The Beach in Videogames

Is anyone a fan of videogames that feature the beach prominently? I've always liked those types of games, probably because I love the beach. I think the best (most enjoyable) example of this is Wave Race 64. I was amazed when I first saw the water effects in that game. In fact, it's still pretty impressive - a least from an aesthetic perspective if not from a purely technical one. At the time, I really thought that was the future of videogames; bright, shiny, colorful 3D graphics. Compare that to what videogames have actually become.

Some other examples include Wave Race: Blue Storm (not as good as 64, but not bad either), Super Mario Sunshine, Virtua Fighter 3 (there's that one beach level I always loved)... and then there's the obvious (though somewhat amusing) examples of Beach Spikers and the DOAX series. Not too many of them, really. I'm sure there are tons of them that I'm forgetting or was never aware of in the first place.

You could also talk about the Gamecube and its "Dolphin" codename. Based on that name, the tech demo with a dolphin swimming through the ocean, and the 2 games I mentioned above, it doesn't seem that far-fetched to say that Nintendo had sort of a beach/ocean theme in mind for the Gamecube, even if it didn't last for its entire life. Just a theory.

Anyway, it's a trend that seemed to have a brief spotlight in videogames and then sort of faded away. I really wish they would bring it back.

So... thoughts?

 

I think that the beach levels are pretty cool, too. Most of the time I think that these beach levels are really well done. And video game characters need a break too. One of my favourites is coconut beach in outrun. There are others that I can't remember at this moment though

 

Oh yeah, how could I forget about the Outrun series? And there's Sonic Adventure, too.

 

Far Cry.

Why venture inside the island where the story turns ridiculous and monsters appear? Stay on the beach, swim in the water and shoot normal enemies that everyone prefers!

Beach levels are cool, water levels are not.

 

Too true, I like that beach stage too..

 

:clap:

I hate water levels!!!!

 

The water levels in Donkey Kong Country are ace. They're a fucking nuisance in most games, though, it's true.

Speaking of DKC, wasn't there some pastiche of that game in the film The Beach? That's what I thought of when I read the thread title...

 

my xbox debug unit i had had a dolphin swimming demo on it. You might like it.

 

Case and point.

Aquatic Ambience - Donkey Kong Country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvKwSVuUGA

Also, let's not forget the wonderful Dead or Alive Xtreme series. :love2:

 

The Streets of Rage beach stages have awesome cool music!

 

Yeah, DKC is probably my favorite Rare game. That and Conker's Bad Fur Day.

Also, I mentioned DOAX in my original post. While those games are very pretty, they're not very fun to play, sadly. Beach Spikers, on the other hand, is very fun.

 

Beach Spikers! I totally forgot about this game, this is one of the early Gamecube titles isn't it?

Holy shit this game was sweet at the time!

And while I like beach levels or environments in games, I am not a big fan of Beaches in real life, mainly due to all that god damn sand!

But as for beaches... I am working on one in HL2, complete with pier and a sunset in the distance. If I could get proper looking waves then I would be so happy!

 

Beach levels are great, specially when it's the middle of the winter and all you see is fucking snow out there...

On why is not common anymore, well look at movies: back in the 90s half of those had a beach scene, but now only dipshit teen movies take place on a beach.

That and this need to be gritty and realistic both games and movies have today, with decaying buildings, rusted metals and, of course, sepia-burnt orange colors on top of everything

 

Ilike the Outrun beach. And for the sake of good music, the beach level in PLOK.

 

Banjo Kazooie comes to mind- there's a beach level called "Treasure Trove Cove". Diddy Kong Racing has a whole beach themed racing area- some really cool tracks there.

 

Heh, I loved the beach bits on the original Outrun in the arcade ;-)

Don't forget California Games! And yeah, there were other volleyball games on the beach, too. And, taking it away from your stereotypical beach, Omaha Beach on Battlefield 1942

*EDIT*

Oh crap, yeah! Mario Kart! How could I forget that?!?!

 

Final Fantasy X and Chrono Cross, damn

 

The start of the 'Silent Cartographer' mission in Halo:CE is arguably one of the finest beach moments in an FPS. And easily one of my all time favorite moments in the series.

 

Aquatic Games on gen was fun.
there was another game i cant remember for the life of me right now...had sort of a weekend at bernies feel XD might have been on gen/snes...was like a side scroll action/adventure...*looks*

*btw still love the surfing music from cali games.

-found greendog: the beached surfer dude lol ...but i swear it was 2player and had characters with exaggerated heads..w/e *shrugs*

 

A little off topic here but how and why?

EVERYBODY raves about the fucking Silent Cartographer...what am I missing?