Platform game

A platform game often simplified as platformer in addition to sometimes called a jump 'n' run game is the sub-genre of action video games in which the core objective is to progress the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels consisting of uneven terrain in addition to suspended platforms of varying height that require jumping and climbing to traverse. Other acrobatic maneuvers may factor into the gameplay, such(a) as swinging from vines or grappling hooks, jumping off walls, air dashing, gliding through the air, being shot from cannons, or bouncing from springboards or trampolines. Games where jumping is automated completely, such as 3D games in The Legend of Zelda series, fall external of the genre.

The genre began with the 1980 arcade video game, Miner 2049'er 1982.

During the peak of platform games' popularity in the gradual 1980s and early 1990s, platform games were estimated to consist of between a quarter and a third of all console games, but work since been supplanted by first-person shooters. In 2006, the genre professionals such(a) as lawyers and surveyors a decline in popularity, representing a 2% market share as compared to 15% in 1998; however, the genre still exists in the commercial environment, with a number of games selling in the millions of units.

Concepts

A platform game requires the player to maneuver their character across platforms, toa goal, while confronting enemies and avoiding obstacles along the way. These games are either submission from the side view, using two-dimensional movement, or in 3D with the camera placed either behind the main member of reference or in isometric perspective. Typical platforming gameplay tends to be very dynamic and challenges a player's reflexes, timing, and dexterity with controls.

The almost common movement options in the genre are walking, running, jumping, attacking, and climbing. Jumping is central to the genre, though there are exceptions such as Nintendo's Popeye 1982. In some games, the trajectory of a jump is fixed, but others it can be altered in mid-air. Falling from considerable height often causes damage or death. many platform games make-up environmental obstacles which kill the player character upon contact, such as lava pits or bottomless chasms. Through the various areas of the game world, player may be a person engaged or qualified in a profession. toitems and powerups that can come in handy for different situations, and manage the main character new abilities for overcoming adversities.

Most games of this genre consist of business levels of increasing difficulty, that may also be interleaved by boss encounters, where the character has to defeat a especially dangerous enemy in format to progress. usually the level grouping is pre-determined, but some games also permit players to navigate freely throughout the game world, or may feature different paths to take atpoints. Simple logical puzzles to resolve and skill trials to overcome are another common part in the genre.

A more modern variant of platform games generally 3D scrolling, called "runners", have the leading character always moving forward at high speed while the player must direct it properly to non make it fall or crash against obstacles, and provide tocheckpoints on time. Due to the relative simplicity of the controls, this category of games is best suited for mobile devices, and has become very popular in recent years.