The Big Question: What's Your Favourite Video Game City?
Video game cities are getting really good. They used to be small scatterings of pixelated houses; now they're huge, detailed immersive worlds you can literally get lost in. From the murky depths of Rapture to the sleepy suburbs of Yokosuka, these are TheGamer's editors' most beloved virtual metropolises.
Related: What Multiplayer Game Do You Miss?
This was a tough one, because I love hanging out in virtual cities. My shortlist includes, but is not limited to, Watch Dogs 2's San Francisco, Final Fantasy 8's Deling City, L.A. Noire's Los Angeles, the original Deus Ex's Hong Kong, and Red Dead Redemption 2's Saint Denis. But in terms of atmosphere, world-building, and creating a powerful sense of place, Shenmue's Yokosuka has probably made the biggest impact on me. I will never tire of running up and down Dobuita Street as Ryo Hazuki, talking to the locals, playing classic Sega games in the arcade, and absorbing the bustling ambience. Then, when night falls, returning home to the peaceful, sleepy suburbs of Yamanose. I can't think of a more transporting video game setting, and I love it so much I visited the real place.
Most of the Yakuza games and spin-offs take place in the fictional city of Kamurocho, based on the actual city of Kabukicho, the red-light district of Tokyo. Putting aside the fact I am a devoted stan of the series, Kamurocho was the first in-game area that made me realise that games don’t have to have overly massive maps to feel significant. The city is so dense and detailed, filled with nooks, crannies, and different layers to explore, that I find it more enjoyable than the massive sprawling open-world maps you get that can often feel empty.
One of the other things I love about Kamurocho is that you see
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