The ubiquitous water level can be frustrating and tedious, often involving the lowering and raising of water levels, making the player feel more like a plumber than a video game hero or heroine. But water levels can also be fun, unique, and memorable. The best water levels are those that are fun to play and not simply vehicles for unnecessary gimmicks or showing off realistic-looking undulations.
Water can be limiting, slowing the player down and giving them a new control scheme to contend with. The challenge of creating a fun water level, or at least one that isn't a chore to play through, is introducing a new and interesting environment while still having enjoyable gameplay.
10 The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword: Ancient Cistern Has Meaning Beyond Its Beautiful Aesthetics
Skyward Sword may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it has a great water level, something a lot of Legend of Zelda games don't have. Ancient Cistern is a beautiful temple with an intricate structure and a spiritual theme, replete with references to Buddhism. Link has to solve numerous water-themed puzzles in order to raise the head of the giant Buddha statue to get up to the main boss. The dark and ominous underworld, filled with cursed bokoblins and murky purple water, makes for a nice contrast with the light of the upper dungeon, and the whip that Link acquires in the dungeon makes traversing the dungeon fun.
9 Sonic Colors: Aquarium Park Has Speed, Variety, & Power-Ups
Water levels in Sonic games don't have a great record, thanks in large part to Labyrinth Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog, which was notorious for its difficulty and reliance on finding less-than-abundant air bubbles. Sonic Colors used the fact that it was a 3D game to its advantage to make a fun and varied water level. Sonic is dropped into an underwater tunnel before being unleashed on the park. Things don't slow down when Sonic enters the water, either, thanks to the abundance of Yellow Drill power-ups that also give him aquatic respiration.
8 Rayman Legends: 20,000 Lums Under The Sea Brings Takes Stealth Underwater
The control schemes of water levels can be stiff and unintuitive, but the fluid movement and amount of control the player has over Rayman make this series of water levels in Rayman Legends a pleasure to play. 20,ooo Lums Under the Sea is a world featuring ten underwater levels, one of which has the player using stealth to avoid enemies and beams of light. The variety on offer throughout the levels makes for an entertaining world, and the control the player has makes the levels feel fair instead of frustrating.
7 Mario Odyssey: Seaside Kingdom Is Like Having A Water Park In A Game
There's so much to do in Mario Odyssey's Seaside Kingdom that it's like being at a water park. The fact that Mario can jump out of the water at any time adds variety to the level. He can go ride on Dorrie, take a dip in the water to look for a Power Moon, and then go for a run on the land. The ability to grab onto a shell to make oneself go faster is a great mechanic that adds to the enjoyment of underwater movement. It's a beautiful, fun, and well-designed kingdom.
6 Super Metroid: Maridia Is An Atmospheric Playground Filled With Bizarre Monsters
As opposed to what happens in water levels in other games, thanks to the Gravity Suit, Samus' movement is not restricted. The ability to jump much higher means the player feels like they've gained an ability rather than been restricted.
This means there's a lot more open space throughout the level to allow Samus space to jump and swing to high-up ledges using the Grappling Beam. The atmospheric music and the challenging and bizarre-looking boss, Draygon, make Maridia a memorable underwater level and one of the best in the game.
5 Mega Man X: Ocean Stage Has A Large Variety Of Enemies & A Pulsating Boss Fight
Ocean Stage takes things up a notch after Mega Man's first foray into the water in the original game. Being underwater makes Mega Man's jumps longer, so dash-jumping becomes even more fun. That's not to say the player can just dash-jump through the whole level, though, as they'll be held up by Anglerge (a Mechalinoid that resembles an anglerfish), Utuboros (a giant moray eel Mechalinoid), and an array of underwater predators. The boss fight with Launch Octopus is challenging but fair, and the Homing Torpedo is the reward for beating it.
4 Shadow Of The Colossus: The 7th Colossus's Mood & Direction Make It One Of The Best Water Levels
One of the moodiest and atmospheric water levels there is, the encounter with the seventh Colossus, Hydrus, starts out with Wander jumping into the water, after which the camera slowly descends until submerged. Hydrus then appears from out of the depths, its cry muffled by the water, giving the player the sense of being underwater. The violin makes for an unnerving soundtrack as Wander struggles to catch up to Hydrus so that he can grab on and get taken on a ride through the water on its back, and the music increases in intensity as Wander tries to hang on.
3 Sonic The Hedgehog 3: Hydrocity Zone Has A Great Flow & Funky Music
There's such a great flow to this level compared to previous underwater levels in Sonic games. Hydrocity Zone doesn't force the player to stand around waiting for an air bubble, which would kill any momentum they've built up.
Learning from past mistakes, the designers created a level that constantly pushed Sonic forward, and the Bubble Shield is a priceless power-up that eliminates the need to find air bubbles. The music is so great that the player could just stand in place and listen to it, and they'd have a good time.
2 Super Mario 64: Dire, Dire Docks Gives Mario So Much To Explore
Dire, Dire Docks from Super Mario 64 has Mario swimming around looking for treasure chests tucked away in little nooks and crannies, solving puzzles, and seeking out hidden stars and red coins. Not all the action takes place underwater, so there's a nice mix of things to do on land and in the water. Mario's air gauge doesn't run out too quickly, so players are given enough time to reach the surface if they're running low and are not made to panic. Not to mention, the level has some of the catchiest background music in the game.
1 Donkey Kong Country: Coral Capers Gives Donkey & Co. A Swordfish To Ride With Legendary Music
Apes don't do well in water, so to get around this, the designers of Donkey Kong Country allowed players to ride Enguarde the Swordfish, whose thrust and mobility underwater makes the water levels in the Donkey Kong games a pleasure to play. Even without Enguarde, Donkey can move pretty well, but he can't dodge as well or kill enemies, so it's always a welcome sight to see that box with a swordfish on it. And of course, Coral Capers is host to one the greatest tracks in gaming history: "Aquatic Ambience."