Best Level Design This Generation

Good level design to me is when the levels work with the gameplay to bring about memorable experiences. I was thinking about this earlier while playing Dragon Age. I really love the game but I don't think it has great level design. The environments can be neat to go through but the levels don't really add much to the gameplay experience and mostly serve as scenery changes. I'm sure I won't remember 90% of the levels a year from now. This got me to thinking about some of the top level designs that I've played through this generation that will be memorable for years to come. 

1. Demon's Souls

2. Metal Gear Solid 4

3. Vanquish

4. Battlefield 1943

Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid.

Braid. Every level had a simple elegant solution. 

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

Super Meat Boy.

SOCOM II has the best designed Multiplayer levels out of any game I have seen so far... 
Those levels were genius and always a blast to play

Super Meat Boy indeed

" @demontium:  What are some of your favorites? I'm not definitely stating these are best designed levels just that these are my favorite and what are the best to me. I'm a little curious to see what other people's favorites are to see if there's any games with great level design I'm missing out on. "

Arkham Asylum and Left 4 Dead come to mind.

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

" @EpicSteve said:

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

Far, far from the truth. "

Best Level Design This Generation nerfed in the sequel that you can cosplay as? 
 
Should have been the true title of this thread,

Super Final Fantasy XIII Arcade Edition Third Strike vs. Capcom vs. Tekken'''''''''.

Oblivion, crysis, just cause 2, mass effect 2

  @demontium:  In my opinion Vanquish has better level design than Bayonetta, even though I think Bayonetta has the better gameplay and most other things (and is probably my GOTY). Bayonetta to me was mostly mini-area after mini-area. The actual level design didn't affect my gameplay to the extent that Vanquish did. I think the actual level design in Vanquish is set up really smart and is well thought out and skillfully executed. Regarding 'walking through open plots of land isn't good level design', I don't see how that applies to any of the games that I posted. MGS has intricate levels that encourage stealth and is all about interacting with the environment. Demon's Soul's levels directly dictate the strategy of gameplay more than any action game I've personally played.   
 
Super Meat Boy and Kirby do look good. Have always loved Mario. Hope to play those in the future.

Best level design is reserved for puzzle games like Braid, Crush and Portal.

Mass Effect 2, Halo 3, Uncharted 2, and Batman AA.

As stated earlier, the map designs for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots are pure genius. Each map offers many alternate routes and offer some creative ways to sneak up on get the jump on enemies. The levels in the South America mission arc are a great example of how to get around in multiple ways.

Super Meat Boy "The Guy" warp zone
 
That is all

Batman AA

Final Fantasy XIII. 
 
Just run straight forward herp derp.

As far as competitive FPS maps go, Killzone 2 and 3 are my favorites hands down.

Super Meat Boy, Portal, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Darksiders.  off the top of my head, anyway.

If you're talking pure design, Braid, Portal and Super Meat Boy are amazing in their exactness. 

oblivion, i think it's the biggest level out there. big area just small inner levels like caves.

I think I'm going to move Batman AA up in my backlog, thanks for the input. I know a lot of indie games have great level design but it seems to be lacking in the bigger releases. Castlevania: LOS is one that I've played recently where the environments were gorgeous but the levels themselves were very mediocre.

I'm gonna go with Donkey Kong Returns, none of the stages in that game gets old playing through, so full of energy

" oblivion, i think it's the biggest level out there. big area just small inner levels like caves. "

I was waiting for some joker to say Mass Effect 2.  A load of boxes strapped together with doors.  Amazing.   Doom has far better level design and that's not a joke.

Street Fighter 4

Hey, yo. Mario Galaxy 2. Some of the best level design you'll find.

DAT FIRST HALF OF CRYSIS 
 
I think Bad Company 2 has really solid multiplayer maps. I guess the Assassin's Creed games deserve a mention too, because there aren't many games that simulate such a good looking world with dat draw distance while also looking good.

Both Super Mario Galaxy games and Portal.  There are some levels in each of those do such an amazing job of subtly showing you what you should be doing which allows them to do spectacular, crazy shit that would be far too confusing in 90% of games.

Super meat boy because each level is meticulously designed so that they are beatable with every character in the game.

What comes to mind is Uncharted 2, Batman, Super Meat Boy, Portal, and I'm playing through Super Mario Galaxy 2 right now and it is amazing.

God of War III - Poseidon fight
Uncharted 2 - Train levels

" @JJWeatherman: I'm sure it is, it looks amazing. It looks like I'm going to have to pick up another Wii (haven't had one for a year and a half). They have really released a lot of great games since then. "

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

Hitman: Blood Money
 
Okay, technically it's a last-gen game that was ported over to the 360, but it still has some of the best levels I've ever seen in a game.

" @EpicSteve said:

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

I disagree. I'm a Halo fan, but the maps in Reach were poorly designed. Most of them were copy-then-pasted from the single-player, which I find lazy on Bungie's department.  On subject:  I say the Super Mario Galaxy series have the most creative and expertly designed maps of this generation. "

" @EpicSteve said:

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

I disagree here. Halo 2 had great maps. Halo 3 had some great maps. I feel like Halo Reach does not. The recent DLC-pack was great, though. "

Assassin's Creed.  'nuff said.

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

Nuketown. 
 
Not Black Ops. Just Nuketown.

" @EpicSteve said:

" Halo Reach's multiplayer maps are solid. "

I disagree. I'm a Halo fan, but the maps in Reach were poorly designed. Most of them were copy-then-pasted from the single-player, which I find lazy on Bungie's department.  On subject:  I say the Super Mario Galaxy series have the most creative and expertly designed maps of this generation. "