Water Levels

We have a theory that water levels are not fun in any game, ever.  My proposition to you, Giant Bomb, is this:  prove us right or wrong.  What games have the worst water levels?  Has a water level ever not felt out of place in an otherwise good game?  Has swimming ever been done well in a first person shooter?  Is there any game out there with a water level in it that doesn't infuriate you?

Let's get some dialogue going here.

I thought the water levels in New Super Mario Bros. for the DS were all fun.

I didn't mind the water levels in Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid 2 or God of War/GoWII.... Not sure if you could count Bioshock as taken place in a water level.

I think i agree.

Castle Crashers is the most recent example, i fucking hate that water level.

Im sure there must be a few games out there with good water levels though?

btw someone should add this to the concept page if it isnt.

Water Temple in Zelda OoT.

sucks

How about that water level in Xbox Ninja Gaiden?  Was that not the most terrible thing ever?

old GTAs cause u had all that water yet you couldn't swim, pretty much fail right there

Even Mario galaxy and 64 had sucky water levels.

limited movement really just isn't fun.

"Water Temple in Zelda OoT.

sucks"

Actually Metroid Prime has a good water level.  That is officially the only water level that's any good in my eyes.

Any more examples of good or shitty water levels?  It's for an important project.

I personally really hated the water section of MGS2.

I enjoyed water areas in Morrowind, searching around for underwater things and whatnot.

Edit: As for one I hate Kingdom Hearts 1/2 underwater levels were so annoying.

I really hated the platforming water levels in the God of War games. 

It's something about the limited visibility, the claustrophobia, and the often wonky swimming controls that usually ruins a water level.  It seems to be the one thing video games cannot translate with a great deal of success. 

"Actually Metroid Prime has a good water level.  That is officially the only water level that's any good in my eyes.

Any more examples of good or shitty water levels?  It's for an important project."

...and it should be noted that Metroid Prime's water level was only good after you got an item that gave you equal mobility/visibility to what you had on land.

God of War: Chains of Olympus had a fun water level, as did Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow. Logan's Shadow's was great.

"Water Temple in Zelda OoT.

sucks"

"DanCarmichael said:

"Water Temple in Zelda OoT.

sucks"

That was the first thing that entered my head when reading this topic."

I didn't mind the waterlevel in Socom 3, It was actually quite awesome.

Water levels in  games pretty much all suck. They always feel like such a hassle to get through them, they are never fun.....just Okay at best.

"Water levels in  games pretty much all suck. They always feel like such a hassle to get through them, they are never fun.....just Okay at best."

"How about that water level in Xbox Ninja Gaiden?  Was that not the most terrible thing ever?"

If anyone remembers the underwater level in SiN, I used to think it was rather annoying.

It felt like a maze with hardly any places to get oxygen, and if I remember correctly you had divers shooting at you as well.

The ones in Crash 3 really sucked.

The level in Patapon where you have to do the Rain Miracle.  Okay, so you are not in water, but it involved water and is bar none the most frustrating, gamebreaking decisions ever made to implement it.

Depends on the game, but I still hate most water levels.

Actually, I've always loved the water levels the most...

When I get LBP I have vowed to make a water level and an ice level. The two annoying environments of platforming.

"When I get LBP I have vowed to make a water level and an ice level. The two annoying environments of platforming."

I didn't like the water levels in the old (read: proper) Sonic games because when you were running out of air there would be tense music and it would make me SCARED. I was a fucking PANSY. I also didn't like those slicing blade things in the original Prince of Persia. I didn't even like to watch my cousin play those bits. I think it's because when you died it was quick, loud and violent. But that's besides the point.

"Otacon said:

"When I get LBP I have vowed to make a water level and an ice level. The two annoying environments of platforming."

There also needs to be a timed escort mission, and a level where you have to fend off tons of enemies while waiting on, then riding, an exceptionally slow elevator."

...like in Toejam & Earl.  Even in that game you had massive expanses of water with sharks in them.

I absolutely love them, but then again i have a bias for water.

Well the only exception would be OoT's water temple, what a pain in the ass.

Aqua-centric levels are normally my least favorite and that dates back to the swimming levels in Super Mario Bros. way back in the day.  Oddly enough, the water levels usually have the best music.

As for the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time, it was a bitch back then and it was a bitch 2 days ago when I played through it.

Sonic water levels pissed me off.

"Otacon said:

"DanCarmichael said:

"Water Temple in Zelda OoT.

sucks"

That was the first thing that entered my head when reading this topic."

What are you talking about ! The water temple was awesome! I really hope they do something similar to it in the next Zelda game, because I think Twilight Princess was too easy"

I liked the water levels in super mario brothers and donkey kong country.

I don't mind water levels if they're done right.
If you get something like Zelda: OoT, where the damn water temple requires you to either run back and forth for hours to figure it out, or use a strategy guide, then I hate it..

I get kind of freaked out easily in water levels, also.. Like when I was playing SotC, that one colossus in the water that would just pop up, that scared the hell out of me. I had to have my friend do it.

Or in Turok (first one), I remember swimming under water, and those damn things that looked like lickers would come from every direction..

I haven't had good experiences with water levels.. probably comes from being a desert dweller.

The water bits in Sonic made me shit myself as a kid, I still have nightmare of that music bit.

The water level in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Genesis is annoying as hell.

Now when you say "water level" we're talking about being totally submerged, right? Being on a boat doesn't count?

"Now when you say "water level" we're talking about being totally submerged, right? Being on a boat doesn't count?"

Lake Monsoon at Warioland 4 was quite fun...must've been that bright blue water and the jungle that made me feel so secure.

"The water bits in Sonic made me shit myself as a kid, I still have nightmare of that music bit."

Yep, you grab the air bubble and the super happy pop Labyrinth Zone music kicks up again.

"OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD...."

*grabs bubble*

*starts nodding head to music again*

"Yep, you grab the air bubble and the super happy pop Labyrinth Zone music kicks up again.

"OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD...."

*grabs bubble*

*starts nodding head to music again*"

Well, I wasn't terrible at the game. ;)

"Well, I wasn't terrible at the game. ;)"

"I enjoyed water areas in Morrowind, searching around for underwater things and whatnot.

Edit: As for one I hate Kingdom Hearts 1/2 underwater levels were so annoying."

Anyone who says the Water Temple sucks is wrong. Plain and simple. It has the most brilliant puzzles.

But most water levels suck. Ninja Gaiden on the Oxbox, I'm looking at you. An entire level where you just... swim. I'm a fucking bad-ass ninja, and you want me to swim for 30 minutes? Are you kidding me, game?