30 Days of Video Games

[Conando]

This is tough, and I'm not even sure it's my favorite so much as the one that popped into my head first when I saw this question.

The Moon/X-Naut Fortress from Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

What really made this area great for me was that well, you were on the freakin' moon. A bunch of bob-ombs shoved you into a giant cannon and then shot you out of it...to the moon. When you actually get into the X-Naut base, you're greated by awesome music and floors of things to find before you finally make it to the end and see the fate of poor TEC, who manages to regain part of himself just to see Mario.

(Also, shit, I missed Day 5.)

Edited January 21, 2012 by Hero Of Fate

[Cobalt_Bolt]

Day 6 and we're on favorite level/stage/area. This one is quite difficult as there are so many stages that I've gone through and played that it's hard to find one out of all the games I've played. However there is one that is recent that stands out among all the areas/levels/stages I've played in.

Constantnople: Assassin's Creed Revelations.

This one stands out the most in my mind of all the areas/stages/levels because of three things. The first thing that makes it stand out is the different types of archetecture from the different cultures in this city. The second is that the attention to detail in the structures that it can be almost mistaken for the real thing. Finally it's the atmosphere of the area because it's constantly changing from tense and oppressive one minute to calm and peaceful the next. This is an area that just sucks you in and makes you want to explore every nook and cranny or just wander around and perch on top of the highest point watching the time go by.

[Tornado]

Hollywood Holocaust - Duke Nukem 3D

That right there was what proved to me more than anything how awesome this whole "3D" thing was. The sense of scale was amazing compared to anything else I had seen. Today, I know, pfft. Who cares? But back then? That shit was insane.

I mean, there were levels in Doom that were technically larger, but they always felt artificial. Like videogame levels, to be frank. But Hollywood Holocaust was the first one level I played that had a sense of purpose, like it could actually exist. It was laid out in a way that could be understood in a first playthrough, but had tons of stuff squirreled away if you went looking for it. And the secrets! I mean, I've played this game off and on for 15 years now and there was still stuff in that video that I'd never seen before watching it.

Honorable Mention:

Atlantica - Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit

I know this series is on the backburner these days, but back when it was on top of the world it was pretty much untouchable in the genre. And track design like this one was part of the reason. The track, while ostensibly a high speed one, takes tons of time to master in order to get the fastest speed. For example, that awesome aqueduct section early on in the lap? If you take the right route rather than the road itself, you can take the corner at the end of it almost flat out because of the angle of approach. Those dockyard sections? If you drove on them rather than the road (which was more difficult because of the bumps), you could take both chicanes without lifting off the throttle, basically allowing you to drive the entire final third of the lap with your foot on the gas pedal.

Even better, the obvious shortcuts like the one taken in the video on both laps? Always slower than the actual normal route once you mastered the hairpin. That was a track (and a game) that truly rewarded practice.

Oh, and 'DEM FUCKING GUITAR LICKS.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Tornado

[T-Min]

Day 6: Favorite Area From a Video Game

Speed Highway from Sonic Adventure AND Sonic Generations.

Sonic Adventure had some intensely memorable stages, and Speed Highway was quite possibly one of the most memorable. Everything about it creates an epic atmosphere that is unrivaled by any other stage in the game. The music is awesome and intense. You're going to break through glass windows, run alongside buildings and, in the most iconic moment of the game, down a building at a 90-degree angle while avoiding obstacles Unleashed-style. And true to its name, it has a lot of speed. Not to mention, it is incredibly nostalgiagasmic. :'D

When Speed Highway was reimagined for Sonic Generations (referring to the Modern Sonic version), it felt like nothing was lost at all. In fact, I'd say that this version is even better in some areas. It's even faster and the Goin' Down section has some actual challenge to it. However, the inconsistent framerate during this section did annoy me a little bit. As for the Classic version of the level, well, I'd actually say it's my favorite Classic Sonic level. It's just incredibly well-designed.

So yeah. Speed Highway is awesomeness incarnate.

Edited January 21, 2012 by The T-Man

[Conando]

I figure I'll also talk about my favorite "arena" for the hell of it too.

