History Main / RunDontWalk

* Despite using the same engine as ''Half-Life'', walking is actually useful in ''VideoGame/{{Counter-Strike}}'' since most players run all over the place Quake-style, sneaking can get you an advantage since you can hear them coming but they don't hear you (they might even accuse you of camping if you don't make noise).

* ''VideoGame/EvolutionWorlds'' has this

* ''Golden Sun'' franchise

* In ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' you walk by default, because moving quickly makes a lot of racket.

** VideoGame/{{Bully}} uses a similar control scheme: tilt the stick to run, ''slightly'' tilt the stick to run slower, tilt the stick while holding X on Playstation to run faster/tapping X to run ''even faster'', press R3 to go into stealth mode (crouching and Walking slowly), tap X after crouching to crouch-walk faster.

* In the FPS games ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRenegade'' and ''007 Nightfire'', the character automatically runs, and Shift must be held down to walk (presumably for stealth, but it usually didn't make much of a difference).

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** The ''Pokémon'' series has, from the beginning, had a [[SprintShoes bike item]] that can be used to travel faster, as well as access an optional bike-only area. However, the bike usually takes until well after the second PlotCoupon to get, so the third generation introduced the ability to run, which you gain earlier on. Neither the bike nor running could be done indoors (save a dungeon or three), which the fourth generation fixed. The bike has now morphed to being part of puzzles, as well, with certain areas requiring its usage.

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* In ''LittleBigAdventure 1'' (a.k.a ''Relentless''), the character would get hurt when running in a wall. This was supposed to avoid this kind of behaviour, but it was so unpopular that it was removed in the next game.

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia1'' was one of the earliest games to make running the default, and very slow walking (which was done by holding down the shift key). Notably, the game does have a ''reason'' for walking slowly--it enables you to get past spike traps without setting them off, and to step right on the edge of a ledge without falling off.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series and any games running on its engines, walking [[LedgeGravity prevents you from falling off cliffs or other sudden drops]]. It gets a bit iffy at times, however, where you can walk far enough over an edge that you're not physically standing on it but are still on its level, only to release the walk/crouch key and promptly fall off.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series and any games running on its engines, walking prevents you from falling off cliffs or other sudden drops. It gets a bit iffy at times, however, where you can walk far enough over an edge that you're not physically standing on it but are still on its level, only to release the walk/crouch key and promptly fall off.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life|1}}'' (and most of its mods and games with the same engine), it was possible to walk by holding shift, which would slow you down, and crouch by holding control, which would slow you down even further. Either option made you silent.

* ''VideoGame/GarrysMod'', however, has walking be of very little use outside of precision adjustments with the physics gun, which can be similarly accomplished with crouching. Indeed, in earlier versions, while a key was bound to walking by default the corresponding function didn't even ''exist'' (likely since ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}}'', with which [=GMod=] shares its engine, didn't have a walk function either), and now that it does players have to bind it themselves if they want to use it.

Once upon a time, player characters walked by default. So, players held the run button down in action games, or counseled new players in MMORPG to hit the run/walk toggle. For convenience, many games now have the player characters constantly running unless they deliberately switch to walking -- if that's even an option -- since that's what players would do anyway. Sometimes, the only choices are run or run ''faster''.

* Played with in ''VideoGame/GodHand'' - Gene moves pretty fast as a default, but tapping twice and holding makes him run... which is his walking animation sped up.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Super Metroid]]'' used a run button, which made Samus go faster than normal and also triggered the Speed Booster power when she collected it later. This button was notorious for being frequently overlooked; new players would inevitably get stuck on the [[http://www.metroid2002.com/3/other_noob_bridge_without_run_button.php noob bridge,]] where it was first required. The later 2D installments, ''Fusion'' and ''Zero Mission'', do away with this system; instead, you run all the time (especially fast in ''Zero Mission'') and the Speed Booster kicks in on its own when you run far enough. This was done to accomodate the GBA's fewer buttons, and it's convenient, but unfortunately eliminates the GoodBadBugs from ''Super'' that work by monkeying around with the run button to hit top speed faster.

* There is a bonus in the ''SuperSmashBrothers'' games with the same name as this trope. As you might guess, it's awarded for never walking during the entire battle.

* You can't walk in ''GuildWars'' unless you've got some spell or something slowing you down. Or walking backwards, which doesn't really count. But if you are slowed, then you ''walk'', with a perfectly fine walking animation... and probably some mob on your case. A shame, since the game is [[SceneryPorn kind of pretty (in some places)]]. Granted, it would probably be quite the unhelpful feature given how it's much, much easier to [[{{Griefer}} grief]] in the game by being intentionally bad at it than by being unevenly matched....

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia1'' was one of the earliest games to make running the default, and very slow walking (which was done by holding down the shift key). Notably, the game does have a ''reason'' for walking slowly - it enables you to get past spike traps without setting them off, and to step right on the edge of a ledge without falling off.

* The ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' games used B as a run button in the overworld. Later games introduced a Navi Customizer program that you can install into [=MegaMan.EXE=] to make him run all the time (With the useful side effect of not increasing the random encounter rate like holding B to run does). The sequel series ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' has dispensed with this -- now you just run all the time.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''
** The ''Pokemon'' series has, from the beginning, had a bike item that can be used to travel faster, as well as access an optional bike-only area. However, the bike usually took until well after the second PlotCoupon to get, so the third generation introduced the ability to run, which you gained earlier on. Neither the bike nor running could be done indoors (save a dungeon or three), which the fourth generation fixed. The bike has now morphed to being part of puzzles, as well, with certain areas requiring its usage.
** ''Pokemon Ranger 2'' has lampshaded this by the fact that one of the teachers [[spoiler:and villian]] hates the fact that the protagonist runs all the time.

