Ranking Sonic Water Levels

[@SplashDash_]

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[@jadedheartsz]

Tidal Tempest is way better then Labyrinth.

[@jadedheartsz]

Aquatic Base is a good level you're dead wrong there.

[@jadedheartsz]

Lost World is a good game you crazy.

[@jadedheartsz]

Forces levels are fine I don't get all the hate for them.

[@jadedheartsz]

Sonic 4 is a good game screw the haters.

[@SilverLovesJesus]

Sonic on water? What is this, some kind of Splash Dash?

[@PuppyPretlzGTAG]

HOLY MOLY

[@Ray-rg3qd]

That is the most silver line of all time

[@RandomAmerican586]

Say that again

[@gggsh7]

hold up, his writing is this fire?

[@Mr-Escape-Artist]

I'm gonna send you a pie, what flavor you want?

[@SPEEDYDIM2]

*for a guy named splash dash im surprised how many water levels weren’t in S tier*

[@RameNoodls]

Lmao

[@MangoRiko]

Even disregarding the fact its no where near as frustrating, Tidal Tempest's music alone puts it above labrynth zone. Your explanation also seems to point to this. Labrynth D, Tempest C.

[@HungryWarden]

The Japanese version, anyway. It’s one of the few good OSTs from the Japanese soundtrack.

[@Lonelysum]

​@HungryWardenwhat you mean the Japanese ost is all g6

[@The1SunshineFeeler]

Aquatic Ruin is really underrated, since it’s the only “water level” where you can avoid the water, but yeah, Hydr***** is the best.

[@Noobsofroblox2006]

Erm aktualy it is pronounced Hyro-city and not Hydrocity

[@jcdagoat14]

@@Noobsofroblox2006metrocity

[@Mr-Escape-Artist]

​@jcdagoat14 you just made my day

[@Yoshinator]

Chemical Plant doesn't count as a water level? Alright...

[@HungryWarden]

It’s a megamac level.

[@YashaAstora]

This video really highlights how ACTUAL water levels/mechanics basically vanished out of existence the moment the games went 3D for whatever reason.

[@ingothasnolife8040]

No? They took like a small hiatus if anything, the Advance & Rush games still had Water, and even the Modern Boost Playstyle eventually got Water in Colors & Generations.

[@glacierwolf2155]

You could go underwater in Emerald Coast, Ice Cap, Twinkle Park, Hot Shelter, Dry Lagoon, Aquatic Mine, Death Chamber, Cannon's Core, and Kronos Island. Feel free to reply if I missed one.

[@malik.a4125]

​@glacierwolf2155 half of those aren't water levels tho. You could avoid the water in emerald hill 3asily, I didn't even know ice cap had water, and twinkle park had like 2 pools of it. Op is kinda right

[@wesshiflet2214]

@@malik.a4125 They’re “water levels” for Big lol. Big got all the water levels in SA1.

[@malik.a4125]

That is a stretch dude. Like... sure but you don't need to touch the water to catch froggy hell with the flotation device it's basically just a platform. Also you don't play as a speed or momentum based charecter so I wouldn't count it

[@tajaribeckles4339]

The tidal temptest disrespect is crazy

[@tomascarlsson3073]

Agre

[@Leetheslayer]

0:01 don’t ever call me that again

[@AccursedOne5670]

shiver me timbers

[@HOTD108_]

Is that THE @Leetheslayer, better known as The Gamer Nation? Woah, it's an honour to meet you, your Gamerness.

[@thetreyceratops]

Putting Tidal Tempest that low when that music exists should be a crime Also put respect on Dry Lagoon’s name.