Rainbow Road (All Mario Kart titles)

Ah yes, Rainbow Road. For some people it causes great joy, for other people it causes endless rage. Each Rainbow Road course in every Mario Kart title is the pinnacle of the GP mode. Typically the longest and most challenging, they let you know that this place is awesome with the visuals and music. You're racing in friggin' space on a Rainbow, and that's awesome. My first experience with Rainbow Road was the Mario Kart 64 variation, it wasn't as challenging as all the other in the series but, it was damn long and glorious with all its neon signs of the characters. The newest Rainbow Road is awesome, adding more of the space motif and having part of the course be a moon and the rings of Saturn.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Hero Of Fate

[Semi-colon e]

1. THE FACT THAT IT HAS SNOW, WHICH IS INSTANTLY AWESOME.

2. THE FACT THAT IT CHANGES UP GAMEPLAY WITH SLIPPERY SLOPES AND SNOWBOARDS.

3. CHECK

THAT

I

YOU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa11tMeCqNE LINK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzxHzfvA1sI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABdHQDZ-j54 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm3oGbx8uwo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGkFbgKWSzg

*falls over*

You're missing a couple

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgAtWoPfBgQ&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bodMQNKOFRc&fmt=18

two of the big reasons why Phendrana Drifts is so good.

Anyway yeah forgot how amazing Speed Highway was too, especially in Generations. The shortcuts and whatnot are fucking insane, especially the one where you fall off a rocket and have to jump back onto it again, it's so hard but so satisfying to pull off.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Semi-colon e

[Badnik Mechanic]

Day 6: Favourite level

Whilst I want to grab everyone and shout The Saboteur! I suspect one of the days is going to be favourite ending so I'll leave that for another time.

Well continuing my attempts to do something which isn't Sonic and might encourage people to try out games that are not along the popular choice of the board I suspect my award would have to go to....

Demons Souls: Boletarian Palace

Whilst not technically the first level in the game it is the first level which shows you exactly what you're in for.

Boletarian Palace is the home of the King of Boletaria who attempted to harness the power of the demons but instead it consumed him, is he a victim? Or a villain? Decide that after you survive the palace, if you can. The moment you begin this stage for the first time, your cocky nature takes over... "pft slave soldiers!? I can take you all on!" A few swings of your sword later... you rage as you find yourself dead and the game becomes slightly harder as punishment for your arrogance.

Your first lesson has been a harsh one... tread carefully... when you progress throughout the stage enemies lay in wait, jumping out at you swinging their swords as they howl souless screams, the soldiers of the king now mindless patrol the castle and attack on sight... then theres the dreaded red eye night...

Heed thy warnings... "Beginners should try this area later"

Else ye shall return to the nexus...

The castle itself is the things nightmares are made of, cold, dark and unforgiving, one mistake and enemies will pounce on you and tear you to shreads, make it to that switch, flick it to open a door, great! Your shortcut is open... but can you make it out alive?

After battling what feels like an army it sits waiting for you... the Red Dragon.

It taunts you, as it sits there... come get this super purple shield... it's really good... it'll protect you... BUT NOT FROM ME! As it unleashes flaming death upon you... did the charred remains of soldiers before you not act as a warning? Those blackened bodies not a clue as to what it would do to you?

Then as you descend the tower, the blobs of slime... the first sign that something supernatural is at work here, they throw spears at you like they were toys, they rip apart your flesh and armour like candy until you make it... to the room where the demon sits.

Your sword is useless against it! It's shielded on all sides, your magic spells won't last long, and to top it off, now it's starting to multiply, hunting you throughout the room, it's slowly advancing, spears flying at your like the blitz. And around the room are bloodstains, touch them if thou dares, least ye see the fate of those who came before you, brave men and women who perished at the same monster you now face.

Yet somehow... you did it... you defeated it... the demon was slain... you take it's soul and regain your body...

Well done... But...

The True Demons Souls Starts here...

You think Boletarian Palace is over? Think again... beyond that fog gate rests the Tower Knight..

Boletarian Palace is not over from this point, with the difficulty increasing with each area and new enemies and challenges appearing in the first section, forget your hope, that won't save you, even if you kill Executioner Miralda, in death she shall return and hunt you down...

And did I mention that you may now attract the attention of Black Phantoms? Human players that seek your soul?

So... think you can handle it?

"I'm in trouble! Please recommend this message!"

[Sami]

Day 6 – Your Favorite Level From A Video Game

Yeah, yeah. The city from Ultimate Spider-Man isn't *technically* a level. But hey, it's a part of the game where you do things, right? I LOVE the overworld in this game. Since gameplay is split between Spider-Man and Venom, you get the option to explore New York as both of them. This creates a nice contrast, with Spider-Man being very nimble and quick, speedily running along buildings and swinging at breakneck speeds, and Venom being very bulky and powerful, using gargantuan leaps to scale buildings and fight off enemies.

