Games that are 90% level design

[jfrost]

Super Meat Boy.

Meat Boy is an ideal type Mario. You only run and jump, and you have extreme control over those actions. That's really all it has going for it. There's really no one playing for the Pokémon parody cutscene.

I'm debating on getting this on Steam or 360...

Steam would be better. The only reason to get the 360 version is to play with Tim from Braid, who has a very unique ability.

On Steam, you get Super Meat World (the hub world for user-created levels and new levels from Team Meat itself), level editor and more characters. The 360 version has The Internets instead of the Super Meat World and no level editor, it's much more limited. If you care, there are also many more achievements on the Steam version (although a lot of them are no-death run achievements, so they're fairly difficult, to say the least).

[Weekend_Warrior]

Bioshock, for sure.

Let's be honest. The city of Rapture was by far the most interesting part of this game. It really didn't bring anything new to the table beyond the amazing scenery and atmosphere - except for maybe adding a little more emphasis on the story in first-person shooter games?

But 90% of what makes the game great is definitely the impressive level design(s).

[BRIK]

The Half Life series.
It mixes shooting with a puzzle element making the 'cool down periods.' To do this requires a lot of in-depth level design.

[Jrecee]

Lode runner.

Sonic.

[Xeogred]

That picture made my day Jrecee. Utterly destroyed the thread, but what the hell! And seriously I love checking out full maps like that.

I've been thinking someone should make an indie game that's basically just Mega Man inspired levels that are endless and randomized. Kind of like the infinite stages thing in MM9, but just... more complex and better, maybe even with bosses. I'd probably get addicted to this game 24/7.

That or a Mario / Sonic level randomizer would be insane as well. Why haven't real developers done this for XBLA games or something? Damn this stuff would be amazing.

[coastercrazy10]

I agree with this. Every level is cleverly crafted so that you can only narrowly get through it and it forces you to do some damn near impossible maneuvers. It's also designed to make JT angry. MAKE JT WANT TO SMASH!!!

Smash?

I love the Klonoa games for their level design. The bonus items are placed in ways to help you see the best path throughout the level. This allows you to play the game at a fast pace and execute tricky maneuvers involving jumps and rebounding off walls. The level design encourages a sense of flow in how you speed through the levels. This is what I wish the Sonic games did better. You can't really go the high speeds in Sonic until you've memorized the levels.

And a hearty +1 to this. LOVED the Klonoa games.

I'd go with N+ if I had one vote. Risk v. Reward at its finest.

-Ben

[samsonlonghair]