Why there hasn't been a good underwater game?

[Vonter]

Hello everyone. I'll like to know your opinions on why there hasn't been a successful underwater game. The reason I'm intrigued is because I think this is the only type of gameplay mechanic that has't been streamlined for the user to enjoy. Also I'm wondering if a developer could bring a sucessful underwater experience, does it guarantee prestige, like the sanbox (GTA), platformer (Mario), fighting (Capcom fighters).

[Mako]

While there are many games that have under water levels, I'm not really sure a game that takes place 100% under water would be that successful. Personally, I despise most under water levels even when they are well done. You move very slow, you have to worry about getting oxygen in some cases, and they are generally more difficult. Sonic running out of oxygen comes to mind with that very frustrating and frantic count down clock, OoT water temple was a bit frustrating my first play through, Mario water levels whether 2D or 3D are generally me least favorite in the games, and so on.

I guess they could make an under water game work, unlike some in the past. Games like Endless Ocean come to mind when I think about diving under water and it got favorable reviews. However, I'm not sure if we can consider "under water" a genre like "platformer", "fighting", or "sandbox". I think it is more of a subsection that could be included in different games. Like a platformer having under water levels.

[gtt]

Bioshock.

also, water levels suck.

[Broken_Cartridge]

Good underwater game? They made it.

Spoiler:

(caution foul language)

[Devil_Rising]

Bioshock doesn't count. It's in a city underwater, not in the water element itself. Also, a tad overrated. Just saying.

They have, however, made a couple of fairly successful 3D underwater based games. The Endless Ocean titles are indeed decent games, very pretty to look at, though at least in the first one, not long on replay value. I hear the second has a lot more to do, which is good.

The OTHER, however, that comes to mind, is Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future. It wasn't perfect by any means, but it was one of the better games for Dreamcast, and having played it, I can say that it was actually very unique and more fun than the 2D Ecco games (which usually isn't the case). It was later re-released on PS2. Either way, I'd say it's worth checking out and I'd love to see Sega actually bother to make an even better, more fully realized Ecco game (along with another PANZER DRAGOON, dammit Sega).

[jasonmaivia]

I'm still waiting for a sequel to my favorite "on-the-water" game - Wave Race.

[Mirr0rR3flection]

I wonder that myself sometimes.

I loved Donkey Kong Country 1,2, & 3's water levels.

[Blue_Falcon]

The Metal Slug games have some rad water levels.

[jasonmaivia]

Will you count games like Dive: The Medes Islands Secret, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, and the Spongebob Squarepants series, since they're played mostly under water?

[Devil_Rising]

Will you count games like Dive: The Medes Islands Secret, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, and the Spongebob Squarepants series, since they're played mostly under water?

I feel like an "underwater game" has to be based mostly around swimming, to really feel that it differs from something like Spongebob that just takes place underwater.



Also, YES, I've been waiting for a new Wave Race with ridiculous water graphics/physics for ages too.

[Jazzy]

Weren't the Ecco the Dolphin games successful?

Anyway, I agree that "underwater games" can't exactly be a genre, because it seems a bit more about the location rather than the style of gameplay. And I think games with underwater levels or portions seem more interesting than games where you spend the entire time underwater, especially if you're not playing as a sea animal. Likewise for games where you just stay on land and die if you character falls in the water vs. games where you can swim around some, too. Maybe that's why we haven't really had games that took place entirely underwater that got stellar reviews.

[Sonic 1]

Mario and sonic 1 enough said.

[player value]

Weren't the Ecco the Dolphin games successful?
.

I love Ecco on SEGA CD and then on DC! In the Hunt is an other correct answer.

[Koopzilla]

The Legendary Starfy for DS was a really fun underwater game. I haven't played the other ones that weren't released in the US.

[Icarus8900]

Monster hunter tri..... Never mind

[Jazzy]

Mario and sonic 1 enough said.

I think they mean games that take place ENTIRELY underwater where you play as like a scuba diver or a fish or whatever, not games that just have some parts where you go underwater. There are TONS of good games that just have some underwater portions as well as land. Mario Galaxy did that really well.