There's so much to do here; you can do combat tours, time trials, races with The Human Torch, fight off the army, and more. Swinging around just felt so fluid and quick that I could boot up the game anytime and play for a good half hour without getting bored. Even after beating the game over six times.

[FlameKoetsu]

Hmm, favorite area/level in a game. I'd have to pick Blizzard Castle from Billy Hatcher & The Giant Egg

First I have to say that one of my main reasons for liking this level is the music.Another thing is the atmosphere, the snow effects and snowflake windmills were a nice touch to it. As for gameplay, the best thing I remember is a mission where you had to roll and make the head of a snowman, which was really fun with Billy Hatcher's gameplay. The fact that this stage was remade and put into Sega AllStars Racing was even better.

Edited January 21, 2012 by FlameKoetsu

[Vertekins]

Favourite level/area in a videogame.

Man this is a toughie :/ But if I were to for the stage that resonated most with me in all the videogames I've played, the honor must go to;

Quartz Quadrant Zone (Sonic CD)

What a stage, just what a stage. A combination of gorgeous music (EU/JP version), imaginative design and unique gimmicks such as conveyer belts, spiralling tubes, platforms unique in their movements and stalactites. It's also designed in such a way that it's look a pleasant, straightforward break between Tidal Tempest's slow underwater gameplay and Wacky orkbench's bouncy floor and ice vent hell.

This stage, next to Tidal Tempest and Palmtree Panic was a level that best epitomized how awful technology can be in regards to the environment when it is used unwisely. Out of all the stages in CD, Quartz Quadrant's Bad Future is probably the most awful-looking with a sickly neon yellow colour to it and the sky ablaze presumably due to vast pollution. The Good Future provides such a contrast, with what appears to be an underground metropolis thriving in the background with preservation of pretty blue gem deposits set in a mountainous region where the sky is clear and blue.

The boss is also incredibly original. You don't actually physically strike it. Instead, you wear it away and burn Eggman's tootsies by running on a conveyer belt so that the friction does a number on the boss, all whilst avoiding Eggman's only method of attack; The spikes on one side and a sphere that splits into four mines upon hitting the conveyer belt.

The design aspects and color scheme of the Past time period of this stage struck such a chord with me that it inspired me to design my first and only fancharacter based on it.

[Match]

FAVORITE STAGE/LOCATION IN A GAME

CONSTRUCTION YARD from Toy Story 2.

This level is from my favorite licensed game, Toy Story 2. This level features not-yet dried cement, a shed with the floor covered in goo, and a giant building, still being built. The giant building is easily the centerpiece of the stage. Each of the stages in this game usually have a gigantic structure that you need to climb, usually with a boss at the top. This stage's boss is a drill that you need a special powerup for. How do you get the powerup? You have to find Mr. Potato Head's eye. Where's his eye? I don't know, play the game. The level isn't the biggest, but the building is so chock-fucking-full of platforming goodness. The boss is actually kind of scary (but it has nothing on Slime Time, the most frightening part of my childhood) and a challenge, because if you fall, that's it. You have to climb all the way back up (unless you got the shortcut set up) and you'll land next to Slinky in cement. One thing I love about this stage is climbing that thing and just jumping off to see where I can land. It's pretty awesome.

Even though I like Dexter's Island from Ape Escape a little better, I already mentioned that one and wanted to be different. NOTICE ME

[Tornado]

That Toy Story game had some really nicely designed levels.

[Your Vest Friend]

For this particular day, I choose;

Casino Park/Bingo Highway [sonic Heroes]

I've spent literally thousands of hours in here, often doing nothing but looking around and taking a pleasant stroll. Which always resulted in Charmy being seized by a Gold Octopus robot thing, for Bingo Highway. What can I say? I like the bright garish lights at carnivals and fairgrounds, I like the fun theme-park elements that always come with Sonic casino stages, and I really like it when they take simple, childish concepts and turn them into part of the environment. These two levels combine all three things and it's a treat to run through.

Speed Slider [Knuckles Chaotix]

This has a lot of things that the above have, albeit in a slightly less surreal presentation (in terns of level design obviously, the art style of KC is weird in general). It's also the fastest stage in the game, taking real advantage of the speed aspect that the Sonic franchise is so famous for. I also get to climb, fly and jump all over it, so it's fun abusing the skills in here. It also has the fantastic 'Speed of Sound' as its level music, lovely!

