Favourite First Level in a game?

[Skeleben]

I love a good first level. Especially as a wee lad, my idea of 'playing games' was just playing the first levels of all my PS2 games over and over again, not really understanding about save states. So many awesome first levels come to mind, Crash Twinsanity, Rayman 3, Metal Gear Solid 2.

But if I had to give it to one, the GOAT, the opening with the most hype. I gotta give it to City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2, what a FIRE way to start a game. What are some of your favs?

 

[DunkeyKong]

The classic

 

[micheI]

I don't really know if it's considered a level of a sort, but i love almost every Ace Attorney first case. Especially the Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice first case, my favorite part being

Spoiler: Spoilers for the beginning of the case

Phoenix Wright returning as a supporting character and the defendant, for he was an attorney and the main character for the first 3 games and was disbarred for accidentally presenting forged evidence.

 

[Prism_Red]

Saints Row 3, the rest of the game is still fun, but nothing tops the intro for me.

 

[veliki_izdajnik]

Adventures of Batman & Robin on snes, but the rest of the game isn't all that great.

 

[Ikagura]

I love a good first level. Especially as a wee lad, my idea of 'playing games' was just playing the first levels of all my PS2 games over and over again, not really understanding about save states. So many awesome first levels come to mind, Crash Twinsanity, Rayman 3, Metal Gear Solid 2.

But if I had to give it to one, the GOAT, the opening with the most hype. I gotta give it to City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2, what a FIRE way to start a game. What are some of your favs?

Funny how this is a screenshot from a beta build as Sonic didn't have his Soap Shoes there.

While City Escape is iconic I'd argue that imo the controls of the board was not that great and that the rest of the level was quite linear.

I think I have more nostalgia with Emerald Coast simply because of that water

But ultimately my favourite first level would be Ikaruga's first chapter: Ideal

 

[Logi]

X is my favorite character but zero being playable in the intro is huge

 

[MajesticSiN]

If I had to pick one I say Green Hill Zone from the first Sonic game.

 

[Halogen_Lightbulb]

If I can disregard "level 0" which is technically a tutorial level, "Level 1" of Perfect Dark Zero "Nightclub|Stakeout" is my favourite first level, or at least the level that comes to mind when talking about the start of a game. Many many times I attempted it back in the day in co-op when I was a wee lad without much gaming experience, leading to oh so many restarts. I became quite familiar with the outside of that nightclub!

City escape as mentioned in OP is a no brainer as well though

 

[SpcDaicon]

Bob-omb Battlefield will always have a special place in my heart. Maybe is notalgia speaking, but I just think this level is so fun and well designed.

 

[Ícaro Oliveira Santos]

Mumbo's Mountain from Banjo-Kazooie (1998)​

 

[Stingy Perry]

Green Hill Zone from the OG Sonic

 

[Raziya The Seeker]

I see your Green Hills and raise y'all an Emerald Hill Zone ;)

Also, a first stage from Castlevania 3. And Super Mario Bros 2.

 

[DunkeyKong]

Now that I remember it, Metal Slug's first level are just a banger consistently, they're so memorable. Even the Neo Geo Pocket and GBA one

 

[groundbeef]

Favorite first level would have to be Final Fight with Guy or the first level in Strider.

 

[NeonKnights]

Level one from Black Tiger. (Arcade)
that or the SHMUP scene and the intro to Nier: Automata, or any relatively hard intro that must be completed without being able to save the game. Also the first level of RE2 PS1/GCN that you have to complete in order to be allowed to save.

 

[CelesRaev]

Doom M1E1, obviously. :)

 

[Jon-Patrick-S]

I've never even actually fully finished GoldenEye 007 but the first level always stands out in my mind just because the music goes so hard for a level one that isn't even in the actual movie its based on.

 

[Shintoki105]

Emerald Coast from Sonic Adventure

 

[Benjamillion]

The first level in Dynamite Headdy was pretty kewl

 

[SylvanSwordstress]

The Zelda games almost always have fantastic first areas/dungeons. I'm personally partial to the Forest Temple from Twilight Princess - I think it caps off the intro of the game perfectly, and it's so damn atmospheric.

 

[Cu-Neo]

.Hack and SAO, two franchises about teenagers in an deadly online world.

 

[TechnologicalMF]

Ooo I have a few in mind.

And the legendary first level of Metal Gear Rising:

RULESSSSSSSSSS OFFFFFFFFFF NATUREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

 

[T_non]

The first stage from Contra Hard Corps.

Also Palmtree Panic from Sonic CD.

 

[freebie#47]

Blaster Master First Level. Opening shows you blasting off into the world and the music is just great. It is my favorite game.