4. Coach Oleander’s Basic Braining
A good first level should teach you how to play, set the tone, offer some intrigue or a reason to keep playing, and help establish the characters and world. Psychonauts does this perfectly with “Basic Braining.” Yes, it’s “just” a tutorial level, but the platforming is solid and the theme, a warzone, is a stark contrast to the summer camp vibes you get at the start of the game. This establishes how varied these worlds can be. Plus you get the first hint that someone might be hiding something…
