Bioshock had a very nice atmospheric feel to it, but I would have to say Dead Space. It had it's share of the usual corridors and such, however it did have some pretty great personality
Very well then. I can certainly agree that Bioshock has excellent artistic design, especially in Fort Frolic and other areas of rapture like that. However, as far as actual geometric design.... I occasionally get lost, so take that as you will.
Oh, and Left 4 Dead is good on both counts, especially after listening to the audio commentary which shows how painstakingly precise the level design in that game was.
@Metroid545: I'm just thinking about the work involved in making the level, and to whom I'd give the "award". AC levels were pretty accurate historically. The levels were massive and detailed. Most if not all sections were sort-of choreographed for faster, slicker action. And the ease in which Altair moves around the levels is a testament to all of that coming together in a way we just never seen before. The level designers for that game, both geometrically and artistically set a new bar for single player games. If the question were "best atmosphere" or "most FUN level design" then you'd probably get a different answer.
Psychonauts level design was amazingly fantastic. The milkman conspiracy level was just ...AH awesome. God of war usually has some well designed levels too. Well certain worlds I guess you can say.
In terms of atmosphere, Bioshock is pretty hard to trump.
Overall design, however, and mindfulness of design--Assassin's Creed is certainly up there. The level of interactivity in that game is pretty astounding.
Similarly, Crackdown has a surprising level of player-level interactivity.
" @Metroid545: I'm just thinking about the work involved in making the level, and to whom I'd give the "award". AC levels were pretty accurate historically. The levels were massive and detailed. Most if not all sections were sort-of choreographed for faster, slicker action. And the ease in which Altair moves around the levels is a testament to all of that coming together in a way we just never seen before. The level designers for that game, both geometrically and artistically set a new bar for single player games. If the question were "best atmosphere" or "most FUN level design" then you'd probably get a different answer. "
true I guess if the prize was most accurate to the stories date then yeah I can see why you'd pick AC
@Metroid545: I just mean overall effort. Only GTAIV comes close, but in Liberty City, the city as a whole is almost perfect, but when using it to play it doesn't feel related really. Nico is in a city. Altair is kinda one with his game world (by the way he uses it). Both done intentionally to differing effect of course. I just prefer levels designed around the avatar. Not the other way around.
... Also, some of Braid's levels gave me goosebumps. Really simple esthetically, but scheme-wise there was some truly brilliant stuff in there.
Demon's Souls. That's really one of the things that makes the game great. Both gameplay-wise and artistically. The dungeons are amazing.
Bioshock too is one of the games that comes to mind when I think level design these days, but I'd say it's slightly limited in a gameplay sense because of the strong attempt (and successes) at creating a realistic environment.
The worlds of GTA4 and Assassin's Creed can often times be beautiful, but I feel the openness of those worlds really reflect more realism than helps the gameplay.
@Diamond: Different criteria I guess. BioShock didn't even come to mind, even though it's easily one of my favorite game-worlds. If I had to answer all-time, I'd say SotC. And it didn't even have "levels".
@Akeldama: System Shock 2 had some of the most amazing single player design. it took alot of thought and opinion and dedication to come up with a creepy world like that one. Even tho its a old game, the shock value the game offers is so relevant in gaming today.
@Sir_Ragnarok: Bioshock is absolutely astounding. i don't know about everyone else here, but i believe the genre, if you call it one "rpg shooter" could actually breathe life into the Dried up genre.
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