Favorite Modern Retro games?

[chuckster]

Just picked up Shovel Knight for PC, and I really dig it. The challenge is there with some really nice pixel art and solid controls even with the 360 controller (I am still working on getting the old Saturn pad working on it).

What are some more great 2D platformer/action games that have came out since the last generation? Maybe a "10 best 2/2.5D games of the last 10 years"? I hear great things about Volgaar the Viking, for example.

MODS: Sorry if this has been done previously, if so, please lock this thread and if you would be so kind as to point me to the other thread,m I would greatly appreciate it!

[SNESdrunk]

Not sure if Teslagrad counts, but I love that game

[Gamerforlife]

And if you want something really hard, have fun with this:



If you want to really complete it (all achievements/trophies), you'll have to get top marks in each stage. The difficulty of that task will either make you love this game or hate it (I fell in the latter category). Had they toned down the difficulty a bit, I'd have loved this game

[BoneSnapDeez]

Mecha-8, a MSX and ColecoVision shmup. Extremely well-done.

[Nemoide]

I'll say Unemployment Quest because I made it. (It's RPG though not action/platformer.)

To pick a serious answer, what springs mostly to mind is Scott Pilgrim: The Game. It's an excellent beat-em-up with amazing pixel art and music!

[marurun]

I'll say Unemployment Quest because I made it. (It's RPG though not action/platformer.)

To pick a serious answer, what springs mostly to mind is Scott Pilgrim: The Game. It's an excellent beat-em-up with amazing pixel art and music!

I just wish they would make a PC port.

[nullPointer]

It's not exactly designed to be "retro-chic" but Mark of the Ninja is probably my absolute favorite 2D game developed within the last few years. IMO, it's one of the best implementations of stealth gaming be it 2D or 3D. I'm not keen on stealth games that make you feel like you have to "hide from danger" (outside of certain horror titles), but I do gravitate towards those stealth games that put you in the role of "the danger lurking in the dark". Mark of the Ninja pulls that off in spades, and the gameplay is as smooth and responsive as butter on silk.

Freedom Planet is fashioned in the style of retro-chic and is a brilliant love letter to the Sonic franchise. It's a fantastic title that's well worth your time if you've ever even slightly enjoyed the Sonic games.

Also it may be a bit on the nose, but Mega-Man 9 deserves a mention on this list.

[the7k]

Shatter is best Breakout clone with hands down the best soundtrack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWrFZMTlR7o

Audiosurf is Guitar Hero meets Klax a la F-Zero.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--5cyMP2eTE

I've played both of these games Lord knows how much over the past 5 or so years. I love to mix 'em together too, playing the Shatter OST in Audiosurf.

[BogusMeatFactory]

I am going to mimic GamerforLife's picks of Guacamelee and Dust: An Elysian Tale. I beat both those titles last year and found them to be very entertaining in their own right. Guacamelee is honestly one of the most entertaining and well designed games that I have experienced in a looooong time. The difficulty progression is excellent and leaves you at the end a master of all the platforming and fighting mechanics. Such a joy.

Dust, has a similar play style, but has a much heavier focus on an intense combo-centric playstyle that is addicting to play. You have a huge variety of combos and strategies to attack the plethora of enemies and you have some awesome personality in the characters. Your sidekick Fidget is one of the most adorable characters and I love her to death!

Other games I would recommend would be Megaman 9 and 10. Capcom went all out in creating the exact feeling of an NES megaman game for the modern era and really opened the door for developers to play around with the 8-bit visual style for games.

[Josh]

Do I dare say 3D Dot Game Heroes?

I don't love the game, I think it's a love letter to 2D Zelda fans and the graphics don't really suit the gameplay, but it has a really nice charm to it. Haven't picked it up in a little bit, gotta find another copy one of these days. A pretty good PS3 exclusive too if memory serves.