10 Best Movement Systems In Gaming History
We like to move it, move it.
One of the most important mechanics almost all games have to get right is movement.
So many promising games in the past have been let down by the fact that their movement just isn't any good. You can have the best ideas in the world and it won't mean a thing if the player has no fun getting around the environments you've created.
It truly can make or break a game.
Look at something like Star Fox: Zero, for example. What could have been an enjoyable, if fairly unoriginal, game ended up being a complete trainwreck because the movement was so awful.
Although Star Fox: Zero is a particularly egregious example of poor movement in gaming, there are so many more like it that just don't put enough thought into what it'll be like for the player to play the game.
However, there are some games that don't settle at just getting their movement systems right. Some games go above and beyond in creating satisfying mobility, and end up making their games legendary because of it.
These games simply wouldn't be what they are without their movement systems, and that's a testament to how great they truly are.
10. Vanquish
There's a good reason why this is still one of Platinum's most popular releases.
Although there's certainly a lot to love about Vanquish overall, without the sliding mechanic, Vanquish would be nothing more than a wacky Gears of War.
With the press of a button, Sam flies around the environment with ease, blowing past cover and smashing into enemies. The sliding doesn't just work as a movement option though, it's also a big part of the combat as Sam can use a sliding kick that launches him into the air.
The fact that this can also be combined with a slow motion mechanic means that moving around and shooting in Vanquish can be nearly seamless to talented players.
We absolutely need a sequel to Vanquish that makes more use of the environment and gives Sam more room to move around. Vanquish's movement feels great and hasn't ever been done better, but it could still be massively improved upon.