Best First Levels

[CaptainExplosion]

Zippy6 said:

3D Sonic usually nail the first levels. City Escape, Windmill Isle, Emerald Coast.

More the first world than level but in Kotor I think Taris is my favourite part of the game.

City Escape is just unmatched in terms of 3D Sonic level design.

firebush03 said:

The Great Plateau, The Great Sky Island, Bob-Omb Battlefield, and Cap Kingdom. The first level of Banjo Kazooie also.

There's just such a sombre atmosphere on the Great Plateau. Lots of familiar things from past Zelda, but in a way that's kinda sad, befitting the overarching story of the game.

SvennoJ said:

Doom



Duke Nukem 3D



MGS

Back when Duke Nukem decided to show how a first person shooter is done, and it still holds up.

JackHandy said:

For me, the most iconic is SMB1. But I'll go with DKC. Once you learn the balloon/espresso/rambi/banana combo, you'll never have trouble beating the game again.

DKC never gets old. ^^

curl-6 said:

The frigate Orpheon, Metroid Prime.

From your arrival, it's clear something bad has gone down. The wreckage, the bodies, the wounded and crippled pirates who feebly try to fight you off.

The atmosphere drips with dread (heh) and back in 2001 especially it was a mind blowing statement of the game's commitment to immersion and detail.

Along the way you see Ridley, but crudely put back together with cybernetics after his previous encounter with Samus, making things feel even worse.