Side Quest, Episode 35: The 10 Best Video Game Settings, Worlds, and/or Universes

Dude .... the first one was pretty good but I actually liked the DLC better (brigmore witches). The 2nd game though blew my mind. Especially with the sequences in the middle of the 2nd game. Don’t wanna spoil it but it had one of the best puzzle sequences I’ve ever seen.

Brogan Wassell

I've really been thinking about Dishonored a lot lately. I may jump into it this year (both games).

Colin Moriarty

Yeah ... Bioshock is definitely deserved. It’s just so different. Another Solid shoutout I might have thrown in there was maybe Dishonored (plague backdrop was super interesting) and I also really liked the world of Fable (that game just felt less real and more magical) I’ve always felt that Mass Effect was much weaker though generally in terms of “World Building”. Maybe it was the design aesthetic but it just felt weaker than a lot of others I’ve seen. It flys dangerously close to the Alien super-weapons trope but others I think do it better like Halo or Resistance. Resistance though lol ... the boss level fight designs were just so genius.

Brogan Wassell

Me too. =)

Colin Moriarty

Solid choices. Dead Space was definitely a gem back in 2008. Glad Resident Evil is returning to that atmospheric horror again.

Tyler

Well I guess if it kept you for 50 hours you probably understand what getting bit by the souls-bug feels like. Good time to give Dark Souls remastered a try, just sayin.

Kenneth thomas

I didn't. I played for 50+ hours last fall, and got almost to the end, but then got sidetracked by something. As you know, it's not a game you just jump back into... especially that late in the game.

Colin Moriarty

For sure. Metroid Prime was awesome.

Colin Moriarty

I loved Silent Hill when I was in high school, but it's been a long time.

Colin Moriarty

Yeah, I Platinum'd it (and BioShock 2) earlier this year on PS4. The ending (and the DLC) made it all worthwhile. As embarrassing as it is, I really didn't know (or think) that Infinite was connected to the original.

Colin Moriarty

I agree. Bloodborne could have been a Castlevania game.

Colin Moriarty

Ken Levine is a master, there is no doubt.

Colin Moriarty

For more on that Mega Man idea, you should listen to today's episode of KnockBack. =)

Colin Moriarty

Thank you for your feedback! Duly noted.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you for your feedback! I didn't edit this one, so it's always good to get feedback on what's going right or wrong with various edits.

Colin Moriarty

Smart.

Colin Moriarty

I hope "tomorrow" didn't disappoint. =)

Colin Moriarty

LOLLL.

Colin Moriarty

Colin did you ever play all the way through Bloodborne? I always found it depressing that you never played any souls games enough for them to get their hooks in you. Bloodborne is probably my favorite game of all time, and Dark Souls the original while it feels clunky at first, is really a genius game, it’s really like grown up Zelda. I implore you to go back to either of these and talk about them somewhere.

Kenneth thomas

Great vid Colin. I am not familiar with the Resistance games but I agree on everything else. I think my list would include the Metroid Prime universe. It's another great example where the world/creatures are the star and all the story telling it told through scanning the environment and visiting new places.

Ray Briggs

I loved this! It made me think back on own my time in those worlds, and the rich experiences I had. :D I’d be super curious to hear your thoughts on Silent Hill, which is my #1 “the setting is a character” franchise. Thanks, Colin!

infinitenat

Awesome video Colin. Just curious, last I remember, you never finished Infinite due to not liking the gameplay if I recall so I was surprised seeing it in the video. Did you end up finishing it? If so, did the ending redeem it for you?

Craig Birchmeier

Mm. Pretty much everything you said about Castlevania can be said for Bloodborne, especially the location being an integral 'character'. It actually came to my mind a lot while playing Bloodborne too.

hugplx

Glad to see Columbia get some love along with Rapture. Both of those worlds are incredible and are really important to why my love of games continued past childhood.

Josh Squires

Whew, this was so well put together. Thinking of the B-sides you would pick, is Mega Man still as interesting? I recall a pitch you spoke of where both Mega Man 2 and 3 combined. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s announcement. I’m guessing it will focus on a PlayStation podcast we are all stoked for!

Jonah Gespacho

Just a quick text drop on the screen during introduction of each game would of helped a bit, I confuse easily haha. I am really excited for tomorrow now, that teaser!

TLOU is hands down my fav from this list. Another great episode and tmrw can't come soon enough!!! 🤗 Would agree with feedback above that video feels like it ends abruptly like there was something cut from it? Loving all the content and need to catch up on a lot of fireside chats and knockback stuff. Congrats on the recent positive patreon growth. The CLS future is bright #colinwasright

Tony Colton

Hmmmm, am I going to set aside the many incomplete games in my collection to replay Bioshock yet again? Yes, yes I am.

Phillip Guglielmo

Great job Colin. I loved this video. Brought back tons of great memories. Can’t wait for tomorrow!

Josh in Tampa

Surprisingly besides Mass Effect and Last of Us, I don't have experience with a lot of these worlds. I was expecting to see some Isle Delfino love lol.

strawhatninja

Thank you for your feedback! We're still massaging it. That's actually the first episode of Side Quest not edited by me, and so it has a different feel, for sure.

Colin Moriarty

I called almost every game/series you brought up ahead of time xD. I have to admit it still feels weird, like the pacing is off in the videos without some kind of intro/outro audio... Like it abruptly ends.... That teaser though... >< ahhg! What will it be!

Dav9834

Seems you're a BioWare fan. =) (Lionhead, too.)

Colin Moriarty

This is a great list. I felt very drawn into the worlds of Fable, Jade Empire and Kotor. Some of my favorite RPGs.

Not a bad list. The Return!

Colin Moriarty

Both BioShock's and Infinite's (especially Infinite's) production was tortuous, so it's not a surprise that they decided to blow it up. They came out with two stellar games, but at what cost to the team and to the publisher? I spoke to Ken for like 90 minutes a few months ago over Skype, and I'm very excited to see more of what he and his team are toiling away on. =D

Colin Moriarty

BioShock games stand head and shoulder above for me. I've never felt so engrossed in another world when playing a video game. I was so bummed when they dissolved that studio. It's so incredibly hard to build a good game and also a whole world that is interesting within that game. These kinds of efforts take many years and it's pretty easy to be cynical about the future of this kind of game in the face of Fortnite and that ilk.

CTE

GREAT List! Certainly got me thinking of my personal top 5 (in no particular order): The Witcher 3 (One of the richest fantasy worlds in any medium) The Last Of Us (Had to Agree There!) Dark Souls (Tough Choice between this and Bloodborne!) FF VI - (AGREED! Fantasy meets Tech has never been done better, before or since) Skyrim (The first time I played it I felt the same as I did playing A Link to The Past when I was 7 years old). Also loved the teaser at the end. The king is coming back for his throne!

Justin Matkowski

Thank you so much!

Colin Moriarty

By this time tomorrow, you'll know.

Colin Moriarty

All amazing, memorable worlds that I couldn't agree more with, especially Rapture! Also that tease at the end has me extremely excited for the future of CLS!

Leo Maniscalchi

Just finished. That TEASE! God I’m so hyped. How soon!? 😝

Brett Medlock

<3

Colin Moriarty

That'll be for you to decide. =)

Colin Moriarty

♥️♥️

Brett Medlock