10 Brutal Video Game Opening Levels That GUARANTEED Game Over
5. Liberty Island - Deus Ex
Deus Ex is one of the most innovative action-RPGs ever made, but it's also a game which confidently threw the gauntlet down at the player's feet in its very first level, the iconic Liberty Island.
As UNATCO agent JC Denton, the player must find a way to infiltrate the terrorist-occupied island, while equipped with few of the augments and weapons which they'll eventually make frequent use of.
Played today, the level is shockingly lacking in the expected hand-holding, more or less thrusting players into a large sandbox and letting them figure out the finer details for themselves. To that end, younger players may well lack the patience for its tricksy trial-and-error gameplay nowadays.
More than anything, Liberty Island underlines the importance of mastering stealth and other non-lethal methods, but more stubborn players in particular surely found themselves stumped by this level for hours.
The game thankfully makes JC far more capable afterwards, so it's perhaps best thought of as a trial-by-fire to prove the player's mettle and patience.