Porter's World

Dolphin Olympics 2

Dolphin Olympics 2 is easily one of my favorite flash games of all time. It’s got one of the best balances of exploration, casual gameplay, as well as hardcore gameplay. The graphics are great and the controls are simple. This balance of traits is something every flash game should aim for, and there are few games that pull it off as well as Dolphin Olympics 2 does.

Exploration has always been an aspect of game design that I feel I give more credit to than most developers. There’s something amazing about beating an area of a game and waiting to see not only what happens next, but where next is. What enemies are there? What does the world look like? How is the music there? These questions drove me to play games as a child, as well as inspire me to develop games now. The exploration in Dolphin Olympics 2 is probably it’s strongest characteristic, most players don’t see it coming. You start off jumping around in the ocean with other small fish, but as you learn how the game works, you’ll quickly be jumping out of the water and into space, with enough skill that is. I was amazed when I saw the moon for the first time as I got high enough into the sky, never did I think the game would allow me to reach planets deep in space, nor did I think the amount of skill needed to do so possible. From the moment you see the moon for the first time, there is a certain thrill that drives you to keep going, “What’s next?” will be running through your head and a rush of curiosity and adrenaline will easily make you lose track of time. This feeling is powered by exploration, the need to see what’s next, to me, a key element in game design that is often never taken into consideration.

Another less known element, but increasing in popularity, is relaxation. To emphasize this point, we’ll  look at a popular video game company that’s been around forever, Nintendo. Believe it or not, Nintendo actually has plans to expand their market to target people looking for relaxation. They want to create games that serve the purpose of relaxing the player. During E3, Miyamoto spoke of games that would help you relax and fall asleep at night being in the near future. Although Dolphin Olympics 2 has been out for some time now, I believe such an element has already existed within the game. Perhaps not strong enough to put you asleep, but definitely to a point of relaxation. The simple controls, awesome sound effects, and casual gameplay, create a great atmosphere for anyone who doesn’t want to jump deep into a game and just wants to casually mess around with no real fixation on the game.

The game also stands out in it’s flexibility of both casual and hardcore gameplay. The game will at first to any player seem very casual, you jump around in the water and have a good time. However, as you get used to the gameplay, experienced gamers will quickly see there is a much larger goal at hand. It’s possible to gain momentum and reach incredible heights. This is perfect for both levels of gamers because the casual gamer doesn’t know such things exist, and therefore isn’t bothered with trying, while the hardcore player has a goal at hand that will challenge them indefinitely.

Overall, Dolphin Olympics 2 offers an amazing experience. The game has something to offer to nearly all players, something many games lack and lose a lot of players over. The game itself is oddly addicting and has players coming back even months later, which is very impressive for a flash game. Whether you feel like going for a swim, or stopping by the diner at the end of the universe, Dolphin Olympics 2 definitely has something for you to enjoy.