In the scale of history, you could make a strong case for, say, the bit in Onimusha 3 (PS2) where Jean Reno ice whips a few hundred men in real-time, or the Airport in Tony Hawk 3 (or Canada...), or the bit in MGS2 where Snake and Raiden finally team up, or the Green Hill Zone in the original MegaDrive Sonic, or the Facility in Goldeneye, or, er, the Siberian Dam in TimeSplitters 2, the Theatre in Hitman: Blood Money, or *all* of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (except the water temple)... but right now, we're obsessed with the Ghillie suit sniper level in Call of Duty 4.
Note: Spoilers Ahead
That's right. The surprise flashback section where you get to play as Captain Price (the rock hard, handlebar-tache sporting SAS leader who you've spent all game quasi-homo-erotically admiring, fearing and wordlessly thanking for bailing out of the shit again, and again), is arguably the most polished, tense and exciting level in gaming history - certainly on PS3. Why? Here's the bullet point argument in full:
1) Context - as stated, the game's spent the first few levels setting up Captain Price as a man who eats Uzis for breakfast and shits 9mm shells. Now, rather than fearfully chugging behind him casting admiring gazes, you get to play as him, as a rookie - even more interesting since you get to meet his boss, who's even more nails again. It's a technique used by Kojima in MGS2 (delaying the Snake team-up section to the very end), and MGS3 (where you get to find out about why Big Boss is a tragic, misunderstood super soldier). Even before the level starts, you're thrilled just to be Captain Price.
2) Impact - Shit the bed. It looks sensational. When you first clap eyes on the Ghillie suit it looks, well, like a walking mound of grass. Then you sit in actual grass and you genuinely feel - and look - invisible. The texturing is sublime, the smoke effects mesmerising, the architecture dwarfing and jagged, the sheer volume of enemies boggling... but further description will only act as disservice - just look at it. You don't discuss fine wine. You just hold the sip, close your eyes and savour the aroma. Flowery? Yes. We've gone mad. But it's that good.
3) The Stealth connundrum: solved - Let's face it, stealth is the hardest genre in the world to get right, due to the black/white/grey imprecision of can they/can't they see me (Splinter Cell used to do it terribly, Manhunt did it well), the meandering nature of open-world environments and, well, the boredom of waiting in a shadow for ten mins throwing rocks at a distant wall hoping the guard buggers off. COD4 is a masterclass in problem solution: your squad leader acts as a guide, enforcing a linear, hand-held, approach to the level, without the need for clunky on-screen furniture, pressing pause to check objectives or flashing arrows - but verbally barking you on track through a string of ever more exciting set pieces. Linear? That's the genius. It never gets boring, because every few minutes he gives you the option to take out some guards, or leave them alone. "Your call", he whispers. Freedom and linearity. The balance is perfect.
4) Pacing - It goes something like this: Initial rule-setting opener (fluff the shot and alert the guards, and you'll learn *never* to fluff a shot later on), tense crawly bit (including an incredibly nerve-shredding scene where you lay in flat grass as an entire platoon marches within inches of your head, as you nervously shuffle into space, then some more shooty open end stuff when things go bendy, and then an absurdly empowering set piece where you need to assassinate a target with your sniper rifle while gauging the wind direction from a nearby flag. Oh, and then the incredible second act, against the clock, where you need to carry your boss (creating yet another new game dynamic with unique rules), before the bravura final showdown - where you get to set mines, pick a sniping position and fend off hordes of incoming troops against ever-diminishing odds. Freedom again. Incredible.
5) Variety - see point 4. You won't be bored for a second.
We could go on. And on. But suffice to say, it's one of the most breathless, varied experiences in gaming history.
What you say? We talking teh sensenonce?
Be great to hear everyone else's fave level ever below.
