Top Ten Video Game Desert Levels

It's been a super hot summer, so it's only fitting we talk about the super hot deserts of video games! Enjoy!
This was also lowkey inspired by another countdown artist, so I'd like to thank them for the inspiration. Can't really say who it is, though. Hope you understand.
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[@TheQuarterGuy]

"You know what this map needs? Needs more sand."

[@meta527II]

Is that a reference to something or is that just a silly line you wrote? Not that I have a problem with either of those.

[@jeremytung1632]

“More sand! We’re surrounded by sand!”

[@voltingmaster5458]

I don’t like sand, it’s coarse and rough and irritating, And it gets everywhere!

[@TheQuarterGuy]

@@jeremytung1632 Y- You know, not that much, just...two cubic tons.

[@jeremytung1632]

@@TheQuarterGuyTWO CUBIC TONS?!

[@erichfiedler1481]

Okay, time to get THIS LINE out of the way before everyone else says it "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere." This countdown is brought to you by "SAND, IT'S EVERYWHERE", get used to it

[@claytonrios1]

I did want to pat Futabas head and give her a hug after her palace was complete. So the game certainly did it's job with that trip to a desert of pure isolation.

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

"Hey, (insert name 1)." "Oh, hey, (name 2)! How are you?" "Fine...just fine ..except...I'm STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT!!"

[@jaketaller8567]

Is that a reference to something?

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

@@jaketaller8567 it was a movie clip shown in Fawful's Minion's Banjo Ranking video. IDK where it's from though.

[@JD10503]

​@@s.p.d.magentaranger1822 Big Fat Liar.

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

@@JD10503 Thank you!

[@jordanhunter3375]

This countdown was brought to you by Sand! It's everywhere, get used to it.

[@jaketaller8567]

Ah, an Aladdin And The King Of Thieves reference. I see you are a man of great taste.

[@erichfiedler1481]

HEY! I thought of it first!

[@starbird3939]

One of the better disney sequels!

[@jordanhunter3375]

@@jaketaller8567 Shame that I have only seen the first movie and only heard this joke from elsewhere

[@theshadygentleman7575]

In reference to your question at the end... Whilst not necessarily a biome in the sense of an environment, a common recurring theme in games is the 'haunted' level: areas in non-horror games that are either designed to put you on edge or play with the theme of ghosts and ghouls. These levels could make for a fun halloween countdown for their shock factor and what they do to put a spin on the theme.

[@cdesigner9178]

I am so glad so many people seem to be suggesting this, because I LOVE these kinds of levels.

[@Numberplay]

I can already think of a few candidates for this with my top pick being Hat in Time: SubCon Forest

[@cdesigner9178]

@@Numberplay Yep

[@theshadygentleman7575]

This is probably just nostalgia talking, as the level itself isn't that spooky at all, but I submit Haunted Ship from Sonic Rush Adventure. That level terrified me as a kid (I wasn't good with undead themes), but the music is kickass and the boss is really cool too

[@cdesigner9178]

@@theshadygentleman7575 For me, if I had to choose a haunted level from a Sonic game, I have to go with the Haunted Mansion from Sonic Heroes. The mansion constantly changing, having to go into the freaking spirit world, and one of the best soundtracks in the game.

[@ailingstar8856]

Honestly, I'd love to see a Ghost level countdown, if only because there's so many different interesting routes developers can go for.

[@cdesigner9178]

YES! I refer to them as "spooky" levels, myself, but yeah, there are a lot of good ones out there. Some personal favorites of mine include Ghost Bayou from Pac-Man World 2, Haunted Grounds from Gauntlet: Dark Legacy (granted, that's less ghosts and more nightmare demons, but still), and the entirety of Subcon Forest from A Hat In Time.

[@greenrangerfan1993]

@@cdesigner9178could be a halloween themed list.

[@cdesigner9178]

@@greenrangerfan1993 Apparently, this Halloween is going to be Monsters Month or something, so it probably won't be THIS Halloween, but yeah, probably will be a Halloween special at some point. Then again, does it HAVE to be Halloween for people to cover something spooky?

[@greenrangerfan1993]

@@cdesigner9178 I think It's the most fitting.

[@RedBoy747]

When my family comes from the beach: Me: Ok who got sand in their- Everyone: Yes!! My Uncle: Fucking Everywhere!

[@keyblademasterclark]

Is that a DBZA reference?

[@omicrondstarsinger7199]

A fool off his guard could fall and fall hard, out there on the dunes.🎶

[@Bora_slash]

-Okay, let's get this over this (opens strengths and weaknesses screen) You've gotta be kidding me -well, geometry is... is pretty cool -yeah, who would've want to be better in geometry!? And for weaknesses - endurance, and what else let me see, heat, sand and sun. It shouldn't be a problem. It's not like we're in the middle of a GODDAMN DESERT! Jumaji the next level, 2019.

