Isometric Platformer

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2015-08-07

Now that video games have been around for several decades, we've seen many different genres as well as countless hybrids between multiple genres.

Normally, I would say that a good game could be made regardless of the genre, but I am now of the opinion that there is no such thing as a good isometric platformer, nor will there ever be I suppose.

Let me recount a tale for you.  I was searching the Interwebs for a top-down Metroid type game.  I saw some folks mention a game called Scurve: Hive.  It was a game that strangely launched on both the GBA and Nintendo DS.  The game sounded oddly familiar to me, so I opened my box of NDS games and found that I already had a copy that I had apparently found in a bargain bin for $10.

I popped it into my Majora's Mask New 3DS (gotta flash my nerd-cred!) and gave it a go.  While I generally like the coloring, enemy design, weapons, and environment, there was one thing that really bothered me that made the game near-unplayable for me.

Platforming.  In an isometric game.

What does a platforming game consist of?  Jumping from platform to platform using precise timing and coordination.

Using precise timing and coordination!

What does the isometric view entail?  A camera projection that makes everything the same size regardless of distance or height.
Regardless of distance or height!
What happens when you mix precision jumping with a camera projection that prevents you from judging platform position?  You get a terrible game, that's what!

Flash forward a couple months to the current day and I recently got Rare Replay on my Xbox One. Included in the collection are several old isometric platformers from Rare.  While I will admit that the use of lighting and shadows in Snake Rattle 'n Roll made it not as frustratingly difficult, others, such as Knight Lore are abysmal.

Knight Lore used a monochromatic artstyle that made the isometric plaforming incredibly difficult.  It took great effort for me to be able to figure out which platforms were where.

While I can't seem to find any screenshots from Scurge: Hive of the specific spot that was annoying enough to make me want to throw my 3DS on the floor, here are a couple that kinda give you an idea:

In summary: Never make an isometric platformer!