[@RameNoodls]

No chemical plant? (Insert Megamind meme)

[@jFar920]

I thought he was only picking one and Sonic only stages until he got to SA2 and I’m like what? No Chemical Plant and all of Big’s stages are water stages

[@heidifrench3698]

How is tidal tempest worse than labyrinth zone? In tidal tempest you don't even need to suffer the water

[@Katnippps]

fr

[@ShadowtheYouTuber523]

And he called the American soundtrack the _English_ soundtrack and I'd say both soundtracks are equally atmospheric with the AMERICAN one being less atmospheric with it going the reggae route with the Good Future track and what he said about doing the dance to pick up bitches, Stardust Speedway makes me think of that scenario.

[@thetreyceratops]

Even the way he described the amazing Japanese music annoys me, like what do you mean funky???

[@HugoPegler]

​@@thetreyceratops Better question, why are you treating funky like it's a bad thing? That's a perfect way of describing the Japanese OST. That's why it's so great.

[@thetreyceratops]

@@HugoPegler oh I didn’t mean funky as a bad thing. I just feel like I wouldn’t describe Tidal Tempest as funky, more atmospheric and beautiful

[@SonicTheCutehog]

It's funny how water levels have had an infamous reputation in the Sonic series when there was really only one bad water level

[@PauClaireIsUnderratedAF]

Probably because the bad water level was reaaaaaaaaaaaaally bad and the most remembered one

[@Fatih_M177]

​@PauClaireIsUnderratedAF The Drowning music is probably why so many people have negative associations to water levels. Who can blame them, like, what's the deal with that Music

[@raycraft93]

7:29 I don't understand how u put it above labyrinth zone when u said that labyrinth zone has nothing but the drowning music while tital tempest has a great art and music direction, but somehow a d rank while labyrinth is a c rank? U opinion, but I still don't understand.

[@turbobist2889]

Schaffrillas ranks how good the water looks in star wars, you rank the water levels in sonic, nathaniel bandy tries to make mario avoid water.

[@SnaksiXD]

The fact that you skipped on the spinoffs and Chemical Plant but counted Aquatic Base and Seaside Hill infuriates me.

[@PauClaireIsUnderratedAF]

He specifically said that if a game doesn't have a water level, he'll choose its closest counterpart

[@darudesandstrom1067]

@PauClaireIsUnderratedAFdoesn’t explain why he omit Chemical Plant tho lol

[@PauClaireIsUnderratedAF]

@@darudesandstrom1067 ...Because Aquatic Ruin exists

[@Iilhip]

@PauClaireIsUnderratedAF yeah i dont get the complaining here lmao

[@wesshiflet2214]

@PauClaireIsUnderratedAF yeah but they’re _both_ water levels ain’t they? I didn’t even notice till I read the comments. I guess it’s fine since only CPZ Act 2 is a water stage, whereas both ARZ Acts are.

[@Nic_2751]

I’m predicting Aquarium Park, Water Palace, and Hydrocity are gonna be near the top because I have nothing else to say ALSO PAC-MAN WORLD 2 MENTIONED Edit: Sleep with one eye open for that Water Palace exclusion

[@charmingmagican9821]

Hi buddy

[@BronzeFacade]

I think the main thing I prefer about Tidal Tempest over Labyrinth is there's just so much more room to breathe, it doesn't feel nearly as cramped. Especially when you're a scrub who played Sonic 1 GBA

[@kingbash6466]

Hydrocity is obviously peak, but I really like Water Palace too. It still has a good scene of speed, it has a great aesthetic, and the music absolutely bops. My only issue are the "Dimpsism" that every stage in the game has like bottomless pits in places where they probably shouldn'g be in.

[@Sub_3690]

Sonic really SPLASHED and DASHED through those water levels

[@backtankungravity3939]

hope nobody will forget sonic rushs water level

[@Alizamk1]

2:58 lame cop out also how is sonic rush not mainline?

[@TrueCrouton]

I would say the criteria was "not made by Sonic Team" but I think it's actually "no involvement from Sonic Team." The Dimps titles like Advance and Rush had NO involvement from Sonic Team whereas Mania and Superstars did have Sonic Team involvement. Best I've got, anyway.

