Tips For Playing Platformers Online

By Author: Robert Adam
Total Articles: 3698
Comment this article

The platformer is at the heart of the online community. The video game craze was birthed from the little seed known as Super Mario Bros. The platformer may have fallen on hard times in the retail market, but it is expanding exponentially in the world of the online arcade. This isn't too surprising considering its nature. Platform games are meant to be quick experiences in jumping on enemies and moving through levels. What better format for an arcade game? This simple nature can often hide an even tougher design than many modern games. You can't forget the basics if you want to succeed.

Let's start off with the jumping. Just about every game will make you move through a crazy level. You will be blocked by enemies, cruel walls, and the dreaded floating platform. You will need to experiment with the various moves so you can understand the best way to get through the challenges. There isn't a whole lot worse in a platformer than underestimating a jump and falling into some fiery lava pit. Learning the length and range of the various jumps and attacks means that you will have less accidents and more lives left to waste on ...
... the boss.

You will also want to go ahead and make sure that your brain is functioning properly. The beauty of the platformer is that the combat is very simple. There aren't too many types of enemies and they can usually be killed in a set number of ways. Memorize the techniques and stomp the little buggers out of existence. Making a stupid mistake in killing a baddie is one of the easiest ways to waste a life. Keep your head in the game and you should be fine.

Exploring the levels will also usually be quite rewarding. You should make this a regular habit. All paths through a level won't be the same. Breaking different boxes will yield different results and different powerups. These can make or break your game. If you can you should try different ways through the level on a replay. You will see new things and experience new stuff and possibly find a better way through the level.

This leads into my final point. You shouldn't take a game over as a game over. It is just a new chance to fix your mistakes and win. Then again, if things get really frustrating you should go ahead and quit. This is a game. It isn't work. If you aren't having fun then don't feel bad about quiting the game. If you are having fun though, you just need to take a second and think about what you did wrong. The levels generally don't change so you can just fix your mistake and start over. It may take a few tries but you should be able to reach the end with your extra lives intact.

The platformer is a game with a deceiving level of difficulty. It seems easy with its basic graphics and linear levels. The truth is that it can be as difficult as any game on the market. You'll need good reflexes and patience to beat it. Keeping these ideas in your mind should make the whole journey a bit easier.