I guess I’m weird because I always liked the rain in Breath of the Wild and it’s sequel because it forced you to think about the world differently and find new solutions to problems instead of just climbing over everything. Also with proper timing and practice you can climb in rain with zero issues.
The problem with water is that it almost _always_ inhibits the player's freedom and movement in some way... Sure, you can usually swim up or down, but it ALWAYS comes at the cost of slowing you down, and making everything feel sluggish. If handled well, this can be a good thing. If it WHOLE POINT is to slow you down and act as a hazard, then it serves its purpose well. However, that's usually not the case. Most of the time water levels are there just for the sake of it. The only game I can think of that actually handles water well (aside from games that take place entirely in water, such as Subnautica) is Minecraft. Prior the Update Aquatic, water was like every other game... Painfully slow, and incredibly sluggish. There mostly to impede the player for the sake of having water. But after they overhauled the swimming mechanics, now you can swim freely, and it even gives you abilities (such as fitting through one-block gaps) that you previously could not do. They also have enchantments like Depth Strider, Aqua Affinity, and Respiration to make being in water much more comfortable and easy to deal with, neatly tying in water traversal with progression. Swimming in Minecraft actually _fun,_ unlike every other game where swimming sucks. The key is speed. Water ALWAYS slows you down and it makes gameplay suck. If you want water levels, make them FUN.... And the best way to do that is give the player movement options to use in the water to make gameplay more interesting. Stop limiting the player so much, and make swimming _actually enjoyable._
Honestly? Fortnite's water mechanics are great. Chapter 1: Used at the edge of the island for out of bounds but not being too annoying to traverse on top of the island due to either being too shallow or being able to build over obviously. Chapter 2 and onwards: Boats were a great addition, they were fast, could hold around 5 people I think and could shoot missiles, the fishing was weirdly fun and was used to break the game from time to time. The swimming itself is great and has remained unchanged. If you swim downstream you go faster, if you jump and dive it gives you a boost of speed and even at normal speed it doesn't feel sluggish unless going upstream. Also the animations are nice. Augments in chapter 4 also allowed for you to swim faster and heal whilst in water. The new season added the waterbending mythic which not only lets you use water as bullets like in the Avatar show but it also allows you to heal passively when in water. I genuinely think the water mechanics in fortnite are the best for a game that isn't about water.
I think people don't like water levels in Mario games because they... aren't Mario. They're very slow, they're kinda top-down-like, and the fun of jumping is just gone. I think they're also seen as hard by many people because the enemies and other obstacles move faster than you do; you can oftentimes only move up quickly; not any other direction quickly. However, I'd say Super Mario Sunshine and the Galaxy games actually do water controls relatively well.
waterlevels from Super Mario are way to hated imo. You can still use your power-ups and they serve the purpose of gameplay variation so that the games never get boring
A game that handles water really well imo, is The Legendary Starfy series. The gameplay becomes smoother and more and faster when you’re in bodies of water. So I think a good water could be used in gameplay, is that it enhances your character in some way, that makes you not dread going into the water.
Wow, thank you for reading my comment out and taking it into account for this video. I greatly appreciate it. And good video by the way, getting at a lot of the reasons why water levels aren’t particularly enjoyed.
Yeah, that's the video I have wated for. I can totally relate to your opinion! Also, the video was really well-made! I love the quality and effort you put in it. Thank you for this masterpiece! ❤
I agree, it depends on the game. I like it in Endless ocean and it’s probably one of the best swimming controls that I’ve played. I’m not a fan of it in Mario galaxy mainly because I have a hard time controlling Mario with the inverted controls. I can see why a lot of people hate water levels in platformers, they’re definitely one of my least favourite level types in most platformers. That being said, Rayman Legends is an exception. Its water levels are some of my favorite parts from this game. Its controls are the best platformer water level controls I’ve played, you can move Rayman exactly where you want him to move and the level designs are good as well. In fact, my favorite Rayman Legends world is probably the water based world.
I think future 2D mario games should come with the swimming mechanic of odyssey by default. I would also want rain to not affect link maybe besides the tutorial
but what would the point of rain be then? BOTW and TOTK give you the maximum amount of freedom possible so having to deal with rain is a good obstacle to prevent the player from reaching everything ASAP
I guess I’m weird because I always liked the rain in Breath of the Wild and it’s sequel because it forced you to think about the world differently and find new solutions to problems instead of just climbing over everything. Also with proper timing and practice you can climb in rain with zero issues.