[@Alizamk1]

@@TrueCrouton maybe But I'mm not sure how it makes them Not main Line. also It does make the title misleading since he doesn't talk about every sonic water level

[@TrueCrouton]

@Alizamk1 Unless it got changed or something and I didn't notice, the video is actually just titled "Ranking Sonic Water Levels" with no quantifier. Still lame to not rank all of them if you're gonna do it though, I agree.

[@Alizamk1]

@@TrueCrouton will admit I misread the title

[@Iilhip]

@@TrueCrouton Saying Mania had involvement but not Advance is bs tho like there's no difference there

[@charmingmagican9821]

Labyrinth zone sucks but the music is a bop

[@jhoan9728]

Dude, that "Sorry water palace enjoyers" felt so personal :(. Is literally my favorite Sonic water level.

[@Kirvyx]

Sonic rush getting the short end of the stick yet again

[@spritvio639]

Wow, I'm honestly really surprised hearing your thoughts on Aquarium Park. I thought the world was arguably Colors at it's best. Either it or Sweet Mountain.

[@LunaLinkle]

I’d count Kingdom Valley in Shadow Gens as a water level since it uses Doom Surf the most tbh

[@jonasd.2548]

You can get the good future in tidal tempest by only touching the water for 20 seconds.

[@BugsyFoga]

About to watch sonic 3 later today, so in the meantime I’ll watch sonic vids like this

[@wesshiflet2214]

16:34 “close, but not far away” is another great one for the list of Mark-isms

[@tastethepainbow]

That drowning theme still haunts me

[@namecomingsoon9517]

Finally a real Christmas video for the holidays

[@sam4gaming135]

8:11 I geuss you could call it a "Splash Dash"

[@ovite1240]

Labyrinth zone sucks and I love it

[@BstarStudios]

wait what...sonic rush and rush adventure ARE mainline games

[@Zerosaber91]

Theyre canon but not major releases

[@malik.a4125]

To be fair I'd argue mania and superstars are in the same boat boat

[@scrunkore]

some people don't consider the handheld platformers mainline, I personally think that's fuckin' weird

[@Iilhip]

@@Zerosaber91 Mania and Superstars aren't either

[@Sonic-oe1in]

I can listen to splash dash talk about sonic all day every day.

[@Unfunnyjestr]

Every gamers worst fear

[@SonicTheCutehog]

This isn't grass or women

[@anthonyfish8236]

Hydrocity will always be not just my favorite Sonic water level, but one of my favorite Sonic levels period for its massive size, plenty of paths, lots of sequence breaking, and especially the sheer sense of speed that's achievable in it.

[@cier9927]

nah tidal tempest is peak all around

[@KyndlingStoneCB]

Finally. The REAL Splash Dash is back…

[@GamingWarlord64]

18:08 I was shocked how much enjoyed lost world and shadow

[@misterzygarde6431]

Given that Hedgehogs can swim, I think we were robbed of good water levels by Sonic Team not knowing that fact. Like imagine if Labyrinth Zone had Sonic zip around and do a corkscrew attack like how DK does it in DKC Tropical Freeze.

[@wesshiflet2214]

they probably wouldn’t have had time to implement something like that anyway. and then they would have tried to give him some _other_ “weakness”

[@LincolnlynxJ]

There’s no way in hell that you said jungle joyride’s music isn’t as iconic as it’s contemporaries, that shit is AMAZING

[@SwiftlyZone]

I love seaside hill, it was the first real sonic stage I had ever played, everytime I hear that music I’m filled with happiness

[@RealGarden428]

If I were to rank these levels, my tier list would be S-Rank: Seaside Hill (Heroes), Hydrocity (Mania) A-Rank: Emerald Coast, Seaside Hill (Generations), Hydrocity (3&K) B-Rank: Jungle Joyride, Aquatic Ruin, Dry Lagoon C-Rank: Aquarium Park, Aquatic Mine, Tidal Tempest, Labyrinth, Aqua Road D-Rank: Aquatic Base, Tropical Coast I can't rank Lagoon City since I haven't played Superstars yet. Also personally I would've put in Wave Ocean for Sonic 06 because it's a better level and you interact with the water more than you do in Aquatic Base

[@Jelly_shy_guy_man]

The king has returned.

