10 Awesome Video Game Levels That Ended Painfully Soon

While devising a video game, developers need to work out and fine-tune the level design and mechanics to make sure the gaming experience is as fun as possible.

One great moment in gaming is when a level introduces a badass weapon or a new mechanic that revolutionises the gameplay. Moments like this stand out, since players haven't seen anything else like it up until this point and hope it'll play a bigger role later on.

Instead, the elements which defined the jaw-dropping level never reappear. Even if the rest of the game is solid, players can be left feeling deflated, unable to comprehend why the most enjoyable aspect was deliberately downplayed.

Now, these sorts of decisions can be reasonable since devs sometimes pack their best ideas into a short, polished package. Also, brief levels are sure to invite repeated playthroughs, especially for speed-runners.

But when a game is stuffed with excess content and needlessly long side-quests, it's a shame when the most innovative part is over and done within minutes. Even though the ten entries on this list were enthralling, they should've been way longer.

Control centres around a federal director with reality-bending powers who must face a supernatural force. With a premise like that, you'd expect Remedy Entertainment's sci-fi title to have a few kaleidoscopic moments.

However, nothing is as mind-melting as the Ashtray Maze. The labyrinth constantly shifts and morphs around you, with walls folding in, ceilings collapsing into the floors, and doors manifesting from thin air. The geometry defies logic, which fittingly reflecting the game's themes of distorted reality.

The song playing during this section, Take Control, isn't mere background noise, since it reinforces the fact the heroine has finally unlocked her full potential.

The level comes at the right time, since Control has spent hours focusing on slow-burn mystery and fragmented storytelling. As a result, players might be getting impatient, since they want to get to the real trippy stuff. So, when the protagnist gains access to her entire arsenal, it's deeply rewarding and epic.

Even though the Ashtray Maze is a fan-pleaser, it only lasts five minutes. Although it's imperative for gaming moments not to outstay their welcome, spending more time in this section would've been ideal.