What’s your favorite area in a retro game?

[Sheepy765]

Whether it be the unsettling and trippy Moonside from Earthbound, the serene Verdanturf Town from Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, or the eerie bottom of the well in Ocarina of Time, there are all sorts of settings in games with their own draws. What are some of yours?

 

[Generic Edgelord]

The misty cavernous area in Faxanadu. Love the music and the sudden shift in tone, and also the mist effect itself.

Skelos Badlands in Spyro 2. Probably the baddest assed level in the game visually.

Dexter's Island in Ape Escape. I love giant monster interiors as dungeons.

The prison in Silent Hill 2. A mindfuck of epic proportions the likes of which I haven't seen in any other game 25 years later.

I second the Shadow Temple. Coolest area in OoT, even if the boss is kind of a let-down. Inside Jabu Jabu's belly is a close second.

 

[lestagio]

I've always been a huge fan of World 3 (Vine Valley) and World 4 (Gorilla Glacier) of Donkey Kong Country on SNES. I've always lived in very foresty, rural areas and I love hiking, so really anything in a nice forest always hits for me. That said, winter is my favorite season and I just love the glistening snow everywhere, so snow areas are also always great as long as they don't put too many ice mechanics.

Some other favorites include Freezeezy Peak in Banjo Kazooie, most of Super Metroid, and Cool Cool Mountain of Mario 64.

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

Viridian City (specifically the Yellow version).

They just nailed something with the atmosphere there... especially since it's the first thing you see after tiny Pallet Town, and the last stop on your journey.

It feels complete.

 

[wobblysquid]

The Lost Woods in Link to the Past--specifically the clearing where the Master Sword is. The fog effects there amazed me at the time and I still find it rather beautiful.

I also like the elevator at the beginning of Bioshock. The moment you get your first glimpse of Rapture. It just really hits.

 

[Burzuru Burzuru]

destiny islands
traverse town
twilight town
sandover village
sentinel beach
cool cool mountain
jolly roger bay

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

The aerial levels in Mega Man (Air Man, Tengu Man, Wind Man, etc) these gives me vibes of ascension.

 

[Generic Edgelord]

I also like the elevator at the beginning of Bioshock. The moment you get your first glimpse of Rapture. It just really hits.

"Is a man not entitled to the sweat on his brow? No, says the man in Washington; it belongs to the poor. No, says the man in the Vatican; it belongs to God. No, says the man in Moscow; it belongs to EVERYONE."

 

[username_]

It's bewildering to think Gimmick and Super Mario Bros. ran on the same hardware.
View attachment 215594

 

[CrankyKong64]

Most of the areas in symphony of the night are the BEST!! Especially the Colliseum and catacombs.

 

[Bakuma1997]

The Moon of Ducktales, no reason needed *The banger begins to play*

Super Mario RPG's final dungeon, Smith's factory, ominous music, eerie atmosphere, an at this point easy game finally turning on the monitor with foes that require thinking, the memorable final boss... *chef kiss*

Yellow's Lavander Town, played the game at 8 yo. but never got scared, in fact it reminds me of how much we respect Death in Mexico

Castlevania III's Castle Entrance, hearing Vampire Killer as we get into a mock of the first game's intro stage was a great surprise

Click Clock woods of Banjo Kazooie, some people dislike it for being too big, i find it is a great last level with a fun gimmick and a washing down to cleanse the literal and metaphorical shit that is Rusty Bucket Bay

And lastly Paper Mario 64's Star Road and Star Haven, a relaxing tune to lull you in preparation for a epic final battle in Bowser's castle, i have a second save state there just to open it and stay there listening the music

 

[SantasFavourite]

The first Monster Hunter specifically, has this really calm et mysterious atmosphere in some places like area 10, 11 and 12 of the first map, also some areas in Rule of Rose, like that one room with the clover leaf doors was really intriguing in a first playthrough.

 

[Macaulay Kong]

I have a thing for games that let me go through completely mundane areas where nothing particularly special happens. The Ring on Dreamcast with the office building it takes place in, Shadow of Memories with the varous European-style buildings you explore or the many basic wooden homes that you can just explore for a little bit before going back out to the grind in God knows how many RPGs
Even better if it's raining and/or snowing in games like these

 

[Viviana Santos]

By far my favorite dungeon in the Zelda series, the vibes of this dungeon are immaculate!

 

[Aldia]

Sky Sanctuary comes at a perfect time in Sonic & Knuckle's story. The heroes have just battled each other, only to find out that Eggman has (unsurprisingly) been manipulating them both.

The race for the finish line has just begun and you're greeted with a perfect view of your objective, while a gorgeous score plays in the background.

---

It's my favorite stage of the 2D Sonic games, hands down.

 

[BrawlMan]

Casino/Carnival/Pinball Zones in any Sonic game. Meteor Herd in Sonic Adventure 2. The Amusement Park in Streets of Rage 2. The bridge in Streets of Rage 1. The lab level in Shinobi III. Atlantis, Greece in Castlevania: Bloodlines is so fun to play, and is one of the better water levels in a Classicvania. The best in my opinion.

 

[stoicvampirepig]

Kakariko Village in a Link to the past...I let out a deep sigh every visit.

 

[Sanarchy]

Roda Tree in Ys. I

Moon Cave in Okami

 

[naka_michi]

Sol Tower on Legaia

I love Lumina too, super chill and suave atmosphere

But also every other town in Legend of Mana really
I love the entire game so much

 

[plaindillo]

I have high praises for basically every place in the game but for Earthbound, If I had to pick one place, it would probably be Ness's Magicant. It speaks to me on a very personal level, as was the intention, I feel.

It's happy, its sad. It shows you how Ness feels inside.