Living with my in-laws for summer means joining them as they go to the city’s public pool for a cool swim during these hot, Central Californian heat waves. I’ve helped teach them how to swim because before they usually just enjoy the shallow end as they’ve never really bothered learning how to swim since they live far from an actual beach. But swimming for people who don’t know how to swim really got me to thinking just how much of my form borrows heavily fromMario 64.
A walk cycle is a dime a dozen. Walking is just a series of controlled falls after all and walking in a game means there’s more jumping and climbing so you never have a lot of time to appreciate it. Swimming however is usually a long, smooth, uninterrupted animation that you get to enjoy. So much of my own swimming form was informed from Mario’s breast stroke inMario 64, I could’ve just perfected my form from that if I didn’t formally learn swimming from summer camp. From Lara Croft’s smooth breast strokes to Amaterasu’s doggy paddle, there can be a lot to learn about swimming if you watch carefully while keeping on eye on your air meter.
So with all the diversity in our community, what are some of your favorite swimming animations of note? Here’s what just some of you said.
Agent9knows true beauty:
The best by far:
The only thing to come close is the dolphin dive fromMajora’s Mask. I mean come on he’s practically a speed boat and the fight is awesome.
Heatpeered into the abyss and the abyss did a weird dance:
Maybe not my favorite, but those Cthulhu-esque abominations Donald and Goofy turn into inKingdom Heartsare certainly something else.
Inquisitive Ravenclawremembers that Tails can do more than fly:
I always liked Tails’s doggie paddle
And, although not from a game, here’s a shout-out to the greatest swimming in animation history!
Swimming inAC: Black Flagwas tolerable!
Roagerlives life aquatic:
For nostalgia reasons, mostly. This was the first Super Nintendo game I ever played, which means I’ll always remember every piece of it as jawdroppingly gorgeous. Also the water music is nice.
Casus Gamingtakes a big refreshing breath of air:
Not an animation but the sound kid Link makes inOcarina of Timewhen he emerges from water is super satisfying. That big “BWA” of Link taking a breath is such a comforting sound.
Ecco the Dolphinjust being chill, so fluid and relaxing.
Lord Spencertakes the gift of Iwata:
Swimming in the original 2DMariogames. Especially since the code trick to make it work is inspired by Iwata’s genius programming inBalloon Fight.
Once again it’s time to bring upRayman Legends. ThanksAvoclefo!:
The swimming inRayman Origins/Legendsfeels great. The 360 movement is graceful and I love how the run button functions the exact same underwater, increasing and decreasing your speed instantly. Both speeds have luscious animations to match (especially if you’re Globox).
Gattling Comboknows that swimming is the strongest combat of all:
I hate swimming, I hate summer. The only thing I like about summer are the summer skins I shamelessly buy for online games I play. Thank you for this post though. It gives me another moment to appreciate Nagare fromRival Schools 2.
If I had Mr. Namikawa as a swimming teacher when I was at summer camp…I’d still say fuck this, I’m going to arts and crafts or something. But you may’t deny how much of a badass Nagare is, gracefully swimming in midair while fighting a baseball player.
I checked back at the last minute before starting this post and can’t believe I forgot aboutRival Schools. I have a lot to learn before I can fight with a midair stroke!
