#3. RESIDENT EVIL 4
Resident Evil 4 represented a radical shift in style and approach for the series when it first came out, and that manifested in more ways than one- including the level design. Rather than putting players in singular locations characterized by winding design, lock-and-key progression, a focus on exploration, and backtracking, RE4 was a constant forward march, with the focus entirely on its tense action and firefights. But though RE4’s locations don’t usually exhibit the kind of design chops the series is traditionally known for, what they do boast is incredible atmosphere and art design, and most importantly, variety. The village has become an iconic location by now, while the castle is probably one of the best RE locations of all time. The island is something that RE fans either love or hate- but you can’t deny that it as far as escalation and variety are concerned, the island does exactly what it sets out to do.