[@gingerkays7362]

I remember when I first got to Solm, minor spoilers for something funny in that chapter When we first got there and the characters were talking about how they had no idea what the prince and princess looked like, and then a little later they ran into Fogado, I was thinking “wouldn’t it be funny if he turned out to be the prince?” Then he introduced us to the Sentinels, and I was getting some serious Chrom and the Shepherds vibes, and when he started acting all chummy with the palace guards I burst out laughing because I realized that my initial impression had been spot on, and he was being a huge reference to my favorite game in the franchise (which is also the one that got me into Fire Emblem in the first place)

[@meganpayette5996]

This Green Scorpion countdown is brought to you by... SAND! IT'S EVERYWHERE! GET USE TO IT!

[@carlosortiz8432]

Nice. I’m glad someone made that reference.

[@wolfknightleon3264]

I LOVE King of thieves!

[@CrazeeAdam]

Yes, ironically while we consider deserts warm and sandy, do you know the biggest desert in the world? Antarctica. Completely barren and the whole continent is a desert itself

[@BJGvideos]

Barren. But yes

[@CrazeeAdam]

​@@BJGvideosthank you ❤

[@HoshikoYui]

Except instead of sand, there’s ice, snow, deathly freezing waters and winds❄️🌨️🥶🗻

[@derrickhaggard]

Ice levels list remake perhaps.

[@erikstensaas1202]

In the desert, you can't remember your name, for there ain't no one to give you no pain...

[@dragonforceczar1610]

You know, after all that time they spent in the desert together, the guy COULD have given that horse a name. I'm just sayin'.

[@Zivon96]

The dessert battle in Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn lives rent free in my head. One of the largest levels in the game, and with some really interesting lore reveals, AND finally getting revenge on an early game antagonist... but unless you take the Dracoknights, you're basically leaving this level in the hands of Naesala and no one else, because by the time you cross the map with them, the rest of your units are just now making it out of the starting corner of the map.

[@colinledoux7836]

Anakin Skywalker: I hate sand it gets everywhere.

[@SmashBros2009]

*Insert I have the high ground joke here*😂

[@eamonndeane587]

​@@SmashBros2009"I HATE YOU!!!!!!"

[@SageDarkwind]

"This Green Scorpion video is brought to you by Sand! It's everywhere! Get used to it!"

[@madnessarcade7447]

Engage is very fun and campy it’s got toku vibes the character interactions are awesome and I’m digging the story it’s my first FE game

[@zaneheaston8254]

I guess you can say Mario Odyssey puts the Sand into Sandbox Thank you & good night!

[@gulfgiggleanimations4472]

One of my favorites is Cliff Town in Spyro 1. It's a fantastic feeling after scaling up the town being rewarded by being high enough to glide over the river and to a wide open space to run freely, and that leads to peak of the level from which to glide wherever your heart desires, with whirlwinds activating for an easy return to the peak to glide again.

[@TGPBailey124]

Is no one going to acknowledge the awesome SNAPCUBE REFRENCE AT THE BEGIBING OF THE THING. GUYS WHAT ARE WE DOING!!!!!

[@BaxterAndLunala]

My favorite desert levels are: Bring Down The Strider - Armored Core VI Chozo Ruins - Metroid Prime The Maw - Halo: Combat Evolved The entire Saudi war story in Battlefield 1 The Asado Desert - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Arid Badlands - Borderlands Every Red Zone level in C&C 3 (not a traditional desert by any means, but still worth mentioning) Final Conflict - C&C Tiberian Sun

[@cameroncooper5941]

Monster Hunter has some good deserts. I'm most familiar with the Sandy Plains featured in 3U and Rise, but the Wildspire Waste from World also makes a noteworthy impression with it's building-sized termite mounds. Heck, Wilds is set to open WITH a desert level, and I'm hooked just from the limited glimpses we've seen at the time of writing this. The main thing that I feel they get right is that despite how samey deserts may seem, they can still have plenty of variety. Sure, you've got the obligatory big open sand dunes. But you also have windswept canyons, oases, mud pits, and even subterranean caverns to beat the heat.

[@ShadowandKirby324]

A new Green Scorpion video?? Yes pls!!! As for biomes... How about Top Ten Sky levels? It's a video game level theme I've always loved. From Windy Hill, to Gusty Garden Galaxy, to even Sky Tower, sky levels have a sense of scope and amazement that Id love to see you tackle!

