Shooters have been around for many, many years. And over those years, the genre has continually evolved. Naturally, the visuals have gotten a lot better, but the level-design has generally improved, also. Originally, you would just move through random corridors, killing the enemies in front of you. These days, there is typically a lot more variety and ingenuity in the levels.
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Plus, the concept of a level has changed a bit, and the words “mission” or “quest” are often used in its place. Regardless of what you call them, though, an enjoyable and compelling level is still a sight to behold. And the following ones are some of the best the genre has ever come up with.
9All Ghillied Up - Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Most of the levels in theCall Of Dutyseries are loud and action-packed. So, the quietness of COD4’s All Ghillied Up helps the mission stand-out.
In it, you sneak around Chernobyl, quietly taking out any adversaries in your way. The main objective is to reach the perfect spot to assassinate your main target, Imran Zakhaev. Both the stealth and sniping in this mission are satisfying and fun. And it’s a welcome break from the traditional Call Of Duty level.
Left 4 Deadis one of themost enjoyable action games to play with friends. As such, the game could put you anywhere, and you’d still have a good time. But the title is even more fun when you’re playing the Dark Carnival level.
As the name suggests, this one is set in an amusement park. It isn’t open to the general public since there are zombies everywhere. However, you can still play a few of the carnival games while you’re fighting for your life.
Not every mission inRed Dead Redemption 2includes plenty of shooting. Yet, the action certainly picks up in Blood Feuds, Ancient And Modern. The villainous protagonist group known as The Van Der Linde gang head to a family manor filled with people you used to call allies.
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You’re looking for retribution as you believe they kidnapped one of your fellow gang member’s kids. You fight your way in and kill every single one of them in a ruthless display. It’s cinematic and memorable.
6Hidden In Plain Sight - Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
The first half ofUncharted 4’sHidden In Plain Sight isn’t shooting-focused, as it’s more about climbing and puzzle-solving. Once you make your escape, though, things get more action-orientated. Alongside your good buddy Sully, you have to get to safety, but there are plenty of enemies around.
This prompts an exhilarating car chase around a town in Madagascar where you’re desperately trying to survive and escape. After that, you get into another chase, but this time you’re doing the chasing. Eventually, you become the prey again. Few levels have ever been as thrilling as this one.
5Lunar Base - Wolfenstein: The New Order
Many games let you visit fancy fictional planets, but not enoughtitles allow you to go to the moon. One game you probably wouldn’t expect to include a moon trip isWolfenstein: The New Ordersince it isn’t a sci-fi title. But this exceptional FPS game has you go there during the Lunar Base chapter.
The game is set in an alternate version of history where Hitler won World War 2. So, you won’t find traces of Neil Armstrong up there. You will find a lunar base filled with Nazis. To take them all out, you will need to adapt to a lack of gravity and make use of some unique weaponry. The level is very different from what you see in a traditional shooter, which is why it deserves praise.
4Intestinal Fortitude - Gears Of War 2
TheGears Of Warseries is filled with levels that contain unique gimmicks. For instance, Intestinal Fortitude takes place inside a giant worm. This is because you and your entire squad are eaten by the city-sinking monster.
When you’re in this predicament, your natural instinct is to find a way out as quickly as possible. But the Gears gang also want to kill the worm from the inside because it’s a threat to humanity. While you attempt to take it out, you must avoid getting crushed, digested, or burnt by acid. So, there are many unique dangers in this creative and enjoyable mission.
3Super Gore Nest - Doom Eternal
Beyond having a fantastic name, Super Gore Nest is an iconic level because it provides everything you expect of aDoommission. It doesn’t mess around too much with storytelling. All you need to know going in is that you must bring down this large demon nest.
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To accomplish your objective, you have to wade through all the monsters in your path with your deep arsenal of weapons. And there is a lot of them, too, as this is about as action-packed a level can be.
2The Big Score - Grand Theft Auto 5
ThroughtGrand Theft Auto 5, youdo all sorts of heists. The biggest and most impressive of them takes place in The Big Score. In this one, the trio of protagonists come up with a well-laid-out plan to rob the Union Depository bank of all their gold.
You get to select what method you use to get the money, as you may attempt to be either subtle or obvious. Both methods play out completely differently and task you with doing different things. However, both options lead to exciting and explosive missions.
1The Covenant - Halo 3
As a series,Halohas a litany of excellent levels. The best, though, is from Halo 3, and it’s called The Covenant. This mission is incredibly long, but it’s so good that you barely notice while playing. Plus, its length is justified as the level has a lot of narrative importance since it’s the last stand of the antagonist group known as The Covenant.
What a last stand it is, too, as you participate in multiple large battles with them on your way to the true villain, the Prophet Of Truth. These skirmishes are varied. One minute you’re fighting your way up a hill, while the next, you’re riding around in a vehicle. It’s wild, chaotic and brings everything people love about Halo into a single mission.
