10 Intense Video Game Levels NO ONE Beat First Time
3. Traitors Caravan - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Metal Gear Solid franchise is wholly concerned with stressing players out as they attempt to tame their nerves and sneak their way to success - though Metal Gear Solid V opened things up in allowing players a more action-centric throughline for the most part.
Though the extensive combat options make most of the game's missions relatively easy, the sixteenth mission, "Traitors Caravan," ensured a white-knuckle time no matter your preferred play-style.
The mission requires players to identify and extract a transport truck, but as soon as they make a move on the vehicle, the balls-tough Skulls show up to throw a spanner in the works.
If you don't have your Fulton levelled up sufficiently you won't be able to extract the truck the easy way, and will need to literally drive the damn thing out of dodge.
But as the Skulls will destroy the truck the first chance they get, you need to engage them directly first, which is itself a test in how ably you can keep your cool.
Though Kojima does give you myriad combat possibilities to distract and deal with the Skulls, this is one of those levels that keeps your stress levels spiking all the way until you reach the post-mission debrief.
The moment that you've dealt with the Skulls and can finally drive the truck out of the area is nevertheless one of sweat-soaked triumph.