Top 10 Worst Water Levels in Video Games
This dam level... hehehe. But let me describe what I've seen online:
- Tight time limit to defuse multiple bombs
- Electric obstacles everywhere
- Wonky controls
- Slow swimming
Definitely the worst temple of all time. To swim underwater, you have to use the Iron Boots. To surface, you have to remove them. This back-and-forth is tedious and frustrating.
It's an instant letdown, filled with unfair platforming leading to a grand finale of disappointment.
I really hated that stupid Big Fish that would try to eat Mario and kill him in one hit!
I love Pac-Man World 2, but this level is tedious. Pac-Man just sits in a submarine, navigating a dark green void with pipes, enemies, and fruit repeating over and over for at least eight whole minutes. It gets incredibly repetitive!
The Newcomers
It's clear this area was extremely rushed during development. Not only does it reuse the forest stage from earlier in the game, even though Galados is meant to be a beach area, but it also features enemies that are way too overpowered and don't fit a beach or forest setting. Why does this island have Big Noses with Glasses, Giant UFOs, and a Red Fire-Breathing Dragon?
In Japan, four is synonymous with death, which is fitting for Level 4, the Labyrinth Zone, because this is where all the game's fun dies. Sonic moves slowly underwater and can only hold his breath for so long, so you have to find air bubbles or surface before he drowns. If you need a reason to prefer Mario games over Sonic games, the way their water levels play is more than enough.
Without question, this is the worst Sonic water level in gaming history. Act 1 and Act 2 are easy, in my opinion, but Act 3 is a nightmare. The act is plagued by tedious traps, and Sonic moves painfully slowly because he can't swim. This limitation undermines one of the game's best mechanics. The frustrating drowning mechanics and annoying music add a cheap challenge. Navigating the maze-like level doubles the chore of completing it and it only gets worse. The start of Act 3 is pure tedium. All this hassle leads up to the hardest boss in the game. What were they thinking?
If you're unfamiliar with the horrors of this water level, why are you on this list?
It's dark and dank, the music is unsettling, you can only bring Blue Pikmin (despite the presence of all four elemental traps), and the treasures are nearly worthless. Then, there's the Waterwraith. Unlike other bosses that stay on the final floor, this monster appears on your current floor if you linger too long. He's immune to almost all attacks and can steamroll even a full squad of 100 Pikmin if given the chance. Until you kill him on the final floor, he will relentlessly hunt you down.
This is my fourth worst water level after the Great Bay Temple, the Dam Level, and the Labyrinth Zone. First, it's an auto-scrolling level. Second, there are Blooper Nannies and a swarm of Jelectros. Combine this with the Labyrinth Zone, and it's pure torture.
You know what part this is - the one where you have to keep changing the battery constantly, in Bat's Tower.