For better or worse, what are some stage types for FPS game

Just to explore options what are some stage types in FPS? Feel free to comment about what you like or don’t like about them as well.

Ones that I can think of:

-arena-
A large room where waves of enemies keep coming until you can progress.

-exploration-
A maze like area that you need to explore to find an exit and secrets.

-boss fight-
An arena where the objective is to kill one big bad guy.

-defense-
An arena where you need to fight off enemies from attacking an objective. Often with turrets and destructible barriers.

-escort-
Move an objective through an area safely.

-puzzle-
An area where you need to figure out a puzzle.

-rail shooter-
When the game moves for you and all you need to do is shoot incoming enemies. Often a turret on a helicopter.

-vehicle-
Area where you temporarily control a vehicle.

-power fantasy-
Section of the game where you get an unfair advantage for a brief time.

-stealth-
Area where you need to sneak around and are punished if spotted by a lopsided fight or a game over.

-fort-
Area where you have to attack an enemy fortification and can choose your approach.

-hunter-
Area with an overpowered enemy hunting you down and you need to out maneuver them.

-scramble-
Area where you need to quickly traverse an area because of environmental hazards or swarms of enemies.

-pallet cleanse-
Area with no combat or requirements, often with something interesting to look at.

-platformer-
Area where you need to maneuver around an area with little to no combat.

-climb-
Platformer area where there is a tough fight and need to keep moving in a difficult direction.

-dark-
Area with little to no light, usually packed with jump scares.

-challenge-
An area where you are locked into specific parameters and expected to beat it as it is presented to you.

-gimmick-
Area with a game mechanic specific to that area. Such as shrinking in Duke Nukem, wall climbing in original Prey, or time shifting in Titan Fall 2. I personally love these.

-battle-
Area where two or more groups are fighting and you need to sway the odds in your favor, rather than out right kill everything.

-duel-
A specific boss fight where the boss is similar to your character in terms of abilities and you need to outclass them.

-puzzle boss-
A specific type of boss fight where you can not outright kill them and need to figure out a trick to win.

-tutorial area-
Area designated to teach the player mechanics organically in the game.

-weakling arena-
Arena peppered with weak foes so the player can experiment and feel a little powerful briefly.

-cutscene-
A garbage section of the game where they talk at you for exposition and you try not to die of boredom.

-crawl-
Area of the game where mobility is temporarily restricted. Often framed as though it’s a nail bitting moment, but no one is fooled in this day and age. CoD loves these sections, especially for last bosses.

Those are all the core level types I can think of.

Have anything to add?

 

A lot of FPS games I've played had one special time-limit level where the object is usually to get to the end as fast as possible. Either you are being chased by some indestructible hazard or there's an actual timer (like a self destruct timer or something). Where as I would normally go through a slowly and clear-out each area, now I have to avoid combat because it will take too long. Also they tend to throw-in surprises like a collapsing ceiling or something.

 

Yeah, I would classify that as a scrabble level.

I plan doing sections of my game with that element, but with mine I want it to be swarms of enemies which may be tricky to convey to the player that they need to run from.

And of course I want a cathartic turn around where the player is able to fend them off, sort of like in Metroid Dread with the EMMI sections.

 

Hmm maybe a bit harsh on cutscenes there. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. for example has fascinating cutscenes (to me anyway).
But also, importantly, there aren't too many (and they're not too long).

 

Yeah, I kid.

I do like games like halflife.

 

I have seen all of those in mario games. That's general level design pattern, not just FPS.

 

Make sure you have a really annoying water level with bad swimming controls and only 8 seconds of oxygen before you start taking damage!

Edit: Oh I forgot - it also needs to be really hard to see anything underwater. That's another important part of the experience.

 

Are you thinking about a nes game with 4 green character?

 

They lost the crown for worst water level ever when a kid in a green tunic had me swap boots on and off over and over on the N64.

 

That's my favorite level of the game!

 

The mission type, where they send you on a mission alone in a semi massive area, to destroy tons of enemies that are lurking and hiding, all over an area like a sewer or abandoned area. I think the first Rage game, did something like that. Note, I haven't played Rage 1 yet though. This might sort of fit in the category of hunt though.