Boiler Room Doom [Crash Twinsanity]

Quite opposite in tone to my usual picks; where they're bright and cheery, BRD is dulled and suppressing. They're clean and shiny, this is a sewer/boiler system suitable for the monsters and mad scientists that attend Madam Amberly's Private Academy of Evil. BRD isn't like the other levels in Twinsanity, really. The others rely heavily on the enemies and creatures Crash encounters to provide a challenge. BRD has only a few ordinary rats and bugs scattered sparsely down there, the challenge is all in the creepily designed platforming/puzzling environment, where Crash spends long stretches simply rolling Cortex along in the pipes as that weird as hell level music plays, it sounds like a funeral march in fact. The whole level, with it's acid pits, blank-eyed fauna and spouts of fire, all seems rather like a sewer version of Hell, and the last part only ramps that up.

I could discuss said last bit, but that would require a different daily topic.

Edited January 21, 2012 by VEDJ-F

[Diz]

Day 6 - Favorite Level / Area / Stage in a Video Game.

Meteor

It took some time thinking about this one. I probably cannot think of many games at this instant, but I always loved the Meteor stage from Star Fox, more than the other stages. Why Meteor? There is just something about it that I cannot put my paw on. Once the music starts zooming in, your arwing starts zooming through the stage real fast, feels much faster than on any other stage, and you immediately have to avoid intercepting enemies, sticks pointing up from the ground and huge chunks of rocks. You really have to watch where you are flying, as you are going really fast and there are a lot of objects. You literally have to enter hardcore slalom mode at one part!

I always loved the stage's music in particular, and the horizon is very nice to look at, too. While the stage is kind of intensive, it also is quite chill to play through (when you become used to it and do not crash into every single object there is!) The boss at the end of the stage is also quite the disco spider. It dances around like the world's fastest spider, and one thing which I always found both cool and very fitting to this stage is how when you break off all its legs, all that is left of it is just a flying saucer, becoming 50% less dangerous, yet 50% cooler! The first few times I did the boss and saw the remaining flying saucer, I just could not stop laughing at it when it tried attacking me as if it was a Magicarp using Splash!

Meteor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=076agQ8aeuo

*Listens to the track and fills up nostalgia meter*

[Lady Soniko]

Day 6 - Favourite Video Game Stage/s

i couldn't decide on one, because its damn hard ok?

Rooftop Run - Sonic Unleashed DAY/ Sonic Generations Act1/2

Generations

Ever since Unleashed 360/PS3 i've LOVED this level and when i seen it making a return in Sonic Generations i was super excited to see it was set in some sort of festival with confetti and balloons and general awesome feeling about it, sad to say i wasn't impressed by the level design and how it kept slowing down the pace of the action within the town area's (hell the quickstep section was also broken to a certain degree) and SEGA spammed those stupid swinging axe things but one of the missions made up for it, the one where you literally board all the way through the stage, it was such a rush and paired with the music it was probably one of the greatest experiences i had inside a Sonic game! the fact they added the undergrounds and wine cellars to the classic stage was also a treat, but it probably was the scenery that makes me love the re-make so much.

Unleashed

i spammed the SHIT out of this level, the music kept me coming back for more, the speed in this level was unreal, right from the start of the stage BOOST, DRIFT, DRIFT, DRIFT, JUMP, HIT THE RAIL, JUMP THROUGH RAINBOW RING, GRIND, SWITCH RAIL, SWITCH RAIL" the pattern for this stage is Burned in my head, so much so i can pull off a flawless run of the level without a slow down at all, it was also a lengthy stage which is rare in a Sonic game now a days, the way you could boost chain was perfect, like when you just finish the quick step section, and are launched from the booster, as you boost through the air you feel as if you won't make it to the other side with your boost still on, but you then hit a rail and spiral in burst of sparks as you maintain your speed and i couldn't help but smile, because the level has such an awesome sense of consistency between maintaining speed and platforming, which the Generations Re-make imo ruined... and of course who didn't love the long stretch of enemy smashing at the end?

Stardust Speedway - Sonic CD

i can't really explain what i love about this level, i think its way it look when you travel through time, and of course the iconic metal sonic race and the music.

