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Posted by Baker [69.47.162.203] on 2012/05/13 05:41:59

If one looks back at successful games that have an "impact", the first level or 2 are the basis of which and entire game can be judged. Some times this is just the intro.
Cases in point: Duke Nukem start up or Unreal. Half-Life's start up plus the first level. Or even Donkey Kong's intro.
How can you put an exclamation point in a first level? Some sense of purpose, mystery or awe?
Maybe rephrased: how to make an impression and do it quickly?

#1 posted by Text_Fish [94.169.119.204] on 2012/05/13 10:48:03
My favourite "first level" of any FPS would have to be in the Mysteries of the Sith expansion pack for Jedi Knight. There was a good feeling of panic as storm troopers started coming out of the goddamn walls.
I found the first level of Unreal pretty boring to be honest -- it was visually beautiful for its time so I probably did gasp a bit when I jumped out of the ship and saw that lush waterfall in the distance, but it failed to make any solid gameplay statement and that feeling stayed with me throughout.
#2 posted by bear [79.102.163.131] on 2012/05/13 11:05:46
I remember reading that having the first level be a sunny joyful one was good for sales, might have been related to platformers though.
The objective is to quickly draw the player into the world with it's narrative and set a clear direction forward.
Some common tricks:
Drama
Action
Impressive (wow! factor)
Introducing "good" and "evil"
I guess I told you nothing new since the hard part is how to achieve those.
Examples:
The darkness - part half-life interactive tour with lots of action and drama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvM...
Zelda - A link to the past:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w34...
Super Metroid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7o...
Baker In Comprehensible Post Shocker!
#3 posted by Shambler [86.25.165.253] on 2012/05/13 11:26:22
Good topic.
Mostly make it look cool (Quake's skill map, relatively speaking), introduce you to the game's themes and atmosphere (Quake 2), have some sort of hook (Half-Life) and have some very natural introduction to your situation (Unreal).
I quite like levels that get you going and moving in the game in a relatively gentle atmosphere.
Yes
#4 posted by Tronyn [24.79.203.208] on 2012/05/13 15:56:28
Quake's was awesome by being a 3d map you explore instead of picking a dp graphic in the menu: this set a new standard for immersion.
DN3d's was alright at the time I guess, impressive relative to doom I suppose (it's outdoor, shit seems to be happening) but really nothing special. Unreal's first map seemed lame other than the Skaarj cutscene, but the second map, walking out on the alien planet, I remember being very impressed by that.
I think the sense of danger, wonder, immersion, and ominous forces, tend to be foremost in getting the player interested, and you can definitely hit all of these in the first minute of an opening map if you do it well. Good topic.
Meant 2d Graphic, As In DN3d Or Doom
#5 posted by Tronyn [24.79.203.208] on 2012/05/13 15:57:20
#6 posted by wakey [62.47.151.180] on 2012/05/13 16:21:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fp...
From 6:00 he's talking about the first stage of megaman x and how's it done there.
God, That Guy's Annoying
#7 posted by megaman [79.227.185.188] on 2012/05/14 07:51:25
but he has some points.
@Shambler
#8 posted by Baker [24.106.228.201] on 2012/05/16 16:00:05
I both kinda thought that there would be more replies (some of the people here are obsessively out-of-this-world thinkers) and kinda thought there might be less replies (not an often thought about topic).
It is probably somewhat obvious I'm trying to determine that intangible factor that makes all the difference.
I have a notebook where I write all my thoughts and this page at the moment --- for anyone who is interested --- goes like this (for what I am planning):
The first level must BE RATHER EASY, rather cool introducing some "no way" factors and ... well ... I believe in populism so this means I think Duke Nukem had something to say about this ... has to have some comedy bullying enemies in a manly fashion.
This does not work for a full game, but you can give someone a comically awesome weapon on the first level and come up with an excuse to take it away by level 3.
I think most games are judged by the first couple of levels. I think fun "overload" with a bit of "awe" is the right combination.
