FUNDAMENTALS OF GAME DESIGN, SECOND EDITION
Platform Games
Platform games, or platformers, are cartoonish games in which an avatar moves through a vertically exaggerated environment, jumping on and off platforms at different heights, while avoiding obstacles and battling enemies. The avatar has a supernatural jumping ability and can't be harmed by falling long distances (unless he falls onto something dangerous or into a bottomless chasm, both common features of platform games). Most of the player's actions consist of jumping, augmented by various flip-moves and by bouncy objects in the environment. Platform games use highly unrealistic physics; the avatar can usually change directions in midair.
The vast majority of 2D side-scrolling games with a humanoid avatar are platform games; Super Mario Bros. is the classic example. The conflict in platform games is often mild and suitable for children. Both Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog attacked enemies simply by jumping on top of them. Stricken enemies disappeared without undue anguish.
3D platform games, while popular, have never managed to achieve quite the same level of iconic status as 2D games. Crash Bandicoot is one of the more successful 3D
platformers. Unfortunately, the addition of a third dimension makes control more complicated and difficult; the "Controls" section discusses this in more detail.
