What's YOUR Favourite level of all time?

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

I forgot about Omicron zone

How is this even possible.

Gives me chills every time.

[Nasirosuchus]

Mushihime-sama Futari BL - Stage 5
Espgaluda - Stage 4 (The action + music is awesome)
Espgaluda II - Stage 2 (same as above)
Perfect Cherry Blossom - Stage 3
Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou - Stage 2
Mushihime-sama - Stage 2 & 3

More later...

[Plasmo]

Battle Garegga - Stage 5
Pink Sweets - Stage 6
Under Defeat - Stage 5
Mushihimesama - Stage 4 (!)
Ikaruga - Stage 4
Radiant Silvergun - Stage 5

Tough question, couldn't decide for just one. I'm probably missing a lot of awesome stages aswell.

[Zengeku3]

DoDonPachi Daioujou BL Stage 2-4

The stage isn't terribly difficult (still quite challenging but not hair-pulling) and it's very fun and varied and allows me to move around a lot. Also more fun than 2-3 because it allows me to deviate a bit from my path without getting destroyed for it.

Ketsui Stage 1-5

This stage is amazing fun and the music is pretty awesome too.

Crimzon Clover Stage 5. This stage is hella cool and long. I haven't gotten to play this game too much since my laptop is kinda shit but the few moments I've got to spent with it using my desktop has been very entertaining.

(I'd think that SDOJ's EX Stage 5 would fit here too but I haven't played it.)

[evil_ash_xero]

One of the most brilliant levels is Ikaruga, stage 4. I am SO bad at it, but I respect it's design immensely.

[BPzeBanshee]

Raiden Fighters, Stage 6
Damn, 'Vahrstor' flying in the middle of a thunderstorm is an impressive sight indeed.

Solid State Survivor, Stage 5
This stage screams awesomeness even though it might not have the shiny fancy graphics to back it, the game is very consistent and the music and events that happen on the stage (including the train midboss) is a sight to behold.

Thunder Force IV, Stage 5
This stage solidified my love for Thunder Force as soon as I got to it. Faust is amazing even though you don't get to kill him just yet.

[Jeneki]

I'm always a fan of descent-type levels. In Rayforce, breaking through the atmosphere and through the clouds to the surface. In Soukyugurentai, stating in the clouds and going down to the surface where a legion of buggies awaits you.

Speaking of Rayforce and it's descending levels, that has to have the most badass plot ever. Oh noes, an evil supercomputer took over the Earth, what ever should we do? BLOW UP THE PLANET. May as well just make a shmup where you play as the alien invaders for once, and start at Neptune crushing human defenders and demolishing every planet on your way in, with the TLB inside the Sun.

[Randorama]

I'm always a fan of descent-type levels. In Rayforce, breaking through the atmosphere and through the clouds to the surface. In Soukyugurentai, stating in the clouds and going down to the surface where a legion of buggies awaits you.

Speaking of Rayforce and it's descending levels, that has to have the most badass plot ever. Oh noes, an evil supercomputer took over the Earth, what ever should we do? BLOW UP THE PLANET. May as well just make a shmup where you play as the alien invaders for once, and start at Neptune crushing human defenders and demolishing every planet on your way in, with the TLB inside the Sun.

You are talking of Mars Matrix, to an extent, as the gist of the plot is that the Mars colony rebels against the oppressive Earth government, and the Earth government crushes the revolution via its new special forces, the two Mosquitoes...your ships of choice. The plot is not so black-and-white, though, as the martian revolution is guided by some mysterious alien force, whose purpose is to take hold of the masses. Or something like that.

By the way Jeneki, aside Rayforce and Sokyugurentai, what other games implement descent-type levels, if you know?

@ChainSawGuitarSP: son, when you will be my age.../old wheezer voice.

[dan76]

Aero Blasters - Stage 2 (I think) - there's a really good bit where you travel through tunnels and you can get a power up on the nose of your fighter that helps guide you through - it's really fast and a great part of a stage in an average game.



Deathsmiles MBL - Forest, Graveyard and Ice palace - for the atmosphere and scoring

Akai Katana (Arcade) - Stage 4

Mushihimesama - Stages 4 & 5. Stage 3 gets a bit boring for me.

[Skykid]

Mushihimesama stage 4: orgasmic music + beautiful pattern & enemy layouts.

Garegga Stage 5: Subversive

Futari Stage 5: Mental

DOJ Stage 4: Bobbing, weaving, bullet cancelling

Zed Blade stage 3: Try not to smash your head into the screen when Namiki drops the choon like a sledgehammer.

Off the top of my head.

Music does a lot for the experience imo.

[third_strike]

Shikigami no Shiro 3-2

[Jeneki]

Aero Blasters - Stage 2 (I think) - there's a really good bit where you travel through tunnels and you can get a power up on the nose of your fighter that helps guide you through - it's really fast and a great part of a stage in an average game.

