prfsnl_gmr wrote:I need a recommendation here...I LOVE platformers; so, I’ve beaten most of the more popular old ones. I’m looking for something a bit off the beaten path, that’s pretty tough, from the 8- or 16- bit era, AND features birds that will knock me into pits. Any suggestions? Actraiser 2? Skyblazer? Plok? Do any of those fit the bill?
Aladdin on the SNES doesn't get enough love because Disney didn't help with the sprites like they did with the Genesis version, but the SNES version is arguably a better platformer. It even has some flying enemies to annoy you!
I don't know about Skyblazer, but Hook for the SNES (also Genesis and Sega CD) has a few flying enemies that have the potential to piss you off, including bats and birds.
E.V.O. on the SNES, as the Amphibian (the second world) you do battle with the insects and they can be quite annoying. EDIT: During the Ice Age, you have to face off against the Bird-Men and they are total jerks! They even made their fort a maze just to annoy you further.
Taz-Mania on the SNES is a sort of on-rails... thing... where you (Taz) have to eat a certain amount of Kiwi birds to end each stage and before the time runs out. Of course, they don't just let you eat them, so you could call them jerks I suppose. There's also these red birds that you can eat to extend your time. The game starts off easy, but you'll get frustrated in later levels when you can't seem to eat enough Kiwis before the timer runs out. You can look at this as either just another game where birds piss you off, or as a game where you get to take revenge on the birds since you get to EAT them!