Shinobi is not a platformer, neither is Rygar. Nor is Castlevania. All are incredible games. To me, platformers, easily my least favourite genre, are jump and run cutsey stuff. Many were decent games.
Most were bland garbage. Eye candy. But some really were great. Morph on Amiga is superb..well drafted and thought up.
Nice twist, the morphing.
Genesis? Sonic was tops, no doubt. NES? All the Dizzy games, by Codemasters.
My all time favourite , though, is Leander. Pure and simple, it is magic.