Platformers 1980-1985

[Erik_Twice]

Did Ghosts'n Goblins and Super Mario Bros come out of thin air? Sounds unlikely, so I must ask: What platformers existed between Donkey Kong/Jump'n Bug and those two key games?

[BoneSnapDeez]

Well Nintendo of course had games that were technically platformers - just without a scrolling screen: Marios Bros, Donkey Kong, Popeye...

Then there's the Atari stuff like Pitfall and Jungle Hunt.

[Nemoide]

Jumpman came out in 1983. While it kind of counts as a platformer, it's PRETTY PRIMITIVE.

[pierrot]

Pac-Land was released to arcades in August 1984, and is sometimes said to be a major influence on the early platforming genre. Even had parallax scrolling in some of the backgrounds.

[samsonlonghair]

it's PRETTY PRIMITIVE

Of course It's primitive; It's about a big ape!

Just Kidding.

To answer the original question, Nintendo's Donkey Kong Junior (1982) bridged the Gap between the original Donkey Kong (1981) and the original Mario Bros. (1983). This game, as well as Atari's Pitfall (1982), led to the development of Namco's continuous side-scrolling Pac-Land (1984) with multiple obstacles, enemies, and power-ups. Pac-Land was a game ahead of its time. This upped the ante in terms of platformer development. Nintento answered back with Super Mario Bros. (1985). The rest, as they say, is history.

[BurningDoom]

-B.C.'s Quest For Tires
-B.C.'s Quest For Tires 2: Grog's Revenge
-Congo Bongo
-Donkey Kong Jr.
-Jumpman
-Lode Runner
-Mario Bros.
-Pac-Land
-Pifall
-Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns
-Popeye

[AppleQueso]

-Frogger

Frogger?

Platformer?

[Violent By Design]

-Frogger

Frogger?

Platformer?

That's what I was thinking. Hell, the game is closer to a shoot em up than a platformer.

[AppleQueso]

-Frogger

Frogger?

Platformer?

That's what I was thinking. Hell, the game is closer to a shoot em up than a platformer.

I'd say it's closer to a maze game akin to pac-man or something.

[BurningDoom]

It has jumping and platforms. Isn't that what makes a platformer?