gaming Favorite 'hubs' in video games

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,651]

Centrals hubs in gaming can be quite special places. Depending on the title, we may spend a lot of time in these locations as we select our next stage, or sell items or level up or anything in between. This means that while we create memories with the game's different levels or areas, the hub passively creates its own spot within our mind, even just beyond being an early part that we are introduced to. They can become something more. These can become even more nostalgic than the rest of the game for many reasons.

Tell me, what are your favorite hubs in games? Anything in particular that makes them special for you?

An obvious classic for me is Super Mario 64's hub. Starting outside of the castle and being able to run around freely was such a treat in my childhood when gaming still seemed fairly simple. Jumping into the lake for a swim, swimming in the moat just because and climbing the trees. Simple things that for me were fun back then. Then you go into the castle and hear the music start up and it all felt so welcoming and filled with possibilities. Definitely a hub that I will never forget.

What about a modern classic though? That is a very easy question for me to answer. The answer is Majula from Dark Souls II. While I feel that Dark Souls 1 is superior to DS2 is almost every way, this is one part that surpassed the original in my opinion. Majula is simply amazing for many reasons. Even the way you are introduced to it. You have been walking through caves that are dark and dismal, and then walk out to see glorious sunlight, surrounded by the sea and like Mario 64, you hear glorious music kick in and not just any glorious music, possibly my favorite hub track ever in a video game. As a bonus, once you light the bonfire here, you also get the sound of the bonfire along with the music and it all blends to make a place that is so serene. It is a place of pure safety and tranquility, an exact opposite of the rest of the game. You level up here and your starting blacksmith is also here, so returning here often is something you will do and they couldn't have made it any better for that exact purpose. It is, in my opinion, hub perfection. Listening to the music alone makes me incredibly nostalgic, for a game that is only 4 years old. See, while I played a little of DS1 before this, this game was actually my first true introduction to the franchise and while it is flawed in some ways and is inferior to DS1 (It was not made by the DS1 team), I will always cherish the game for giving me such an introduction to the franchise and Majula is a very important part to that.

If you have never heard the music of Majula, take a listen:

 

[碇 シンジン 27,432]

Whiterun in Skyrim I always end up there no matter what I am doing. It has everything you need in there.

[Cash In 22,446]

I was a fan of the hub areas in the first Sonic Adventure game. I can't really describe it's content, but I felt that they were nice to waste time in and weren't overly spacious - Maybe with the exception of Mystic Ruins. 

[Jordan D 149]

I really liked Sonic Adventure's HUB world too, felt like an actual adventure navigating it on my first playthrough. It was the small things that made me like it, like the train you got on to Mystic Ruins to the shops you could enter.

[Sparklefan1234 171,845]

"Lego Batman 2" had a really fun hub world, IMO. 

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

Hmm, I'd have to go with the floating city of Dalaran. It was the main hub in World of Warcraft: Wrath of The Lich King, and was brought back, and polished up in Legion. It also has its own room in VR chat, so when I get my hands on a Vive, I'm exploring that in VR.

[EpicEnergy 23,222]

In Destiny (the first one), the place I always ended up at was "The Tower". That's the main hub. It's my favorite place to go to for some reason.

[Here No Longer 5,276]

I personally would have to go with Banjo-Kazooie's Hubworld (Spiral Mountain and Grunty's Lair).

 

There is just so much to do and explore. It also helps that Banjo-Kazooie is a game I am very nostalgic about.

 

Edited August 14, 2018 by Barik, the Master Mechanic

[DixonTheAdversary 1,632]

The first area of Scooby Doo: Night of 100 Frights is probably my favorite hub world. It's the only one I can actually think of...

[Shadowking58 1,137]

Peach's Castle from Super Mario 64

Delfino Plaza from Super Mario Sunshine
Rosalina's Observatory from Super Mario Galaxy
Artisans from Spyro the Dragon

Warp Room from Crash Bandicoot 2 and Time Twister Machine from Crash Bandicoot 3: WARPED

Haven City from Jak and Daxter 2

Station Square from Sonic Adventure

Bikini Bottom from Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom

If I can think of more I will add them.

 

 

Edited August 17, 2018 by Shadowking58

[Mollizora 3]

Palm Brinks Dark Cloud 2, a real nice feeling to a town

[Celli 4,338]

Probably Dalaran and Stormwind in WoW and Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls.