In this example from the Forest Ruins, the chokepoint is near the zone entrance, so all players entering the zone will pass by this castle gate. Notice the clever pond placement . It makes it that even players who are going to the right will run past the gate. Therefore, if someone needs help getting through the gate, there is a constant stream of players they can ask. The enemies guarding the gate are very dangerous and significantly higher level than those in the vicinity.
Over the weekend, I listened to a Radiolab episode “The Secret to a Long Life,” which discusses the science of memory creation and inspired me to do some research into why certain levels are so memorable. This research identified a few key principles: Novelty : Levels with unique premises and mechanics that players have never seen before, for example the time travel mechanics in Dishonored 2’s Clockwork Mansion and Titanfall 2’s Effect and Cause. Breaking Expectations : Lev