[@GardenerOfTheFuture]

I love desert levels, it's one of my favorite biomes. The aesthetics, the feeling of freedom and exploration, and the music. My personal list of favorite desert levels overlap with yours a lot, including having the Sand Kingdom as number one. Some of my favorites that didn't make your list include: -Sandblasted Corridors from Deep Rock Galactic - The terrain being mined in one pickaxe hit is a nifty convenience, but what really gets me are how its features encourage DRG's famous multiplayer teamwork. Howling sandstorms occasionally blast through the caverns, limiting vision and forcing teams to hunker down and travel together to not get lost, as well as sand sharks that will grab a nearby dwarf and must be killed by another player, encouraging players to stick together and look out for each other in case one pops up. I also just really like the color palette and sandy aesthetic -Overdrive Ostritch Stage from Mega Man X2 - It introduces the Ride Chaser and motorcycle rides through the desert are awesome. If you manage to get through the stage keeping it intact, you can also use it to easily snag some upgrades. It transitions between a desert base to the outside dunes back into the base for the entrance to the boss room, but instead of a regular boss room, you hitch a ride on and then shoot down a launching missile, crashing into the desert. Then, you fight the titular Maverick in a wide-open space where he'll hop between the foreground and boackground. Fighting Overdrive Ostrictch without his weakness weapon is really fun, too. -Gerduo Desert from Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom - The Arbiter's Grounds is probably the best desert dungeon in the Zelda games, but the BotW and TotK portrayals of the Gerudo Desert itself are my preference. I find that it makes the idea of a vast, empty desert with little in it interesting by how haunting it is. I will never forget the moment in my first playthrough of BotW when I got stranded in one of those cursed sandstorms. The feeling of isolation and helplessness was palpable. Having so little visibility was one part, but the big reason is the map not working. Realizing I had no easy way out if I got jumped by monsters I wasn't ready for, especially a Molduga, was terrifying. Even outside of the sandstorms, just staring off into the dunes at the edge of the map in silence was an experience of existential melancholy I will never forget. TotK has the better dungeon in the Lightning Temple and better use of Gerudo Town, but I had to mention my first experience in a sandstorm. There's more to it that makes it one of my favorite desert levels, but the sandstorms stick out to me. For another level theme I'd like you to touch on: forest levels. I love trees and whenever I'm on a trip out through the countryside with rolling forested hills, I use all the time I can to take it all in. As such, I love the aesthetic of forest levels, and there are lots of mechanics that can be used from the verticality: climbing the trees, structures supported by the trees, even vines if jungles are counted (they are rainforests, after all).

[@wildste]

If we are talking other biome countdowns, we go back to Yahtzee Croshaw and one of his catchphrases. "Grassland, desert, ocean, jungle, ice world, fire world, boss!"

[@Bladecharge]

The segway into number 10 was very good. I think that an improvement for you

[@rodan9773]

Anakin isn't going to like this lol. Respect and keep up the epic work.

[@mystikx2205]

My favorite part about the Kingdom of Solm? It introduces Pandreo the frat-boy priest and Panette the walking Crit machine.

[@joshmccalip6053]

For me, my favorite desert level is Pipeline Destruction from Ace Combat 7, where you and your squadmates attack a port oil refinery in the desert before a sandstorm hits, only to dive in and out of said sandstorm to hunt 20 fuel trucks trying to use the storm to escape.

[@asmodeus58XX]

For the next one, it would be cool if you went the old "Is the desert too harsh for you? Well too bad, we're going even harsher!" and do top 10 lava/volcanic levels. I love how Death Mountain in BotW was set to demonstrate that just being near an active volcano can be so hot, you'll need extreme protection. Anyway, time to add my own sand quote: "Ahem! There's SAND on my boots!"

[@arithefierysecretary6411]

My theory for Stallord: That's Dragon Zelda in the bad timeline, gone crazy still with a corrupted Master Sword in her head. Just my thought.

[@nightmarearcade2663]

I don't know if that's the case cause I feel like that's some time paradox kind of stuff right there.

[@arithefierysecretary6411]

@@nightmarearcade2663 possibly. I don't know Zelda as well as most do. :)

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

@@arithefierysecretary6411 Hiiii Ari!

[@dawningheart356]

Interesting idea, but Stallord's skeletal structure doesn't have much in common with the Light Dragon. The former's spine allows it to use its hands to prevent the upper body from being submerged in the sand pit, while the latter has more in common with Eastern dragons, whose limbs move VERY differently. Plus, by this point in the game, you already have the Master Sword, which was nowhere near Gerudo Desert when you found it.

