Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1139
Location: United Kingdom
What is your favourite level/stage/area/town etc.? I think (hope) this will produce some diverse and interesting answers.
This is something I have been considering recently. For me it is mostly in the music of the level, but the playability is also very important. To get the ball rolling here are some of my generic favourites; Bombman, Cutman, Elecman (NES Megaman); Airman, Crashman, Bubbleman, Woodman (NES Megaman 2); World 1-1 (NES SMB3); Hilltop Zone, Mystic Caves Zone, Wing Fortress Zone (GENESIS Sonic the Hedgehog 2); Angel Island Zone (GENESIS Sonic the Hedgehog 3); Mushroom Hill Zone (GENESIS Sonic & Knuckles); Hyrule Field (N64 LoZ: Ocarina of Time); Southern Swamp, Termina Field, Stone Tower Temple, Clock Town (LoZ: Majora's Mask); Hazy Maze Cave, Bowser in the Sky (N64 SM64).
My absolute all-time favourite level, however, is Casino Night Zone (GENESIS Sonic the Hedgehog 2). This level is awesome (I consider both acts as one level); it's great fun to play, the concept is really cool, the music is great (though not quite as good as good as Mushroom Hill Zone) and the background is very nice. I find this level more nostalgic than any other and it always reminds me of the many hours I spent playing this game.
I apologise if this topic has been brought up before or if it is uninspiring. If so please lock accordingly :)
If I were to move into some place shown in some RPG for the rest of my life…
Probably some peaceful town in FF4 or FF5 after the events of the game.
Sadly I cannot remember any of them in particular right now.
If I were Mega Man and I would be stuck in some Mega Man game stage for the rest of my life ― uff, that's a tough question.
I think my favorite level would be the one in Earthbound where you're in Ness' mind or whatever (can't really remember) and when you beat it you gain a TON of levels. I always find that very very satisfying.
Edit: The place is apparently called Magicant.
I'm sciencing as fast as I can !
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<adelikat> once more balls enter the picture, everything gets a lot more entertraining
<adelikat> mmmmm yummy penises
WAAAAVE MAN! MM5. My favorite megaman tune, and some very shiny colors in that level. (And that thing where Baxter jumps over the jet-ski and hops around on the water.)
Hyrule Field (N64 LoZ: Ocarina of Time);
I like everything in LoZ. Particularly the lost woods, Hyrule town, and Kakariko- at night. The temples, too... it all holds a very powerful sense of nostalgia, probably owing to the masterful use of ambient sound and other atmospheric details.
World 1-1 (NES SMB3);
World 5 for me. I always liked the sense of scale and distance that climbing the tower into the sky provided.
NYC and Versalife from Deus Ex also make my list. Flamethrower hijinks abound.
Spellhold's psychological evaluation from Baldur's Gate II. That is some sweet, tasty dungeon crawling. There's something about being so far removed from society that appeals to me in a very unwholesome way.
I'm sure a GE/PD level belongs in this list. Facility? I'm sure that was the first time a lot of us ever experienced stealth in an FPS, and really felt like we were making a surreptitious entrance to a place full of angry commies. :D
Quake: the final level of Episode 2. Can't remember the title, but that elevator at the end is a bitchin' good time on Nightmare difficulty.
Green Brinstar. ('Nuff said.)
But in light of Bisqwit's answer, the place I would most want to spend eternity is, without a doubt, The End of Time from Chrono Trigger. I'd probably end up standing somewhere on the right, with my arms crossed and my head down... 'Cuz I'm just cool like that.
...Yikes. Long post. Hope at least some of that was interesting.
Mmm, this is hard to decide.
I really like Sector Beta from F-zero X (music & map), but my choice goes to Super Mario Bros 3, as for the scene, well any of them will do, though I loved when you could get a tanooki power :)
I'd love to stay in La-Lakoosha from Klonoa 2. If you haven't seen that, imagine a cross between the Night Elf hometown on WoW, and the Caves of Skops.
Best music/level combination? Sad as it is, I'd have to say Ice Cap Zone. The music might be simple, but it's perfect.
My favourite level from any video game is Devil's Island, from Impossible Creatures. It's one of the few levels in any RTS I've played that has a totally asymmetrical map yet has good balance. It's also very beautiful.
If I had to pick a place to live, I'd choose one of those levels made of chocolate in Super Mario World.
