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00:11Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we're counting down our picks for the 10 hardest 3D platformers
00:16of all time. Now, for this list, we are focusing on 3D platformers that are hard due to challenging
00:22mechanics, levels, gameplay systems, and or a steep learning curve. These are not games
00:27that are considered hard due to being bad or broken, in the case of something like Bubsy
00:313D. Now, with all that said, let's double jump into our list.
00:42Before we begin, we publish new content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and ring
00:47the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
00:52Psychonauts
01:00Psychonauts has become a cult classic over the years, a game that was mostly well received
01:05at the time, but didn't garner all that much fanfare. Fortunately, time has been kind to
01:10this game, even if it's a less than perfect experience. Stepping into the psychic shoes
01:15of Raz, you must hone your budding skills as you explore various minds, uncovering the
01:20mental struggles and battles of various characters. Psychonauts is interesting, because it blends
01:25aspects of 3D platforming and adventure game tendencies, but sort of struggles to always
01:30toe the line nicely. The game's challenge lies in how tricky some of its platforming sections
01:35can be, often confusing players with some labyrinthian pathing. But it's really the game's final
01:40section, the meat circus, where the challenge level skyrockets through the roof, totally
01:45upending the more or less average skill level required earlier on in the game, as you contend
01:50with Raz's psychic powers.
01:58Banjo Tooie
02:05Alright, many might scoff at the idea of Banjo Tooie being a hard 3D platformer, but if we
02:10are honest with ourselves, this game, while amazing, can be downright brutal at times. Banjo
02:16Tooie opens up the experience quite a bit here, with lots of expansive areas, interconnected layouts,
02:21access by traversal or the train, and tons of backtracking. All of these aspects do make
02:27the game feel much bigger than Banjo Kazooie, but they certainly increase the challenge level
02:31overall. While it would be easy to just blame much of the challenge on the wonky 3D camera,
02:36even for its time, Banjo Tooie manages to challenge 3D platforming fans, with some tough platforming
02:42sections, punishing bosses, and myriad collectibles, and objectives that aren't always easy to
02:48understand or contend with. It's a fantastic game, but it's a much, much harder game than Banjo Kazooie.
03:00Pac-Man World 2
03:09Who the heck would have thought that a Pac-Man 3D platformer would be tough as nails? Well,
03:14where the first game was mostly a breeze, with some challenging sections interspersed, the sequel
03:19really manages to ratchet up the difficulty with some truly brutal levels, inconsistent platforming
03:25maneuvers and sections, random difficulty spikes, and some outlandishly tough boss battles. It's an
03:31uber charming Pac-Man game to be sure, however it doesn't ease up on being incredibly hard. Knowing when to
03:36jump, slam down, flutter, or roll is never really obvious, made even more punishing by the lack of
03:42depth perception, due to the somewhat isometric view here. Oh, and if you want to collect every pellet
03:47and piece of fruit, and other collectibles, then you are going to need to be a master platformer.
04:00Maximo Ghost to Glory
04:09If any of you remember Ghost and Goblins from back in the day, then you likely remember how brutal that
04:152D Capcom platformer was. Well, Maximo Ghost to Glory takes much of that DNA from that game, and it's
04:22various iterations and spin-offs, and thrusts all of it into a tough as coffin nails 3D action
04:27platformer. Much like in Ghosts and Goblins, whenever you take a hit in the game, a piece of
04:32armor falls off, basically acting as the game's intuitive life bar. The game has myriad punishing
04:38enemies that relentlessly attack the player, a save and continue system that really isn't your friend
04:43at all, tricky platforming areas that aren't always clear, and just simply the fact that death can
04:48come around every single corner, even by surprise. Now, it's a blast to play, don't get us wrong,
04:53especially if you are a fan of old-school arcade-style games, but don't at all expect this game to
04:58hold
04:58your hand. Snake Pass
05:15Now, we admit we might be cheating a little bit here calling Snake Pass a true 3D platformer,
05:21since there's not actually any technical platforming, at least in the way of jumping and
05:25bounding around 3D spaces. However, for our money, we consider this 3D platforming adjacent game so
05:31unique and challenging that it definitely deserves a place on this list. The premise of Snake Pass is
05:37that you might guide your slinky, slippery snake around creative puzzle-laden playgrounds, finding
05:42collectibles, and making your way to the goal. But getting there is a whole different story. Since you
05:48can't jump or move in traditional ways like other 3D platformers, you must utilize the environment and
05:53objects and your bird friend in order to curl up and around areas to achieve your snaky goals.