[@bryceknowles1380]

Hello Ari, didn’t expect to see you here😮

[@Mangadude901]

10: Deserts are a pristine natural landscape, it's art in itself. 9: Howdy, Hedgehog. Now draw! 8: Arabian Tatooine Nights 7: Everything you mentioned is what makes it one of the best, but you forgot one important thing: the stage theme which also got remixed in Smash Ultimate! 6: A galactic hourglass constantly shifting in orbit...tilting it every cycle as it fills and drains with its infinite grains of sand.... 5: An improved desert map (about time Intelligent Systems), and probably the best new lineup of units thus far in the game. Besides, two words: Wolf. Knight. 4: Creating Rivers in the Desert that is Futaba's psyche, classic movie pyramid traps, and of course, Futaba's own Shadow actually helping her out of her own internal prison. And besides....you forgot about the fact it's a freaking UFO! 3: The deserts of Hyrule hides many secrets throughout the ages....most are hidden beneath the sands, in the depths of the earth....some never meant for Hylian eyes... 2: A desert where life began, but also ends.....and Kirby gets to play in the sandbox that is the oasis. 1: Tostarena, the jewel of the desert! See the inverted pyramids! Party with the locals and enjoy some shave ice! Hitch a ride on a Jaxi and race across the dunes! You may even find oases with fish swimming in them!

[@developingopinionmedia2909]

The lore behind Twilight Princess you brought up definitely upped the creepy factor the game goes for but the Gibdo queen from TOTK made me jump the moment she came on screen. Any boss that does that nowadays has my insta-respect.

[@Triforce_of_Doom]

oh man the Gibdo in general in Tears were crazy. I still remember going through the sandstorm & seeing one with wings & immediately going "OH SWEET CHRIST WHY"

[@developingopinionmedia2909]

@@Triforce_of_Doom I know right?!! I quoted Rise of Skywalker with these zombie sand bug monstrosities. BUT DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE GANON HANDS!!! IF YOU'RE NOT CARRYING A PAYLOAD OF BOMB FLOWERS, CHEESE IT LIKE A JACK RABBIT IN A LOUISIANA OIL SPILL.

[@kisaLuver]

I had been watching some SnapCube highlight compilations before I watched this so when the intro happened I was pleasantly surprised! 😂 Post-watch edit: YEAAAAA SOLM PEAK! I love the Solm family, they cracked me up after so many depressing chapters lol. Futaba's Palace had me so emotional, I know it was a pyramid bc "haha conspiracy theories" but your analysis shows how much deeper it goes

[@ZaffreRevolution]

i've also been a part of the crowd that's dreaded desert levels, but this video proved just how many great ones there have been! awesome list, and it's cool to see a lot of my favorites make the cut. you've managed to maintain that entertaining, unique style that made me a fan all of those years ago and i remain impressed every time

[@claytonrios1]

Here are some of my favorite desert levels. 1. Chase from Red Steel 2. It has everything from a high speed train chase to some great fights in a city that's in the middle of nowhere in a desert. 2. Great Desert from Stellar Blade. Sandstorms, Naytiba under the sand and a protagonist who can stand the heat in a skin tight suit or even a skirt without a problem in the world. 3. Sand Land from Sand Land. Akira Toriyamas game has half of the runtime in a desert and yet it's a rollicking Mad Max adventure with demons.

[@shadowlinkbds]

Well, it's summer and a bit of a hot one as usual, so I say a list of desert levels is perfect timing. Going through them is a challenge dealing with heat, sandstorms, quicksand, creatures that inhabit the area, etc. You'll need to not underestimate the environment that desert levels provide if you dont want to be buried in the sand.

[@Apophis324]

I don't really understand why people have such a strong dislike for Fire Emblem Engage, but to each their own. One cannot deny that the kingdom of Solm is very fun to play around in and that you get some of the more well-designed characters there in Timerra, Merrin, Panette and Seadall. Oscar gets points redacted though for failing to mention how *cool* Merrin is (or linking her to Shantae for voice acting).

[@thetrophygamer3606]

*Sees the length of this video, sees the length of wambu’s video* Seems the green scorpion got out thesaurused by lamp and spoopy ghost. I kid loved both videos, still don’t like sand all that much but can appreciate it more in games now

[@dreamer9398]

Hell yeah, Solm made it to the list! Definitely the best part of Engage since most of my favorite emblems: Ike, Corrin, Byleth, and Eirika are accessible. Plus, Timerra and Fogado are my favorite pair of siblings

[@codyadams5129]

It's honestly ironic that the fact that the redeads carry swords in TP made my child self LESS afraid of them.

[@comicfoil9494]

You got a point. Getting hit by a sword is less scary than the soul sucking they do in the previous games.

[@JD10503]

I think they were actually gibbdos, but a localization error labeled them redeads. Either way, they don't compare to the Wind Waker version.

