Best "World" within a videogame?

[johnjohn320]

Had this conversation with a friend of mine the other day, which is surprising because neither of us has really had time or energy for videogames for about a year now. But anywho...

What videogame have you played that has had the best "world" within it? By this we mean it's a game where you're planted somewhere, fantasy or reality, and you're just in this world, free to do what you want, roam around, talk to people/characters, mini-games, maybe a work a job try to get some money, or progress through the game if you like.

I'm torn between Shenmue for DC and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time myself. Both great games. He thinks Lunar: SSSC had the best. (also a great game).

What's your take?

Just killin time on Thanksgiving, most of the family's passed out on the couch in front of "CSI".

 

[Rent]

edit::

Actually, there aren't too many games by that criteria. You're judging more by atmosphere, not by the actual game world.

 

[UglyCasanova]

FF7's world. I loved that place.

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: dparker
FF7's world. I loved that place.

yes, easily takes the cake

 

[Anubis]

id say FF7,FF3- US and FF10 are right freekin up there. especially FF3, half way through the game the world compleatly changes.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time was sweet

Ratchet & Clank's worlds are amazing

All of teh Lunar games have huge worlds with sooo much in them.

Crono Triger and Crono Cross both had stories/worlds that will rivial just about anything

My personal fave is Secret Of Mana for SNES. man i loved that game has a sweet world also

 

[ElFenix]

you can't do anything like that in FF7!

UO is the only one that comes close. or the sims.

 

[glen]

Everquest would have to be the largest.

 

[Anubis]

o and i forgot Starwars Galaxies - bigger then everquest. a fukin hole lot bigger

 

[hollowman]

Resident Evil

 

[glen]

Originally posted by: TheEvil1
o and i forgot Starwars Galaxies - bigger then everquest. a fukin hole lot bigger

They are going to make it bigger?
I assume the original EQ world is the largest world of any video game.
Add the Kunark expansion, then Velious, then Luclin, then PoP, and who is evn close?
If Star Wars is bigger, I can't even imagine it.
Will it come on a DVD or 5 CDs?

 

[911paramedic]

Riven had a cool atmosphere to it, but I lost interest in clicking and walking. If it was made so you could walk freely it would be great, but as far as graphics and atmospere, pretty darn good. Gameplay is 1 out of 10 though...

 

[Zim Hosein]

GTA

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Hmm.. I would have to say EverQuest's world is the best, despite the suckiness of the game. Every place has a different feel... like the difference between Texas and France.

 

[Anubis]

supposibily each planet in the Star Wars game is as big as teh EQ world and there are gonna be 8 planets

 

[Dark4ng3l]

How about morrowind?

 

[js1973]

It wasn't a free roaming game at all, but I loved the atmosphere of Wheel of Time.

Anyone else play it?

 

[ElFenix]

as far as atmosphere and immersiveness i'm going to go with myst.

 

[LOLyourFace]

Duke Nukem 3D

No joke. That has the most innovative level designs.... It gets pretty mesmerizing at times... The deep morbid spaceship levels... hilarious japanese restaurent... I must be the only one still looking out for Duke Nukem ForNever

Diablo I

The music was just mesmerizing... shopping around the town.. going into the cave dungeon level.. DI has one of the immersive soundtrack that makes the game.

 

[SOSTrooper]

Skies of Arcadia

 

[peter584]

mario brothers (original nes)

 

[Renob]

Quake III baby, it rules.

 

[dolph]

conker's bad fur day
nah, gta3 probably.

 

[Spagina]

To your criteria, I'd definitely say UO. EQ had the atmosphere, but the game seemed limited and pointless in what you could do. I played both UO and EQ for years and EQ could never match the flexibility that UO had. Both suck now though so I couldn't comment on what games at this point take that honor.

 

[Palek]

Outcast had some of the most beautiful landscapes thanks to voxel grapics and arguably the best music score at the time it came out. The game was also great fun to play. You had to interact with dozens of characters, had a million smaller missions to accomplish and your every action affected the behavior of all the characters in the game. You did not have 100% freedom to do as you pleased, but the world of Adelpha was magical and immersing. I wonder if there will be an Outcast 2.
<EDIT>Apparently there will be, but the project's been put on hold, unfortunately...</EDIT>

 

[spp]

ff8 was not bad either