Your favourite level theme clich

[vertigo]

I'll stick this in here in a thinly veiled attempt to get recommendations for good old platform games (particularly ones with great ice levels) to play, from games last gen (PS2/DC/GC/XB/GBA) and backwards, what are your...

1) Favourite ice level
2) Favourite fire level
3) Favourite water level
4) Favourite nature-themed level
5) Favourite mechanical/futuristic level
6) Favourite underground/slimey level
7) Favourite space level

And why?

[jnm23]

in answer to 1)
I think the best ice world has to be cool cool mountain on Mario 64
Super ghouls and ghosts level 5 (ice)
Strider level 2 (ice)
Fire and ice (amiga)
Way Cool (super mario world)

In answer to 2)
Lava lava land (Mario 64 again)

In answer to 3)
Jolly Roger Bay (Mario 64)
Sunken Ghost Ship (super mario world)

In answer to 5)
Scrap yard zone in Sonic 1

[honeymustard]

Off the top of my head:

1) Favourite ice level
Ice Cap Zone from Sonic 3, though I really liked the ones in New Super Mario Bros.

2) Favourite fire level
Probably the lava level in Mario Galaxy, had a very nice atmosphere.

3) Favourite water level
Probably the one in Sunshine that had a very large tower type thing, with shells and the like. Mario World had some nice ones.

4) Favourite nature-themed level
No idea. Maybe Angel Island Zone from Sonic 3?

5) Favourite mechanical/futuristic level
Metropolis Zone from Sonic 2, probably the hardest and most tedious Sonic level.

6) Favourite underground/slimey level
Mystic Cave Zone from Sonic 2! Or Hazy Maze Cave from Mario 64.

7) Favourite space level
The Moon from Duck Tales.

Looks like most answers are going to be Mario or Sonic. Hard to argue though, fantastic level design, great colours, perfect music.

[BigDeadFreak]

1) I'd have to say Snowman's Land from Mario 64. It was such an infuriatingly tough level (for me anyway) and it also made me feel genuinely cold.

2) I know this is't really what you're after but the bit in Fantasy World Dizzy where the dragon breathes fire at you amazed me at the time.

3) Labyrinth Zone from Sonic 1. It is such an unbelievably tense level even today.

4) The Tallon Overworld from Metroid Prime is one of the most atmospheric places I've ever been to whilst playing a computer game. It really feels like standing in a meadow after a thunderstorm.

5) The Missile Base in Rick Dangerous wasn't a particularly amazing level but I just wanted to include this, seemingly forgotten, game in the list somewhere. There's a flash version of it BTW.

6) Pretty much the whole of the two Oddworld games for the PS1. Never got far on either of them but I bought the second a while ago and it's on my to-do list. Also the second stage of Ranger X for the Megadrive gets a special mention for the level design.

7) After the sheer terror that is Labyrinth Zone, Star Light Zone is such a beautiful escape to tranquility. The amazing ambient and the getle pace belie the challenging nature of the level.

[Widegoat]

Favourite ice level
I don't like ice levels - they confuse me with their altered physics and cunning entrapment - but the one from "Donkey Kong Country" was pretty good - I can't remember what it was called though.

Favourite fire level
"Final Fight", the lift level with Rolento as the boss. Seriously tricky from the get go.

Favourite water level
Mario 64 the sunken ship. Loved the way the music layered up the further you went into the water.

Favourite nature-themed level
Not sure if this really counts, but the beach level from "Streets of Rage" is great - you've got all the elements of a storm in there as effects - the wind and rain hammering down, the sea crashing onto the sand - then out of nowhere - The Ultimate Warrior!

Favourite mechanical/futuristic level
"Turrican 2" - the "factory" level - brilliant - easy to get lost in the first few times you play it.

Favourite underground/slimey level
Bit odd perhaps - but I just loved / love the first green pipe you can go down on "Super Mario Brothers" on the NES. The first time I discovered that was true bit of gaming magic - not to mention the warp options discovered soon after.

Favourite space level
Although the whole game is broadly set in space - I really like the end section of "Space Quest 2 Vohaul's Revenge" when Roger is on the spacestation and has to escape using the escape pod without being kissed by the alien!