Check out the game Hydrophobia. Water levels are the only thing it has and I think it works beautifully besides some controls issues and how short it is.
Nobody likes water levels
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Water for me equals slow movement and bad control of the character. That's why I dispise such levels/areas in games.
It depends of the game.
In many games that handle well otherwise, diving can be such a pain, not to mention you constantly run out of air.
I tend to like water-levels in Zelda games, not because of some unifying thing, but because I just happen to like the dungeons in question, and in some like the 2D-Zeldas, the fact that you're underwater doesn't change the playing much.
Also in some games either the water kills you outright, or slows you down, which can be annoying.
In many games that handle well otherwise, diving can be such a pain, not to mention you constantly run out of air.
I tend to like water-levels in Zelda games, not because of some unifying thing, but because I just happen to like the dungeons in question, and in some like the 2D-Zeldas, the fact that you're underwater doesn't change the playing much.
Also in some games either the water kills you outright, or slows you down, which can be annoying.
I think the problem with water levels in most games is threefold.
1. Control. In a water level you are usually out of your depth, and the control you have over your character will often feel clunky and misguided. Nobody likes the game to suddenly remove the ability to move quickly or evasively, unless it replaces it with something to make up for the loss of control... like a harpoon minigun, or something.
2. Enemies. I hesitate to use the word 'learning curve' because the game isn't getting more difficult, per se - it's just rapidly changing its playing style, and, if you'll forgive the metaphor, we don't like to be thrown into the deep end without some instruction. Fishy and amphibious foes usually take different approaches, and we feel somewhat cheated that we weren't given more warning when a lamprey jumps out of the slime and latches onto our fleshy unmentionables.
3. The environment. Level designers seem to run out of ideas when it comes to water levels - even Half-Life 2, a triumph of design, would occasionally shove you into a tiny grimy drainpipe with no distinguishing features whatsoever. Segments are usually confusing to navigate and, of course, the 'shortage of air' mechanic ensures you have to pause every few seconds to refill your lungs. Nice way to break up the flow of the entire level.
So, tl;dr: you're swimming around a dark tunnel, you can't see for shit, you're moving achingly slowly and then you get killed by some fish thing you never saw. Sounds like Serious Sam to me.
1. Control. In a water level you are usually out of your depth, and the control you have over your character will often feel clunky and misguided. Nobody likes the game to suddenly remove the ability to move quickly or evasively, unless it replaces it with something to make up for the loss of control... like a harpoon minigun, or something.
2. Enemies. I hesitate to use the word 'learning curve' because the game isn't getting more difficult, per se - it's just rapidly changing its playing style, and, if you'll forgive the metaphor, we don't like to be thrown into the deep end without some instruction. Fishy and amphibious foes usually take different approaches, and we feel somewhat cheated that we weren't given more warning when a lamprey jumps out of the slime and latches onto our fleshy unmentionables.
3. The environment. Level designers seem to run out of ideas when it comes to water levels - even Half-Life 2, a triumph of design, would occasionally shove you into a tiny grimy drainpipe with no distinguishing features whatsoever. Segments are usually confusing to navigate and, of course, the 'shortage of air' mechanic ensures you have to pause every few seconds to refill your lungs. Nice way to break up the flow of the entire level.
So, tl;dr: you're swimming around a dark tunnel, you can't see for shit, you're moving achingly slowly and then you get killed by some fish thing you never saw. Sounds like Serious Sam to me.
Well, usually in older games water=lava. Some newer games like Red Dead redemtion do it too. So you can hotie people and drop them off a bridge to get rid of them... tehehehe.
Man I hated that bit in Dark Forces aswell. Also any river/irrigation parts in Jedi KnightNeverhoodian said:I hate water or sewer levels, mostly because the developers like populating the water with all sorts of beasties. For example, Anoat Sewers scarred me for life because of this thing:
(bear in mind I was only seven or so at the time)
Also, I hate having to swim through underwater obstacle courses while worrying about running out of air.
ark Forces 2 made me shit bricks.I don't like water levels because of the fear there is something in the water. Also you can drown. Most developers make sure both of these things happen in water levels so hence its natural that you would fear or dislike water levels.
Also you are alot slower in water which can make it tedious.
It looks incredibly cool, and if you pull everything off just right it's amazing, but not only can your character not swim, he also has a habit of jumping the wrong way on poles. Add in that you've got to avoid the knight's gaze or he'll run off, and you've got a recipe for disaster. It's bad that he was actually one of my favorite targets (his paranoia was especially enjoyable as by this point you truly do feel dangerous), just my least favorite level (having restarted it more than ANY other target).EllEzDee said:
The only Zelda water level I didn't like was the Wind Waker version (name escapes me), besides that I've always liked water levels (well, I didn't dislike Hydrophobia).
it's strange... I made this thread then completely forgot about it for days, anyway...
its not that I think water levels are bad, Im just saying that people in general seem to dislike water levels and I think the general consensus here is what makes the most sense. You move slower, the running out of air wasnt a bad thing for me rather it just meant you had to time things right... the main problem for me when it comes to water is when you can to try to navigate through all 3 dimentions, it can be hard and confusing
and despite my "it's alright" opinion of OoT, the water temple was my favourite part
its not that I think water levels are bad, Im just saying that people in general seem to dislike water levels and I think the general consensus here is what makes the most sense. You move slower, the running out of air wasnt a bad thing for me rather it just meant you had to time things right... the main problem for me when it comes to water is when you can to try to navigate through all 3 dimentions, it can be hard and confusing
and despite my "it's alright" opinion of OoT, the water temple was my favourite part
The right way to do a water level is to not require air and to make sure not to flub physics too badly. Any that screw up basic controls or make you suffocate ruin the game.
I hated the water temple in OoT, although the one in Twilight Princess wasn't too bad. However, if the Poseidon boss fight in God of War 3 counts as a water level, then it is the best friggin water level ever.
Also, while there is no real "water level" in Crysis, the water looks phenomenal, and the physics are unbelievable.
Also, while there is no real "water level" in Crysis, the water looks phenomenal, and the physics are unbelievable.