Games with exceptional locations

[Shoggoth2588]

Despite how (mostly) linear and superficial they were, the environments in FF13 were, at the very least, very attractive. If nothing else, it's a game that knows how to look pretty.

As much as I go on about how much I hated FF13, it was one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. The locations were varied, colorful, huge (to look at) and refreshing.

 

[F'Angus]

I personally loved the Shivering Isles. Split in half between Mania and Dementia. Great fun.

 

[Alssadar]

This will blow your fucking mind

Blow it right the fuck away. Seriously, I want the next Portal to be like this and fuck with my perceptions of reality. Or maybe a game where you go mad and this is what happens to the levels?

:O
That. was. amazing. I want this so badly.

OT: I enjoy the Zone from STALKER, as well as the post-fallout America from Fallout 3. I also like the massive nondescript battlefields of the Total War games, from the valleys to the hills to the plains to the cities... all fields to be stained with blood.

 

[Singapore Sling]

Indeed, Skyrim is just wonderful.
I would add : the AC series, Riven (didn't play the other games) the Witcher (esp. the second one)... but my favorite : the Shivering Isles ! I'm a sucker for scenery porn...

 

[Richardplex]

Pretty much all of FF13 and Witcher 2. Dragon Age 3 is going to be done with the Frostbite 2 engine, so I expect a large amount of scenery porn there.

 

[The Night Angel]

Has to be said, the entire Red Dead Redemption map, but especially Mexico for me. Simply superb. Also, I agree with the OP, Dragon Age had one or two amazing locations, but the party camp was my favourite

 

[Ashadowpie]

yah i know its from WoW but Ashenvale, its a huge forest thick with green purple and pink tree's that tower over you. the music is pretty too. every lush forest in games are beautiful to me but Ashenvale * sigh * i could live there lol to bad Wow decided to cute half of it down n put a freakin erupting volcano in the middle of the wonderful place

 

[Ghost]

The Witcher 2, even the sewers in that game looked amazing. Sanitarium, while far from 'beautiful' had some very memorable locations, and what really made them good was how unique each was, in its own twisted way.

And of course Vice City. It may be lacking a bit in terms of aesthetics when compared to more modern games, but it's still one of the best sandbox locations of any video game.

Also, X-16.

 

[Secret world leader (shhh)]

The whole of Red Dead Redemption's world is beautiful, except Blackwater, but maybe that's intentional.

The reveal of Rapture is stunning and i like how each level gives a different view of it i.e fort frolic lets you see the skyscrapers (seascrapers?) and hephestus lets you see the very bottom with its cool orange glow and the city way above.

Blackreach and Sovngarde in Skyrim are also pretty cool.

 

[Marcus Kehoe]

Mass Effect 2, some truly beautiful work there.

 

[Dethenger]

Am I the only one thinking of the sky in Assassin's Creed 2 right now?

Assassin's Creed is what popped into my head the moment I read the title. Seriously, all of those games are beautiful and painstakingly designed, it's hard not to love it.

 

[Pinhead Larry]

Am I the only person who likes Paradise City from Burnout? From city center, to mountain range, to exotic island, it was pretty much perfectly suited to it's cause, it really felt like it was designed with gameplay in mind.

Skyrim was also good, a fantastic representation of the frozen north.

 

[Kapri]

Enslaved had a lot of beautiful environments because of the juxtaposition of nature and the old, ruined city look. Also the Lost Woods in Twilight Princess were gorgeous.

I'll also mention the gardens in Prince of Persia: Warrior Within because I think I spent more time looking at the scenery then trying to solve the puzzles.

 

[Xannidel]

Dear Esther, the entire cave chapter blew me away with how gorgeous the scenery is, also i am a sucker for waterfalls and small rivers and caves.

 

[Bloodstain]

Myst Online: Uru had Ahnonay.

Essentially, it was a "secluded island" with other islands off in the distance. With a bit of puzzle solving, it suddenly transformed into a decrepit rock in a sea of fog. A bit more exploration, and it tranformed into a rock in space, then back into a secluded island.

Then, by manipulating the linking system a bit, you could turn off the water currents and swim out to the distant islands... where they turn out to be painted on giant flats.

With more exploration and mucking behind the scenes, you could transform the island into a giant incomplete statue hanging in a big dome. With a bit of manipulation and help from a friend, you could eventually end up UNDER the island version of the area, in a sleeping area, just watching the waterfall completely surrounding you. It was breathtaking.

Best level design ever.

From the same game, the open area at the top of the first tower in Gahreesen was basically a quick blast of pure scenery porn.

The whole game was absolutely astounding, especially regarding scenery and level design.

And I agree with the one mentioning Morrowind's Sadrith Mora.
Oh, and the water temple in TLoZ: Majora's Mask was amazing. So many pipes and valves...it is my favourite temple. (Silence, water temple haters!)

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Rapture in Bioshock, Black Mesa and City 17 in Half-Life, Chernobyl in S.T.A.L.K.E.R., several Elder Scrolls cities, Oasis Grove in Fallout, too many Uncharted spots (Iram of the Pillars, Shambhala, the cruise ship).

 

[putowtin]

Am I the only one thinking of the sky in Assassin's Creed 2 right now?

No your not! It's truly beautiful

Venice in Assassin's Creed 2.

The architecture, the visuals (sparkly water), the music, just the whole atmosphere of the place was exceptional.

And you my good man are correct too!

The Assassin's Creed games always impress me with their visuals, they make me want to be in Italy (with a good bottle of wine!)

 

[5-0]

Just Cause 2's entire map was a stunning achievement, especially the snowy mountain bits. I'm a sucker for snow in games.
Far Cry 2, amazing graphics, incredible world...shame about the gameplay. Great to explore though, providing you don't get shot by those GODDAMN patrols every 5 minutes.
Red Dead Redemption, again especially the snowy bits. But the whole world is amazing.
Far Cry (PC). Amazing tropical location. It was pretty good in Far Cry Instincts as well.
Finally, GTA IV's Liberty City. Just full of detail. It still amazes me driving across Brooklyn Bridge at night with the classic rock station on.

EDIT: Nope, thought of another one. Splinter Cell Double Agent on X360 was ultimately disappointing for me, especially cause I played the (in my opinion) superior one on Xbox first. That said, the Shanghai level was stunning. Just looking across to the skyline as you're on the rooftop.

 

[Loethlin]

Ok, I realise how retarded I will sound now, but...

In Anarchy Online, there were two locations that I absolutely ADORED.
This is a 2001 game, mind you, and it definitely didn't age gracefully. But still, when playing it, and my then-noob NT was running all over Shadowlands, I remember how absolutely awed I was when I first saw those locations.

The first one was the waterfalls in Elysium:

Spoiler: image

The other one was a really pretty garden... rock-thing in otherwise barren and grim Scheol:

Spoiler: image

Well, like I said, it didn't age well at all. But still makes me nostalgic, and those two locations, I really think were pretty.

 

[spartandude]

for me the following

Vvadenfell (and by extension the shivering isles)
Skyrim (typical western fantasy setting in a nordic landscape that looks gorgeous? fuck yh!
Rapture.... need i say more?
Vergen from The Witcher 2 (i love the dwarves)

and lots of areas in World Of Warcraft