15 Best Video Game Levels of 2019 | Game Rant
One of the biggest accomplishments for a game developer is to make a compelling game world that players just never want to leave. Sometimes those worlds are open and free to explore, sometimes they're divided into missions to challenge one at a time, but no matter what, as long as they're fun to play, gamers will flock to any game.
Nailing down the best areas, levels, and missions in the video games that released in 2019 is no easy feat. However, only one level can truly rise up from each of this years best titles to come out as one of the best of the year.
While there will be plenty of honorable mentions to come among with some of the choices that made it into the list, there were a couple accomplishments that at least deserved a small shout-out. For one, from a game that didn't release this year, Splatoon 2's most recent Shifty Station during Splatfest was easily one of the best in the history of the event, thanks mostly to Pearl affecting gameplay during matches. Another great level from a much more okay game would be Cathedral of the Sacred Blood from Code Vein that has some of the most beautiful architecture and intricate design in the entire game, even if it comes after the worst hinted puzzle in the game.
With that out of the way, it's about time to start looking at some of the levels that went above and beyond in 2019.
The kickoff to the new Shadowkeep campaign that launched in October of this year started the expansion off with a bang. The mission A Mysterious Disturbance was the very first time that Destiny 2 brought players back to the moon ever since the series left it behind back in the original Destiny.
Not only did A Mysterious Disturbance set off the epic loot hunt that is Shadowkeep, it also saw the return of one of the best enemies from the original game. When the Nightmare of Crota appears at the end of the long fight, health bar completely unaffected by the player's puny bullets, or grenades, or rockets, it was like a terrifying return to a darker time in Destiny's history.
It seems as though it's impossible to make a list of amazing achievements in gaming without mentioning 2019's Game of the Year, Sekiro. And of all the locales within From Software's latest title, Ashina Castle is easily the best, not just because it's one of the first areas that sets the pace of the game, but because of the way it changes throughout the game.
As the player progresses through the game, this castle becomes somewhat of a hub to come speak to Lord Kuro, and every time they return, something has always changed to make traversal even more of a challenge. Additionally, some of the best boss fights in the game are challenged here, including Owl and Genichiro.
Control is filled with confusing puzzles that utilize the surreal aesthetic and convoluted nature of the Oldest House to challenge players in an interesting and unique way. Of all the areas in Control, none quite make use of the nature of the strange world or offers a better puzzle than the Ashtray Maze.
In addition to housing one of the most challenging puzzles in Control, the Ashtray Maze also boasts a classic characteristic of Metroidvania titles, where progress is blocked until a specific item or ability is found. So, players still banging their heads against the seemingly impossible puzzle may want to seek out some advice from a friendly janitor.
Borderlands 3 is the first main series game to take the Vault Hunters off Pandora for once and explore a number of different planets and new locales. Plenty of worlds stand out for their own reasons, like Nekrotafeyo and Eden-6, but none quite match up with the homeworld of everyone's favorite (and least favorite) Siren, Athenas.
Athenas is one of few locations that is limited to being a single hallway as opposed to an open map with multiple branching paths, which in most games would be a hindrance. What makes the hallway that is Athenas work so well for Borderlands 3 is that the never ending onslaught of combat and some of the most intnese encounters in the game as Maliwan sends out Captain Traunt and his Heavies to really test the player's skill.
The opposite of Athenas in Borderlands 3, The Caribbean in Kingdom Hearts 3 is the most open world in the game, with dozens of islands to explore and treasures to discover. As with many of the games in this list, there are some honorable mentions in the way of the Toy Story themed Toy Box and Big Hero Six's San Fransokyo.
Both the ship combat and the full range of exploration is something entirely new to Kingdom Hearts, and while it wasn't implemented perfectly, The Caribbean is a huge step forward for the series. On top of the mechanical improvements in this world, the new graphics engine from Kingdom Hearts 3 makes sailing over the open seas one of the most beautiful sights in the history of the series.
Taking place at the end of Act 2, Dirtier Little Secrets stands out even against some of the best areas within Gears 5's epic storyline. One massive standout in this mission is the Cryo Cannon, a gigantic weapon that gives players the ability to freeze swarms of enemies to death, which comes in handy for the boss fight that caps of the whole second Act.
Even without being able to play around with the Cryo Cannon, the final boss of the mission, The Matriarch, makes for an incredible cap on this section of the game. The massive creature stands as an impressive test of the player's skill, with a touch of creativity thanks to the Cryo Cannon.
The 19th mission in Devil May Cry 5 is less of a single mission and more of an extended boss fight. However, this one on one slugfest with one of the fan favorite villains of the series, Virgil, is almost epic enough to end the game on, but DMC 5 just keeps chugging on, delivering epic fight after epic fight, all the way through.
