Swimming: Difference between revisions

(Rewrite.)
(27 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Swimming''' is, as implied, an ability in the Grand Theft Auto series that allows the player to swim on or under deep bodies of water. The feature was only introduced after [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]], and has been in use for [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]], [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] and [[Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars]] since.
The ability for GTA protagonists to '''swim''' in deep bodies of water was introduced in [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]], and has since been seen in [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]], [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] and [[Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars]].


== Player interaction with water prior to GTA San Andreas ==
== Player interaction with water prior to GTA San Andreas ==
Until GTA San Andreas, water is largely seen as a dangerous element that may result in death, and is effectively used as an obstacle in an in-game location to prevent players from reaching areas that have yet to be unlocked.
Prior to GTA San Andreas, bodies of water were little more than lethal obstacles which acted as boundaries to prevent players from reaching locked areas. In [[Grand Theft Auto 1]] and [[Grand Theft Auto 2]], the player is instantaneously [[wasted]] should they fall into water, regardless of whether or not they are in a vehicle. In [[Grand Theft Auto III]] and [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]], falling or wading into deep water is still potentially lethal, as the protagonist will rapidly lose health if they wade more than chest-deep into water.


For [[Grand Theft Auto 1]] and [[Grand Theft Auto 2]], the player is instantaneously [[wasted]] should they fall into water, regardless of whether or not they are in a vehicle. By [[Grand Theft Auto III]] and [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]], the effects of water on the player is less dangerous but still potentially lethal as the player's health is rapidly deducted while positioned in a certain depth of water (chest deep or deeper) until the player runs out of health and drowns. These shortcomings were poke fun of in [[wp:Driv3r|Driv3r]], which features a spoof of GTA Vice City's player character, [[Tommy Vercetti]], as a number of "Timmy Vermicelli's", who wear floaties on their arms, clearly implying the inability in GTA Vice City's player character to swim when Driv3r's could.
GTA San Andreas debuted swimming as an ability, however its contemporary [[Grand Theft Auto Advance]], and the subsequent game [[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]] does not allow swimming. GTA Liberty City Stories is the last game of the series thus far to disallow swimming.
 
While GTA San Andreas debuted swimming as an ability, two other GTA games released at the time and after still did not allow the player to travel on water. These include [[Grand Theft Auto Advance]] and [[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]], with the latter being the last game in the series to do without the ability.


== Description ==
== Description ==
=== GTA San Andreas ===
=== GTA San Andreas ===
With swimming first possible in GTA San Andreas, the player can float (in a [[wp:Treading water|water treading]] position), and swim in any deep body of water using directional controls. In its slowest form, the player performs a [[wp:breaststroke|breaststroke]]. Holding the key or button intended for sprinting on land allows the player to perform a [[wp:front crawl|front crawl]] and swim faster; tapping the same control adds slightly more speed.
In GTA San Andreas, the player can float (in a [[wp:Treading water|water treading]] position), and swim in any deep body of water using directional controls. The player can perform a [[wp:breaststroke|breaststroke]] to swim at a slow pace; holding the sprinting key or button allows the player to perform a faster [[wp:front crawl|front crawl]].  Tapping the sprint key or button rapidly adds slightly more speed.


Underwater diving is made possible by using the "fire" key or button while on water. Once activated, the player character immediately submerges himself underwater, allowing the player to dive deep using directional controls, all while using the sprint command to trust the player character to a pointed direction.
The player can dive underwater by using the "fire" key or button while in water. This allows the player to swim deep underwater using directional controls; the sprint key or button gives the player forward movement.


Whenever the player enters water, a third white bar denoting the player's oxygen appears on the game's [[HUD]]. When underwater or in a sinking vehicle, the bar will gradually decrease until the game is forced to deduct the player's health, leading to eventual drowning and death. The player's lung capacity determines how long the player can stay underwater, and is improved by continuously remaining underwater. Diving in GTA San Andreas is necessary in allowing the player to collect [[oysters]], which are commonly placed underwater, and sneaking past guards undetected. Diving may also be used to explore the waters of San Andreas, revealing other secrets.
Whenever the player enters water, a white bar denoting the player's oxygen appears on the game's [[HUD]], beneath the [[Health]] and [[Body Armor|armor]] bars. When underwater or in a sinking vehicle, the bar will gradually empty, and, when exhausted, the player's health will be reduced instead, leading to eventual drowning; the oxygen bar is replenished by returning to the surface of the water. The player's [[Statistics|lung capacity]] determines how long the player can stay underwater, and is improved both by continuously diving, and by collecting [[Oysters]]. Diving allows the player to sneak past guards undetected in some missions, and can be used to explore the waters of San Andreas, revealing other secrets.


As of 2009, GTA San Andreas still possesses the most sophisticated swimming system in the series.
To date, GTA San Andreas still possesses the most sophisticated swimming system in the series.


=== GTA Vice City Stories — GTA Chinatown Wars ===
=== GTA Vice City Stories — GTA Chinatown Wars ===


Following GTA San Andreas, three games have brought over the ability to swim, but all three employ simplified versions of GTA San Andreas' game mechanics, with diving absent but otherwise similar in controls.
Following GTA San Andreas, three games have employed a swimming feature, but all three implement simplified versions of GTA San Andreas' game mechanics, with the diving element absent.


While GTA Vice City Stories allows the player to swim, it only permits swimming for a limited amount of time, determined by a "stamina" bar that decreases as the player remains in the water. When the bar runs out, the player's health decreases, followed by drowning. For GTA IV and GTA Chinatown Wars, however, the player may stay in the water for as long as they please.
While GTA Vice City Stories allows the player to swim, it only permits swimming for a limited amount of time, determined by a "stamina" bar which decreases as the player remains in the water. When the bar runs out, the player's health decreases, followed by drowning. The player, however, can give the [[Victor Vance|protagonist]] infinite stamina by beating the "[[Beach Patrol]]" side mission. In GTA Chinatown Wars, the player may stay in the water for as long as they please;  in GTA IV, however, the player will begin to lose health after a certain amount of time in the water.


== Missions involving swimming ==
== Missions involving swimming ==
'''GTA San Andreas'''
'''GTA San Andreas'''
*"[[Amphibious Assault]]"
* [[Amphibious Assault]]
*"[[Vertical Bird]]"
* [[The Da Nang Thang]]
* [[Vertical Bird]]


'''GTA Vice City Stories'''
'''GTA Vice City Stories'''
*"[[Soldier]]"
* [[Soldier]]


'''GTA IV'''
'''GTA IV'''
*"[[Waste Not Want Knots]]"
* [[Waste Not Want Knots]]
 
'''GTA Chintown Wars'''
* [[Yu Jian]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Features in GTA San Andreas]]
[[Category:Features in GTA Vice City Stories]]
[[Category:Features in GTA IV]]
[[Category:Features in GTA Chinatown Wars]]
[[Category:Water Transport]]

Revision as of 12:21, 5 October 2012

The ability for GTA protagonists to swim in deep bodies of water was introduced in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and has since been seen in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.

Player interaction with water prior to GTA San Andreas

Prior to GTA San Andreas, bodies of water were little more than lethal obstacles which acted as boundaries to prevent players from reaching locked areas. In Grand Theft Auto 1 and Grand Theft Auto 2, the player is instantaneously wasted should they fall into water, regardless of whether or not they are in a vehicle. In Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, falling or wading into deep water is still potentially lethal, as the protagonist will rapidly lose health if they wade more than chest-deep into water.

GTA San Andreas debuted swimming as an ability, however its contemporary Grand Theft Auto Advance, and the subsequent game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories does not allow swimming. GTA Liberty City Stories is the last game of the series thus far to disallow swimming.

Description

GTA San Andreas

In GTA San Andreas, the player can float (in a water treading position), and swim in any deep body of water using directional controls. The player can perform a breaststroke to swim at a slow pace; holding the sprinting key or button allows the player to perform a faster front crawl. Tapping the sprint key or button rapidly adds slightly more speed.

The player can dive underwater by using the "fire" key or button while in water. This allows the player to swim deep underwater using directional controls; the sprint key or button gives the player forward movement.

Whenever the player enters water, a white bar denoting the player's oxygen appears on the game's HUD, beneath the Health and armor bars. When underwater or in a sinking vehicle, the bar will gradually empty, and, when exhausted, the player's health will be reduced instead, leading to eventual drowning; the oxygen bar is replenished by returning to the surface of the water. The player's lung capacity determines how long the player can stay underwater, and is improved both by continuously diving, and by collecting Oysters. Diving allows the player to sneak past guards undetected in some missions, and can be used to explore the waters of San Andreas, revealing other secrets.

To date, GTA San Andreas still possesses the most sophisticated swimming system in the series.

GTA Vice City Stories — GTA Chinatown Wars

Following GTA San Andreas, three games have employed a swimming feature, but all three implement simplified versions of GTA San Andreas' game mechanics, with the diving element absent.

While GTA Vice City Stories allows the player to swim, it only permits swimming for a limited amount of time, determined by a "stamina" bar which decreases as the player remains in the water. When the bar runs out, the player's health decreases, followed by drowning. The player, however, can give the protagonist infinite stamina by beating the "Beach Patrol" side mission. In GTA Chinatown Wars, the player may stay in the water for as long as they please; in GTA IV, however, the player will begin to lose health after a certain amount of time in the water.

Missions involving swimming

GTA San Andreas

GTA Vice City Stories

GTA IV

GTA Chintown Wars