[@themythosarchives7520]

I love Futaba’s palace because of how it reflects her trauma and isolation. But I also love The Spirit Temple, Ikana Canyon, and Desert Palace from Zelda. And I love the Desert Resort in Pokemon gen5. Also that intro 😂.

[@bru9383]

I just needed Arbiter's Grounds here. Best desert level for me, hands down

[@RocRolWriter]

I like the idea of "Top 10 [biome] Levels" being a topic you revisit even if you don't cram a bunch of them into one month. You've done water and desert, that just leaves mountain, forest, urban, and maybe some crazy ones like volcano and space (places that don't normally have life, as far as we know at least). You could even subdivide "forest" into temperate, tropical, and savannah, if there are enough of each to justify it. Suggestion: January would be a great time for a Top 10 Ice Levels video. The cold would make it thematically appropriate.

[@nifinland]

Casino levels would be a nice topic to see. Ya know, to see which levels make the best use of the theme and potentially even includes the use of gambling.

[@i8dacookies890]

If only you had mentioned Jet Lag, then your Desert Power Meter would be at maximum.

[@MajinK]

Another level biome that gets overlooked and imo can be overhated is ice themed.

[@TapperPlushMom]

This was fun - even IF you almost killed me in the middle of #5 (seriously, I'm still giggling about it with a slightly sore throat after choking on spit)! Personally, I admit to not playing a whole lot of games, but when I do, I have a fondness for forest/jungle levels. I wouldn't mind a countdown on those next. Lots of trees to potentially climb around in, vines to swing from if you're talking jungles or rainforests, and SO many animals.

[@garrettkujo26]

The snapcube opening was great, that’s such a good bit from the Sonic 06 Fandub 😂😂 though there are so many good bits and moments from all of their sonic fan dubs

[@reececollins9212]

A very solid list with a lot of franchises I love getting reps for the desert Some of my personal favourites are The Canyon from Little Big Planet for its music and sense of danger and Silica from Inazuma Eleven go galaxy for being a very interesting introduction to the planet hoping soccer/football adventure, introducing you to gravity affecting how you play on each planet that’s not earth, that awesome hoverboard segment and being the true introduction of souls from a gameplay standpoint

[@dr.crazystein9536]

So hopefully you'll try Top 10 Ice Levels during a Winter Season

[@chancehosey6570]

Please do this when you get a chance

[@jaketaller8567]

Since he already made a Top 15 Ice Levels list a while back, I only makes sense that he gives it the same remake treatment as Top 10 Water Levels.

[@gamerdude7576]

With regards to your end question, one area/biome that you traverse a lot in games that i really thought would be more prevalent in this countdown would be the "isolated/abandoned resource extraction/processing plant" such as massive desert drill and mining operations, or abandoned mining towns. These locales are isolated from outside contact and surrounded/engulfed in hazardous weather and terrain but serve as proof that whatever was speculated to be on site was worth the risk of setting up operations in order to get at those sweet resources and can be used for a variety of themes from stealth, action, horror, wonder and exploration and so on. These places can either be the main setting, a connecting part of a larger whole or an unrelated time capsule containing stories that either ended or were left unfinished and we just happened to stumble across it on the way to our own objective or just by complete happenstance but are fascinating all the same which makes them prime countdown material for their storytelling potential.

[@meta527II]

I remember doing this countdown almost 10 years ago. And I’m very interested to see your choices.

[@brentfisler4252]

i say dry dry dessert from paper Mario 64. it really captures what its like to travers a dessert.

[@mx.e2176]

PM64 is good but if you’ve seen number 1 you should realize it fails to hit that sweet spot of size vs density (of content/rewards) with a lot of really empty feeling tiles across a 7^2 grid iirc. I think Bug Fables did it a lot better by making a sprawling desert but you can always tell where you are since each tile/room is distinct, be it at the towering split rock, that room with the sinkhole, the pass where you get ambushed by bandits, the path between Defiant Root and Golden Settlement, the desert feels huge even once you know what it truly is.

[@BlueKnight85]

Glad to see some of my personal favorite desert levels make the list, most of them crowding the upper half. One of my new favorites was the Desert Zone from NieR: Automata. It may not be much, but the music was one of my early favorite songs when you find the building ruins until I reached the Amusement Park, and traversing through it is surprisingly okay, whether running on foot or using a boar to ride on. There's a lot of interesting things to find, but playing Replicant puts the area in a brand new context, likely being the remains of an isolated civilization with too many rules to follow. (Playing Replicant to find this place when it used to be around really helped emphasize the history of what once was.) As someone who played Automata first years before Replicant got re-released for modern day, the whole thing flew over my head on my first time. But finding the uniform of the former king worn by one of the machines is a clear sign something went wrong with the place and ceased to exist. Gameplay-wise, it's more or less pretty basic (if the gameplay itself wasn't as fun as it was, it'd be a chore to get through). But lore-wise, Desert Zone hits on so many levels, but it already left a huge impression on me after my first playthrough just for being fun. I was even excited to go back to the locale for side-quests later on, if only just to hear the music.