This is a truely great level, the atmosphere is amazing, it looks fantastic and the whole experience shreds your nerves. Also you always feel u dont want to let the boss (was his name mcmillan?) down, its like "he trusts me so i better deliver". They really captured the whole 'fallout zone' thing really well also, it feels so eerie. This is up there as one of my fave levels ever along with 'outgunned' in RFOM, the beach landing in MOH frontline and nearly every level from MGS 1 2 and 3
You're absolutely right, I thought that whole level was superbly done - from the opening where you feel utterly dependent on your guide and just want to cling to his hand like a toddler, right to the end where you must carry your mentor to the evac chopper while dodging gunfire from all angles after spending every last bullet in your possession on hundreds of troops already. I thought the last level was epic too. It was entirely on rails but somehow it was by far the best on-rails-shooting section I've ever played.
Other great levels that spring to mind include the last big climb in Prince of Persia, that endless staircase in MGS1, Tokyo Megaplex in SSX Tricky and the frantic mansion siege in Red Dead Revolver.
Every bit of it was drenched in atmosphereThat is so weird. I just completed that mission. I couldn't get it out of my head, I'd have to agree with best mission ever. Every bit of it was drenched in atmosphere, loved it!
... but the best level ever is the hong kong level in Deus Ex
Ah, Deus Ex, so many great moments. I wish someone would make a new version with updated graphics, audio, AI and physics, some of the less interesting levels trimmed and with a new, more climactic finale. It would easily be worth the price of a new game. OTOH the effort required wouldn't be far from a whole new game either.
Best level for me. Well, easy one this. It had to be one of the original Tomb Raiders where you climbed up on the Sphinx, I was just blown away by the sheer scale of it... standing at the top of the Sphinx, barely able to make out the point I'd started at, contained all within a single load, a single level. The sheer scale and ambition of the level design took my breath away.
my fave level in gaming so far is the mgs2 raiden getting his sword and teaming up with snake bit
and i know these arn't levels but more set pices but i simply adore the pyramid head sections in sh2:
the bit where the game plonks you just in front of pyramid head and you pegg it from him but then you realise that maria is about to get killed and turn around to save her but then bottle out of it and just keep runnign form your life. you make it but you see that maria doesnt and you punish yourself for being selfish and letting maria die. then you realise its all part of the game...also the labrinth section was spooky like hell
I really should play the single-player, i've spent all my time playing Online, it's incredibly addictive when it works. That's it, i've decided, i'm going to carry on the single player, ive done the first 2 levels so far.
Funny this should come up, i've done the level (did it on regular 1st now about to do it on hardened) and I JUST stopped before the level started, i wanted to save it. It's brilliant, although i don't like the bit where you just have to run past the enemies, especially as there's like what? 15 of them. you SHOULD be dead. Otherwise, i love the way even if you blow your cover then it's not mission over, you can carry on, oh and also i can actually BELIEVE that enemies wouldn't see me, as it does camoflauge you well. Although it can still annoy me when i die, i dunno maybe it's just me but i can find it unfair at times, although i never experienced it during that particulr level.
Oh and i've got a question, do games journalists play the game on the hardest setting when reviewing a game?
Although it can still annoy me when i die, i dunno maybe it's just me but i can find it unfair at times, although i never experienced it during that particulr level.
It is actually very easy to die in the game, but only if you stand in the open shooting, it is very realistic in that sense. i LOVED that level, with the funny leaf suit, id just completed it, then read the blog and was like 'he, i just completed that level' the level after is a bit annoying tho, at the end of the level when u have to get down the hill, i just airstriked them about 5 times and legged it! sod my team
I saw a demonstration of that stealth bit you mentioned. The video itself had me holding my breath when the soldiers marched almost directly above the player and your leader's telling you to stay still for a few more seconds.
A level that stands out in recent memory is the bit in MGS3 where you have to escape the building where Sokolov was held in at the beginning of the game, with GRU soldiers arriving on the scene and checking the area out. The available options and routes are unbelievable.
Though the best, even though its a boss fight more than a level, was the battle with The End. In terms of tension, immersion in the game, and being the peak of MGS's stealth gameplay so far, its definitely up there as the best level. And I still haven't taken into account the fact that the battle takes hours to complete, followed by a ten-minnute ladder-climbing scene.
