Top 10 Rooftop Levels in Video Games
Whether dangerous or delightful, there's something appealing about running across building tops. Join http:/www.watchmojo.com as we countdown our picks for the Top 10 Rooftop Levels in Video Games.
The focus here is on levels that best encapsulate that tense, pulse-raising feeling associated with rooftop action. We're excluding levels that stray heavily from a rooftop setting, as well as selectable stages and user-created content – with apologies to the community levels from LittleBigPlanet.
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Top 10 Rooftop Levels in Video Games
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Whether dangerous or delightful, there's something appealing about running across building tops. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 Rooftop Levels in Video Games. The focus here is on levels that best encapsulate that tense, pulse-raising feeling associated with rooftop action. We're excluding levels that stray heavily from a rooftop setting, as well as selectable stages and user-created content – with apologies to the community levels from LittleBigPlanet.
#10: Agrabah Rooftops “Aladdin” (1993)
One jump ahead of the hunchmen (clears through). In this classic game based on the hit 1993 film, our likeable street rat Aladdin hops his way to safety while dodging pitfalls and lingering foes. And nowhere are the dangers of his existence more apparent than in the streets of Agrabah, where Aladdin has to ascend to the roofs in order to progress. Suddenly the game's natural tension increases – you're just one wrong jump away from disaster. Tread carefully and look before you leap.
#9: Vertigo Point Tower “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project” (1991)
For sewer-dwelling turtles, they sure enjoy the high life. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” pits the heroes-in-a-half-shell against their age-old foe The Shredder, and the relentless ninjas of the Foot Clan. In the game's seventh level, the Turtles ascend via elevator high above New York's skyline, with the Foot Ninjas in pursuit. The game throws wave after wave of ninjas at you, even as you start marching across building tops, but it's never dull and the high-altitude setting is a nice change of pace.
#8: At The Heliport “Double Dragon 2: The Revenge” (1988)
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The Shadow Warriors couldn't leave well enough alone, could they? Early in their quest to avenge their friend Marion's death at the Warriors' hands, brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee traverse a series of buildings to reach a heliport. The resulting desperate leaps between ledges and relentless violence against thugs is pretty gnarly, helped greatly by light chip-tune music and a healthy helping of purple art design. We find there's nothing wrong with something so unabashedly in love with the 80s, if it turns out this fun.
#7: Two to Tango “Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus” (2002)
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Care to dance? Atop a neon-lit series of buildings, you skulk about as legendary raccoon thief Sly Cooper, searching for a treasure key – which brings you before Detective Carmelita Fox, the police officer with her sights set on arresting Sly. It's frenzied bobbing and weaving from there, keeping Sly one step ahead of Fox's powerful gun and one jump away from a bad fall. Still, the cartoon style and light tone of the dialogue makes it an easy sell.
#6: Numbers “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (2010)
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Run, Hudson, run. Midway through the campaign of “Black Ops”, as CIA operatives Hudson and Weaver are interrogating one Dr. Clarke for sensitive information, some enemy soldiers drop in to spoil the fun. Fortunately, we're controlling a particularly capable CIA operative who can survive the level progressing from indoor shootouts to an extended string of firefights in pouring rain. Add to that the tension of running across unstable roofing and a pounding rock soundtrack, and you have quite the intense level.
#5: Desperate Times “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” (2009)
Desperate measures may need to be taken, in this instance. After ziplining to some quite dilapidated buildings in Nepal, treasure hunter Nathan Drake sought to shimmy across a gap – but sadly his plan is interrupted by an attacking helicopter. Drake eventually scrambles for a nearby building, and the goal turns to survival. It's a relentless push through enemies and turret fire across stunningly beautiful rooftops, before you finally get to return the favour to that dastardly chopper.
#4: Front Door “Super Mario World” (1990)
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A surprising inclusion, but it still counts. The final level of “Super Mario World” sends our heroic plumber Mario into the fiery depths of King Bowser's castle, complete with a puzzling series of inter-connected doors. Once Mario finds the correct door, he comes face-to-face with the Koopa King himself – atop the castle's roof, no less. What's interesting about the subsequent heated battle is how downplayed the rooftop aspect is, compared to the sight of Bowser attacking from his flying Clown Car – does Mario know he could plummet to his doom?
#3: Rooftop Finale “Left 4 Dead” (2008)
Resolution through escalation – that seems to work out well. Closing out the first campaign in “Left 4 Dead” is this jaunt through the upper levels of Mercy Hospital, a place which our four-person party believed would lead to salvation. Sadly, they are instead forced to trek up to the heliport, and told to wait for evacuation. The desperation sets in once you realize the situation: you and three friends against the unending zombie horde, with only a faint hope of escape. And then the Tank zombies show up.
#2: Rooftop Run “Sonic Generations” (2011)
Whether old or new, this level manages to impress. Sonic the Hedgehog's 2011 outing offered a unique premise: Classic Sonic uniting with Modern Sonic for one grand adventure. This translated to a number of iconic stages being revitalized, including Rooftop Run from “Sonic Unleashed”. It splits into two parts here – the first turns Sonic's rooftop running into a side-scrolling sequence, while the second blends two-dimensional running sections with three-dimensional dodging. Rooftop Run was already a magnificent feat of design, but here it really shines as a balance between nostalgia and innovation. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Hang 'em High “Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped” (1998) Cat and Mouse: Rooftops “ONI” (2001) Giant Robot Fight “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” (2010) Level 5 “Plants vs. Zombies” (2009) Scarescraper Roof “Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon” (2013)
#1: The Edge “Mirror's Edge” (2008)
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This may be the how-to guide for making rooftop levels. You are Faith, an illegal courier or Runner whose latest job goes awry when the authoritarian police show up out of the blue. Faith must then run, slide, jump and climb in a mad dash for safety. Every desperate leap makes our hearts stop, and we breathe easy when Faith successfully gets a hand hold. To top it off, the level shows off its game's beautiful art style – starkly white, with hints of colour that stand out as a result. Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite rooftop level from a video game? For more thrilling Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
