• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

What the best looking/enjoyable level in a game?

Andrew2

Banned
I just had to ask.

Anyhow, Waters Edge(Pit of Ill Omen) in Champions of Norrath comes to mind. I've played hundred titles from both Xbox to PS2 and can't figure out why no other title have a beautiful level like this. If theres one thing I could say, I tip my hat off to the level designer at Snowblind for this.
 
Wake Island: BF1942
Fall of Lang Fei: BF Vietnam
Facing Worlds: UT
Northern Eye: AC4
Blockade: AC4
Beach levels from Halo
Some levels from GOW (Challege of Hades comes to mind)
Arni village Chrono Cross

many others :p
 
Just about everything in God of War, especially from the about the midway point onward.

Also, every version of Myst has some phenomenal artwork. You feel like you're there a lot of the time (obviously helped along by the 1st person perspective).
 
Probably Ico, which is really just one giant level. Old Hyrule and the Temple of the Gods in Zelda were great looking too.

edit-Oh, I thought it was only this gen. If it's all gaming, I'd say the Inverted Stone Tower in Majora's Mask. :)
 
Not sure if this counts, but Midnight Garden or whatever it's called in Tekken 5 is one of the best looking stages I've ever seen. Plus amazing music.
 
Beach levels from Halo

I don't know. Halo have a great beach and all,but it just doesen't come nowhere to equalling the Ill Omens.

Ill Omens = best beach in a game
 
Almost any part of Metroid Prime (especially the outdoor areas). I havn't played another game since the original Unreal that really made me feel like I was on an alien world, until I finally got around to playing Metroid Prime.
 
Pick any level from Halo:CE (yes, even the library is good IMHO)
Panzer Dragon ORTA (some Rez-like stages and the snow level)
Oddworld Stranger
PGR2 (Nurburbing(<-I don't know how to write it) and the european tracks)
Kotor (the jedi council planet)
UC2 demo (praxis)
 
Basically every area in Prince of Persia. I really, really liked this area, and the waterfall that comes after it. Absolutely gorgeous!

princepersgcn_103003_x3.jpg
 
Super Mario 64 - Take yor pick. :P

SMB3: 5-3(kuribo's shoe), World 5 castle that connects the ground to the sky...and uh, many others.

ICO's castle.

MGS3: The Sokrovenno forest areas and the final boss battle area.

SMW2: Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy, muthafuckaz.

Wind Waker: Old Hyrule, Fire temple and final boss battle area.

I know I'm missing a lot of old school stuff...
 
I havn't played another game since the original Unreal that really made me feel like I was on an alien world

In relative terms the first Unreal has been the biggest jaw to the floor for me, both the first level, and also the Sunspire.

Other notables :-

Duke 3D (fun fun fun)
Quake GL Mode with Voodoo Graphics :D :D
Halo Truth & Reconciliation
UT Facing Worlds
Metroid Prime Phendrana Drifts / Chozo Ruins
Metal Gear Solid Sniper Wolf
 
I don't know about best looking, but I remember I spent a lot of time in the first level of Mario 64, I could fly around for ages or just slide around on the turtle shell (always trying to make it to the top of the mountain). I spent hours just fiddling around in that little level.
 
Tabris said:
Not sure if this counts, but Midnight Garden or whatever it's called in Tekken 5 is one of the best looking stages I've ever seen. Plus amazing music.

This is my choice as well. I agree about the music too.
 
Gek54 said:
God I love that track. Had an insane online match on the ring a few days back. Three M3's and one other car. Two laps of nurb and 90% of the time we were right on eachothers bumper. 15+ minutes of constant battle, switching positions etc, very intense. At one point during the second lap at one of the highspeed sections we were driving with 3 cars side by side at full speed, it was crazy :lol
 
Sander said:
God I love that track. Had an insane online match on the ring a few days back. Three M3's and one other car. Two laps of nurb and 90% of the time we were right on eachothers bumper. 15+ minutes of constant battle, switching positions etc, very intense. At one point during the second lap at one of the highspeed sections we were driving with 3 cars side by side at full speed, it was crazy :lol

GT4? Online??
 
The final level in NiGHTS. Jumping off the edge. Nothing for a moment, and the main character flies up with that kickass theme music playing. So fucking awesome.
 
Halo: Combat Evolved (Assault on the Control Room, Halo, Silent Cartographer)

Metroid Prime (Phendrana Drifts, Chozo Ruins)

Super Mario Sunshine(Noki Bay, Bianco Hills)

Sonic Adventure (Emerald Coast, Windy Valley)

Ghost Recon 2 (Mountain Falls, Bonfires daytime, Ghost village)

Zelda: Ocarina of Time (the whole game)

Counter-Strike (de_dust, cs_italy)
 
Sanctuary temple from Metroid prime 2 echoes, pure gameplay goodness in what i dare say the best level design both artistically and mechanic wise in a game to date.
 
FF III - Mystic Forest (It was short, but it just looked incredible for it's time)
Any Underwater/Ice/Snow Level from Donkey Kong Country
Phendrana Drifts - Metroid Prime
Chrono Cross's World Map (It's not a level, but I thought it looked great)
The Chapel - Castlevania: SOTN
The Village/Cemetery in RE4 when it's stormy at night.
 
I'd have to nominate Hyrule castle in Zelda:OoT. I only wished that it were a bit larger. But still, it gave you such an impression of it being a lively city. Children running around playing with dogs, people everywhere, ect. The music that hit when you entered the temple of time blew me away.
 
Top Bottom