I love that powerup. Oddly enough, it's also good for most of the game after stage 2 as well, if you can keep it. Blocking missiles, pushing away from aircraft that tries to ram you, etc. Although it will get you killed in the late game, due to narrow passages that push you right into the wall. (yea, I spent way too much time playing that game back then)

[NAVVARR]

Stage 6 of X-Multiply is a favourite of mine- love the music- especially when you start descending downwards to the end of level... brilliant

[AttObl]

HELLSINKER: Uh... The entire game? But if I HAVE to choose, then Segment 7 or Segment 5.
Rayforce: Area 2, without a doubt. Especially the music.
Kamui: The entire game, but if I have to choose, then Stage 5 or 4.
RefleX: Areas 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8.
Crimzon Clover: Stage 4 or 5.
Battle Garegga: The Clouds stage. (Stage 5)
DoDonPachi: Stage 4.
ESPGaluda: Stage 4, thanks to the relaxing music.
Ketsui: Stage 1, 3, or 5.
Einhander: The entire game, but if I have to choose, Stage 6.
Suguri: The very last level.
Sora: The level where you fight Suguri and Hime.
RefRain Prism Memories: Stage 5.
Touhou 7: Perfect Cherry Blossom: Stage 4, if only for the music.
Touhou 13: Ten Desires: Stage 6, hands down.
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou: Stage 3.
Zen-Ichi: Stages 2 and 3.

Er... I would add some more, but these are just my top favorite levels.

[xbl0x180]

Gate Of Thunder, Stage 6: Dark City. THAT MUSIC!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQfV6_LnBJs

[moonblood]

Axelay, stage 2 - great music and overall atmosphere and then of course the walker boss

[Cellinaire]

Hmm very hard to pick one. But anyway,

4th stage of the original Giga Wing

4th stage of Cyvern : Dragon weapon

Most of the stages in Andro Dunos, Darius Gaiden, Prehistoric Isle 2, Chariot(from Three Wonders by Capcom), and Blazing Star.




etc....

[R-Gray 1]

Axelay stage 2 amazing music and getting into enemy base, and then fight with that boss
Gradius V stage 3 same as axelay stage 2, as usual stage 3 of konami games are gr8 for me
Ikaruga Chapter 3 and Chapter 4....wow so beautiful stages
Darius Force area B wow soo nice to go under the sea and that music!!
Raystorm stage 4, stage 5 and stage 7 the stage 7 is amazing
Under defeat stage 1-5 graveyard at the begining u can hear only that music omg nice feeling. look the bridges, the enemies the river
Border down stage 3 omg i saw smthn similar in other game ray....yeah nice stage
stage 4 is good also...don't remember very well.
Einhänder stage 5 not an easy stage and very nice with the bosses and the 2 music themes. great stage design!
Gradius Gaiden the cristal stage

surely I forget somones

[lilmanjs]

no love for the yellow route of stage 2 of border down? also RF2 train stage. best train stage ever

[KAI]

IBARA arrange -full rank version- stage 3 (best train stage ever too) & stage 6 (Hosoe all the way)
DOJ 4 (Ayako Saso BGM remix ver.)
Radirgy 6 (Has K.H.D.N. best track ever)
Pinksweets 5 (Music+Action)
Ketsui 4 (Music+Action)
Mushi futari 3-4
Garegga 5 (Music+Action)
Thunder Force 5 - Cyber Cave stage & Space stage (Tsukumo!)
Lords of Thunder - Freezel Stage (Metal!!)

[Nick420]

Futari stage 5, just because the music is great and for some reason it just feels more fun than pretty much any other stage I've played in any game.

Gradius V, stage 6. Again great music, love fighting off the green goo, and the boss is savage! Love speed killing that sucka!

Dodonpachi stage 4. Just love full chaining that stage then no missing the boss makes me feel awesome lol.

There the stages which jump to mind right now, I'm sure there are lots more

[indutrial]

Gradius III (Arcade) - Level 3 - I love the classic vibe of the first half with its volcanoes, etc., plus the trick to change the background music. The second half of the level is just insane. Finally, the Core Mk.III boss at the end is simply awesome, especially when it starts bombarding you with short burst lasers.

Xexex - Final Stage - I like how colorful this level is, especially when the giant green walker things attack you inside the ship. The last boss is kind of a pushover, but the path to get to him is a fantastic onslaught.

[chum]

I'll have to go with Garegga stage 5.

[Shelcoof]

Really having a hard time figuring out what my favorite stages are but here are some memorable ones.

Fantasy Zone II the stage in the forest I absolutely love that stage for I have no idea why. The remake levels are also very nice on the Sega Ages Complete Collection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-xLt_LSVsU

Radiant Silvergun Segments include the Monkey Boss to the part where you chase after the ship zig zagging through the levels then finally confronting the ship in the sky.
Also the replica Ship that looked like yours... something like that lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ1NXo9s9c4

Ikaruge Chapter 2 music alone makes me just love this stage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2e_Vi3I00U

Sexy Parodius 2nd Stage is just soo colorful and fun.. plenty of other stages in this game as well that I love but the 2nd stage is really colorful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arHlVnySYhg