nicest video game setting/world you've played in

[xxnightlawxx]

i like the settin of oblivion so outdorsy

 

[Fenixhart]

At the risk of sounding like a wowfag, WotLK's Northrend. Blizzard clearly put a lot of work into making each area unique and interesting. It doesn't have the same quality of say, FC2 or Crysis (which were cool, but the whole foliage aspect was overdone, IMHO), but the expansive landscapes, towering cliffs and mountains, and new architecture defiantly set it apart from the barren rock that was burning crusade; and indeed, many other games where scenery is repeated to a mind-numbing degree. I loved the cry engine (or the Dunia engine of FC2... go Ubisoft) but face it, every grassy field or tree covered hill looked (while undeniably beautiful) exactly the same.

Grizzly hills stands out above all others, with trees and landscape that look straight out of the California Redwoods, and the chill violin music track makes it one of the most sublime and immersive settings I've played in.

Took the words outta mah mouth.


Also, Shadow of the Colossus had the best sense of scale out of any other game I've played. Looking down into a canyon in some games makes me go "Oh, a minor depression in the worldspace"

Looking down into a canyon in SotC nearly gave me vertigo.

 

[RicoADF]

I'd say fallout 3 however ArmA II has taken the trophy, the details they have put into the country is..... astounding

 

[ItsAChiaotzu]

The world that never was from KH2 is so epic and the design of the whole thing just amazes me.

 

[Sable Gear]

not sure what ya mean by "nicest" but whatever

I'd have to say the Crystal Palace in the N64 Paper Mario, the music was great, the level was beautiful and gimmick that made it special was spectacular.

This, 'nice' as in beautiful, very well-designed level.
-Also, Skytown in MP3; the backgrounds and architecture are wonderful, even if the area itself is a little frustrating.
-Damascus from Assassin's Creed; specifically this city because of the buildings, and it seems to be in the best state of the three that you visit (Acre being mostly burned out and Jerusalem being divided).
-The Twilight-covered bits of Hyrule in TP; it's strangely peaceful, and the oversaturated colour-palette gives it a unique look from your typical 'evil dark world'

 

[Sable Gear]

The world that never was from KH2 is so epic and the design of the whole thing just amazes me.

Also this^ beautiful patterns everywhere, eerie yet almost welcoming.

 

[Xvito]

Bioshock takes home first place and at second place comes Kingdom Hearts (only the first one, the others don't exist)...

 

[Woem]

That must definitely be Planescape: Torment, set in the wonderful setting of Planescape. Before this game I role-played and DMed (pen & paper) in the setting before and the game integrated it perfectly.

 

[the protaginist]

not sure what ya mean by "nicest" but whatever

I'd have to say the Crystal Palace in the N64 Paper Mario, the music was great, the level was beautiful and gimmick that made it special was spectacular.

This, 'nice' as in beautiful, very well-designed level.
-Also, Skytown in MP3; the backgrounds and architecture are wonderful, even if the area itself is a little frustrating.
-Damascus from Assassin's Creed; specifically this city because of the buildings, and it seems to be in the best state of the three that you visit (Acre being mostly burned out and Jerusalem being divided).
-The Twilight-covered bits of Hyrule in TP; it's strangely peaceful, and the oversaturated colour-palette gives it a unique look from your typical 'evil dark world'

I do agree with you about Damascus, I used to spend time in that game just jumping around the rooftops of that city. I also like that Bazaar in the eastern part of the city, where you can drop in from the ceiling and run in the rafters.

as for my pick, probably... I can't think of any in particular, so i'll just say The Islands from The Scarface Game. so different from Miami.
I think the choice of weapons when in the Islands and Miami should explain why I like it other then the beauty of it.

My equipment in Miami: Silenced .45, Silenced Mac-10, Machete.
In the Islands: AK-47 with expanded clip, Full auto shotgun, Desert Eagle.

The Islands are a warzone.

 

[Rorschach II]

I havent (obviously) played it yet. But I cannot wait for brutal Legend.

The whole idea of it makes me cream my pants I love metal, Jack black and the Work of Tim Schafer (previous effort: Physconauts).

 

[Omikron009]

I think that fallout 3's Capital Wasteland is one of my favourite game worlds. There are so many little hidden goodies and the atmosphere is fantastic. For example, I was once playing as a low level character, critically wounded in a small town full of super mutants and I ducked into a nearby house, and what did I find? A scavenger had set up shop there, allowing me to sell items and buy some stimpaks, allowing me to survive. I just love all the forgotten little corners where people make there living, like bands of raiders living in abandoned metro tunnels or a scavenger living underneath a boat.

 

[Sky Captanio]

Tamriel. Go out at like 7 in the morning (game time) and stand on the Imperiel city bridge overlooking the lake around the city.

 

[quack35]

Cyrodiil is pleasant.

 

[curlycrouton]

Just Cause.

Suuuunnnyyyyy.....

 

[Dr.Sean]

far cry 2 and crysis. they are literarly buetifal.

however i must disagree with the OP. i think that fallout 3 was one of the worst made apakoliptic settings. every 30 or so feet repeated, everything was copied time after time to a point of pure ludicrousness. the city of megaton looks very crappy for a "After-nuke" setting.

everything feels to "solid". to gridlike.

but thats just my two cents

Well, good sir, I'd be inclined to believe you if you didn't type with the same vernacular skills I'd expect from a two year old.

 

[Kajt]

Azeroth. Nothing beats that place.

Vvardenfell is a close second though.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

I remember the first time I saw my best friend playing Morrowind, and while it wasn't the most graphically impressive thing I had ever seen, even when it was new, I was awestruck by just how OPEN everything was. Fences could be jumped, walls climbed on, roofs seemed to be designed to get around on. The constraint of pathways was non-existent.

Oblivion's world was kinda like that, except prettier.

 

[Trilby]

So totally agreed, i'm just glad that you didn't say the original areas... those were ok but nearly good enough (take barrens for an example.)
And my favorite WotLK zone is also Grizzly hills, good choice man.

Oh god, the Barrens... *shudder*.

On the other hand, I loved the human starting zones. Ellwyn, Redridge, Westfall - beautiful, all of them, and the music is really, really good.

I haven't played WotlK yet, so I don't know how well those zones stand up compared to the vanilla content, but I have high hopes.

On a non-wow front, I really enjoyed the fantasy-steampunk setting of Thief. Especially that level set on the rooftops of the City in Thief 2.