[@lf4807]

Here’s an unique idea: what do you get if you mix the sand level and the water level? The Beach level! If you dig in (no pun intended) there are many interesting choices you can find

[@tanookiplayer]

The Tostarena Kingdom is a great one. Probably my favourite desert area. The ones in Uncharted 3 are also great.

[@reddeath5791]

I’m not even a minute in and I love the Snapcube reference

[@SharpestSniper99]

If you were to ask me. My personal favorite Desert level is pretty much the entire Greed layer from Ultrakill.

[@rpgfan1187]

4-2: Goddamn the Sun is definitely up there for me. I also love the method for uncovering the secret exit.

[@pikespendragon67]

One of my favorites is Al-Maajik from Fantasy Life. It’s the 3rd kingdom to visit, but I feel the challenge really picks up with the enemies to be encountered

[@marshalllovelady8915]

My favorite is the old clock works in Luigi's mansion 2/Dark Moon it perfectly combines the desert theme and some Egypt parts while having its own mechanical theme just the metal and sand make for a good combination

[@SilverJakler]

Ah, but you see? The Heavy Magician masquerading as Team Hooligan IS the Mirage of Mirage Saloon

[@ma3mc3mu-X]

Any chance of a list for the “Top 10 Final _Exam_ Bosses”, in which you use literally everything you learned against the villain?

[@yokaihollow589]

Honestly, I kinda liked the Exclusion Zone from Destiny. It's a solid mix of desert ruins, buried metropolis, and military base. A great location for the final push.

[@thegreendragon5390]

So glad Solm made it onto this list.

[@madnessarcade7447]

There are a lot of unique and diverse deserts in Pokémon I hope they’re on here even tho Pokemon doesn’t have levels technically

[@andrewhaase1826]

I'd love to see these level archetypes: *Fire Levels *Sky Levels *Forest/Jungle Levels *Spooky Levels *Space Levels *Ship/Boat Levels *Living Levels -As in levels that are alive in some way. Like Chronos from God of War 3 or any level where you go inside someone.

[@Im_Not_Here57]

My favorite part of the Arbiter's ground is that its theorized to be whats left of the Spirit Temple. There is a 99.9 percent chance it's not true: but it's metal, so I like to think it's true.

[@boygame1955]

I really like Dry Dry Desert in Paper Mario & it's Bug Fables counterpart Defiant Root. Great chapters that take place in a desert.

[@gimmeyourrights8292]

A perfect countdown for the summer.

[@mx.e2176]

Going to Utah really made me appreciate the Rise iteration of Sandy Plains for perfectly capturing the way the rock formations look in that game, specifically in comparison to those found in Bryce National Park. But I truly think the biggest sleeper desert is in Bug Fables, wherein you traverse a sprawling desert, yet you can always tell where you are since each tile/room is distinct, be it at the towering split rock, that room with the sinkhole, the pass where you get ambushed by bandits, the path between Defiant Root and Golden Settlement, it feels huge even once you realize what it truly is and that speaks volumes of its quality.

[@jvts8916]

I really like the Cavare Desert, from Fairy Fencer F Advent Dark Force. This is the place where you have to go to finally resurrect the Goddess, and as a result it has a series of boss fights against the guardians and Bernard, who has ambushed you. You then move to the innermost area at night time as you approach your objective for the first half of the game. This leads to you finally fighting Marianna. It's also what reveals the next part of the game is Fang accidentally travelling back in time due to his subconscious wish to save Tiara. Once you eventually make it back to the desert, you'll be fighting all the guardians at the same time. And that's all from base FFF. Advent Dark Force turned this area into a route split depending on how many furies you've extracted from the Vile God in this run. If you were wise enough not to remove many you end up in the Goddess route that is the closest to the original second half. If you couldn't resist your temptation you end up in the Vile God route, named after you accidentally unleashing and getting curbstomped by the Vile God. If you remove a number of furies from the Vile God that is downright impossible outside of new game +, he fully revives and you have high enough stats to beat him halfway into the game, unlocking a secret third route (that sadly has an unresolved cliffhanger). This area was so iconic it got a homage in Neptunia Gamemaker, only this time your bike allows the team to make a much larger desert without it feeling tedious. It's a great dungeon itself, appropiately playing the theme of the Gold Summits as you comb the area to fight the fake members of Gold Third.