[@brandonwilliams6119]

Some of the best Sonic Water levels are the ones where you can avoid the water altogether such as Aquatic Ruin and some of the worst are Labyrinth. HydroCity/Hydrossity strikes a good balance between the two I’ve mentioned, letting you run on water, having some out of water sections and it also helps that Sonic 3 has the bubble shield.

[@sonicsupremacist]

Rest in peace Splash Dash, you'll be missed...

[@koolaid33]

Sonic handheld water levels ranking when?

[@bradugar]

Wonder what you think of Kingdon Valley in Shadow24, it has a lot of water but never go under it

[@MGilbas]

You can actually dodge swipe attacks from the mini-boss at 16:36 without boost by quickstepping to the lane he's hitting from (e.g. he's punching with his left arm to the right, you go to the left lane to avoid that punch)

[@Mintyicecream2]

One mouth is not as bad as when we have to wait

[@Laenthor]

Sonic colors aquarium park fake issues: 1) S ranks are easy to get in most stages, just use wisps as much as possible and you get 5000 color point bonuses every 5 seconds or so. 2) you can keep jumping over the laser crab robot's punch, no boost required

[@kronosbach5263]

I never relax myself.

[@lance2580]

Shoutouts to Sabrina DiDuro for designing some amazing water levels in the _Freedom Planet_ series like Jade Creek! It helps that the _Freedom Planet_ games have amazing swimming mechanics that don't hinder the player's speed at all, and allow them to still use their full move set! I'm also going to point out that a lot of other _Sonic_ characters actually do know how to swim! (If the Olympic Games series is to go by.) Surprising examples include Shadow, Silver, Blaze, and Metal Sonic. (Though, Shadow somehow forgot how to swim in _Shadow Generations,_ but that doesn't matter because water isn't a relevant obstacle in the actual levels until right after he unlocks Doom Surf.) At the same time, I don't mind the fact that Sonic can't swim. It provides a pretty good weakness that other characters can cover for him, like how Tails can help carry him underwater back in _Sonic 4: Episode II._ Plus, it can lead to other interesting stage routes that are only accessible to characters who can swim. (Besides, I'm pretty sure that Sonic actually isn't afraid of water, just drowning. This makes even more sense when you remember that Final Dreadnaught Act 2 has Lord Brevon shut off the oxygen, forcing the player to traverse the stage with the threat of a depleting oxygen meter while they are on dry land.) It's just that the _Freedom Planet_ series has proved that it's possible to design an amazing water level in a Sonic-like game, and that Sonic Team should take notes from those games when designing water levels and swimming mechanics for their _Sonic_ games.

[@Kribyking]

Shadow Generations is treated as mainline, and it has two main water stages to pick from! Kingdom Valley or Sunset Heights?

[@flumperflip2614]

If Emerald Coast, Aquatic Base, Jungle Joyride & Aqua Road count, then I feel like Kingdom Valley in Shadow Generations should count because it’s kind of the introductory level for the Doom Surf.

[@DariusRoman-p6x]

The first SplashDash video that actually has Sonic splashing and dashing this is truly peak 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@tyresefinney1985]

Never really thought about how ironic your name is until today. It’s a sonic channel but your name is splash dash. Sonic doesn’t splash.