Green Forest/White Jungle - Sonic Adventure 2/ Sonic Adventure 2 Battle

same reasons as Rooftop Run, the thrill you get from racing through this stage is immense, and even if the bomb timer is very forgiving... (you get like, 10 minutes and it only takes 3 to complete the stage at a steady pace) it doesn't take away from the experience of rushing through a lush forest/jungle, personally its the music that makes this stage the Rock rush for Sonic as he desperately runs to find his friends, or the cool Rhythmic beat of the Dark Shadow as he rushes to save Rouge and the Chaos Emeralds.

Evil Foundry/ Pirate Storm - Sonic and the Secret Rings

jumping from pirate ships to sea wreckage, and surviving a tidal wave at the end makes Pirate Storm another adrenaline filled level that keeps you on your toes, being surrounded by a violent raging sea and tiny platforms being your only means of survival, i think this will have been Sonic's worst nightmare yet.

and Evil Foundry?

WHO'S GONNA ROCK THE PLACE? PLACE? PLACE!

nuff said.

and now for something NONE Sonic, prepare to hate!

Rusty Bucket Bay - Banjo Kazooie

This stage... where to start.

if you've played a Banjo Game you'll know what i mean about the Original release of this stage on the N64...

The stage takes place in a polluted Port outside the factories of Grunty's Industries (a level you later play in the sequel Banjo Tooie!) there are a few small shacks around the port, and 2 cranes but the icing on the cake is the Rusty Bucket itself, a massive oil tanker that is docked in the middle of the stage, it may seem like nothing at first but don't take it lightly, if you fall in the Water in the stage you start to use air bubbles twice as fast as normal water due to the harbour's water being polluted and oily, even if your on the surface of the water it'll continue to drain your air supply down, so you must, MUST escape quickly, which is a pain because there are several puzzle pieces (Jiggys) IN the water, one being with a dolphin you have to rescue that is trapped under the Rusty Bucket's Anchor, you have to swim into the anchor bay under the ship to release it, and now for the most notorious jiggy of them all... The Engine Room.

you have to scale the ship, and go down the smoke stack to reach the engine room, a room full of moving pistons and fans, with VERY narrow and slippery foothold with the inevitable bottomless pit below you, you find and hit the 2 fan switches which stop the propellers on the BACK OF THE SHIP, you must then flee from the Engine room, climb the smoke stack, rush to the back of the boat, dive into the water and SWIM between the propellers to acquire one of the hardest Jiggy's in the game BEFORE the timer runs out.

truly my favourite level in the entire game

[Sean]

Day 6: Most favorite video game level

Every time I replay Banjo-Kazooie, I always look forward to Mad Monster Mansion. This is the coolest and most explorable world in the entire game. The mansion itself is kick-ass, and there are multiple rooms to access from the outside. But it doesn't stop there! Just behind it is a church that is positively huge, which has its own hidden room and killer graveyard. There is also a hedge maze to the side, which http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ley9k94GoZU. The cellar is one of my favorite parts, and the various smaller areas off to the side are nice touches. I don't think I could love B-K quite as much if it was missing this particular world; it's still as awe-inspiring today as it was back then.

I also want to point out that this world's entrance area is fucking sweet and Mumbo's abode to the left of the entrance is like the best thing ever.

[buba]

Day 6 - Favorite video game level

Seaside Hill (Both Heroes and Generations)

I usually spend hours in this stage exploring all the paths, doing glitches, speed running, etc.

I love the design of the stage since it gives me a nostalogic feeling from the classic Sonic games, the ruins, whales, water gimmicks and the music.

It is also one of my most memorable stages from Sonic games.

Edited January 22, 2012 by Tmsp

[TheGerkuman]

Missed another one didn't I... Oh well.

Favourite Level. I don't really have one, but I do think there is one level that just comes together seamlessly in all aspects.

The most impressive thing about Mushroom Hill is that it feels both like a first level and a continuation. Which makes sense given its position in S3&K. The music is catchy, there's plenty of space to run (as in runner-up Hydrocity) but also some areas that need finness. It's certainly not hold right to win. I also really love the changing of the seasons in Act 2. It's a simple way to change everything, but it works brilliantly. And it has bouncy mushrooms. and fun gadgets! I just love this stage to bits.

[KHCast]

DAY 5:FAVORITE LEVEL/AREA

I'm only gonna post three levels.

Crisis city(Generations)

This level was just a huge wow moment for me. They were able to make this level so vibrant and dangerous! The tornado,The destroyed buildings. Wow, Considering how not sonic the original felt this felt like s sonic level that fit. It was one of the biggest wows for me.

