The hills are alive with the sound of gunfire.

While shooters have taken over everything, it seems, the previous most popular gaming genre, the platformer, has seemingly fallen by the wayside. But for those of you who love Mario -- and let's be honest, who doesn't love him? -- there are still plenty of worthwhile gaming experiences being produced, both in 3D and 2D styles. In fact, Both of our first two games of the year have been platformers in Wii. It may be the last bastion of platformers in gaming. The outlook isn't nearly as healthy on PS3, with only a couple of games worth your attention.

What exactly is a platformer?

Over the years, the definition of what a platformer actually is has evolved. The original platformer was the arcade version of Donkey Kong by Nintendo in 1981, which was essentially a tower climbing game. Although a few games followed this archetype -- Burger Time by Data East, Miner 2049er (the first truly cross-platform gaming hit) by Big 5 Software, and the sequels Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario Bros. by Nintendo -- the approach to games didn't prove to have legs.

The second platformer, and the game considered to be the template for the style going forward, was the Atari 2600 version of Pitfall! by Activision in 1982. A sort of modified adventure game, Pitfall! introduced the side-scrolling mechanic that was to dominate platformers for the next 14 years. From Super Mario Bros. onward, through Sonic the Hedgehog and a half dozen lesser franchises, this was the shape of platformers. What we now call the "2D platformer" still follows this structure.

The 3D platformer was borne in 1996 with the introduction of Super Mario 64 by Nintendo, accompanying the launch of the Nintendo 64 game console. A fully three-dimensional action adventure, it further blurred the line between platformers and adventure games. Although Sonic never gracefully made the leap, Donkey Kong, Crash Bandicoot, and Banjo & Kazooie did.

So what is the difference between a platformer and an adventure game, anyway? The difference is typically a matter of scale and objectives. Adventure games are usually open world affairs, with large, somewhat sparse worlds where encounters with enemies are typically rather spread out. In the 2D realm, they're usually depicted top-down. On the other hand, platformers are busier, denser, and their objectives are much more immediate. The layout of levels and worlds is much more linear. And no weapons. In a platformer, you can't blast your way out of a predicament. You have to use your brains and your feet. Consider in your mind the difference between any main Mario game -- platformers -- and any main Zelda game -- adventures.

The Best 3D Platformers

Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo): Not just the best platformer, but pretty much every game critic's best Wii game, and a few brave souls even sought to nominate Mario's latest full-blown adventure for overall Game of the Year honors. That's pretty tough to do when the competition is the likes of Metal Gear Solid 4 (on PS3) and Grand Theft Auto 4 (on XBox 360), but it came close. Set in a series of asteroids strewn through space, Super Mario Galaxy has one of the strongest stories of any prime-time Mario platformer. And who didn't think Rosalina was easy on the eyes? MotionGaming Grade: A.  MetaCritic score: 97.

Little Big Planet (Sony): How did a 2 1/2 D platformer end up being the Game of the Year on the PS3? By letting gamers build their own levels and share them on-line. The gameplay of guiding Sackboy through various settings is straightforward 2D platforming stuff, the presentation is exquisite and the level of customization in the game is unassailable. There isn't much Sixaxis in Little Big Planet, but then there's not much motion control in the Wii's platformers either. MetaCritic score: 95.

deBlob (THQ): Last year's sleeper hit is this game based on color mixing with a gelatinous oblong hero. Setting Chroma City and its denizens from the monochromatic oppression of the Inkies, Blob led the Color Underground from Down Under (Australia's Blue Tongue Games) to 3/4 of a million games sold with nothing but word of mouth driving its popularity. Not only was the color-mixing mechanic a refreshing innovation, no other game has taken music integration to such lengths. Each color has its own solo instrument, and you get quasi-improvised solos every time you lay down pigment across 10 different worlds and jazz styles. MotionGaming Grade: A MetaCritic score: 82.

Mushroom Men (Gamecock): The subject is bizarre enough. After a green meteor strikes the earth, plants and fungi gain sentience, create communities, and promptly start attacking one another. Pax, a little Bolete mushroom, is searching for a way to give back to the Morel tribe the sacred piece of meteor he inadvertently absorbed. On the way, he must battle the evil Animata mushroom tribe, avoid mutant rodents, and enlist the help of animate kudzu to overcome adversity. The art style is stellar, and the music, by Primus's Les Claymore, is solidly quirky. MotionGaming Grade: B+ MetaCritic score: 72.

Death Jr.: Root of Evil (Eidos): A port of an early PSP game, Death Jr. follows a kid version of the Grim Reaper. DJ and his friend Pandora struggle to think up a science assignment. Without realizing what they were doing, the two unleash an evil plant-based power into the world, and spend the next 20 missions undoing what they did and conquering the new evil. MetaCritic score: 71.

The Best 2D Platformers

Super Paper Mario (Nintendo): The Paper Mario series' third installment marked its evolution away from pure RPG mechanics and mixing in traditional platforming game mechanics. Mix the unique visual style with the hybrid game play, a neat 3D switching gimmick, and an unusually rich story, and you get a truly memorable experience that will take you two dozen hours to experience. MotionGaming Grade: B+ MetaCritic score: 85.

Nyxquest: Kindred Spirits (Over The Top, WiiWare): Over The Top has created a compelling adventure whose control mechanics are intelligently conceived and executed, and whose fun environmental challenges satisfyingly deepen as the quest progresses. You are Nyx, a goddess on a quest to reunite with her beloved friend Icarus. To do so, the winged immortal must fly through ancient Greek ruins, careful to land atop safe platforms, to avoid dangerous flying enemies, to use fire and wind to her advantage, and much more. MetaCritic score: 82.

Wario Land: Shake It! (Nintendo): This fiercely underrated, stealth-released game from the 2008 Christmas season passed right under most people's radars. Unless you were a rabid Wario fan and were looking for it, you probably never saw this creative take on the Wario Land series. It's your loss. Even though it's a bit on the short side, its replay is extended by an admirable implementation of search-and-explore for hidden goodies. MetaCritic score: 78.

Klonoa (Namco Bandai): A remake of a Playstation game from 1996, Klonoa brings an attractive 3D presentation to a 2D platforming game. Guide Klonoa and his ring spirit Hewpoe through seven worlds containing 15 levels to save the Songstress. MotionGaming Grade: B MetaCritic score: 76.

A Boy and His Blob (Majesco): David Crane made Pitfall!, and then 7 years later made this game for the NES. 20 years later, the game returns on Wii. Only the Boy can save the Blob's world, but he can only do it with the Blob's abilities to turn into objects necessary to accomplish various tasks. MetaCritic score: 79.

 

Try Before You Buy The Legend of Spyro: The Return of the Dragon (Activision), Crash: Mind over Mutant (Activision), Sonic and the Secret Rings (SEGA), Tak and the Guardians of Gross (THQ), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Activision), Bolt (Disney), Dora Saves the Snow Princess (2K) MotionGaming Grade: B, Go Diego Go! Great Dinosaur Rescue (2K).

Games to Avoid Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Activision), The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (Activision), Rock 'n Roll Adventures (Conspiracy), Ninjabread Man (Conspiracy).