The third level from "Ghouls N Ghosts" with this demon tongues.
Unfortunately one of the shortest levels in that game.
The Snowlevel in "Super Ghouls N Ghosts". It`s not my favourite part from the GNG Series but this level rocks really. :)
Level 2 in Strider. The level have more ideas and alternations then much other complete games. One of the best games in the 80-90er Capcom era.
Mega Man 2 (NES): The Quickman Level.
my favourite level in a game were I would want to live would be the antika town in Secret of Evermore, shortly followed by the medieval town from the same game
my favourite place in a game to visit would be the mana forest from Secret of Mana
Joined: 11/27/2004
Posts: 688
Location: WA State, USA
I take it that Planet Zebes is not an acceptable answer.
I guess I might as well list some levels off as they come to my mind...
- Stages 4 and 9 in SCV4 (Rotating Room and Treasury)
- Forest Temple in OoT
- Norfair in Metroid 1
- Stage 5 in Gunstar Heroes (Save Yellow)
- Stage 3 In Contra 3 (Neo Kobe Steel Factory)
- Sting Chameleon in Mega Man X (obviously)
- Port Town in F-Zero
- Mute City: Serial Gaps in F-Zero GX
- Titania in Star Fox
- Area 6 in Star Fox 64
- Episode 3 in Viewtiful Joe (2,000,000 Leagues Under the Sea)
- Peach's Castle in SSB
Bisqwit wrote:
If I were to move into some place shown in some RPG for the rest of my life…
Probably some peaceful town in FF4 or FF5 after the events of the game.
Sadly I cannot remember any of them in particular right now.
Troia?
Nach wrote:
I also used to wake up every morning, open my curtains, and see the twin towers. And then one day, wasn't able to anymore, I'll never forget that.
Levels I love playing:
Flying Battery in Sonic & Knuckles, Armored Armadillo in Mega Man X, the Shadow Wood hub in Hexen, Donut Plains 1 in SMW, the giant house level in Little Nemo, The Mirage Tower in Final Fantasy...
I don't think I'd want to live in any of those. Maybe Fourside from Earthbound? I guess that's sort of boring, but I like big cities.
Joined: 4/30/2006
Posts: 480
Location: the secret cow level
The opening stage of God of War II is just so damn EPIC.
The main city in Summoner was the first, and probably the only time I've ever seen a city in a non-sim game that was actually big enough that you could believe it was a complete, functioning city.
Too many choices. Spring Valley and Twin Seeds from NiGHTS. Final Rush in Sonic Adventure 2. Outer Wall of Cave Story. Rainbow Resort in Kirby's Adventure, especially the final retro stage.
If I have to pick one over everything else though?
Super Mario Bros 3. World 5. Stage 3.
Tomb Raider 3 was one of the very first PC games I bought. By current standards its graphics are quite sub-par, but back then they were pretty impressive.
There was one level, the Area 51 level, which was completely awesome. It had excellent ambience and it was very immersive. Even though nothing special happens in that level, and there's little fighting, it was one of the most impressive levels. Of course back then I was more impressionable than today (which in some way is a pity), but I still have the best memories from that level, even though I have played a lot of games since then.
Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1139
Location: United Kingdom
LagDotCom wrote:
Best music/level combination? Sad as it is, I'd have to say Ice Cap Zone. The music might be simple, but it's perfect.
I agree with you here, the appearance certainly lends itself well to the music and the overall atmosphere is great. The snow/ice stage in a game is an old cliché, almost as bad as boss refights, but this stands out well.
Monty Mole wrote:
Mega Man 2 (NES): The Quickman Level.
It's funny you should say that one. For me it was one of the few levels of that game I didn't like all that much. However, that's mostly to do with how difficult those bar things were to avoid :P The only other level from Mega Man 2 that I wasn't particularly fond of was Flashman since it is comparitively rather plain (the music is excellent though).
Sonic 2 probably takes the cake on just straight-up-fun-to-play levels. Chemical Plant, Mystic Cave, Oil Ocean, and Metropolis are all excellent. Super Castlevania 4 is also packed with fun-to-play levels - courtyard, the mode 7 level, treasury, clock tower...
Also, I hate Casino Night. It's literally the most annoying level in any Sonic game I've played. All I remember is wondering why my friends got to play Sonic that level, and got to waste minutes of my live jumping into the ultimately pointless slot machine over and over and over again. OH CRAP YOU GOT ROBOTNIKS. How surprising.
