History Awesome / VideoGameLevelsNToS

* ''VideoGame/{{Repton}} 3'', originally released for the UsefulNotes/BBCMicro and now converted for the PC, has a few levels that despite their difficulty are highly regarded amongst fans for their skilful design. These include Oceans H, Africa G, Baby G and Work H. Amongst the PC-only levels, Medieval Level 7 also qualifies.

* Nintendo in ''Super Monkey Ball 2'': the final Challenge Mode level is a rotating UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, down to the little cracks, and you're surrounded by the "G" as seen in the console startup screen. Tough as nails but what a great way to finish Master Extra.

[[folder:StarCraft series]]

* The third stage of the downloadable ''VideoGame/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'' game probably qualifies as the ScrappyLevel the first time you do it, since it's nothing but wave after wave of {{Mooks}} and EliteMooks, has only one poorly-stocked shop, and ends with a triple boss battle. But once you've levelled up and unlocked more moves, it's the best stage to revisit and just pound bad guys to a pulp, as well as grind for money and experience.

* World 2-3 in the original ''Super Mario Bros.'' comes right after the first water level, and perhaps the best strategy was to run like hell across the bridges and avoid the Cheep-Cheeps that jumped at you.

** [[VideoGame/SuperMario64 Throwback]] [[NostalgiaLevel Galaxy]]. An [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic epic remix of the stage music]] from Mario 64, and the Whomp King even says his lines from 64 word-for-word!

** The Tank levels and Train levels are some of the most unique castle stages since Super Mario Bros 3.

** World Star is full of these, with a level where you chase after a flying goal pole, levels inspired by Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D Land, a level where you use the Mega Mushroom to destroy everything in your path, and an incredibly large and open-ended level where you search for keys.

** Green Energy Plant is a NostalgiaLevel that does the impressive feat of working for everyone. The older fans will get a kick out of the level design reminiscing ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' while the newer fans have the 3D mechanic from ''Super Paper Mario'' returning.

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** Dead Line: ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}''. Not only does the level mess with gravity, instead of keeping with the honored tradition of "doomsday" music, this level substitutes in SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic. Said music is so awesome, in fact, that you'll find that the menu screen uses a remix of it.

** [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Sonic Rush Adventure's]] levels are similar, but with much more level specific gimmicks and quirky themes. Riding dolphins in Pirates Island as giant anchors try to crush you? The minecarts and stunning visuals of Coral Cave? Being shot out of a cannon and then chased by another pirate ship in Haunted Ship? The giant mushrooms and a massive t-rex robot for the FIRST BOSS in Plant Kingdom? Or the steampunk Machine Labyrinth? And then you have Blizzard Peaks with the snowboarding as is standard in ice levels but done really well, and Sky Babylon with you rushing up 60 degree hills as the platforms crumble very quickly behind you, before you spiral up another road. Awesome.
** Chaos Angel in Advance 3. The last level in the game, and while it's not a factory or a base, it's very dramatic with OminousLatinChanting music, extremely tough platforming, and takes place on high up ruins in the clouds, where weird skies and broken up planet fragments can be seen in the background.

** Hydrocity, also from Sonic 3. It's an underwater ruins level, so if you've played the previous games, you're expecting a hard, long slog, right? You'd be wrong. It's a blitzingly fast wild water ride with Sonic blazing across the surface of the water, bouncing everywhere with the bubble shield, rolling down hills at ludicrous speed, getting caught in currents that fling you miles into the air, and AMAZING music.
** Lava Reef Zone from Sonic & Knuckles, for much the same reason as the other two, as well as serving as the beginning of the climax to the story. Seeing the Death Egg stuck in the ceiling of the massive cavern and watching as the entire lava-filled cave suddenly turns to crystal is breathtaking, and the songs for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg0N77nI_OI both]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCf2uCeqpM8 acts]] go along with it perfectly.
** Launch Base is pretty bright considering it's the last level in the Sonic 3 portion of the game, but it builds up to the construction site where the Death Egg is being repaired. Act 2 also features a gorgeous lake setting and bright skies, where one minute you're high in the upper areas of the site, and the next, you're underwater on winding slopes deep in the complex.

* Silver City, Planet Boldan in ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando''. Groups of enemies that force you to move about and take cover, lots of sections combining the Gravity Boots and enemies, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUpPLXQyz0k this awesome song]] going on throughout.

[[folder:Nights Into Dreams]]

[[folder:Super Smash Brothers]]
* [[VideoGame/FZero Big Blue]] from ''Melee'' takes place on a rapidly-moving racetrack with nothing to stand on except the F-Zero racers and Captain Falcon's ship. Knocking fighters onto the road and seeing them zip off the screen is very satisfying.
* [[VideoGame/{{Earthbound}} Magicant]] in ''3DS'' is filled to the brim with call-backs to ''Earthbound'' and ''Mother'', with a tear in the sky showing scenes from the original game, the Dungeon Man occasionally walking underneath the stage, and objects like the Sky Runner appearing as platforms. The stage also features the Flying Men, who will fight alongside whoever touches them. Seeing such a large amount of love given to a relatively small game series is almost enough to make one cry. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHzYs162HSk The music tracks]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwrPLtEfwuk don't skimp out on the awesomeness, either.]]
* The Paper Mario stage in ''3DS'', which takes place in three different locations from the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series. Namely, Hither Thither Hill and Bowser's Castle from ''Sticker Star'', and the S. S. Flavion from ''The Thousand-Year Door''.

