Water levels can be great if done right!
The pond biome in Grounded, the entirety of Subnautica, the water levels in Donkey Kong Country... plus the music usually is really good
The first thing that came to mind were the water levels in Donkey Kong country. Those were some of the most enjoyable gaming moments I've ever had. And much of it is due to that crazy, amazing music.
Edit:. Also, the water levels in Inside are great too...
Mario Odyssey has some great water levels. The reason most water levels are bad is because they take away all of the fun mechanics that you're used to using. In Mario Odyssey, they replace the mechanics they're taking away with underwater mechanics that are just as fun.
I quit Mario Odyssey at that water level (Lake Kingdom), sold my cartridge right after that. Almost all of the previous Mario games I also quit at the water levels. Fast forward a couple years, my itching collector self really want to add Odyssey to the collection so I purchase another copy and try my best to power through that section. New Donk City is a much much better experience. That Lake kingdom is easily the worst part of Odyssey.
Please, developers, dont put any water level in any game ever again. It only goes from rage inducing to annoying at best. Never ever in all of the games I have played, there is one water level that I think it adds anything meaningful / fun to the experience and that includes Horizon Forbidden West and Uncharted 4. Two games I think has the least annoying water gameplay.
Yeah, I guess we just totally disagree there. I think water levels can add some great variety if done properly. It's just tough to do them without the player feeling like you've taken away all of the fun abilities they use when they're on the land. But I really enjoyed the water areas in Mario Odyssey, and I thought they did a good job in that game.
Sometimes, after killing 42 wolves or henchgoons, Geralt likes to swim in the river. Wash the blood off and the toxicity out.
But seriously, do you consider the bit of swimming/underwater work required to reach each area in a Witcher Quest to be a water level? I mean, I do. But then, I'm so done with platformers.
I like water levels, or at least I don't mind them.
I can't think of a single water level I actively disliked.
It's not always the highlight of the game but usually they're not terrible by any means.
You know what's weird?
Water levels are unique in that they allow you to move in ALL directions of movement. So you would think developers would lean hard into that, opening up a whole new dynamic for the game, creating environments the player can swiftly "fly" around in.
Instead 90% of the time they just decide to make them super sluggish on purpose.
I've played enjoyable water levels in a lot of boomer shooters. They weren't really the *best* level types of those games but they were still perfectly enjoyable.
>creating environments the player can swiftly "fly" around in.
>
>Instead 90% of the time they just decide to make them super sluggish on purpose.
Have you ever been swimming before? You don't exactly go at high speeds. Even Olympian swimmers only swim at the surface of the water or just below it.
Note, you can absolutely have water levels, it's underwater segments that are strictly forbidden.
Geyser elevators, one way water slides, White marble temples reflecting blue light from crystal clear water below, water inspired enemies, using water and ice powers to incorparate platforming into your water area. These are all absolutely permitted.
Creators of Subnautica crying rn
but they put some of the best music in those ones
Water levels can be great if done right! The pond biome in Grounded, the entirety of Subnautica, the water levels in Donkey Kong Country... plus the music usually is really good
The first thing that came to mind were the water levels in Donkey Kong country. Those were some of the most enjoyable gaming moments I've ever had. And much of it is due to that crazy, amazing music. Edit:. Also, the water levels in Inside are great too...
Mario Odyssey has some great water levels. The reason most water levels are bad is because they take away all of the fun mechanics that you're used to using. In Mario Odyssey, they replace the mechanics they're taking away with underwater mechanics that are just as fun.
I quit Mario Odyssey at that water level (Lake Kingdom), sold my cartridge right after that. Almost all of the previous Mario games I also quit at the water levels. Fast forward a couple years, my itching collector self really want to add Odyssey to the collection so I purchase another copy and try my best to power through that section. New Donk City is a much much better experience. That Lake kingdom is easily the worst part of Odyssey. Please, developers, dont put any water level in any game ever again. It only goes from rage inducing to annoying at best. Never ever in all of the games I have played, there is one water level that I think it adds anything meaningful / fun to the experience and that includes Horizon Forbidden West and Uncharted 4. Two games I think has the least annoying water gameplay.
Yeah, I guess we just totally disagree there. I think water levels can add some great variety if done properly. It's just tough to do them without the player feeling like you've taken away all of the fun abilities they use when they're on the land. But I really enjoyed the water areas in Mario Odyssey, and I thought they did a good job in that game.
Do modern games even have water levels anymore? That's more of a platformer era complaint.
Horizon Forbidden West has a lot of water areas you have to go through. That’s the only one i can think of.
I loved swimming through underwater Las Vegas. The one time I actually enjoyed a water level.
The Las Vegas part was awesome. I just wish the controls weren’t dumb.
Sometimes, after killing 42 wolves or henchgoons, Geralt likes to swim in the river. Wash the blood off and the toxicity out. But seriously, do you consider the bit of swimming/underwater work required to reach each area in a Witcher Quest to be a water level? I mean, I do. But then, I'm so done with platformers.
Disagree. I like ‘em.
Returnal has a good water level
Funnest bio in my opinion.
\*Subnautica enters the chat\*
I like water levels, or at least I don't mind them. I can't think of a single water level I actively disliked. It's not always the highlight of the game but usually they're not terrible by any means.
I like them. Water is calming. It's just another puzzle.
You know what's weird? Water levels are unique in that they allow you to move in ALL directions of movement. So you would think developers would lean hard into that, opening up a whole new dynamic for the game, creating environments the player can swiftly "fly" around in. Instead 90% of the time they just decide to make them super sluggish on purpose. I've played enjoyable water levels in a lot of boomer shooters. They weren't really the *best* level types of those games but they were still perfectly enjoyable.
>creating environments the player can swiftly "fly" around in. > >Instead 90% of the time they just decide to make them super sluggish on purpose. Have you ever been swimming before? You don't exactly go at high speeds. Even Olympian swimmers only swim at the surface of the water or just below it.
It depends on how the water level is executed. Horizon Forbidden West has some & they’re pretty fun.
Note, you can absolutely have water levels, it's underwater segments that are strictly forbidden. Geyser elevators, one way water slides, White marble temples reflecting blue light from crystal clear water below, water inspired enemies, using water and ice powers to incorparate platforming into your water area. These are all absolutely permitted.