TWILIGHT TOWN

Now this level was just so amazing in com and kh2.It had the calm music that plays and just the look and design of the level with the sunset. it was breathtaking. I was in aww and in a soothing mood. I seriously wouldn't mind living here. I want to see this level in the kingdom hearts series more!

seaside hill(generations)

From the visuals to the level design of this stage i just loved it. Yes it's always used in something but in generations it really stood out to me! I could freely go around areas, feel like sonic and just gaze at it's beauty! There literally isn't a flaw in this level to me. It's just perfect. I don't blame sega for wanting to use this stage(to a extent).

Some other levels/areas i like:Rooftop run, Good egg galaxy, Hyrule,almost every area in skyward sword, pictochat(brawl),Space paranoids(kh2)

Edited January 22, 2012 by the hedgehogs boost

[SuperStingray]

Aw piss. I already used my favorite level explaination in my favorite game explaination. Welp, guess I'll go for plan B.

Sanctuary Fortress from Metroid Prime 2.

While I still prefer Metroid Prime 1 for its overall level design, story and atmophere, I still hold Metroid Prime 2 in very high esteem and Sanctuary Fortress is one of the main reasons for that. In fact, the only reasons I really don't think Metroid Prime 2 is equal in quality is because it's structure is too formulaic (Hub, level, boss, temple, hub, level, boss, temple, etc.), they couldn't find a way to balance the beam weapons without using an ammo count, and the fetch quests are much more forced. It's actually stronger in certain regards though, including graphical detail, boss fights and horror value. And this all shines in Sanctuary Fortress. For starters, it's fuckin' beautiful. That picture I posted is a pretty poor representation of the ambiance- in action, it's mind blowing. Not just because it looks awesome on its own, but because after wandering around in dreary wastelands and bogs, it was like a defibrillator that completely revived the game's liveliness and gave its tone a face heel turn. A Metroid environment has never felt so open and cheery. It's colorful, bright, high and vast. Despite the plight and endangerment of the Luminoth, it's easy to feel optomistic for them here; like the future is welcoming them. Information oozes through the walls, robots are advanced, subserviant and generally peaceful (at least the scan visor claims they were before the Ing reprogrammed them.) My favorite parts of this environment are on the outside of the fortress; when you look out, you see nothing but a sea of lights and information beaming upward until the horizon. Of course, that perfect image is flipped when you go to... the "other side." In the Dark Aether equivelant, the Ing Hive, this technology is either destroyed or corrupted. It's difficult to stay in Dark Aether at all without getting the chills, but it's particularly disturbing to see such a clean and sterile environment infected in such a way.

But on top of its abstract, artificial appearence, Sanctuary Fortress hosts some really good enemies and puzzles- some of the best in the series. I'm particularly a fan of Rezbits, weird ball-like creatures that can corrupt your visor and completely screw up your HUD until you reboot your suit. And the puzzles are really fun; Sanctuary Fortress makes insane use of morph ball puzzles, including two puzzle boss fights where you are in morph ball form the entire fight. Other cool puzzles include unlocking the Screw Attack vault and a 4D labyrinth where you warp back and forth between Aether and Dark Aether. There's also Quadraxis, but I want to save him if there's a favorite boss fight category.

Again, this is really more of an elaborated special mention. While I believe it deserves the attention, Phendrana Drifts is my real choice, but if you want that explaination, go see my Day 2 post.

Other Special Mentions: Whomp's Fortress (Super Mario 64), City Escape (Sonic Adventure 2), Everything in the entire game (Super Monkey Ball 1/2/Deluxe), Egg Rocket (Sonic Advance), The Escape (Portal), Ravenholm (Half-Life 2), 2fort (Team Fortress 2)

Edited January 22, 2012 by SuperStingray

[JezMM]

It's funny to see so much love for Sanctuary Fortress. I got so confused on that bit I gave up and didn't play the game again for a couple of years. Did finish it in the end and glad I did but damn, dunno what I missed.

[SuperStingray]

It's funny to see so much love for Sanctuary Fortress. I got so confused on that bit I gave up and didn't play the game again for a couple of years. Did finish it in the end and glad I did but damn, dunno what I missed.

MP2 is actually one of only a few games I ever put on backburner because I got stuck on the Emporer Ing. Eventually figured it out though. Worst thing I can say for Sanc Fort is that it contains a somewhat infamous game breaking glitch if you don't activate all of the locks in the Research room before saving. It wasn't fixed in the Trilogy version, oddly enough.

