Water in games, love it or hate it?

[Ouenben]

I Dunno what it is about water in games but I just don't get on very well...
whether it be the very frustrating water temple in Ocarina of Time, the 2nd level of Sonic 3 which was mainly underwater and meant sonic was slow and had to keep getting air bubbles, that level in mario 64 where you can change the water level by jumping in the picture at different heights was annoying when you fell from a high height and having to get back to the top again.

I just don't like the whole slowness of it and lack of being able to move other than swim this way or that way. Also the "you're gonna die if you dont get air soon" gets on my nerves, realistic yes, annoying also.

So do you love water levels and what are your favourites you can remember?
Or do you hate the wet stuff and can you remember the one that got on your nerves so much you almost threw the controller at the tv?!

[EvilBoris]

I don't love generic "Water Temple" levels in RPGs, but that goes for all the element temples. So clich?d it isn't even funny.

[Concept]

I love videogaming water.

ICO (windmill! ). Panzer Dragoon Orta (episode 2). Half-Life 2 (Route Kanal). Double Agent (the end). Stranger's Wrath (canoeing in a valley and cave). Wave Race 64 (the sunset stage - forget it's name). Halo 2 (the colours shimmering in the Delta Halo lake ). Kameo (the water around the main castle). Gears of War (act 4 ) Panzer Dragoon Saga (Lake Uru during the twilight hours ).

And if we're talking rain... well Gears of War, MGS2, Resident Evil 4 are clearly the dons. I've never felt more saturated than the start of Act 3.

If we're talking levels only, then the ones from above are clearly the Uru, Windmill, Route Kanal and Act 3 from ICO, PDZ, HL2 and Gow respectively.

[GluedOnBeard]

Yeah i know exactly where you are coming from, in these examples that you have given sometimes i got pretty annoyed, as it did seem to take forever to do. However at the same time once i had got past it it does provide you with the satisfaction of getting it done, and all in all the level in zelda did add to the game, i must admit of mario 64 i couldnt care less if that level had been there or not it didnt do anything new but in zelda i thought it was nicely done and provided a few unique puzzles.

Onto sonic however and i honestly cant stand the water in that game for me it spoils the game considerably, so i think developers should reaslly think about if that sort of design will add to the game like in zelda or just be viewed as anotehr level (which in the cases of mario and sonic badly designed ones)

Saying that though i think its ok to have a bit of water in sonic, but they should have it so you either dont die or have air bubbles more often etc as for me it changes the pace of the game too much and spoils it, with long drawn out water sections. When i got sonic for the DS eariler this year that was one of the levels i hated most, but i do like the water flumes on that level and when you get to run on top of the water.

So a big thumbs up for the inclusion in Zelda, mario some levels used it well but not the one where you had to raise lower the water level. In sonic use it, but not too much otherwise it ruins it.

In conclusion then and more directlyon topic, even though i sopmetims hate water in games it is necessary. I think overall i hate water sections in game more than love, especially ninja gaiden hakingfistemoticon:

I honestly cannot remeber a water section i have enjoyed in a game so it will be interesting to see what people post. I guess that means im a hater then (that is when your submegred in water just want to get that straight ) I love dynamic water effects in games and when new ways of making it are found, such as in the upcoming game bioshock and it was nice in Blinx when you stopped time :P

[EvilBoris]

I like looking at water in games, but I can't think of any exciting water based areas.

[Concept]

I really liked the swimming in Mario 64 (who can forget Jolly Rodger Bay) and Tomb Raider - straight obvious examples of games with well handled water environments). I thought it was heavily flawed in Ocarina though (as demonstrated by the Water Temple).

[GluedOnBeard]

I thought it was good in Ocarina however forgot about the old tombraiders, swimming was quite good in that, always fun diving into the water

[eastyy]

i always liked water effects i did think morrowinds water effect was better then oblivions

oh anyone seen it in the upcoming game bioshock that looked amazing

[Concept]

Don't give me a reason to lose my life to Morrowind. :P

Bioshock looks excellent. Who would have thought a flooded, unkept bog could appear so lovely, eh? The wonders of the next-gen.

[GluedOnBeard]

Yep, i mentioned it at the bottom of my post, They hired a team expecially just to work on the water effects for that place so they should be amazing when the game is closer to being completed

[Ouenben]

Gotta say I didnt mind wetrix which was cleverly based on water. Quite a fun game, I also like overboard where you control pirate ships and have to shoot others etc.

I guess Im the sort that doesn't like Water in games when you are directly in it but dont mind if your controlling something on top or the water itself, also look at water is quite nice, as long as its done well.

[Concept]

Forgot Balder's Gate: Dark Alliance. The ripples!

Although it isn't often overwhelming to look at (though the sun glistening on the sea looks great at dawn/evening), I really like the wave effects in San Andreas when the weather gets stormy. There's usually too much flat water in non water sporting games.

Oh, and special mention must go to the water lens effect in MGS3 when you surface, not to mention the Guilin water in Shenmue II.

[Kongster]

Water levels are great - the ones in Ocarina of Time in particular are great!

[GluedOnBeard]

Gotta say I didnt mind wetrix which was cleverly based on water.

Wetrix was the best, that was good as you were messign with water. Multiplayer split screen was mad on that game. Trying to build up massive water pools before evaporating it was amazingly good fun (although it may not sound like it) and the bombs always added in that moment of panic later on. There neds to be more little ingenious games that get released This was one of my most played games on the N64!

[SegaMark]

I liked Labyrinth Zone in Sonic, mainly because back in the day my mates couldn't do it, but I could.