[@DragonScythe64]

you think for October he can do top 10 haunted levels?, he has done Ice and water, and now desert hell I think Countdown creators can have a field day with a top 10 level themes

[@shadowlinkbds]

This October, he's doing monster month 2 with witches, mad scientists, etc.

[@dr.crazystein9536]

I didn't see the Top 10 Video Game Ice Levels

[@cdesigner9178]

Welp, maybe next time. Though seeing as there are a number of people asking for such a countdown, we'll probably get it. It may just have to wait until next year.

[@zeldasmetaknight]

One little theme level idea: "Factory Levels". When Osha standards have no concern for level safety at all.

[@ldmassey]

I usually hate desert levels, so it was nice to see some good ones

[@pohnile]

1: One of my fav kingdoms 2: Not my fav area in the game, but it´s still great and I like the variety of levels it has. Also the boss is really good. 3: Great item and boss fight 4: One of the best levels in the game when it comes to narrative and Futaba has the best awakening of the characters. 5: Dat music!! Also finally great desert maps in FE and this is probably my favorite part of the game 7: Not one of my fav Banjo levels, but it does refine the desert element a lot and Gobi is awesome. 9: Have not played Mania, but the desert level in Unleashed is great. 10: Superb game and level Good list. Some other good desert levels would be from Crash Bandicoot 3, That Scorpion level in Spyro 3, Desert in New Pokemon Snap, The desert level in Granblue Fantasy Relink and Groundman´s stage in Megaman and Bass

[@matthewmarkiewicz5206]

Great video as always Green Scorpion. I also have a few level ideas for a countdown, like a space level or a haunted house level

[@macaylacayton2915]

I approve of number 4 as it is my personal favorite palace in p5/p5r AND is the palace of my personal favorite persona character

[@sanedimentio]

Fun list with interesting pics, and if you're actually taking suggestions for level themes, I have a good one. My personal favorite level trope is the ancient ruin level. These levels have nice atmosphere, usually have interesting mechanics, and my favorite bit is there is always a story, but it isn't always spelled out

[@TheHearthGuy]

Well look at that. I was convinced that there would be no Fire Emblem maps on this list, but in retrospect, Solm was a pretty good choice. And the music was incredible, say what you want about Engage, but the music is impeccable. As for suggestions for what kind of level list to do, a couple that I can think of would be the Poison level which is often hated even more than the desert level, or the Space level, which often get to be very creative with lowered gravity when done right.

[@DimensionSpawn]

When I saw the title, I thought of one desert level I wanted to see on here, and I am so glad that not only was it on the list but it was also #1.

[@kadajsnightqueen]

I know it gets a bad rap in the Sonic community, but I actually like the Sandopolis levels. It’s fun rappelling and swinging all over the place (or climbing and gliding) in the first act, and the fact that you explore an ancient Egyptian tomb for the second act is just endlessly fascinating for me, in spite of the ghosts/light mechanic. The music is also pretty catchy, as you apparently agree. Since you’ve already covered my beloved water and ice levels, have you considered caves and volcanoes? Those levels in both the Sonic games and The Lion King made a major impression on me as a kid, and they always make for such moody, dynamic settings compared to the quietly threatening serenity of water levels and the stark beauty of ice environs.

[@tobiasdarkrai1134]

One of the best theories I've heard about Stallord is that it was a "trial by combat" form of execution as you put it. The added bit it is that they theorized Ganondorf was the one who actually killed it and that was why he was instead banished to the Twilight Realm.

[@Gunn3rGuru]

8:34 Turns out it's Fang the Hunter now. Took over the IDW comics for a few months.

[@rga1605]

One that I remember well is the desert part in Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire - it wasn't big, but still I feel it was fun

[@shardofomega4427]

I really enjoyed the countdown here, with the variety of how desert levels were set (and the variety that was included) making things fairly enjoyable (the level at Number 6 was certainly the most interesting, for reasons you've brought up in that entry). And of course the obvious "Sand: It's Everywhere; Get used to it" deal is apparently a thing, though obviously not universally in a negative way (I don't know where it originated, I just know it's quoted...which applies to a lot of things I learn about from references through the internet). If I were to provide a level biome to tackle next (eventually decided as it may be), I might say...maybe a Top Ten Space Station Levels countdown. Not something we know about too often, right?

[@SierraGustafson]

Even though it didn't make the list, my favorite desert level is going to be Muska Lacka/Racka and the Sun and Moon Temple from the first Dark Cloud on the PS2 if anyone even remembers it. Sure, it's so annoying to keep each house facing the corresponding totem pole with the exception of the vacant house that actually belongs to your fifth ally, I really like the music in the area. Plus, the Sun and Moon Temple is more like an Egyptian tomb and the boss of said dungeon is a cursed pharaoh that needs to be laid to rest.