The problem with water is that it almost _always_ inhibits the player's freedom and movement in some way... Sure, you can usually swim up or down, but it ALWAYS comes at the cost of slowing you down, and making everything feel sluggish. If handled well, this can be a good thing. If it WHOLE POINT is to slow you down and act as a hazard, then it serves its purpose well. However, that's usually not the case. Most of the time water levels are there just for the sake of it.
The only game I can think of that actually handles water well (aside from games that take place entirely in water, such as Subnautica) is Minecraft. Prior the Update Aquatic, water was like every other game... Painfully slow, and incredibly sluggish. There mostly to impede the player for the sake of having water. But after they overhauled the swimming mechanics, now you can swim freely, and it even gives you abilities (such as fitting through one-block gaps) that you previously could not do. They also have enchantments like Depth Strider, Aqua Affinity, and Respiration to make being in water much more comfortable and easy to deal with, neatly tying in water traversal with progression. Swimming in Minecraft actually _fun,_ unlike every other game where swimming sucks.
The key is speed. Water ALWAYS slows you down and it makes gameplay suck. If you want water levels, make them FUN.... And the best way to do that is give the player movement options to use in the water to make gameplay more interesting. Stop limiting the player so much, and make swimming _actually enjoyable._
Yeah I hate drinking water in real life. Good video btw.
Also the music at the start of the video is from the newest Paper Mario.
Honestly? Fortnite's water mechanics are great. Chapter 1: Used at the edge of the island for out of bounds but not being too annoying to traverse on top of the island due to either being too shallow or being able to build over obviously. Chapter 2 and onwards: Boats were a great addition, they were fast, could hold around 5 people I think and could shoot missiles, the fishing was weirdly fun and was used to break the game from time to time. The swimming itself is great and has remained unchanged. If you swim downstream you go faster, if you jump and dive it gives you a boost of speed and even at normal speed it doesn't feel sluggish unless going upstream. Also the animations are nice. Augments in chapter 4 also allowed for you to swim faster and heal whilst in water. The new season added the waterbending mythic which not only lets you use water as bullets like in the Avatar show but it also allows you to heal passively when in water. I genuinely think the water mechanics in fortnite are the best for a game that isn't about water.
I think people don't like water levels in Mario games because they... aren't Mario. They're very slow, they're kinda top-down-like, and the fun of jumping is just gone. I think they're also seen as hard by many people because the enemies and other obstacles move faster than you do; you can oftentimes only move up quickly; not any other direction quickly. However, I'd say Super Mario Sunshine and the Galaxy games actually do water controls relatively well.
0:00 Water Vellumental Shrine- Paper Mario: The Origami King
6:58 Ice Vellumental Mountain - Paper Mario: The Origami King
I really really like how super mario odyssey handles the water gameplay, expecially with the cheep-cheep. It's my favorite game
waterlevels from Super Mario are way to hated imo. You can still use your power-ups and they serve the purpose of gameplay variation so that the games never get boring
A game that handles water really well imo, is The Legendary Starfy series. The gameplay becomes smoother and more and faster when you’re in bodies of water.
So I think a good water could be used in gameplay, is that it enhances your character in some way, that makes you not dread going into the water.
Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, Sunshine, and DKC Tropical Freeze did water levels right
My favorite water level is the little mermaid world in Kingdom hearts 2
Wow, thank you for reading my comment out and taking it into account for this video. I greatly appreciate it.
And good video by the way, getting at a lot of the reasons why water levels aren’t particularly enjoyed.
Thank you too!
Yeah, that's the video I have wated for. I can totally relate to your opinion! Also, the video was really well-made! I love the quality and effort you put in it. Thank you for this masterpiece! ❤
I agree, it depends on the game.
I like it in Endless ocean and it’s probably one of the best swimming controls that I’ve played.
I’m not a fan of it in Mario galaxy mainly because I have a hard time controlling Mario with the inverted controls.
I can see why a lot of people hate water levels in platformers, they’re definitely one of my least favourite level types in most platformers.
That being said, Rayman Legends is an exception. Its water levels are some of my favorite parts from this game.
Its controls are the best platformer water level controls I’ve played, you can move Rayman exactly where you want him to move and the level designs are good as well.
In fact, my favorite Rayman Legends world is probably the water based world.
I think future 2D mario games should come with the swimming mechanic of odyssey by default. I would also want rain to not affect link maybe besides the tutorial
but what would the point of rain be then? BOTW and TOTK give you the maximum amount of freedom possible so having to deal with rain is a good obstacle to prevent the player from reaching everything ASAP
Games with ice Might be more controversial
also a way to overhated mechanic imo
New sub here, Very cool channel.
Glad you think so!