What game has the best atmosphere?

[Dragon]

Now first, by 'atmosphere' I mean just the general outlook of the game - for example, the setting. How does the setting in a video game appeal to you? Is there a video game where you felt more, say, 'relaxed', or feel a sense of epicness like, 'oh GODS this scene is epic I must do stuff!'

Then there's the characters. Which game do you think, protrays the best feelings in terms of characters and their interactions with each other and their own game world?

There's other factors like pacing, like, which game had the best pacing for you, mood, tone, and of course music.

Now, form all these factors, it stands to reason that nobody can easily choose one answer for this, as there are so many different types of worlds and environments presented within those worlds across so many different types of games that choosing one seems unfair, but still, if you had to choose, which game, or games, provided the best atmosphere for you?

 

[machomuu]

Super Mario Sunshine has a very notable atmosphere for me. Other than the music being downright fantastic, it melds really well with any given level and doesn't really feel like anything you'd hear in the other Mario games. If I had to give it a mood, "mellow" would easily be the most accurate, but I don't think that works as an accurate description for the game's varied soundtrack. But Delfino's relaxed melody is one that just makes exploring and traversing the isle a joy. I'm...not really sure I'm capable of describing how I feel about the soundtrack. What I have to say is all positive, but the levels in terms of aesthetics and the music that accompanies them compliment each other so well that their surreal nature is overwhelming. One that's hard to put into words.

Another game would be Xenoblade Chronicles. While, on a technical level, the game may not look the greatest, it easily has one of the most breathtaking worlds I have ever seen in a game, and I would kill to have an HD remake (since that''s really all it needs). The game is just beautiful and grand like almost no other, and it's hard to find a game that has visuals as enthralling and large scaled as Xenoblade, even among Open-World games like the Elder Scrolls series. It's music is a testament to this, and compliments it greatly.

One of my favorite memories from the game was reaching Bionis' Knee. Looking out at the sea and the overarching, almost eerie Mechonis that looms over you and in front of you is a staggering sight, and it pales in comparison to when you step onto Bionis' Leg and see the wondrous plains splayed out before you, with Gaur Plains, a theme that matches the plains so perfectly. And even though this is a few hours in, these plains mark the beginning of Xenoblade Chronicles. Xenoblade is a special game for many reasons, and I think its mastery of creating a gripping atmosphere and world really lend to it being able to capture the hearts of so many without having the greatest graphics.

 

[Nah]

I really like the atmosphere of Fallout: New Vegas. I just kinda liked the fact that here is a brutal, do whatever it takes to survive, post-nuclear apocalypse world that somehow also manages to give off this goofy as hell 1950's vibe. You get a range of amusing characters from Mr. House to Caesar to a sexbot named Fisto, to name a few. The music usually isn't super-intense, but it works fairly well for the game. And it's an open world game set in a desert (I like deserts for whatever reason), and some of the ruined old buildings and vaults scattered throughout the Mojave are interesting places to explore (especially the vaults; some crazy ♥♥♥♥ went on in some of those things).

So yeah.....

 

[Sydian]

I'm a huge fan of the world they created for Kirby's Epic Yarn. I think I've praised the stylized graphics more times than I can count, but it's just so...perfect. I can't get enough of it. The way the level design is and how the world works with fabrics and yarn and buttons and beads and just WOW. They did an amazing job at making a world made of menial things feel so real and enjoyable.

I also love the atmosphere of Zelda temples, especially in Twilight Princess. The music sets a great tone in each of the game's dungeons and they all are just perfectly crafted. The City in the Sky is breathtaking with music that even sounds like it's in awe. It speaks. It says, "Jesus Christ, look at this temple in the sky with the bird things and the leaves growing over stuff and dragons and YES" but...more eloquently, haha.

That's all I'm going to say...maybe.

 

[TRIFORCE89]

Metroid Prime is the most immersive game I've ever played. It is organic. It is living and breathing. Everything connects, every part of that world, just wonderfully.

Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess. I just wanted to explore where nook and crany on those maps. Find every secret. Scale everything. I like that more realistic, yet anime style. I liked the way the creatures looked. I like how Majora and Twilight had just a slightly twisted visual style.

Pikmin. I felt tiny. And everything looked amazing

 

[Mirri]

TES IV: Oblivion really stands out to me more than any other video game as far as atmosphere and environment is concerned. Cyrodiil has absolutely breathtaking views and diverse landscapes with gorgeous flora decorating the province. This is one of those games that will never grow old or outdated to me and will never cease to immerse me for hours and hours on end.

Oblivion set a standard that Skyrim just couldn't reach for me. I appreciate what it's doing, but Skyrim's overall feel and environment just seemed drab, lifeless, colorless, and just not unique. I understand it's a very snowy/empty land with little going on, but it doesn't even try to make up for it. Whereas, Oblivion has wonderful structures and seemingly endless places to explore just within Cryrodiil. The Shivering Isles expands on this massively. Mania and Dementia both have their own beautiful quirks, and even in Dementia's drab and depressing landscape it still stands out so much and creates such a memorable experience.

The planes of Oblivion, however, do run together after a while. It's cool at first, but going through gates and seeing similar maps with little diversity and no real variation can get tiring, but even the planes create a certain atmosphere that I can't seem to find in another game.