** ''VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon'' has Fireworks Factory. Brilliant level-design, [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic great music]], epic side-quests (though Agent 9's section is [[ThatOneLevel one of the most annoying parts of the game]]) and [[GratuitousNinja ninjas]]. Fireworks Factory is especially memorable because of ''Greta.'' BadassAdorable doesn't even ''begin'' to cover her. She looks like a cute kid right until she faces the hordes of ninjas...[[InverseNinjaLaw and starts Worfing the hell out of each and every single one.]]

[[folder:Ori and The Blind Forest]]

* ''VideoGame/PacManWorld 2'' gave us Blade Mountain. When you're not going for OneHundredPercentCompletion on it, it goes from being one of the ThatOneLevel to one of the most fun in the game. You ice skate down a mountain at high speeds with menacing music to back you up. It gets even better when you go soaring through the air off of ramps, especially during the extremely long jump at the end of the level.

** And then, once you have completed the Kanto gyms, you meet Professor Oak in Pallet Town, where he makes arrangements for you to visit Mount Silver, the highest-level area in the game. It's a long corridor of a level with tons of high-level pokemon, but eventually you emerge at the summit, a well-lit open passage (with snow and hail in the remakes). And there, standing right at the end, is Trainer Red. All he says to you is a simple "..." [[BestBossEver And then it's on.]]

** The first is Po Town, the base of Team Skull. The level is [[SurprisinglyCreepyMoment incredibly bleak]], especially for a Pokemon game, with corresponding music, the city is devastated and looks like something from a ''Franchise/SilentHill'' game, and it's surrounded by high wall and subjected to eternal rain to boot. This makes all fights there incredibly atmospheric, and it really feels like you're breaking into the HQ of villainous team of this game. Then you infiltrate old, at time fancy, now desolated villa, where you get to fight Guzma, and afterwards you can even sit in his chair, while one of Team Skull members confuses you with him.

[[folder:Skies Of Arcadia]]

* The Casino/Pinball levels in most ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' games.

** Though these kinds of levels go from happy to [[ScrappyLevel scrappy]] should you get three Robotniks on one of the slot machines. And the boss of Casino Night Zone of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic 2]] can be [[ThatOneBoss awful]], specially with Knuckles (unless you know to cling to one wall so you're level with the boss's hull and glide from one side to the other; you go right through him, hitting him on the way).

** Chemical Plant Zone Act 1 lets you pick between the high speed of ''Sonic 2'' Act 1 or the challenge of Act 2 while Act 2 lets you bounce on some chemicals while Eggman challenge you to ''Puyo Puyo'' at the end of the Act.

** Despite the length being brutal, you really get the feel that exploring Flying Battery Zone feels like you are epically foiling Eggman’s plans. Plus, you get to ride at full speed around the ''outside'' of the airship!
** Press Garden Zone has perhaps one of the beautiful looking zones throughout the entire game, particularly Act 2. This level also feels like it’s a wonderful tribute to another game from Sega, ''Franchise/Shinobi''

** Hydrocity Zone has some unique elements not seen in a Sonic game like the boats in Act 1. For those wondering if it’s just as fast as its original incarnation, it is and more.

** The atmosphere of Oil Ocean really captures the dreadness of Eggman’s excessively use of machinery.

* Because sometimes, it helps to be reminded that the world really is worth saving: The Valley of Avalar from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro: Dawn of the Dragon.'' In addition to just being plain old ''[[SceneryPorn gorgeous]],'' it's soothing and fun to just fly around and find all the nooks and crannies hiding goodies. Jumping and climbing your way to the top of the ''big'' waterfall and looking out over the valley just makes you feel ''good'' inside.
* The original ''Franchise/SpyroTheDragon'' has Tree Tops; it's ThatOneLevel to many people but once you figure out ''how'' to complete it, it becomes extremely fun to play through.
** Spyro 3 has Fireworks Factory. Brilliant level-design, [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic great music]], epic side-quests (though Agent 9's section is [[ThatOneLevel one of the most annoying parts of the game]]) and [[GratuitousNinja ninjas]]. Fireworks Factory is especially memorable because of ''Greta.'' BadassAdorable doesn't eben ''begin'' to cover her. She looks like a cute kid right until she faces the hordes of ninjas...[[InverseNinjaLaw and starts Worfing the hell out of each and every single one.]]
* More or less the entire Magic Crafters' World from the first Spyro game. The levels start to become truly challenging without being too obnoxious, the music and scenery is all beautiful, and awesome game mechanics like supercharging and fairy kisses make their first appearances. Probably the game's "sweet spot" in terms of difficulty and reward.
* Metropolis. This is the last listed regular level in the second game for good reason; not only are the enemies amazing, it contains the first miniboss in the series and a combo powerup with Superflame and Superflight. You then use it to fire down two waves of sheep saucers.

** Also the Tundran Bonus Level with the Heavy Tanks and the badass Missile Vet with Sputnik on his back