[Clowns8me]

I feel like the fact that Rapture is underwater has enough thematic and artistic merit to place Bioshock in this thread. It's not entirely underwater, but Skyward Sword isn't entirely in the Sky. Just my bumping two cents.

[Devil_Rising]

Eh. At least Skyward Sword has actual flying. Bioshock takes place in a city under the ocean, but it's not as if you have to go swimming around in a marine environment. You run around....a city underwater. So it's kind of like most other shooters....just with a unique setting. In the background.

I still say "underwater game" should imply actually spending most of the game having to navigate and maneuver underwater.

[MoldyClay]

Aquaria, I think. Though I barely played that.

Ecco. Starfy (love Starfy).

Does Endless Ocean count? I don't see the pull, but they are technically underwater and successful, right? Dunno.

I Can Hold My Breath Forever? lol: http://dai5ychain.net/breath/

Treasures of the Deep, Steel Diver, Ever Blue, Deep Fighter...

I haven't played these all (really, just Starfy and the game I linked to and a little of Aquaria), but there are tons of underwater games.

I still say "underwater game" should imply actually spending most of the game having to navigate and maneuver underwater.

BioShock 2 then.

You exit the city and walk around in the water for a bit, and water crashes in early in the game, so you're in water more than the first game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYHpmmdFx1s

[CM30]

There's actually a page on TV Tropes about this, which kind of explains one or so possible reason:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... isIsBoring

Basically, writers are human, most humans/people live on land and think of land as where interesting things happen, don't see an underwater setting as interesting in a story. There's a reason almost all games mentioned in this topic either have significantly more 'above water/on land' based content, and why Bioshock takes place in a domed/may as well be on land underwater city.

[Vonter]

There's actually a page on TV Tropes about this, which kind of explains one or so possible reason:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... isIsBoring

Basically, writers are human, most humans/people live on land and think of land as where interesting things happen, don't see an underwater setting as interesting in a story. There's a reason almost all games mentioned in this topic either have significantly more 'above water/on land' based content, and why Bioshock takes place in a domed/may as well be on land underwater city.

I find it sad/lazy/lame especially because is one of the most uncharted places of the planet. Of the always blue argument I don't think it should be a restriction since it's a reflection of the sky, it can range for several colors during a game.

I mainly argue of this because of how water is constantly being shown as an example in graphical power mainly showing a physics engine but there is minimal interaction in game with this effects. Either way after reading the note, I think a complete underwater experience might not be the best but as to support a narrative it could add memorable moments. I think one of the best was in Star Fox 64 since it was basically giving different physics to a setting, from how obstacles fall and changes in lighting and color.

[Jerome]

I think the main reason there haven't been many good underwater games is that things move more slowly underwater, so action games seem less exciting*. Sure, you could avoid this by setting a puzzle or adventure game underwater, buy why bother?

*(You'll notice that probably the best-known game series set underwater starred an unusually fast and acrobatic underwater creature, Ecco the Dolphin. Coincidence? I don't think so.)

[Vonter]

I think the main reason there haven't been many good underwater games is that things move more slowly underwater, so action games seem less exciting*. Sure, you could avoid this by setting a puzzle or adventure game underwater, buy why bother?

*(You'll notice that probably the best-known game series set underwater starred an unusually fast and acrobatic underwater creature, Ecco the Dolphin. Coincidence? I don't think so.)

I know but the design can be very mesmerizing, I recall the surreal underwater ruins of Megaman Legends 2 having this colorful room with a mechanical stingray.

[fireman_pep]

Kirby's Epic Yarn had some good under water levels.

[Devil_Rising]

I think the main reason there haven't been many good underwater games is that things move more slowly underwater, so action games seem less exciting*. Sure, you could avoid this by setting a puzzle or adventure game underwater, buy why bother?

*(You'll notice that probably the best-known game series set underwater starred an unusually fast and acrobatic underwater creature, Ecco the Dolphin. Coincidence? I don't think so.)

Which is exactly why I wouldn't consider a true "underwater game" unless it actually involved an ENTIRE game based on swimming around underwater. Hence the very term. Something like Bioshock, or any other game that HAPPENS to have water somewhere in it, absolutely doesn't count.

And a new Ecco game would be fantastic.