[@TekkenGirl4Lyfe]

This countdown just reminded me that I _really_ need to pick Engage back up. I can't wait to get to Solm! (I've, uh, been obsessed with Fate/Samurai Remnant lately... to the point of neglecting almost everything else...)

[@nameabsent]

My favourite desert level, well world really, is the Desert of Didgeridoos in Rayman Origins. Maybe it’s the Aussie patriot in me but there’s something about starting the world by being sucked into a didgeridoo, hearing the sound of it as you travel down it and are then spat out into a world full of music themed platforms. Yeah, the emphasis may not be so much on the desert, but still I love it. Also the music is really REALLY good P.S. If you do go down the level trope countdown path, could I request best cave levels? Once again, Rayman has one of my favourites with The Caves of Skops

[@jaketaller8567]

Hey, Oscar, If you’re looking for another level types list, there are a couple you can borrow from WatchMojo: Bizarre Levels Boat/Ship Levels Fire/Lava Levels Forest/Jungle Levels Ice/Snow Levels (Remake) Mine Levels Prison/Jail Levels Rooftop Levels Spooky Levels In Non-Horror Games Train Levels (Remake)

[@Neutra77]

In terms of new biome themes, I think 'Castle/Fortress' could be an interesting one. Good levels would make use of the theme in a more architectural sense than natural biomes. Plus there would be distinct differences in culture that can be utlisied to add character. A quick example I can think of would be the Bowser's Castle from Super Mario Odyssey, with it taking a definite Japanese architectural style and laying itself out as a gauntlet of challenges, with a brief stop at a tea garden halfway.

[@JD10503]

Interesting list. A lot of these I agree with, but I would probably consider places like Arbiter's Grounds more of a ruins or haunted level, despite being found in a desert. I'd also consider Ikana Canyon more representative of a wasteland, which could overlap with deserts. As for my favorite desert level, I'm probably going to say Sandopolis. Sonic 3 and Knuckles is easily my favorite Sonic game, and that music just really has that desert vibe. Atmospheric but ever so slightly oppressive, like you can feel that sun beating down on you. Anyway, glad to see a countdown from you. You, Joker, and Quarter Guy are easily my favorite KZbinrs and I keep coming back to all your lists.

[@Hilversumborn]

There are two open world games that I really like, who's worlds is (almost) nothing but desert. Mad Max (2015) and Assassin's Creed Origins. Both games manages to make every area of the desert distinctly different. I.E. yeah you have the typical sand and rock desert but there's one moment in Mad Max where you're opening a gate of a fortress and when you're driving through the gate, through pure environmental storytelling you learn that was a sluice and that the previous area's used to be the bottom of the ocean, that was a powerful moment for me.

[@lord_boneman]

Couldn’t agree more on putting Futaba’s Palace in, and glad to see I’m not the only one who wasn’t a fan of the Anubis (Anubi?) and Cognitive Wakaba’s voice.

[@E-102GammaMKII]

I would LOVE to see more countdowns about level themes from you, Oscar! Another fantastic video as always! Keep up the good work!

[@mechamacabre8962]

This was quite the interesting list, and, yes, I could feel the heat somewhat. But you know what's even hotter that the desert? HELL! I wanna see the top 10 videogame equivalents of hell someday!

[@Bucket2000]

The greed layer from ultrakill is pretty good

[@TheRadiaforce]

Comb the desert!

[@erichfiedler1481]

"You think we're taking this too literally?" "No, we were told to comb the desert so that's what we're doing. FIND ANYTHING YET?" "No sir! "YOU?" "Not yet!" "YOU?" "WE AIN'T FOUND SHIT!"

[@Zodia195]

I knew this wasn't going to be in the countdown, but thanks for showing Skies of Arcadia's desert level in the game. LOL, Desert levels are my 2nd least favorite type of areas, only Fire is my worst. So it's also rare for me to love them. #1 didn't surprise me in the least because as I was thinking of Mario levels, Odyssey's Desert level is one of few I actually enjoyed when it compare it to other Mario Desert levels. And much like Mario, I was expecting Zelda to show up and I was like, "It's going to be Arbiter's Grounds" since that tends to be the fan fav out of all of the Dungeons in TP. If I were to rank all of the Desert Dungeons in Zelda, this would be my 3rd fav, only with the Desert Palace from LBW in 2nd and the Spirit Temple in OT. A more recent Desert area I've come to enjoy is in Genshin Impact. The region of Sumeru has several desert areas and I love all of them because they have great puzzles to solve with beautiful architecture and the quests tied to them are stellar. And in the lore of the game, you learn why this area of Sumeru became a desert, because much like the rest of the Sumeru, it used to be a Rainforest. So yeah I really enjoy it.