IGN gave it a 7.5, but I think they were a bit harsh. They also said gameplay ranges between 10-15 hours when I previously heard it was 40. This was the only aspect of the game which I find bad going by their review:
Even when the town is on full alert, many of the rooftop guards remain in their standard AI pattern. Altair is leaping from roof to roof as dozens of men scream for someone to stop him. The guard on the roof turns during his AI routine and sees this. He puts hand to sword and warns, "You're not supposed to be--" and then you knife him and move on.
I've just played the level again ... yeaup! best.level.ever! in my experience atleast (ok so that's not long) BUT STILL! Oh and when i was talking about the running i was on bout the one in the level after. Shooting the 4 guards around the 'puddle' without getting caught is more satysfying than getting a 10 kill streak online.
That bit in the demolished building is so eery! it's brilliant!
(edit) oh and chubbyman, trouble is as enemies rewspawn you need to stand in the open to get to the next checkpoint sometimes, god if cod5 had no enemy rewpsawns and was 10 hours plus, i just don't see how it couldn't be the best game EVER!
*Squeezes his wallet to see if any money falls out*
Yeah yeah yeah.. I bought Smackdown last week. I could buy Call of Duty 4, but I want to buy Assassin's creed more so... and then the week after that it's 360 game Mass Effect and IO's Kane and Lynch. Need more money!!
Good thing I don't want "Need for Speed Pro evolution Fifa Street" as I'm calling it. I can only guess they called it Need for Speed Pro Street as to use popular words from other franchises.
most defining moment of the level for me was when you reach the dog eating the guy, and your told to leave it alone...i shot it...and got mauled by about 20 dogs. made me laugh
most defining moment of the level for me was when you reach the dog eating the guy, and your told to leave it alone...i shot it...and got mauled by about 20 dogs. made me laugh
okay reminds me of that intro on outbreak that soldier eating by rats, i feel sorry for that guy basterd rats
yay i finally played it and woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow it was wicked proper sneaking i've never known a game like it well done infinity ward really good job
o yes and how annoying are the dogs on single player mode.
haven't posted in a while, been quite busy, but hey to all the regs. Call of duty 4 is absolutely amazing, the graphics, the gameplay, the endless fun. The best game i've played in ages and well worth the Ł39.97 I paid for it, lol.
If you haven't bought it yet then, I would reccomend getting it when you have the funds or when your pold enough. Will be hard to beat.
"Therty thoosand people used ta live here, now it's a ghost town" Very eery...also I died the first time the helicopter crashed. Chopped up like celery in a blender you might say
I thought it was 50? anyways, as much as i like the game, i think it can really spoil it sometimes in times such as when you call an airstrike, it goes no where near where u asked itto and they getyou instead.
Still, it's not as bad as cod3 for bits like it, i'm hoping cod5 gets it perfect.
i've completed the game yesterday, and i must say that its brilliant, best ps3 game i've played, online is brilliant as well, i love the sniper mission, i've been found a few times but managed to get through to the hotel without been spotted, with being stealthy and trying not to expose yourself, this makes this level very good and intense, u dont know wats going to happen, crawling past the soldiers and light tanks i think was the best part, u r just hoping not one will c u crawling just inches nearby, i lik to play sniper missions, probably a sniper game but that will b too repetitive, but something lik this level is brilliant, very well made/constructed, its sniping missions that should b lik this, best sniping mission i've ever played
all i can say is this game is the elite of all games., the graphics, gameplay, story everything about it feels perfect and obviously the all gilled up mission is awesome. The first time i saw mcmillan in the suit i thought i was watchin a war documentary. Amazing graphics and any complaint i can think of about the game isn't even worth typing, keep up the good work infinity ward. Im sure all the other fps develepors are feeling sorry for themselves and good. The games industry needed a kick up the bottom right im off to play some cod4. See ya
I think I am going to have to agree with you on the best ever level being the one set in chernobyl! It never seems to get boring even if you keep dying (which I did on veteran). The last scene at the ferry wheel is spectacularly hard but it never ever gets boring because there's always another way to try and do it! And trying to escape with the two waring factions fighting around you!!! And don't forget the dogs!!! Bring on Call of Duty 5!! Set it in the Falklands!
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