05:58It's an uber-fun, but uber-punishing game at times, even with its colorful and adorable visuals and
06:04whimsical music. Conker's Bad Fur Day
06:22Surprise, surprise, another 3D rare platformer on our list. Yep, Conker's Bad Fur Day is not an easy game.
06:28While it is more fondly remembered for its raunchy humor and sarcastic tone, many players are
06:34equally aware that it's a tough game to venture through. The plethora of platforming sections
06:39alone are enough to make you pull your hair out. Your jumps as Conker often need to be pixel perfect
06:44in order to not fall to your demise, especially with the strict fall damage and general lack of
06:49health pickups, or so it seems. While the wonky camera doesn't always lend a helping hand, I mean,
06:54even if it did, the game has so many punishing areas and bosses that your platforming skills will
06:59definitely be tested.
07:08Rayman 2 The Great Escape
07:17Gameplay diversity is king when it comes to 3D platformers, or heck, just video games in general.
07:23The Rayman series has generally done a phenomenal job with mixing up gameplay to keep things fresh
07:28throughout. Nowhere is this more apparent than 1999's The Great Escape. From traditional 3D platforming,
07:35to vehicle sections, to puzzle solving, to on-rail areas, Rayman 2 is a textbook case of varied gameplay
07:41challenges. However, it's in these varied sections where the challenge often lies. Just when you start
07:47getting comfortable with one aspect of controlling Rayman, the game throws a new challenge your way.
07:52It's an utter blast to play, even with a goofy camera and some rough first-person points of view at
07:57certain intervals, but you'll have your work cut out for you here. Sometimes, just replaying a level
08:03will be the optimal way to fully learn Rayman's moves while learning the layouts of the game's many
08:08creative stages.
08:16Super Mario Sunshine
08:25Good golly, Flood, you really made Super Mario Sunshine a beast of a game to contend with.
08:30Now, for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Sunshine graced Mario with a unique
08:35tool known as Flood, F-L-U-D-D, Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dowsing Device. You know, that standard thing we
08:42all are used to using in 3D platformers. Okay, okay, sarcasm aside, most of this game's challenge level
08:48comes from utilizing Flood successfully across the game's many tropical stages. Then, once you do
08:54finally, sort of, get used to using Flood successfully, the game rips it away from you,
08:58which makes those 3D platforming sections and levels feel sorta out of left field.
09:03Now, don't get us wrong, we love Super Mario Sunshine here, but my goodness, this 3D Mario game
09:08is much tougher than any other one out there. Can we please get a mop to clean up around here?
09:13Please,
09:13and thank you.
09:22Donkey Kong 64.
09:30Good things come in 3s, right? Well, here we are again with yet another downright brutal 3D
09:35rare platformer, this time in the form of Donkey Kong 64. Let's just get the obvious out of the way,
09:41right up front. DK64 is mostly considered a hard game because of the staggering, and we do mean
09:47staggering, number of unique collectibles that must be hoovered up by the different Kongs at
09:52different times in the game. Yes, it makes for great replayability in addition to learning the
09:56game's fun levels, but let's not mince words here. There are enough collectibles in this game to make
10:01it to the moon and back, and maybe back again. Add in the awkward controls, even for the time,
10:06the need to keep track of each Kong's unique moves, and the lack of a map to keep you on
10:11track,
10:11and you have the recipe for a super hard, yet still utterly enjoyable 3D platformer.
10:25Crash Bandicoot 4, it's about time.
10:37Okay, we could probably feature any Crash Bandicoot title in this list, and it would conjure up painful
10:42memories for many players, trying and failing to make it through the series as tough as nails
10:47platforming sections. However, Crash Bandicoot 4, it's about time, is easily the hardest of the
10:53bunch in our eyes. It's like this game was designed with some sort of arcade sensibilities,
10:58ensuring you have to constantly die and repeat in order to just make it through each stage.
11:02The game is super polished and highly fun to play, but it will often make you pull your hair out
11:07in
11:07frustration, even more so than the OG PS1 games. Memorization and pattern recognition need to be
11:13swift friends if you hope to make it through this downright brutal 3D platformer, especially if you
11:19hope to obtain all the gems, relics, and crates. Yeah, good luck indeed.
11:31So, do you agree with our picks for this list? What are some of the hardest 3D platforming games
11:36you have played? Let us know in the comments.
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