PixlBit

Platforming. The thing I most often complain about in gaming. It seems the most natural game design, though, especially for kids because it's just basically what they do when let outside: run, jump, climb, explore and make up stunts to pull off. I was one of those kids.

I guess as an older person I look for something more than just skill-based challenges like: graphics that captivate, a novel design element to marvel at, a good story, or shootin' things -- because that's what you do when you grow up, I guess, shoot stuff. . . or drive vehicles. I like a good vehicle in a game. So these, of the nearly 60 games I tried, is what I liked best an why.

Anything Kirby (Kiryb's Dreamland 1-2, Kirby's Adventure and Return to Dreamland specifically) - Kirby games let you actually finish levels without having to repeat them over and over again. Heck, you can just fly over everything if you want. You still want to find all that stuff though, so you'll be back for more, but at least you can see the whole level on first playthrough.

Anything Donkey Kong Country (1-3, DK Land 1-3, DKC Returns) - I think the main thing I like is the traversal not being exclusively via platforms. Here you can run and knock down crocs, jump on a rhino and crash through walls, find those barrels and launch yourself around the level, swim and ride a swordfish and rush down a minecart rollercoaster. Oh, blessed freedom from the platform-to-platform, pixel-perfect jumping, required in so many others.

All Epic Mickey (Em: Rebrushed, EM 2, EM: Power of Illusion) - First off, I love sorcerer's aprentice Mickey, and that's how this series' story starts off. Secondly, the brush mechanics: paint in or paint out aspects of the world -- fantastic! Thirdly, homage to the early Disney cartoons in black-and-white (my favorite visual style) as 2D platform levels. Fourthly, 3D platforming containing lots of exploration, collectibles and fisticuffs. Thank you Warren Spector and team.

Exploration ( Yooka-Laylee) - Yea, I love an open world game even if it does have plaforming segements. 

2.5 D (Klonoa 1-2, Monster boy and the Cursed Kingdom) - As soon as I see the illusion of 3D or a moment when you can travel to the background or foreground of a level, I'm entranced.

Story and/or Gameplay Mashups (Gunbrella, Save Me Mr. Tako, Pepper Grinder) - Whether it's the gritty doom of Gunbrella or the Octopus freedom fighting of Mr. Tako, I love good story elements. If you got shooting mechanics, or other novel things like power drilling through silt, I'm down with that too.

Short Segments (Crossy Road Castle, NES World Championships) - Put a traditional platforming challenge into short bits, and I can tolerate it and even love it. Epic Mickey's 2D segments are also short and therfore enjoyable to me.

And that's the sum of what I enjoyed most in April.