[@LuigiChannel50]

Wouldn't be surprised if Blue Marine Zone from Sonic Blast was enough to deter you from including the spinoffs. To be fair that zone is a straight F tier, So I wouldn't blame you. My ranking would look something like this (Only including games I've either beaten or gotten to the water levels in). Labyrinth Zone (Sonic 1): C Tier Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic 2): A Tier Aquatic Ruins (Sonic 2): B Tier Angel Island Zone (Sonic 3): B Tier Hydocrity Zone (Sonic 3): S Tier Blue Marine Zone (Sonic Blast): F Tier Emerald Coast (Adventure 1): A Tier Lost World (Adventure 1): C Tier Aquatic Relix Zone (Pocket): B- Tier Aquatic Mine (Adventure 2): C Tier Dry Lagoon (Adventure 2): B- Tier Ice Mountain Zone (Advance 1): B Tier Seaside Hill (Heroes): A Tier Ocean Base (Advance 3): B Tier Wave Ocean (06): S Tier Aquatic Base (06): B Tier Labyrinth Zone (Genesis GBA): Z Tier Jungle Joyride (Unleashed): B Tier Lost Labyrinth Zone (Sonic 4 EP1): B- Tier Tropical Resort (Colors DS): B Tier Aquarium Park (Colors): B- Tier Chemical Plant (Generations): S Tier Seaside Hill (Generations): A Tier Water Palace (Generations 3DS): A Tier Sylvania Castle Zone (Sonic 4 EP2): B- Tier Tropical Coast (Lost World): B Tier Tropical Coast (Lost World 3DS): D Tier Ocean Purification Plant (Rise of Lyric): F Tier Undersea Bolt (Rise of Lyric): F Tier Green Hill Zone (Mania): A Tier Chemical Plant Zone (Mania): A Tier Hydrocity Zone (Mania): S Tier Aqua Road (Forces): B- Tier

[@CaptainCat101]

I've never been more scared of water than the first time I played Sonic and Sonic 2

[@samarius_art_and_games]

"Mainline games only. Sorry Water Palace Enjoyers." Desoute the fact that Rush IS a mainline game, huh?

[@gibberish-m3u]

Video over I am dead now caught me so of guard lmao

[@DemonDethchase]

Aqua Road easily stands head and shoulders above all the Avatar vocal themes, however I can't help but think it might sound that little bit better with some real drums behind it. Mostly as I think a bit of blast beat would sound pretty rad when its doing that build up section with the bass drum, just to give it that extra bit intensity.

[@jennyholiday88]

SONIC RUSH IS MAINLINE WTF SPLASH DASH 😭😭😭 im telling everyone ur secretly ls marc

[@skipplayz7577]

Sad you didn't include Rush/Rush Adventure while I have never play the former the latter have one of the best water level being Pirate Island (Rush Adventure) is kinda gimmick at first with the catapults, dolphins and water guns but than you realize it the last major stage in the game so it make it more sense as is very tricky to speed trough it but very rewarding when you do good in this level thought it does have issue of some bottomless pits but is not that bad so the level around A tier for me

[@BrocoliPR]

Sonic Rush is actually canon, as it happens before 06 (which had its events deleted at the end of it)

[@PocketFullOfBacon]

R.I.P splash dash we will remember you

[@castform7]

Ah, Hydrocity. A great zone where the worst thing about it is how easily you can interpret the name as one of 2 pronunciations.

[@The_realone416]

Weird how both splash dash and this LS Mark guy have sonic heroes as their favourite game 🤔

[@Kiolu100]

2:58 was genuinely gonna start asking where water palace is. i am water palace's #1 fan

[@WarioEnthusiast]

Labyrinth Zone is not that fucking bad, like yeah it's bad but it's not so bad where I wanna quit the game as it's not frustratingly hard or anything

[@tomascarlsson3073]

Obviesley you have never played it

[@WarioEnthusiast]

@@tomascarlsson3073 never seen a worse spelling fumble in my life

[@tomascarlsson3073]

@@WarioEnthusiast english is not my first languange

[@wesshiflet2214]

Big has the “water levels” in Sonic Adventure 1, not Sonic. His Emerald Coast and Ice Cap in particular have a lot of underwater exploration.

