Best Level

[Bijo]

I was hastily cogitating which game has good level design and which level had great design (objectively and subjectively). It includes originality, level's gameplay, and so forth. Think, think, think, BOOM: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time -- The Water Temple.

Three elevations of water that can be switched, the use of heavy boots to reach underwater locations, the use of normal boots to relieve said weight, good atmosphere, good sound, a good mini boss, a good big boss, etcetera.

What is the best level design in a game according to you?

[Husar]

Operation Flashpoint.

[drone]

Q3DM17, AKA The Longest Yard.

Refresher vid

[Whacker]

Welps... If I had to pick for a console, the most recent thing that comes to mind is the overall architecture in Metroid Prime, the first one. That game was just so well done and put together.

For most hated level, I'd have to say the Super Mario World (SNES) star map 2? I think it was... The one where you have to keep eating the balloons to float through the entire level. HATE. Pure, raw, unabating, hatred.

[Kekvit Irae]

Pretty much all the levels on Thief: The Dark Project.
Return to the Cathedral and Down in the Bonehorde are most memorable.

[Fragony]

Pretty much all the levels on Thief: The Dark Project.
Return to the Cathedral and Down in the Bonehorde are most memorable.

TRUTH

My favorite is assasins though, I like the missions where you have to travel to your destination, really missed that in part deux. Only life at the party lives up to the first.

[doc_bean]

The Haunted mansion from Vampire: Bloodlines. Most of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (the library especially stands out).

Some of the most frustrating design was imo found in God of War, tedious 'platforming' sections don't belong in an action game. Most of the game is okay though.

[Veho Nex]

ummm operation overdog or something from ace combat 4

[Decker]

I was hastily cogitating which game has good level design and which level had great design (objectively and subjectively). It includes originality, level's gameplay, and so forth. Think, think, think, BOOM: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time -- The Water Temple.

Three elevations of water that can be switched, the use of heavy boots to reach underwater locations, the use of normal boots to relieve said weight, good atmosphere, good sound, a good mini boss, a good big boss, etcetera.

What is the best level design in a game according to you?

I feel like busting out the 64(wiping the dust off) and playing the game now.

I'd say that whole game was very well made and each level added extra challenges and made you use all that you learned previously to get by it, and not to mention the great story line. And I'd agree with you that that was heckuva level to play and one great feeling of satisfaction to beat it. I can't tell ya how many hours me, my bro, and our friend played that level trying to beat it. And not to mention all those wasted hours fishing lol.

[Stig]

Just a pity that the stand-alone expansion is very buggy and keeps crashing. Though I don't remember it having some exceptionally great levels.

I agree, but luckely a unofficial patch fixes that (it also turns the names back ... they were changed in the Dutch version), as well as the font type.
But yeah, that campaign sucked compared to the original one.

[frogbeastegg]

The final level of Mysteries of the Sith, the expansion pack for Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. Both JK and MotS were packed full of outstanding level design of a calibre rare both then and now. This level was the pinnacle.

The level was an ancient Sith temple on Dantooine. It was massive, simply massive, dark and eerie, stuffed full of tricky puzzles and places to explore as you worked your way through to the core and onto the central lift platform. Once there you lowered into the dark until you could see nothing but the tiny stone circle you stood on, your force powers draining away as a fallen Jedi you knew only too well taunted you. Then flash! The lift docked, the light returned and your former mentor was there, slicing you to bits. Any weapon but your lightsabre he ripped from your hand; this was a Jedi to Jedi battle and would be fought with a Jedi’s unique tools. It was the best boss battle I've encountered, and had the most unique victory condition.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You had to sheathe your lightsabre and wait for him to come to kill you. At which point a cutscene kicked in and he couldn't go through with it. He was completely invulnerable, and dying in combat did not count as success on your part. Realising how to win that battle gave me such a sense of revelation I was so stunned I couldn't move. It took me quite a few goes before it clicked; then and now it's rare for a Star Wars game to require you to act like a true Jedi.

The prior level was damned good too. Making your way through a hostile swamp in the midst of a thunder storm towards the hulking great temple where your mentor had mysteriously vanished …