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[jamesprimate]

and I dont mean the UI, but the actual geographical layout and inter-connections between areas, levels, whatever.

[rj]

cave story and yume nikki both kinda fight in my head for first place here. i love both so very much

[Nillo]

Dark Souls. Specifically, the Burg Bonfire, which becomes connected to at least three different areas as you progress through the game. It's a brilliant design and I was disappointed to find there was nothing like it in the sequel.

[jamesprimate]

i agree. dark souls is mine by quite a large margin, but im trying to keep open-minded!

[JWest]

This will probably sound cliche, but Ocarina of Time.  I think what I loved were all of the less obvious ways to get around, like the links to Goron City or Zora's domain in the lost woods, or jumping down the chasm in Gerudo Valley to let the river below take you to Lake Hylia.

[s0]

2many to choose from  

Dark Souls

Ocarina of Time

both of those, definitely. others include gothic 2, morrowind (still the best elder scrolls map), the castle in mario 64, link's awakening, vampire bloodlines (particularly the santa monica hub).

[rj]

metroid prime 1

[jamesprimate]

yume nikki was an awesome suggestion btw. i hadnt played it before, but damn.

[clockwrk_routine]

shenmue
the town in majora's mask

[Dragonmaw]

Dark Souls
Symphony of the Night
Link to the Past
Crackdown
Persona 3

[Nuprahtor]

Earthbound
Dark Souls
Vagrant Story
Dungeon Siege

[DJFloppyFish]

dark souls Symphony of the Night
I think Demon's Crest is kinda neat too

[s0]

some others

super mario world (how do u even pack that much mystery into what is basically a level select screen)
la mulana
super metroid
king's field 4

[rj]

yume nikki was an awesome suggestion btw. i hadnt played it before, but damn.

no problem. great game, one of my favorites; its emphasis on pure exploration emphasizes its design and vice versa; one of its best strengths is that it's not totally aimless. the fact that it's a scavenger hunt forces the player pay attention to everything in way more detail; even for players who are inclined towards exploring and poking around, the simple goal makes a lot of difference.

i m o

if you like that, i recommend checking out LSD Dream Emulator for PS1 too, it's similar (though...not as good) in that it's all about dreams and exploring them in a similarly feel-based way, though it's randomized a lot more and is much more aimless (though it still has goals and things to avoid, as does yume nikki)

also cosmic osmo and the worlds beyond the mackerel, which is similarly aimless but in a more charming way

also how has nobody mentioned myst yet

[oodavid]

I second Super Mario World - the way that the secret paths unfold, the underground / forest / star areas - all amazed my little brain!

[DJFloppyFish]

smw was great, best platformer overworld imo

Wario Land 3 was good too

Oh, almost forgot, I loooooooooooove the layout of Resident Evil 1, really cool stuff (especially for the time)

[Sik]

if you like that, i recommend checking out LSD Dream Emulator for PS1 too, it's similar (though...not as good) in that it's all about dreams and exploring them in a similarly feel-based way, though it's randomized a lot more and is much more aimless (though it still has goals and things to avoid, as does yume nikki)

It's not random actually, the map is fixed, but you keep being sent to random locations every time you touch a wall so you can't really make any sense of it.

[s0]

not sure if this counts, but dwarf fortress generates some pretty great layouts.

[jamesprimate]

Two suggestions I really liked from FB were shadow of the colossus and Mario 3.

Knytt underworld is REALLY impressive too, if just for scope. I tend to like things that avoid both linearity and hub world conventions, but FEZ does hub world really right imho.

[jiitype]

Prince of Persia's (2008) world was fun to explore. Burnout Paradise was also fun to drive around and hitting stuff.