[@koreyworey6345]

Bad opinions (in terms of the negative ones) But it’s okay, I understand :)

[@Ashddyo]

I’m very surprised you chose to talk about Aquatic Base instead of Wave Ocean from 06. Wave Ocean is leagues better than Aquatic Base imo

[@BigHardBrain]

0:35 holy shit not even a minute in and Mr dash is once again showing off his writing chops how do you do it

[@lackluster4777]

He ranked Aqua Road but not Chemical Plant Chemical Plant where Classic literally goes underwater. And no Shadow Generations Kingdom Valley act 1? Also, it kinda irks me that Sonic youtubers constantly make those fun videos but they always stick to the mainline games and, as such, end up reaching for straws at some point. Like, half of those levels are not water levels, it's just levels with water on the background or as a death pit

[@Spagoop]

Nah put some respect on Lagoon City. Probably the most fun water zone in any of the classic games

[@That1One-Guy]

I guess you could say that in sonic water levels you can splash AND dash

[@ArtTheGaleWind]

So no Kingdom Valley from Shadow Generations? That stage heavily feature water in it, it's where you use the water doom power for the first time even

[@lance2580]

No wait, both Kingdom Valley and Sunset heights can both technically be the first time the player uses Doom Surf. It is only up to the player as to whether they choose the third stage they visit to either be Kingdom Valley or Sunset Heights. Both _Sonic Generations_ and _Shadow Generations_ have a surprising amount of non-linearity that most players fail to acknowledge.

[@SPIDERKN1GHT0327]

Welp see ya in a few months when he decides to talk about Sonic plushes

[@infiniteon1834]

So that’s why they call him SPLASH Dash.

[@kenn_k]

THANKS L̶S̶ ̶M̶A̶R̶K̶ SPLASH DASH! I HAVE HAIR NOW

[@GonickuDB]

Putting Hydrocity at #1 off rip, not even a minute into the video and I demand that it's put there, with Tidal Tempest right behind it because the music fucks and no other reason

[@DairInNeutral]

How can you not include Water Palace? It's included in Gens 3DS. How is that not mainline? It's also probably the best water level in the series

[@Zerosaber91]

Demakes of major sonic games dont count

[@zontopho]

I think if you cover the Knuckles sections in Adventure 2 and Classic Seaside Hill, you should cover Jungle Joyride Night.

[@luigigod999]

Aquatic mine disrespect is crazy

[@mechajay3358]

No matter wish water level os the best, one thing is for certain is that Sonic himself hates all of them, because he can't swim 😏

[@wesshiflet2214]

ok so when he said “mainline” he just meant “not on a handheld” lol

[@RaurosGreyed]

No ice cap zone? :( Or Chemical Plant, or Water Palace? Sadface...

[@wesshiflet2214]

Chemical Plant’s only a water level in Act 2. Makes sense if you’re going by Zone

[@Alguem_Someone]

I like aquatic base Because you can't go underwater ... Also because it's from my favorite sonic game

[@localshape]

hydro city (pronounced "hih-droh-kai-dee") earned that s tier tbh

[@GuessImaGuest]

0:30 BUT SPLASH DASH, I thought you had a CAR shaped body... WAIT A MINUTE! are you an imposter!?

[@theophilecaceres5855]

Non-mainline games list and Sonic Advance 2 just only gets it's second level.

[@TigerHenry678]

Tidal Tempist is WORSE than Labyrinth zone????

[@OFaceProductions.]

6:25 or maybe, JUST MAYBE, WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PROBABILITY, it COULD BE water and not fire also never touch cd ever again, you are not ready for its greatness

[@1tier_noob]

I love water

[@MAN-MILK]

Golden thumbnail

[@alphabluu]

0:45 GIMMICK MENTIONED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@flamingoodness4923]

Splash Dash seems to prefer the Japanese track for tidal tempest but I wonder, does LS Mark prefer the American version?