Other fun levels:
NES Blaster Master - Ice level (Area 6)
NES Kirby's Adventure - Game Boy throwback (7-6)
NES Mega Man 2 - Wily 1
NES Super Mario Bros. 3 - Pipe level with light bulb lifts (7-6)
SNES Donkey Kong Country - Oil Drum Alley (I think, it's the first level of World 5)
SNES Super Mario Kart - Rainbow Road
SNES Super Metroid - Deep Norfair
Genesis Sonic 3 - Ice Cap Zone
Genesis Sonic & Knuckles - Lava Reef Zone
N64 Goldeneye - Train
N64 Starfox 64 - Zoness
N64 Turok - Temple (Level 5)
(edit: andrewg reminded me of DKC)
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
Joined: 3/11/2004
Posts: 1058
Location: Reykjavík, Ísland
Star Wars: Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight. The level that was in the demo. It's some sort of fuel processing station or something. You start off outside, go through some rooms, then you empty a giant fuel tank, go inside, crawl through some pipes, take a super duper long elevator ride, then jump onto a flying ship just before it leaves. It completely BLEW ME AWAY because it was so fun and atmospheric and nice. It was also one of the first FPSes I ever played, so that might have helped. Actually, pretty much every level of that game is exquisitely designed. I also really really like the very first level of that game.
Do arcade games count?
I'm going to put my vote in for Stage 3 in Time Crisis 2 (sub area 2 if I need to be more specific). That whole stage is so exciting with all the boss fights, enemies, and even the helicopters. Stringing the enemies together is just so enjoyable.
This is one of those games I've played many times though and can beat without taking a hit. No matter how many times I play it, it is a very good stress reliever.
This signature is much better than its previous version.
Favorite levels to play:This is based on games that I start up just to play these levels/courses, oftentimes repeatedly. Listed alphabetically.
Daytona USA: Seaside Street Galaxy
F-Zero GX: Greenplant [Spiral] (honorable mention to Big Blue [Ordeal] and all of the Aeropolis courses, really)
Legend of Zelda - Twilight Princess: Ice Dungeon
Sonic 2: Chemical Plant
Sonic Adventure: Speed Highway as Sonic
Sonic Adventure 2: White Jungle
Super Mario Bros: All of World 3
Super Mario Bros 3: First half of World 5, but particularly the temple to the sky.
Favorite area design:
Chrono Trigger: The End of Time (I'd love to go sit under that lamp and read)
Final Fantasy VI: Narshe (always loved the lighting, the contrast between the moonlit snow and golden glow of the lights within the buildings)
Final Fantasy VII: Midgar (sad, but true)
Skies of Arcadia: Valua (oh, how I wish more of it was explorable)
It's funny you should say that one. For me it was one of the few levels of that game I didn't like all that much. However, that's mostly to do with how difficult those bar things were to avoid :P The only other level from Mega Man 2 that I wasn't particularly fond of was Flashman since it is comparitively rather plain (the music is excellent though).
This was the point I loved this level. :) No tactical elements or places to hide. Hurry or die, and I liked the music which assist the hectik. :)
And I forgot R-Type. (C64 - Arcade)
I liked level 1 and 7. I think some levels by R-Type was really boring but OK for this time. But this both levels rocks :)
World 2 and 4 by Turrican 1. (C64, Amiga and Mega Driveversion)
Level 3 by Super Contra
Level 7 (the boat) from Midnight Resistance and
the fourth Level from Bionic Commando. (Arcade) Loved the music and the bustling atmosphere. The perfect compensation for level 3 which was full of unfair scenes and dull to play.
Joined: 6/26/2004
Posts: 139
Location: Kuopio, Finland
Stage 2,3,5 Axelay
E1M1,E1M3,E2M2 from DOOM to name a few.
Last stage in Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers.
Stage 1, 4, 6, 9 in Super Castlevania IV
sooo many more..
Unfortunately one of the shortest levels in that game.
The Snowlevel in "Super Ghouls N Ghosts". It`s not my favourite part from the GNG Series but this level rocks really. :)
Level 2 in Strider. The level have more ideas and alternations then much other complete games. One of the best games in the 80-90er Capcom era.
Mega Man 2 (NES): The Quickman Level.
