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Animation is something we sort of take for granted in games, these days. Most of it is now pretty good, but do you remember a time in PlayStation's history when even a simple run animation was laughable? We certainly do. Not everyone can be Naughty Dog, but that's the beauty of it; games old and new have wildly different animation, some of it brilliant, and some of it hilarious.

We've gathered a small collection of some of our favourite running animations, both good and bad. Ready? Go!

Gabe Logan - Syphon Filter

An oldie, but a goodie. Gabe's wobbly saunter looks like all the parts of his body are moving independently. How he gets any spying done in that state is anyone's guess, but if it works for Gabe, it works for us.

Wander - Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus is one of PlayStation's greatest games, but let's not pretend that everything is perfect. As with Ueda's other titles, Wander has a clumsiness about his animations, and it looks as though he's struggling with the simple act of running in a straight line in the above GIF.

Solid Snake - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

This running animation is up there with the best. Extremely smooth and very natural looking, Snake's run is some sterling work. What a trooper.

Tanner - Driver 3

Driver 3 - or Driv3r, if you're an arse - was the first Driver title to go open world, in a doomed attempt to compete with Grand Theft Auto. The cars handled well, but as soon as Tanner steps out of his vehicle, things start to fall apart. Just look at this crab-walking mess.

The Joker - Batman: Arkham Asylum

The Joker's challenge maps in Arkham Asylum offered an entirely different way to play, but one of the best things about them was the chance to see the villainous clown's animation up close. It's full of personality - goofy, over the top, and the polar opposite to Batman's serious strides.

Voldo - Any SoulCalibur

Just look at him, guys.

Ghost - Enter the Matrix

Both playable characters are poorly animated, to be honest, but Ghost's robotic run is atrocious and hilarious. Come on now, no one runs like this.

Nathan Drake - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

One of the best animated characters in gaming, Drake's convincing jog is expertly done. It's smooth, believable, and realistic - much like the rest of the game's fantastic animation.


And there you have it - a few of our favourite running animations, whether so-bad-it's-good, or genuinely impressive. Are there any you think deserve a mention? Do you recall a particularly bad run? Race to the comments and let us know.