Niche Developer Showdown

[Nester the Lark]

No one's created a poll around here in forever, and since the forums have still been pretty slow lately (the E3 boost didn't last long), here's a little something just for fun.

Which of the following is your favorite independent niche developer?

Treasure

Known for: Gunstar Heroes, Ikaruga, Sin & Punishment, Bangai-O, etc.

Founded in 1992 by former Konami employees, Treasure specializes in classic arcade-style action games, often centered around gimmicky gameplay mechanics. They're generally thought of as a master of shmups, with Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga and Gradius V all considered masterpieces of the genre.

Platinum Games

Known for: Bayonetta, MadWorld, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, The Wonderful 101, etc.

Born from the ashes of Clover Studios in 2006. Like Treasure, they specialize in stylish, skill-based action games, but with a somewhat more modern (and adult) sensibility.

WayForward Technologies

Known for: Contra 4, Shantae, Mighty Switch Force, A Boy and His Blob (Wii), etc.

Founded way back in 1990, WayForward established itself on many gamers' radars with Contra 4 in 2007. Ever since then, they've been the go-to studio for retro reboots, although original franchises like Shantae and Mighty Switch Force command cult followings of their own.

Grasshopper Manufacture

Known for: No More Heroes, Lollipop Chainsaw, Killer 7, Killer is Dead, etc.

Founded in 1998, Grasshopper is mainly known for the games of Goichi Suda (aka Suda 51). His punk approach to game design, as well as avant-garde visual styles, make his games simultaneously eye-catching and divisive.

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I'll let some of you vote first before I reveal my choice. But please explain why you chose a particular company, and feel free to talk about some of your favorite games.

[nocturnal YL]

Treasure, because Mischief Maker. There are Sin & Punishment and Wario World too, but the former is too difficult (story cliffhanger doesn't help) and the latter is too confusing (how do I defeat this mid-boss again?)... Still, I like them, at least style-wise.

Platinum is too adult-y for me.

WayForward... well, never heard of them, even though I've heard of Shantae and Mighty Switch Force. I like how they managed to find their way around the world of 3D systems like DS and 3DS, despite being a 2D games team. But alas, I've never played their games.

Grasshopper Manufacture? Heard of them, yeah, and some of their games. Never interested to know what they are, though.

[Nester the Lark]

Not too many opinions on this yet, eh?

I picked these four developers specifically because I felt that there were similarities between them, especially Treasure and Platinum. I suppose WayForward is kind of unique since they're the only Western developers on the list, but I think they're similar to Treasure in that they have a very good grasp on classical game design, and are masters of 2D graphics. Grasshopper is probably the true oddball of the bunch.

I like WayForward a lot (I love Contra 4), but I have to admit I haven't played that many of their games. I'd like to play more of their stuff (like Aliens: Infestation), but I just never got around to it.

So, I pick Treasure. I'm more familiar with their body of work, and Gunstar Heroes (and its sequel), Mischief Makers, and Sin & Punishment 2 are some of my all-time favorites.

[The Qu]

Grasshopper all the way. There is a certain quality about their games that just appeals to me. I suppose the closest word I can put it to is the oft mentioned 'punk' aesthetic people clamor on about. That odd mix of low brow and intelligent is what makes their games. I've been a fan since Killer 7, flawed though it may be, and have stuck with them regularly since No More Heroes. That's a game every Nintendo fan ought to check out.

Treasure made some of my favorite Genesis games too, like Gunstar Heroes, the too obscure Alien Soldier and that way to good McDonald's game. But I don't think of them in the same way as the others here, partly because I think of them as a 'classic' company.

Platinium, like its predecesor Clover, makes some of the best damn games of any generation. They've yet to make a bad game, though some suffer from being too damn short. I don't regret paying seven bucks for Madworld, but would at thirty, let alone full price. Still, Kamiya is one of the best producers in the biz and it shows.

WayForward... I've actually never played any of their games. So no opinion there, though I'm sure they're great.

So, tl;dr, I dig the low brow sincerity in Grasshopper. Punk isn't dead, man.

[Wildcat]

A tricky question, Nester. I've merely dabbled with nearly all of these devs, to be honest. I need to try out more from each of them! For now, I'm going to lean with WayForward, as A Boy and his Blob stands as one of my favorite Wii games, and is probably the one I'd say is the best out of these developers.