** This trope was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}''. In a city inhabited entirely by Ghouls, you run into an old Ghoul who previously lived in ''another'' all-ghoul city that featured heavily in the original Fallout. When talking about the Hero from the previous game, he mentions that what stood out the most about him was that he was always ''running'', all over the place, which left quite an impression on the ghouls -- since they couldn't manage much more than a [[ZombieGait shamble]].

** The game has an annoying tendency for EscortMission characters to walk, as opposed to the running (or even mounted) players. They do walk faster than the players normal walk speed aswell, forcing the player stop every once in a while or switch between run and walk mode. It is, however, worse when the NPC decides to run. E.g., one of the final quests on Bloodmyst Isle, where you follow this running demolitions expert, who manages to aggro guys, helps you fight them, and then runs ahead at top speed while you're trying to recoup your mana.
** At least ''WOW'' has a run/walk switch for player characters, although most people probably aren't even aware it exists, and it finds its primary use in roleplaying. Walking might as well ''be'' the roleplaying mode flag since no one except for the roleplayers use the walk toggle for extended periods.

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia1'' was one of the earliest games to make running the default, and very slow walking (which was done by holding down the shift key). Notably, the game does have a ''reason'' for walking slowly - it enables you to get past spike traps without setting them off.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Super Metroid]]'' used a run button, which made Samus go faster than normal and also triggered the Speed Booster power when she collected it later. This button was notorious for being frequently overlooked; new players would inevitably get stuck on the [[http://www.metroid2002.com/3/other_noob_bridge_without_run_button.php noob bridge]], where it was first required. The later 2D installments, ''Fusion'' and ''Zero Mission'', do away with this system; instead, you run all the time (especially fast in ''Zero Mission'') and the Speed Booster kicks in on its own when you run far enough. This was done to accomodate the GBA's fewer buttons, and it's convenient, but unfortunately eliminates the GoodBadBugs from ''Super'' that work by monkeying around with the run button to hit top speed faster.

* Averted by ''[[VideoGame/{{STALKER}} the STALKER titles]]''. The default speed is walking or a light jog if you're not carrying much weight. Sprinting depletes your stamina bar quickly.

* Most ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania}}'' games have just one run speed (and maybe a [[SprintShoes super-speed upgrade]] later). ** ''Circle of the Moon'' is an exception, with a powerup that lets you run by double-tapping left or right. This makes longer jumps possible. Unfortunately, it also makes you realize how slow the normal walk is.
** Richter Belmont had this same ability in ''Symphony of the Night'', and Alucard could get it too, but only in the Saturn version.
** Shanoa can find the Rapidus Fio glyph in ''Order of Ecclesia'', which is the game's equivalent to running. And when I say equivalent, I mean "walking normally, but moving at super-speed, with a wind shockwave".

* ''SlyCooper'''s default movement speed is "sneak", but it's relatively fast. The run button makes him more detectable to the [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy guards]].

* In the ''TombRaider'' games, using the walk button prevents Lara from dashing off cliffs; when walking, she'll stop at the edge. Given the animation's exaggerated hip-sway, it could better be called the "saunter" button. Amusingly, the walk button also changes an entirely unrelated animation - jumping while holding "walk" makes her perform a graceful dive. Which could instantly kill you if you did it on a slightly long drop, snapping Lara's neck unless you hit deep water.

* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' (and most of its mods and games with the same engine), it was possible to walk by holding shift, which would slow you down, and crouch by holding control, which would slow you down even further. Either option made you silent.
* Despite using the same engine as ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' Walking IS useful in ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'' since most players run all over the place Quake-style, sneaking can get you an advantage since you can hear them coming but they don't hear you (they might even accuse you of camping if you don't make noise).
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series and any games running on its engines, walking prevents you from falling off cliffs or other sudden drops.
* All the characters in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' run by default, although moving while crouched could be considered walking. Interestingly, since the characters have different running speeds (for example, the Heavy is about half the speed of a Scout), they can be broadly identified from their movement speed. Not a big deal generally, but it means that only newcomers to the MasterOfDisguise Spy class will ever dress as a Scout. The mysterious gentleman slows himself down automatically for other diguises, but becomes a rather slothy (and quickly dead) Scout.

** At least ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has a run/walk switch for player characters, although most people probably aren't even aware it exists, and it finds its primary use in roleplaying. Walking might as well ''be'' the roleplaying mode flag since no one except for the roleplayers use the walk toggle for extended periods.

* Averted in the MMORPG ''VideoGame/{{RagnarokOnline}}''. All characters move by walking, animation wise, even while under the effects of SuperSpeed buffs.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series, walking prevents you from falling off cliffs or other sudden drops.

* ''Left4Dead'' has you always running unless you held down the walk or couch button. You would move slower if you were hurting.

* Despite using the same engine as ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' Walking IS useful in ''CounterStrike'' since most players run all over the place Quake-style, sneaking can get you an advantage since you can hear them coming but they don't hear you (they might even accuse you of camping if you don't make noise).