I'm going to be meditating on some of the info in this thread. Historical precedent is important.
#9 posted by ZealousQuakeFan [82.16.91.127] on 2012/05/16 18:35:39
In the case of an action game, I want to be in action as quickly as possible, getting a feel for the game and learning the ropes (and hopefully having fun). I do think Half-Life 2 has a cool intro but whenever I want to replay the game it bores me to tears.
Actually don't have too much of a problem with most of a game being a flash back if it means we can get some nice action going early on THEN you can do your story bollocks.
For me other genres can have more freedom, but action games should stick to the point.
I've Tried To
#10 posted by ijed [200.73.66.2] on 2012/05/16 19:09:32
Write a replay to this three times now..
Anyway, what that Sequelitis video is saying is that a tutorial should be your introduction to the game, or a new feature.
Not a 'press X to duck', but a more intuitive, fun and less lazily implemented version. Same as annoying guy says basically.
Portal is pretty much 90% tutorial for example.
Another example is Metroid Prime 2 - it gives you all the stuff and teaches you how to use it, but then your suit short cicuits and you have to play the game to get it back. Maybe a bit coercive though.
As for it making an impact... lots of games have very well done expositions at the start. Like the HL1 train ride. Typically this is how its done. Something blows up or whatever and people go 'wow the game must be awesome'.
I don't like doing it that way, preferring interactive stuff.
Like the first time you use the Painkiller melee weapon. Or the first time a Pinky daemon charges at you and you DBS it in the face.
Or even in the Quake start map when you fall in the lava for the very first time trying to jump to Hard skill.
All of these are teaching you something in a very memorable way, but without you noticing that you're being taught.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I prefer putting effort into the overall game quality rather than a set piece.
Films will always do non-interactive better than games, so why play to your game's weakness.
Not that games can't do set pieces well, it's just more difficult to make anything the player will remember years later as being epic.
Nowadays First Levels Are Almost Always Tutorial Maps
#11 posted by negke [31.18.185.232] on 2012/05/16 19:16:29
DNF and Prototype have the "powerful weapon trial". The first level starts where Duke3D ended, the boss fight in the stadium, and you have the Devastatator and, I believe, the rocket launcher.
The first level in Prototype is set near the end of the game's timeline (chaos in the streets, character is fully evolved), and serves as a brief introduction of the main powers/weapons. After that it goes to the beginning of the story where the player character is still weak and has yet to unlock all the stuff.
#12 posted by ZealousQuakeFan [82.16.91.127] on 2012/05/16 22:16:11
Giving the player a single powerful weapon/ability or a few is okay, it's a little treat and gives you a peek at something to come. But when you have almost everything then lose it all, it's basically informing you that you're going to feel shit for the next five hours as you get all the abilities back.
'Enjoying moving around with that grappling hook? Well fuck you buddy play for another three hours and we'll see'.
You could argue that it makes you appreciate the abilities more, but if you have a genuinely interesting set of weapons or features I'll appreciate them via there not being in other games anyway :)
I Kind Of Agree...
#13 posted by metlslime [159.153.4.50] on 2012/05/16 22:31:15
If the game isn't fun without the Super Awesome Weapon, it's probably bad that the player doesn't get it again for the next 10 hours of gameplay.
Give Em The RL Right Away
#14 posted by ijed [200.73.66.2] on 2012/05/16 22:45:14
But not many rockets.
Even better; give them the Thunderbolt, but no cells at all and have them fight Enforcers mixed with Shamblers.
#15 posted by Spirit [80.171.20.151] on 2012/05/16 23:12:35
I think this really depends on the game. Is it a game like Quake, is it a train simulation like HL2, is it a whack-the-badger like CoD:MW?
#16 posted by Text_Fish [94.169.119.204] on 2012/05/17 00:03:39
There's a crucial design flaw in any game which relies on "powerful weapons" to provide the fun. Melee/lower powered weapons are all too often considered a necessary evil rather than an interesting design prospect ... why SHOULDN'T less powerful weapons be just as fun as the big boys?
