Top 50 Hub Worlds: What's all the Hubbub?

[spines]

i thought about this one, but as you can see, i didn't pick it. it feels a bit too central to the game, since the presence of the battles inside along with the repeating "stair rooms" makes the tower feel more like a dungeon crawler dungeon to me even though it does connect the game's different worlds. i think that's partly because it's got a bit of a plain aesthetic to boot. but i did put something rather similar on my list, so i feel it

 

[Mogri]

It's the hub world that's also the world! I wouldn't have considered it, but it makes sense.

 

[Kirin]

TBH it’s been ages since I played any of this game and my memories are incredibly vague, but even though the whole game is supposed to be (somehow?) inside the tower it still *feels* like it’s a bit of a hub between the larger themed areas.

 

[Baudshaw]

NUMBER 45: Kamura Village

Game: Monster Hunter Rise

"Chow down on some delicious meat-then find some monster to greet!"

My familiarity: 1/10

Nominated by: @Falselogic (#6) and @Aurelia (#18)

This delightful Meiji-style village reminds me of yet another hub, although we'll get to that later.



Gameplay:
This is probably the most feature-loaded of all the hubs. It's the perfect size, and the layout is very close to an actual village. There's a large amount of quests, a smithy, a tea shop, and a market.

Story:
This village was home to multiple monster attacks, giving it a rough and hardened aesthetic somewhat. It's the sight of a decently-sized steelworks, giving it some industrial flair. There's also great NPCs that run the shops and help things go smoothly.


Do they integrate?
The jury's out on this one- it feels like I'll have to play Monster Hunter to get this one. I've heard that a large amount of the gameplay loop involves preparing at places like these.

 

[Falselogic]

I only started playing MH with world but it really clicked with Rise! A great hub.

 

[Baudshaw]

NUMBER 44: Dunan Castle

Game: Suikoden II

"Lead your army in this delightful place- but there's also conquerors you'll have to face!"

My familiarity: 0/10

Nominated by: @WildcatJF (#11) and @Dr. Nerd (#13)

Gameplay:
This castle has a massive amount of services, since it's basically a whole medieval-style town. There's multiple service establishments, different kinds of shops, and best of all, a cooking competition minigame with some truly crazy dishes.

Story:
This serves as your base of operations right after a battle with Highland forces. This is a big story moment in the game, since it's when the whole army rallies around you and become their leader. It's a location with strategic importance, with the main antagonist Luca Blight trying to take it at one point.

Do they integrate?
The cheery, lively town belies the more perilous situation of the war. However, I think it makes sense, since your cherished castle with all the shops and services becomes all the more important to defend against the threat of Luca Blight and Highland.

 

[Baudshaw]

Number 43: Jubilife Village

Game: Pokemon Legends Arceus

"Hear the progress and the machines' hum-with foreshadowing for the games to come"

Nominated by: @Baudshaw (#4) and @RT-55J (#19)

This one I have a lot of fondness over. I really hope for a Legends Arceus remaster on a "better optimized" console. Although, maybe they should've just waited a bit more?

Gameplay: This is somewhat lacking at first, with only a few quests and stuff. However, as you explore the world. more shops and facilities open, such as a hair-changing salon, more Gingko Guild merchandise, and expanded farms. There's also a precursor to the box, which makes sense given the time period.

Story: This village was created founded Kamado and his Galaxy Expedition Team, a precursor to Team Galactic. It's located in a great place, with natural protection, fresh water, and agricultural space. The village has interesting parallels to the Meiji Restoration in Japanese history, especially with the smokestacks and architecture. (Reminds us of another village on this list?)

Do they integrate?
Absolutely! Every time you progress in the story, the gameplay features of the village increase. There's a contrast between an industrial boom-town and a traditional Japanese village, showing the new era intervening with the old, traditional ways of the Hisui region. Eventually, as Hisui becomes Sinnoh, it'll become Jubilife City in modern times, which is a nice throw-forward.

 

[Baudshaw]

(Also, even if PLA is a prequel to the Sinnoh games, you can still play this first and fully understand the story and lore, because release order isn't everything.)

 

[WildcatJF]

Not gonna lie, I would have expected Suikoden to rate a touch higher, but hey, it's on the list at all, so no complaints.

I love hubs you can grow and develop over time. And this is one of the best, in my book.

 

[Issun]

I didn't think of any Suiko castles for this but it's neat to see one.

 

[RT-55J]

I think I would have included more home-base type areas if the thought had occurred to me.

 

[Violentvixen]

I love hubs you can grow and develop over time.

Same! I had a few of these on my list, curious how many are going to show up.

