[User33]

By "gimmick" I mean levels in games with significantly different gameplay than normal.

My example would be the slide levels from Mario 64/Galaxy 2:



I love the sense of speed, the amount of control over Mario the player retains and the quick reflexes they require. I'd put the tree slide as one of my Top 5 stars in Galaxy 2.

I'd prefer if minigames be left out of the discussion unless they're 100% necessary to beat the game.

[pleunv]

Still have to get to AC, is there anything similar in that one?

[Medalion]

Methinks the words 'gimmick' or 'gimmicky' is thrown about much too much lately, making the whole trend a gimmick of sorts

[weekend_warrior]

Does revisiting Shadow Moses in MGS4 count?

[ThoseDeafMutes]

I would more call those "palette cleansers" than "gimmicks". They are there to spice up the gameplay with more variety.

[The Broken Ska Record]

The 2D levels in Alice Maddness Returns were great. Had a great style to them.

[Chuck]

This was the first thing to come to mind for me. It's too bad they had to do it three times because it's a video game.

[User33]

I should clarify that I don't mean "gimmick" as a bad thing (hence the quotation marks). I just wasn't sure what other word(s) would work.

"Palette cleansers" works.

[KieferCrimson]

Can't think of anything right now, but I sure hated that flying shooting demon thing almost at the end of DMC1.

Right out of nowhere.

[Jaded Alyx]

Does Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy count?

[Khorino]

I really liked that drunk part on Alan Wake.

[NM0dz]

The first thing to come to my mind were the FLUDDless mini-courses in Mario Sunshine.
I love those pure platforming moments. And although i love the core game, i can't decide if the FLUDD-based gameplay is the gimmick or the pure mario levels : S

Here's what i mean:

[chickdigger802]

dream sequence of Max Payne 2.

A lot better than 1's. For w/e that's worth lol.

[les papillons sexuels]

conkers... most of it i guess. the matrix part in particular.

[bon]

The motorcycle stage in El Shaddai was pretty amazing.

[RSLAEV]

Welcome to My Fantasy Zone!

The level's not that original, I just love the Space Harrier Theme :3

[Medalion]

There is a level in Mario 3D Land...

that is basically a huge reference to top-down style Zelda, for sure one of my stand out fave levels recently

[Vulcano's assistant]

Any level of Psychonauts.

[Nyoro SF]

Silent Realms in Skyward Sword were one of the top highlights for me regarding this subject.

[Chuck]

Any level of Psychonauts.

No, that's called creativity.

[Jigsaw]

playing as gray fox in mgs special missions and hunt down snake

[Truelize]

Shadows of the Damned - side scrolling levels and the Big Boner levels. Such an awesome game but both of those levels did a great job of breaking up the game and giving you a rest from the regular gameplay.

[hoverboarder]

That alternate universe Library level with the twisty staircases in Ghostbusters 3 was out of the ordinary for both the game and the movie's universe. I dug it and it has stuck with me.

[Qasiel]

The first thing that came to my mind was the "Lemming" puzzle room in Leander/The Legend of Galahad for the Mega Drive/Genesis. That was a refreshing change of pace to the hack-and-slash action!

[EatChildren]

The text adventures in Nier, even the ones where you didn't have control. The story where Nier kills a Shade as the Shade tries to guzzle up memory gems, accompanied by music that shifts to suit each line of text, was strangely emotional and engaging despite nothing really 'happening'. Perfect use of text, audio and presentation of text.

[Lulubop]

Fort condor >_>.

[Finaika]

playing as gray fox in mgs special missions and hunt down snake

[Mista Koo]

I don't have a favorite but I have least favorites.
The garbage cleaning in Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 and the shooting level in Mario Sunshine (in Banjo games as well).

[CarbonatedFalcon]

The platforming/physics puzzles in Half-Life 2 and episodes are pretty good palate cleansers, when there's not much pressure from enemies around. I wouldn't say as much for the Boat and the Jalopy sequences - I didn't enjoy those parts too much.

