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Iconic "second levels" in games?
- Thread starter Mekanos
- Start date
Chemical Plant Zone is the number one level two.
I always remember that being the first level. Whenever someone reminds me of Emerald Coast, I get an "Oh yeah... right." moment.
The Alchemy Lab is where you get a sense for how Symphony of the Night is going to play out. The Castle Entrance is fairly linear, but the Alchemy Lab has all sorts of weird branches, an elevator, several breakable walls, and the game's first proper boss fight, sub-weapon, and equipment. I'm also a big fan of the music.
This thread made me realize that I'm not the only person who thinks Chemical Plant Zone is one of the GOAT levels in games
I always loved the elysium alps in SSX. Amazing second level and the verticality is something else.
Metal Slug 2/X had a great second level. After the first mission re-introduces players to traditional metal slug action with the Nazi guys, stage two shifts gears entirely into an ancient tomb. Its filled with mummies, mummy dogs, and bats that can actually turn the player into a mummy if they hit you with certain projectiles. It has a lot of Indiana Jones style booby traps, but also lots of hidden treasures. There's not one but TWO lamps with genies that will pop up and give the player a lot of coins if you time your jumps right. Its just a really cool level, unlike anything the series had done to this point, and foreshadows the big alien stuff that starts to take over in the second half(and also points the way forward for all the wackiness to come in MS3).
Gotta be honest. Chemical Plant was the first stage that came to my mind.
That's a good one. Even though you can choose your level, everyone choose Chill Penguin after the intro level. If you didn't you were trying to be a Mr. fancy pants.
That's a good one. Even though you can choose your level, everyone choose Chill Penguin after the intro level. If you didn't you were trying to be a Mr. fancy pants.
I would actually say tons of games' best levels are the second level. I mean. I can think of probably 20 'iconic' second levels before first levels?
This probably doesn't count but to add to the discussion, World 2 of SMB3 is the most iconic World in the game, imo.
This probably doesn't count but to add to the discussion, World 2 of SMB3 is the most iconic World in the game, imo.
Flying Battery is am awesome zone with some of the best Sonic music. That's S&K zone 2.
Came to post this. Beating this on 00 Agent and going for the speed to get the cheat code was epic.
I actually thought of Hydrocity first, but Chemical Plant is a good choice.
I actually find it funny how many people's first thoughts going into this topic happened to be Sonic stages.
I actually find it funny how many people's first thoughts going into this topic happened to be Sonic stages.
No, for me.
For England, James?
the reason why most of you say chemical plant from sonic is because you were stuck there for weeks or months And got to really appreciate every pixel lol
Touhou - Embodiment of Scarlet Devil's stage 2 does more aesthetically than mechanically, but gives a fast paced, manic feeling.
The boss fight established the Ice Fairy, Cirno, as one of the most iconic characters in this decades long indie franchise.
The boss fight established the Ice Fairy, Cirno, as one of the most iconic characters in this decades long indie franchise.
Came for this. Such a magical experience after the cramped corridors of the first level.
The first time I ever played Sonic 2 was a demo in a store and it was on Chemical Plant Zone. Instantly fell in love with the game. Once I got a Genesis with it included, I never got tired of playing this level over and over for its multifaceted design, as well as one of the best tunes in gaming history. Definitely the epitome of this topic.
Don't forget Flying Battery, it's also one of the most memorable levels in Sonic's history (specially for the music)
"Jungle Rollers" from the original Crash Bandicoot. It was the level featured in all demos for the game and was seared into my brain before I ever touched the full game.
I GADDAMN HATE HIGH ROAD TIME TRIAL. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
Thank bleep for the ropes.
:P
I'll also be stretching the definition, to include a candidate I haven't seen mentioned yet. spoilers for an mmo from 2006, if anyone cares.
in the mmo guild wars (1), in the original propechies campaign, you begin the game through an extended tutorial section in an idyllic fantasy kingdom setting. everything is beautiful, autumnal, and generally gorgeous. as you progress the story and finish the tutorial chain, you experience a short apocalyptic time-skip in which that entire world you experienced is utterly destroyed, but you keep playing in the exact same area, in its barren post-downfall ruins. everything you knew is ash, and it's a very sobering and bold choice for a "second level", especially in an mmo. it led to a culture of people creating characters to eternally live in the tutorial zone.
lush is pre-searing, apocalyptic is post-searing. I thought it a fantastic choice in 2006 to destroy the fantasy ideal right as the players were growing comfortable
in the mmo guild wars (1), in the original propechies campaign, you begin the game through an extended tutorial section in an idyllic fantasy kingdom setting. everything is beautiful, autumnal, and generally gorgeous. as you progress the story and finish the tutorial chain, you experience a short apocalyptic time-skip in which that entire world you experienced is utterly destroyed, but you keep playing in the exact same area, in its barren post-downfall ruins. everything you knew is ash, and it's a very sobering and bold choice for a "second level", especially in an mmo. it led to a culture of people creating characters to eternally live in the tutorial zone.
lush is pre-searing, apocalyptic is post-searing. I thought it a fantastic choice in 2006 to destroy the fantasy ideal right as the players were growing comfortable
For the Dark Souls comments technically the second level if Asylum is level is this
firelink is technically a level as it also leads to the next levels has its own fights also
firelink is technically a level as it also leads to the next levels has its own fights also