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Non-violent side scrollers
Varinn
Vancouver, BCRegistered User regular
Vancouver, BCRegistered User regular
As per the title. Girlfriend occasionally gets bored while I'm going through whatever game I may be playing at the time. She can't do 3d games herself as she's totally and completely stumped by the controls and no amount of FOV changes can reduce the sensation of motion sickness she gets. She mentioned a slight interest in side scrollers "like mario", so I figured I'd ask about and see what is out there and maybe I can get her into one she'd like.
We play exclusively on PC, and even better would be games on steam and controller compatible as my system is hooked up to the TV and played from the couch with big picture. We haven't touched a keyboard/mouse game in over a year. If it had co-op with two controllers that would be a massive win! I'm not opposed to setting up a 3rd party app shortcut in steam to launch them if they aren't on the store.
We play exclusively on PC, and even better would be games on steam and controller compatible as my system is hooked up to the TV and played from the couch with big picture. We haven't touched a keyboard/mouse game in over a year. If it had co-op with two controllers that would be a massive win! I'm not opposed to setting up a 3rd party app shortcut in steam to launch them if they aren't on the store.
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battleblock theater too maybe
Knytt Underground is pretty nice too, by the same person, Nifflas, You can get the other Knytt games for free at his website.
Pixeljunk Eden may be another possibility.
Wyv & Keep is a killer co-op puzzle platformer, and it's on sale.
1000 Amps is a really cool. Mouse and keyboard only though due to a teleport mechanic that would be tricky to do on a controller to say the least. Still I figure I'll throw it up here, it's worth a look and non-violent games are tough to come by.
Castle of Illusion uses 3D models but for the most part it keeps you on a 2D plane. It's an awesome game, but while it looks like a kiddie/casual game the difficulty hearkens back to the original and a few spots can be rough.
Ibb and Obb is a 2D platformer that requires teamwork, and the puzzles can be tricky enough that it will either bring you both together in triumph or absolutely destroy your relationship.
It's not a platformer, but if she's looking for non-violent games she should check out Crayon Physics. Honestly though, everyone should check out Crayon Physics, especially if you have a tablet/touchscreen.
Also if you're looking for non-violent games that you guys can play together that have controller support, if she can manage limited 3rd person 3D without barfing than I'd suggest [INSERT LEGO GAME HERE], which have no blood/gore/etc and are fairly forgiving if she is one of the people that have a hard time with movement in a 3D space.
She's upstairs at the moment so I'll get her to look at Ibb & Obb (what a silly name!!) when she comes down but I think it looks pretty cool, and she's asian enough that she just might enjoy the kid theme of castle of illusion. I thought Wyv looked interesting too, but she didn't seem overly keen. I think again going back to it's suuuper old fashion look, we'll get there eventually. Small steps, see if she enjoys some co-op gaming, or the story type of Never Alone and take it from there.
EDIT: I'm gonna bookmark this thread, I'll keep checking back tonight and again in a few days
Ori and the Blind Forest and Dust: An Elysian Tail are both really fun and pretty - but do have more action to them than head-bopping like Mario.
Castle of Illusion was pretty great too though.
It's an incredibly challenging game, but it does an amazing job of starting off slow and teaching you the mechanics and skills, so once you get to the really hard stuff you know that it's a task you be able to manage. On top of that, it just feels amazing to play. The momentum based movement flows beautifully, and the challenge of the fast execution the later levels demand feels and looks great to pull off. And weirdly enough, while the fast past nature of the gameplay is fairly intense, at the same time the aesthetics and the flow of the movement are really relaxing. It sounds contradictory but somehow it really does manage to be both of those at the same time.
And, of course, you're asking for things light on the violent side: the game consists entirely of sweeping up dust and other debris. Not even remotely violent.
Do note, the tutorial was, at least for me, a bit weirdly challenging as I got used to the movement. Took me maybe a level or two for the gameplay to feel right, but that's not long.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/220780/
Rayman Legends and Rayman Origins. Rayman is basically Ubisoft's "off-brand" Mario game, but it has a unique and colorful art style. It's available on Steam, and there are even Free Demos for you to try out.
And they get pretty tough by the end!
In a similar vein, but much more challenging, there's Kalimba. It's fantastic, and has free DLC that doubles the base game contents. The co-op is it's own campaign, different from singleplayer, so you two can play together and alone and do different things. It's on Xbox One and Steam, so controllers should be compatible.
Define "non-violent". Not overly gory? Or just staying away from complicated combat? What if it's stylized?
Limbo is great, but is very dark and violent, but not gory. Look up some screenshots to see what I mean.
There's Braid of course, a more puzzling type of Mario game.
I just played The Swapper and it's great. It's all puzzles, so there's no combat. It's available on everything I think.
Edit: Also check out Stealth Inc. it's a pretty challenging sidescrolling puzzle game, but it eases you into it and has forgiving checkpoints.
Was beaten to the punch for all three within the space of 4 posts
GOSH DARGNIT
We'll plug along through it, though I do need to do a bit more research on the xbox wireless adapters, stringing one cable across the room was bad enough, but adding the second one to the mix is just that touch more annoying!
I'd also take a look at Sonic 2 or Sonic 3 and Knuckles. They both have really nice drop-in/drop-out co-op when you play as Sonic and Tails.
Here's some stuff that kinda sorta isn't what you asked for but might also be interesting. They're all 2D and feature Nintendo-approved levels of (non)violence.
Child of Light - side scrolling flying platformer RPG-ish thing? One player controls the main party, the other player controls a firefly that collects powerups and freezes enemies and stuff.
Towerfall - It doesn't scroll; co-op mode is more like Bubble Bobble. With archers!
Jamestown - Alternate American history with spaceships on mars. It's kinda like those arcade space ship shooters.
Monaco - Super stylized graphics! Heists! It's Pac-Man meets Oceans 11.
Yeah, Ori's got this lovely, tranquil exterior that put me in mind of some of mine and my girlfriend's favourites, stuff like Limbo, Child of Light, or even slightly The Undergarden (all games I'd suggest for this thread, actually). Then underneath it's an absolute rock-hard bastard who hates you and just wants you to stop playing because you are just an insect to be crushed beneath its mighty jackboot.
Was going to suggest this.
Maybe outside the scope, but Axiom Verge is an excellent metroidvania game.
Mystik Belle is a solid puzzle platformer that got nearly zero fanfare. It outwardly resembles a metroidvania, but it's actually an homage to the Spud's Quest/Magical World Dizzy inventory puzzle adventures of the ZX spectrum days. (snob mode) All real sprite art as well, none of that fake retro "8-bit" nonsense that you get because most indies can't/don't bother to hire an artist.
I also can't believe nobody has mentioned the Shantae games.
There's also Fortune Summoners for the JRPG-platform style of game.
Rayman games are getting lots of love in this thread, those are going on the "yes" list for sure. I might even try opening her eyes to the wonderful world of.... FF7! (Once she's tried a game or two)
Steamworld Dig is a lot of fun too.
Ittle Dew is pretty fun stuff. Not a platformer, more of a puzzley zelda-like.
If you think she would like a really good Match 3 game show her Triple Town. This is a pretty sweet game.
Did I mention the soundtrack? It's wonderful.