[Lucky]

DAY #6 - FAVOURITE AREA

Dobuita (Shenmue)

There were a lot of things I could have picked for this, but none of them had as much as an impact on me as heading into Dobuita for the first time.

Shenmue is still the most immersive experience I've ever came across, and considering just how much time you spend in Dobuita in the first game, it's an area I came to know very well... and what an area it is. Even just walking around has such an incredible atmosphere to it, and it just draws you all the more into Ryo's world. So much so that by the time you reach the end of the game, you've gotten so invested that it's genuinely quite sad to move on to elsewhere, because you really do feel like you've gotten to know all the characters walking around lives and it's kind of like leaving home.

This scene right here is still one of the most incredible things:

And before you do leave, there's just so many things to do that it'd be a shame not to check them out... my personal favourite being the arcade...

For a while I spent more time in here playing Hang-On and Space Harrier than I did Shenmue, and it was just another one of those things that draws you in all the more... because you really can do pretty much anything you want and just about everything is is able to be interacted with in some way or another, and while Shenmue II had an equally amazing world to explore, I'd still rather wander around Dobuita any time. Because if I ever want a reminder of why Shenmue is one of my favourite games of all time, I just need to spend a few minutes looking around to remember just what an experience it is.

Runners-up were Arkham City, Click Clock Wood (Banjo-Kazooie), Spagonia, and Rainbow Road.

[Alex2Beta]

Favorite level? I got more then that!

The Aperture Science from late 40's to 80's (Portal 2)

This thing is a masterpiece! It's not some kind of garbage edition of the lab...But an abandoned piece of history in the game. It tells a tale of how things where hyped up and excited, to simply showing how everything then gone downhill and desperate measures where already in process. It shows how the company changed from time to time, from chambers that where made in a basic way and nothing too advanced and also tells a tale of the man in charge of the whole place who will burn your house down unless you revisit this gem NAO!

Aquatic Mines (Sonic Adventure 2)

Once Adventure 2's Hunting levels came..We realized that the radar was not as it used to be and the levels where quite bigger (especially Meteor Heard/Mad Space), but even then..Even then, this level was the one I would be able to enjoy--Heck, not even mind looking around aimlessly for hours! But why?

Because of the atmosphere it gives, abandoned flooded mines, a relaxing tune..Well to me.

The water level gimmick was also interesting, it might be annoying..But when you look at it, you get to explore with it, giving the illusion at higher levels that you explored everything, but maybe you didn't.

There could be more than this, but I'm a bit sleepy at the moment to care too much, at least I listed two Levels!

Now to be honest.. I Have plenty of favo--Ah whatever..Instead I'll just list honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions!

Skyscraper Scamper Night (Sonic Unleashed 360/PS3): The jazzy music, I can't resist!

The Sewer (Skies of Arcadia DC): Everything was awesome, except the boss at the end.

Human Gate (Melty Blood: Act Cadenza PC): The music fit the mood well if it was a story involved fight.

Mount Crenel (The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap GBA): it gave a pretty nice vibe and it was fun climbing it.

Sandover Village (Jack & Dexter PS2): A nice start in the game, feels very alive and well...Nostalgia *smacked*.

Benten (Jet Set Radio DC): The playlist is as always awesome and fits, and it looks nice (dem lights).

Edited January 22, 2012 by Alex2beta

[Badnik Mechanic]

I think I should mention this as it slipped my mind until I looked at my PS3 trophy list and spotted Yakuza 4... Since today is favourite level/stage/arena... I think I should mention this...

Yakuza 4: The Super VIP Massage.

There is a mini game in Yakuza 4 which involves you having a massage from a rather attractive young lady, you have to rapidly tap one of two buttons to keep the meter as high as possible without it going over the limit in order to get points...

And well... this is what it looks like...

Now gradually as you go up in rank... the massage gets more and more... hmmm sexual... she starts to take off her clothes and the dialogue is a lot more suggestive.

But thats the gag! You have to concentrate so much on the meter, that you can't actually sit back and... enjoy it? So you miss the whole show, only getting small glances, otherwise you'll instantly fail and the mini game will end...

Oh Sega you tease...

However... if you get to the maximum rank... you eventually unlock the Super VIP minigame... and... well... THIS HAPPENS!

(sadly that is the best video I can find).

Edited January 22, 2012 by Hogfather