[nick nacc]

Tranquility lane, fallout 3.

[morningbus]

No More Heroes 1/2.

Still have to get to AC, is there anything similar in that one?

Yeah, there are one or two things that are kind of similar in Arkham City, but nothing can top the Scarecrow portions of AA.

[Ryaaan14]

Honestly, Geth server in ME3.

[Soul_Pie]

Mine cart levels from donkey kong country.

Brilliant gameplay, that feeling when a bad guy is hurtling in the opposite direction is heart in mouth kind of stuff.

Donkey Kong Country games are filled with clever gimmicks, none of it ever feels forced.

[woober]

Mona Sax's fun house in Max Payne 2. Freaking brilliant level design that had me in awe as I watched everything move.



Edit: To hell with it. I just loaded up a save just to take this screenshot. It was a surprising experience for me to see this in a game.

[Caerith]

The (Atari) Combat and text adventure in Saints Row the Third. They were short, but fun.

Dick move, unicorn. Dick move.

[Vic]

[Rodney McKay]

Space Combat level in Halo Reach.

Made me want a fun, space combat game like Rouge Squadron so goddamn bad.

Give me a Halo game that's a delicious mix of FPS, vehicles, AND space combat throughout the whole game and you will make me a VERY happy camper.

[AliceAbstract]

The motorcycle stage in El Shaddai was pretty amazing.

First thing that came to mind!

[_Isaac]

Tranquility lane, fallout 3.

This was such a cool surprise.

[CarbonatedFalcon]

Space Combat level in Halo Reach. Made me want a fun, space combat game like Rouge Squadron so goddamn bad. Give me a Halo game that's a delicious mix of FPS, vehicles, AND space combat throughout the whole game and you will make me a VERY happy camper.

Totally forgot about that one. Definitely a very good level.

[Angry Fork]

Mona Sax's fun house in Max Payne 2. Freaking brilliant level design that had me in awe as I watched everything move. Edit: To hell with it. I just loaded up a save just to take this screenshot. It was a surprising experience for me to see this in a game.

I loved this too. Stuff like this is why I'm not hyped for MP3 because it's not going to have any of it. All the dream-like, weird David Lynch creepy type shit is going to be gone.

[krameriffic]

I LOVE hero missions in RTS single player campaigns. I loved all the times I played as Zeratul or Raynor in SC2, any time you play as Tanya in the Command and Conquer games, anytime you play as Arthas or Illidan WC3. There are many examples that I'm not remembering, but any time you have a good scripted mission in an RTS where its dependent on basebuilding.

[zerotol]

Tranquility lane, fallout 3.

Nice! I loved this part in Fallout 3. It was like Leave It To Beaver on acid.

[woober]

I loved this too. Stuff like this is why I'm not hyped for MP3 because it's not going to have any of it. All the dream-like, weird David Lynch creepy type shit is going to be gone.

I've had that underlying thought every time I see Max Payne 3. It's going to be so hard to top MP2 without the schizchophrenic environments. But that's for another thread...

[Jack Scofield]

AC-130 mission in COD4.

[Rodney McKay]

I'll also add...

Zero Suit Samus level in Metroid: Zero Mission.

A super cool bonus that really made you feel like a total badass when you finally get your suit back.

[Claude]

Tranquility lane, fallout 3.

When I got to this part, I was freaking out.

"What the..? What the hell is this? Where the fuck am I? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"

[Gileadxv]

Welcome to My Fantasy Zone! The level's not that original, I just love the Space Harrier Theme :3

This immediately sprang to mind as one of my least favorite gimmicks. I can understand other people enjoying it, but it went on way too long, and I remember struggling with the controls. If it was about a quarter of the length I may have had a more enjoyable experience.

[les papillons sexuels]

conkers bad fur day is full of them.

The bat guano dropping gameplay
the matrix fight scene
the third person fps ww2 gameplay

all were well done.

[~Devil Trigger~]