I guess the less powerful weapons just have to have a different kind of reward -- like more bombastic death animations when you do get a kill, or bigger adrenaline boosts or something.
But I drunkenly digress.
I still think LucasArts' Jedi Knight games are a shining light in Level Design history. Not so much when Raven took them over and made them too light-sabery, but they still have their moments.
Agree
#17 posted by ijed [190.22.40.12] on 2012/05/17 03:49:05
The good thing about a big gun should be that it ups the ante. It's harder to use but has more potential for destruction.
It should change the gameplay - all weapons should, the more the better.
If they're just better than the normal guns then your game is broke.
Heh
#18 posted by Tronyn [24.79.203.208] on 2012/05/17 05:09:02
given that the chainsaw and the wand are both actually useful I've been more and more tempted to make the player rely on them and say "no ammo, so what?" that said there's been backlash so I won't go too far. but, I don't like the idea of axe/blaster as last resort only. why does the gameplay owe you ammo?
Weapons
#19 posted by quakis [86.22.126.142] on 2012/05/17 09:03:47
I do love it when the starting weapon can still be useful late into the game. The pistols in Duke, Unreal and the shotgun in Quake are good examples. I also still use the regular shotgun in Doom2 even if I have a SSG.
#20 posted by Willem [174.109.109.171] on 2012/05/17 13:19:05
The Doom shotguns are a good example since you have a choice there. The regular one is less powerful BUT it can still be your weapon of choice since it's only 1 shell per shot. In a room full of weaker dudes, it's a better choice than the double.
That's Why
#21 posted by ijed [200.73.66.2] on 2012/05/17 14:15:29
We changed them in RMQ.
id1 SG is basically a pistol using the same ammo as your SSG, meaning it's doubly useless.
#22 posted by Spirit [80.171.98.130] on 2012/05/17 14:41:16
I use the normal shotgun a lot in Quake. It is very handy if you need a accurate, longer distance weapon. Or if you are shooting eg enforcers (3 pellets). I strongly disagree that it is useless.
#23 posted by Willem [199.255.40.36] on 2012/05/17 15:34:44
I do that as well. It's basically a sniper rifle.
#24 posted by ZealousQuakeFan [82.16.80.21] on 2012/05/17 15:46:45
Agree totally with spirit, the problem is it has a whimpy sound.
Same balance applies to the Nailgun/Super Nailgun, although in that case both being pin-point accurate means the super nailgun might as well just completely replace the normal one.
In fact I quite like the idea of weapon upgrading, certainly in a game where you might have dual fire modes. So a shotgun would start with one barrel but you find a mod that adds a second, but you can still fire one at a time for more accuracy. A final mod might add yet another barrel, or maybe makes ammo explosive or something, just keeps the same weapon slot in play.
#25 posted by Willem [199.255.40.36] on 2012/05/17 15:52:38
Yeah, the nail guns are relatively pointless. One would have been fine. Once you have the super, there's no reason to ever go back to the regular one.
#26 posted by ZealousQuakeFan [82.16.80.21] on 2012/05/17 15:55:15
I do approve of there being the two of them though.
The Slower One Should Provide More Dmg/ammo Used
#27 posted by megaman [79.219.110.100] on 2012/05/17 17:23:05
Also, Intro Levels
#28 posted by megaman [79.219.110.100] on 2012/05/17 17:35:11
Most of my favorite games don't have introductory levels, OR i first played multiplayer, iirc:
- descent: none, easy start level though
- magic carpet: no? slowly gives you spells though...
- syndicate: nothing at all.
- Kingpin: easier start level?
- diablo 1: no, sir
- quake: has the skill selecting, but i wasn't impressed. MP first for me.
- hl: has the train ride (which i still find impressive), but MP first for me.
