Swim

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Artwork of Mario swimming in Super Mario Sunshine
Mario swimming underwater as illustrated in a Super Mario Sunshine manual

Swimming is an action that can be used by several characters. Swimming is typically done in water, sometimes with an associated air meter, with other substances able to be swum through infrequently.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Swimming is a staple mechanic of the Super Mario series, first being possible in Super Mario Bros. and going on to be in every mainline title except Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Land, and Super Mario Run. In the 2D games, swimming mechanics have remained largely unchanged; Mario naturally sinks in water and swims upwards when the player presses the jump button, preserving his forward momentum. There is no air meter, allowing Mario to stay underwater indefinitely.

Mario swimming in the Beach Bowl Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy

In the 3D games from Super Mario 64 through Super Mario Galaxy 2, the swimming mechanics are different. Mario is aimed in any direction by using the Control Stick, with the jump button propelling Mario forward in that direction. He does not naturally sink in the water when not actively swimming. Additionally, an air meter is added, which causes Mario to take damage and eventually drown if he is underwater for too long without collecting coins or an air bubble. In Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, Mario can use the Star Spin to propel through the water faster than normal swimming. When the player plays as Luigi, he loses air with every Star Spin. Both brothers can also quickly dive directly downwards while underwater when the player uses Nunchuk Z Button. Yoshi can also swim on the water's surface in Super Mario Galaxy 2, but he cannot dive.

Starting in Super Mario 3D Land, the swimming mechanics are changed to imitate the mechanics of the 2D games. Mario gains the ability to ground-pound underwater, replacing the Super Mario Galaxy games' diving move. Super Mario Odyssey maintains the rising-and-sinking swimming, but it includes the air meter. Mario can also use the new Quick Swim move with ZL Button and Y Button, which propels him forward similarly to the Star Spin in Super Mario Galaxy.

Several items and power-ups allow Mario to swim faster or with more control. The Frog Suit in Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Maker 2 and the Penguin Suit in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U both allow Mario to stay in place underwater and automatically swim much faster when the player holds down a direction and/or the jump button, akin to the early 3D games. Nabbit and Toadette can also swim in a similar manner in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe without the need for a Penguin Suit. The Blue Shell in New Super Mario Bros. increases Mario's swimming speed and precision. In the 2D games from Super Mario World onwards, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Galaxy 2, grabbing a Koopa Shell allows Mario to automatically swim forward in the water very quickly. In Super Mario Sunshine, using the Hover Nozzle underwater propels Mario forward. In Super Mario Odyssey, capturing a Cheep Cheep allows Mario to swim through the water quicker and without regard for the air meter. Super Mario Bros. Wonder features the Dolphin Kick badge, which gives Mario better swimming speed and control with R Button.

In Super Mario Maker 2, in the nighttime version of the castle theme, Mario and the other playable characters are able to swim in midair with the same mechanics as water.

Wario franchise[edit]

An Utsuboankō in the Mystic Lake
Wario swimming in Mystic Lake in Wario Land 4

Wario can swim underwater in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Wario Land II, and Wario Land 4. However, in Wario Land 3, he can swim only on the water's surface until he receives a pair of Swimming Flippers from the Gray Chest in Tower of Revival. In addition, Prince Frog's Glove, received from the Green Chest in Out of the Woods, allows him to swim faster, enabling him to traverse currents. Likewise, Wario can swim only on the water's surface in Wario Land: Shake It! However, one of the missions each in Foulwater Falls, Soggybog River, and Riverbloat Rapids tasks him to clear the respective levels without swimming. Although Wario cannot swim on the water's surface or underwater in Wario: Master of Disguise at all, Dragon Wario can safely swim in lava.

Donkey Kong Country series[edit]

Coral Capers
Diddy Kong riding Enguarde, with Donkey Kong swimming behind, in Donkey Kong Country

Swimming has been a part of the Donkey Kong Country series since the first game. In the SNES games, the Kongs can swim through the water just as Mario does in the 2D Super Mario games. They are helpless underwater without the help of Enguarde, who can move only with +Control Pad, as well as dash forward and stab enemies with his sharp bill.

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong cannot swim in Donkey Kong Country Returns; the Kongs drown and simply lose a life when they fall into water. Swimming is brought back in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, where the Kongs can swim in 360°, as well as use a new spinning attack when the player presses the roll button, though they now have an air meter, which is refilled with bubbles. Dixie Kong can propel faster underwater with her hair. If two Kongs are paired up, they can perform an infinite Kong Corkscrew; in the Nintendo Switch port, Funky Kong can also do so on his own. Funky also has no air meter, as he wears swimming goggles.

Yoshi franchise[edit]

Blue Yoshi swimming, with Baby Peach on his back, in Yoshi's Island DS

In the platform games of the Yoshi franchise, Yoshis are usually able to swim. However, they can swim only on the surface of water, with areas that lie beneath the waves inaccessible to them. Poochy, a companion character available in certain levels, can also swim in this way, though he has the additional ability to swim across lava. A Yoshi can jump on Poochy's back to ride him across water or lava. The Poochy Pups can also swim. Various forms and items are available to help a Yoshi access areas below the surface in various games. In any case, the Yoshi does not have an air meter to restrict his ability to swim.

In Yoshi's Woolly World and Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, a Yoshi's feet turn into a propeller while he is swimming. He moves much slower compared to walking. In Mellow Mode, Winged Yoshi's wings flap as they swim. A Yoshi cannot create yarn balls or throw yarn balls and Poochy Pups while swimming. A Yoshi cannot jump as high when leaving water. These mechanics can be counteracted by standing on Poochy while he swims across the water. If a Yoshi lands in water from a height, or uses a Ground Pound to enter water, he ends up below the surface before floating back up. This can allow the Yoshi to cross some barriers that are at the surface or slightly dip into the water. Mermaid Yoshi has the ability to freely swim underwater, and he can jump quite high out of it. In Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World's Poochy Dash mode, only Zippy Lagoon has water. Poochy can swim under the same rules, though he cannot ground-pound. If Poochy bumps into a wall while swimming or jumping out of the water, he does not bounce off and drop beads as he does on land. Poochy can enter a whirlpool in this course to stay under the surface in a certain section. While Hotheaded Lava Fields has lava, Poochy runs through it rather than swimming.

In Yoshi's Crafted World, Yoshis cannot swim, instead drowning if they jump in water. Poochy and the Poochy Pups can still swim.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, fighters are able to swim across water. However, they will drown if they remain in the water for too long and lose a stock, the time required based on the character's percentage. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Charizard, Sonic, Inkling, and Incineroar take a small amount of damage while swimming, referencing their weakness to water in their home series. There are stages in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS that include water; however, fighters simply fall through it. These stages' water is made swimmable in their Super Smash Bros. Ultimate incarnations.

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Swim.

See also[edit]