Sorry, this turned into more of a review than anything. :P I'm a huge fan of Oblivion and will defend it until the end of time. If you haven't explored this game yet, I definitely recommend it, and you can usually find it pretty cheap if you want to pick it up (I also recommend the expansions!)

 

[Yukari]

I loved the atmosphere in Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny. It was only on the DOS, but the game had an incredibly oppressive atmosphere. It's really hard to explain, but there's just something about it that just makes you feel like everyone and everything wants you dead. It's just really impressive considering the time.

 

[Sonata]

Just going to jump on the bandwagon of The Last of Us since I finally got to play it a little while ago. It does really well at creating a post apocalyptic world and a sense of danger and urgency. Between the enemies scariness and your lack of tools and ammo the gameplay in itself is enough to put it at like top 20 of my all time favorites because it actually challenges you and makes you feel like you're in a place that's been yea I can't think of the words. And then the characters are pretty soon to be iconic if they aren't already as the best acted, portrayed, and played characters in any game since at least 2010. Then all of the subtle details like all of the little noises you can make to screw yourself or the way that even when you're being stealthy and you accidentally hit a table and move it all of the enemies rush you and kill you, and yada yada yada. But overall the game does a great job of being scary, entertaining, absorbing, and involving. I played on Hard my first time through, and nobody had told me that everything is out to screw you and that you only have limited amounts of everything, so I run and gunned my way through a good part of the beginning, thereby screwing myself over for a great deal of the game making it even more stressful on me, which helped to better put me into the feeling of actually being in the shoes of Joel.

 

[DJTiki]

I also love the atmosphere of Zelda temples, especially in Twilight Princess. The music sets a great tone in each of the game's dungeons and they all are just perfectly crafted. The City in the Sky is breathtaking with music that even sounds like it's in awe. It speaks. It says, "Jesus Christ, look at this temple in the sky with the bird things and the leaves growing over stuff and dragons and YES" but...more eloquently, haha.

That's all I'm going to say...maybe.

You beat me to Twilight Princess Jak. Why do you have to be faster than me ;-;

Well if I were to say the something else, I would choose Cave Story. For a colorful game, it makes use of its plot and characters to make for a pretty dark game. The Balcony is the best example of this, it has such calming music and beautiful background, with the entire sky. And this is supposed to be the setup for the final bosses of all things. Also trying to save Curlymin the Waterway, couldn't be more immersive. All the locations scream atmosphere.

 

[Klippy]

Bioshock and Skyrim. Bioshock's setting was amazing and I loved exploring that world top-to-bottom. Every bit of that game and the sequel oozed with charm and class above what the third installment could not replicate.

Skyrim was amazing in that the world felt alive like none of Bethesda's games had ever done before. I created at least six characters with their own backstories and personalities and played them throughout the game. Only one was the Dragonborn, so only one followed the main storyline. One's family was killed by Imperial forces and he joined up with the rebels. The rest all had other histories and traveling around exploring the world was amazing. When I first got it, I never dreamed I'd have been able to explore the entire world, but I eventually did.

 

[Dragon]

Here's a little sub question - do you guys consider the video game's atmopshere to be the most important factor upon choosing a video game?

 

[elnoor]

I really like the atmosphere of Fallout: New Vegas. I just kinda liked the fact that here is a brutal, do whatever it takes to survive, post-nuclear apocalypse world that somehow also manages to give off this goofy as hell 1950's vibe. You get a range of amusing characters from Mr. House to Caesar to a sexbot named Fisto, to name a few. The music usually isn't super-intense, but it works fairly well for the game. And it's an open world game set in a desert (I like deserts for whatever reason), and some of the ruined old buildings and vaults scattered throughout the Mojave are interesting places to explore (especially the vaults; some crazy ♥♥♥♥ went on in some of those things).

So yeah.....

yes it was epic, but to me fallout 3 is better maybe because it before or maybe because I will never forget that feeling when coming out of volt 101. Honestly I wanted to go right back in but it was time to face the wastelands and become a man this is my favorite game and I am actually waiting for fallout 4.

 

[Kyrul]

AC4: Black Flag. Gotta love those pirates.

 

[El Héroe Oscuro]

Metroid Prime is the most immersive game I've ever played. It is organic. It is living and breathing. Everything connects, every part of that world, just wonderfully.

You've hit the nail on the head here. Retro Studios did an amazing job creating a vast, atmospheric world to explore in from the ground up. From the peaks of mountains to treacherous lava-filled mines Coupled with an amazing OST makes Metroid Prime absolutely amazing to play.

Pikmin. I felt tiny. And everything looked amazing

 

[Hiatus]

In all of video games, Legends of Zelda: Skyward Sword has had one of the greatest atmospheres, in my opinion. When it's daytime outside, colors would be bright, and have you feel that it's actually day. To accompany that, it's also got a nice set of soothing music. During night, music would stop, and everything would become dark. Not complete dark, per se--it's not bright, but you're still able to see where you're stepping on and who you're running into. Personally, I also found it to be visiting outdoors during nighttime, which rarely seems to happen when I play games.

Rayman: Legends has some nice scenery, too; like above, they're all colorful, and fits whatever theme that they have going. So far, I've played this game for a total of three different times (which, if you ask me, is a lot), and one, major reason for it would be its art style. They're simply pretty, and they always manage to keep me coming back so that I'd be able to feed my eye with all those beauty.

Honorable mentions go to Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, and Kid Icarus: Uprising.