- quake3: well.. :-)
- pod: well, it starts out with easy tracks
- super metroid: has one, but it left a sucky impression on me.
- far cry: has a short, shitty one, and the game took my breath once the tutorial was OVER.
- freespace2: has in-depth tutorial, but it's a very complex game, and totally makes sense because it's basically a military simulator and this is your training.
- dungeon keeper: has one, but it's a complex game that has fundamental concepts that are hard to demonstrate without explicit introduction. Even is too long, so that there are not enough levels where you can use all features of the game
- resident evil 4: i can't remember?!
- silent hill 2: not sure, i can't remember anything like a tutorial.
- sacrifice: hmm, you have a mentor/advisor at your side during the entire game
Those are all that come to my mind right now :-)
#29 posted by Text_Fish [94.169.119.204] on 2012/05/17 18:07:59
Quake 2 had a pretty good first level. It effectively introduced ladders, crawlspaces, destructible environments and multiple routes within the first five minutes, most of which were rare if non-existent in most FPS games at the time.
#30 posted by ZealousQuakeFan [82.16.91.127] on 2012/05/17 18:52:35
New to iD games maybe but not FPS games :p
Ok
#31 posted by ijed [200.73.66.2] on 2012/05/17 20:08:42
Will modify my statement, and accede to the correction.
SG = sniper rifle, not pistol
SG is useless...for the way I enjoy playing.
I feel like it slows things down and makes it more about sneaking as opposed to fast paced aggression.
Horses for courses.
First Level As Tutorial...
#32 posted by metlslime [159.153.4.50] on 2012/05/17 21:44:40
I'm a big fan of the first level functioning as a "natural" tutorial, where the player is introduced to concepts in a gradual way, but the level is a real level that's part of the character's mission/story, and not some "training room" where you shoot mannequins.
Some examples from games:
Quake 3's entire first episode was sort of a tutorial where they start out with a tiny flat map with no loops (and a teleporter tutorial), and slowly add loops and overlapping paths etc. in the subsequent maps.
Metroid 1 started with the player trapped in a small 6-7 screen corridoor, where they cannot progress without collecing the "round ball" item so that they can roll through a narrow gap. This teaches you that that the game scrolls both left and right (unlike previous games like super mario brothers) and a introduces the concept of items opening up access to new areas. As soon as you get the round ball you can't even leave that screen without using it to roll under a large obstacle.
The first level of Prince of Persia teaches you about false floors in the very first screen -- you can't even leave the screen without triggering it, and they force you to drop down onto the lower part of the screen, which causes the floor panel to rattle a little, helping to show you it's there. The third screen teaches you about pressure plates that open up doors.
I realize this is a bit of a derail since the thread is actually about making a good impression / hooking the player in the first level.
Great Question
#33 posted by starbuck [77.99.142.237] on 2012/05/17 22:21:33
i think it's tough to replicate the formula for a great starting level, because I think the really great examples (e.g. Half Life 1) mainly serve to showcase what a breakthrough game it is you're about to play.
So
step 1: make breakthrough game
step 2: encapsulate the awesome new stuff in a short opening section
Beyond that, I'd say the other factors are pretty banal... hook them with the story, an exciting set-piece, some nice characterisation, some full-frontal nudity, whatever.
Megaman:
#34 posted by bear [79.102.155.192] on 2012/05/18 10:24:24
- super metroid: has one, but it left a sucky impression on me.
When did you play it?
And also it introduces the "bad guys" and the conflict which sets a direction as opposed to just dumping you in an alien world to explore (which would be pretty cool too...).
That Reminds Me Of
#35 posted by ijed [200.73.66.2] on 2012/05/18 14:28:53
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgk...
Bear
#36 posted by megaman [79.227.189.147] on 2012/05/19 11:00:20
Quite late indeed. And i'm pretty sure i saw the game in its later stages before, and then started it on my own. I basically didn't (and mostly don't) care for story the slightest bit.

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