This isn't the first time that players have had to face off against Dante's brother Virgil in the series, as he was also the primary antagonist of the majority of DMC 3. However, this new fight is one of the best duels in the series, pushing the new game's updated combat to its limit as Virgil darts around the arena and delivers crushing blows to unprepared players.
The new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has been praised since its release for bringing the Call of Duty franchise back where it belongs and away from the grappling hooking, wall running, flashy gadget using attempt at copying Titanfall 2. One of the best examples of this in the came pain comes from the mission Going Dark, where players have to travel the three separate locations under the cover of night, using night-vision goggles to see through the dark.
At its core, Going Dark is a stealth mission, and one of the most intense to come out of gaming in 2019. A similar mission in Modern Warfare continues to use the night-vision mechanic, and even then, the creeping movement through the pitch black world always manages to raise the hairs on the back of the player's neck.
The Guiding Lands is almost like a reward for beating the campaign of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, offering players a chance to hunt on extended expeditions in a landscape that covers every previous environment found in the game. The strange, multi-environmental nature of the Guiding Lands has also made it the perfect place to introduce monsters like Rajang into Iceborne.
Additionally, as Iceborne has continued to receive Free Title Updates, the Guiding Lands has been slowly growing, adding a volcanic region, as well as a Tundra that came along with the Stygian Zinogre. This new land also checks off another item on the list for veteran Monster Hunter fans, by adding more challenging monsters and dropping Guiding Lands exclusive loot.
One of the longer songs within Sayonara Wild Hearts, Inside takes the player on a crazy journey as they have a rhythmic battle against a blond haired girl with a killer scythe. Although, one of the most interesting parts of this mission comes from the inverted pipe that is formed via the blond girl's vomit after the player first gets a hit on her.
As is the case with every level of the indie darling that is Sayonara Wild Hearts, the visuals of Inside are absolutely stunning, sending a barrage of lights and sound at the players. This level is the peak of the Neon Heartbeat Dream that is Sayonara Wild Hearts.
It's hard to nail down exactly which level in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the best, thanks to each world's intricate design and stunning visuals. However, when considering everything that happens on every world, only Kashyyyk could really stand above the rest, with its beautiful forests, large collection of creatures, and of course the battle against one of the best villains this year, the Ninth Sister.
While some might instinctively jump to Dathomir as the prime example of Fallen Order at its best, Kashyyyk simply has too much to offer. On top of what's already been listed above, the entire experience on Kashyyyk is next level from piloting an AT-AT to meeting the Shyyyo.
This is sure to be the most controversial pick of the bunch, especially with how amazing the initial RCPD Station is for the first several hours of the game, depending on how good or bad the player is at puzzles. However, the Orphanage masterfully constructs a terrifying experience as the player has to control a frightened Sherry Birkin.
What really makes the Orphanage stand out against the rest of Resident Evil 2 is the way that it is able to maximize on the horror for the majority of the level without relying on zombies or Mr. X like the rest of the game does. Eventually the undead do show up, but Chief Irons himself is every bit as haunting as the previous enemies when controlling the tiny Sherry.
Luigi's Mansion 3 as a whole is gem of a game, with some of the best mechanics in the series and offering the best multiplayer yet. However, of all the rooms in the grand hotel that Luigi finds himself trapped in, few come close to Paranormal Productions, a movie set that has a unique twist on the included boss fight.
One of the highlights of Paranormal Productions is the Godzilla-like boss fight, where players can choose to help the boss destroy the set, instead of fighting him head on. It makes this fight a very different experience that could only be found in a game with someone like Luigi at the helm.
There are some wonderful locales in Death Stranding, ranging from hills that look suspiciously more like Scotland than America, all the way to the frozen hills surrounding Mountain Knot City. However, the Tar Belt that blocks off the final destination of Sam's cross country journey, Edge Knot City, is easily the most impressive section of the game.
Armed with only a few hints from e-mails, players have to intentionally be captured by BTs before traversing an ever shifting collection of buildings lifting out of and falling back into the tar. This is made all the more daunting of a task by the multiple Giant BT Whales swimming around in the tar and threatening to crush Sam at any moment.
Pokemon Sword and Shield went above and beyond in 2019, releasing the first main console release in franchise history and making ample use of that additional system power. The Wild Area is the very first "open world" area in any Pokemon game, letting players do things like move the camera, and enter multiplayer raids.
It was likely not an easy decision to include such an open are into Pokemon Sword and Shield, as it radically defies the previous formula established over generations of Pokemon titles. Maybe, the Wild Area is the first step in a whole new era of Pokemon with an openly explorable world filled with Pokemon to fight and catch.
Post a Comment