so nice that Ubisoft ported it not just twice, but a massive amount of times to a great deal of platforms. The first releases came to the Nintendo 64 and PC. Then it launched on a varied amount of systems for over a decade. We're talking the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, iOS devices, and more. There was a good reason for this, though, as Rayman 2 is one of the better 3D platformers around, giving players linear 3D obstacle courses to run and jump through as they search for Lums and Teensies-- the latter of which are captured in cages. The worlds' colors were vibrant and popped out, being immensely pleasing to the eye, and the soundtrack was stellar too. Whether rushing down a series of slides in one level or being bombarded with bombs from an attacking airship as you run away, Rayman 2 delivered delightful platforming challenges and tight gameplay.

3) Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)

I hold a special spot in my gaming heart for Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando. With so many terrific games in the series to choose from (Up Your Arsenal, A Crack in Time, the 2016 reboot) I finally decided on my first foray with the series, Going Commando. It greatly improved on the original Ratchet & Clank by giving players lots of updates such as the ability to strafe enemy fire, level up weapons and guns through repeated use, and had much more interesting worlds to explore with much more intriguing gadgets. Going Commando combined traditional platforming with a wide repertoire of weaponry to give a pleasant 3D platforming/third-person shooter hybrid. The charm and wit of the series continued from the original Ratchet & Clank, and the adventure in Going Commando remains one of my favorites not just in the Ratchet & Clank series itself but in any 3D platformer to date.

2) Banjo-Kazooie (N64, XBLA)

My personal favorite collect-a-thon-style 3D platformer, I actually prefer Banjo-Kazooie to Super Mario 64. While there is no question that Rare's first 3D platformer would not exist without Mario's first foray into 3D, Rare managed to take the lessons learned from Super Mario 64 and create a wonderful game. Perhaps I like Banjo-Kazooie more than Mario's premier 3D outing because it was not just platforming-centric but it also featured a ton of exploration through its expansive worlds. Collecting the Jiggies to open up new worlds, gathering Musical Notes to open doors in Gruntilda's Lair-- the hub world of the game, finding Jinjos that had five each in every world, and transforming into a wide array of objects and animals thanks to local voodoo magician Mumbo Jumbo were all enjoyable things to do in Banjo-Kazooie. Banjo-Tooie would release several years later, but it proved that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. Instead, it can show that a game too big can overwhelm the player.

1) Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Despite Super Mario 64 being a much greater revolution to gaming than Super Mario Galaxy, I hold the Wii's first 3D Mario with higher esteem due to how much it absolutely blew me away with both its astonishing, masterful level design and the gravity mechanic the game displayed. Each planetoid no matter how big or how small incorporated some kind of gravity to it. This meant Mario could leap from planetoid to planetoid or even make a huge long jump that saw him fly around the planetoid in midair for several seconds without ever touching its surface. The various platforming challenges that the gravity mechanic gave players were tremendous in design and execution, constantly showcasing new obstacles and tests for players' skills. The inventiveness of the level design was something that never failed surprise, while the controls were as top notch and as great-feeling as ever. Super Mario Galaxy may not have revolutionized the 3D platformer or gaming as much as Super Mario 64, but I find the game to a much better, more imaginative outing for Mario and the genre than ever before or after.