The 3D platformer is quintessentially Nintendo. As famous as games like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Astro Bot are, they all live in the shadow of (and often owe a debt of gratitude to) the big N.

There have been thousands of video games released over the years, and plenty of good ones have slipped most people's attention.

From the moment 4-year-old Cameron first stepped out into Glimmer in Spyro 2, he knew video games were going to play a central role in the rest of his life. Though he never planned to make it the ...