 

[Baudshaw]

Number 42: House of Hades

Game: Hades

"An underground lair fit for gods- and all the trapped, dead little sods."

My familiarity: 1/10

Nominated by: @JBear (#1) and @Violentvixen (#22)

The first of our first-placers to make the list!


Gameplay:
There's plenty of things to do here. Plenty of characters appear here, assisting you in your various runs. There's also shopkeepers that can exchange stuff and a chef that gives you extra items.

Story:
This is incredible prime real estate, especially for the Underworld... It was built by Daedalus, an incredible mortal architect, and Shades frequently roam the place. It would make for some incredible parties, to be honest...

Do they integrate?
It certainly looks the part. And the music is great.

 

[Issun]

I will play Hades someday.

But not today.

 

[Baudshaw]

Number 41: Firelink Shrine (3)

Game: Dark Souls 3

"The Lord of Cinders' abandoned lair- for each one, a fancy chair."

My familiarity: 0/10 (probably negative, the more I try to learn the more confusing it gets)

Nominated by: @Issun (#18), @Falselogic (#19) and @Aurelia (#22)

I know basically nothing about the Souls games... I suppose I could play some souls-likes to get started, but I'm not the best with those types of games. The lore seems really... interesting.


Gameplay:
A whole host of characters will arrive throughout the game to help you. They will increase in number throughout the game, providing a host of useful services including blacksmiths, spells, and merchants.

Story:
So... I've tried, and I've tried, but I really can't find much. I guess each Lord of Cinder used to sit on each throne? How would they talk to each other? They'd have to bend their necks to really interact. Would they just stare blankly at the sword???

Do they integrate?
The jury is out on this one. I can't seem to wrap my head around this game's story.

 

[Issun]

I've only played DS3 once so I can't speak too much on the lore. I will say that, when Hubworlds won, Souls games were the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Violentvixen]

I'm extremely surprised that only two people voted for House of Hades!

 

[WildcatJF]

Oh I forgot Hades! :/ that's a great one.

 

[JBear]

The best part about finishing a Hades run is getting to return to the House and see what's new. You can flirt, you can sleep, you can change the drapes, and every time you end up here there's a lazy jerk at the door waiting with vaguely insulting gamer tips (voiced by teenage JBear's waifu Greg Kasavin). Constantly growing and evolving as you play, if there's a better hub in gaming, I've never seen it.

 

[Issun]

I use rewind/save states in games particularly because I hate playing the same section I've passed over and over. So when I tried Binding of Isaac and 20XX it was like "let's make this game about the one thing you really hate about video games".

So, I hear Hades is a roguelike for people who hate roguelikes but for me it's like "this ocean has sharks for people who hate sharks!"

 

[Patrick]

I agree with you, but it does depend on the game. Like, are you repeating that section because of a design flaw - the developer was not considerate of where they put checkpoints compared to difficult sections - or because that's the point of the game? If the game is designed around repetition, then the developer probably put more thought into what kinds of challenges are being repeated, and how to take the rough edges off of that, etc.

 

[JBear]

Yeah, I *loathe* doing the same thing twice and Roguelikes (and Roguelites like Hades) are arguably my favourite genre, so that comparison doesn't track for me at all. If your Roguelike/lite is making you do the same thing over and over, then it's not very good.

 

[Adrenaline]

I'm not the biggest fan of roguelikes generally, but comparing them to replaying the same section of a standard game repeatedly is a stretch.

 

[Issun]

I'm not the biggest fan of roguelikes generally, but comparing them to replaying the same section of a standard game repeatedly is a stretch.

Masking repeating the same shit over and over by having rooms and a boss you might encounter at a different point but you're still repeating the same progress you lost is just masking the same NES bullshit from 1988 with modern window dressing.

 

[Issun]

Again, I've only played two roguelikes, but Isaac is held up as a pinnacle of the genre and it still felt repetitive so that's why I'm wary.

 

[Lokii]

I'm so torn on Firelink 3. Is it cool? Is it lame? I can't tell. It's clame.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I'm so torn on Firelink 3. Is it cool? Is it lame? I can't tell. It's clame.

To fame?

 

[Issun]

I'm so torn on Firelink 3. Is it cool? Is it lame? I can't tell. It's clame.

It placed about where it should, for what that's worth

 

[Kalista]

To fame?

To flame! It is Firelink after all.

 

[Mogri]

The problem with House of Hades as a hub is that it has one exit. Sure, it is a hub, but it's connecting your runs, not different areas.

I love the parallel thinking that resulted in some of these votes, but I completely understand why it didn't place higher.