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[Lightning Count]

Parm in Grandia reminds me a bit of my own hometown and there are plenty of quests in the town which set the tone perfectly.

 

[DNAbro]

Does Midgar count?

 

[Alcoholikaust]

Truce

 

[Mobius 1]

Does Midgar count?

It should.

 

[OverturePT]

Crysta - Terranigma

 

[Taruranto]

Crysta - Terranigma

Every other answer is objectively wrong.

Those who played it know why.

 

[RyougaSaotome]

Crossbell, from Zero no Kiseki.

It's just so huge, with so many NPCs each with their own crazy story to follow.

 

[dh4niel]

Pallet Town. It's nothing amazing but it's the only one I remember.

 

[zelhawks37]

Onett in Earthbound. So much to do and see. The music captures the 'beginning' feel too.

 

[brokentrain]

I always thought Alexandria in ff9 was an awesome experience

 

[Flarin]

Nothing beats Arni Village from Chrono Cross for me. Super chill music and beautiful setting. Makes me want to visit it.

 

[uncleslappy]

Nothing beats Arni Village from Chrono Cross for me. Super chill music and beautiful setting. Makes me want to visit it.

This.

 

[Gunslinger]

Midgar.

 

[Lightning Count]

Seyda Neen from Morrowind was also a favourite of mine.

 

[Cleve]

Sigil in torment. I mean it's where the vast majority of the story takes place, but it's such a deep, involved place with tons of factions, conflicts, and memorable characters.

 

[Glass Rebel]

How could it be anything but Vale from Golden Sun

The way it's used to set off the story is pretty damn cool and if you count Sol Sanctum as part of it... phew.

 

[Alexm92]

Rim Elm in Legend of Lagaia. I absolutely love the music in it aswel

 

[Rymuth]

Pirate Isle, Skies of Arcadia.

Houses a giant hangar for your Dad's flying pirate ship. Really sets the tone for the whole game that you're outlaws, sticking it to the man.

 

[The Lamonster]

Does the Normandy count???

 

[Dr.Acula]

Ultima VI - Britain

Ultima VII - Trinsic

 

[TriggerShy]

Ding Dong Dell from Ni No Kuni.

 

[Sinatar]

Athkatla from Baldur's Gate 2 has this shit on lock.

There are more things to do in Athkatla then in most full RPG's.

EDIT: Thinking about it, Sigil from Planescape Torment certainly gives Athkatla a run for it's money.

 

[John Kowalski]

I always thought Alexandria in ff9 was an awesome experience

Yuppers.

 

[TheStig88]

Balamb Garden - FFVIII

Not particularly special, but the music is beyond lovely and the concept is all kinds of awesome. VIII was my first RPG as well, so it gets a few extra points there. Honorable mention to Pallet Town.

 

[ZiggyPalffyLA]

Ding Dong Dell from Ni No Kuni.

I love Ding Dong Dell, but it's not the starting town. The starting town is the regular 50s-style suburb you start the game in.

But these are probably my top 5:

Truce

I always thought Alexandria in ff9 was an awesome experience

Nothing beats Arni Village from Chrono Cross for me. Super chill music and beautiful setting. Makes me want to visit it.

Ritardando from Eternal Sonata:

Onett from Earthbound:

 

[L Thammy]

Is this cheating? The Last Story only has one town.

Another one that might not count. The slavepens from Dark Sun: Shattered Lands. Not an actual town, but it is a starting area that you and other people live in and you're free to explore. You're also free to fight stronger and stronger enemies in the area, try various schemes to escape, murder all the guards, murder all the other slaves, find treasure, and help a few people out.

 

[Morfeo]

Not the starting city, but the first you come to I guess. Balmora in Morrowind. So much stuff going on in this city with the imperial fort just outside, the thief guild, the quest guy, the mines, all the rumours about awakening or whatever it was. Simplly makes you incredibly intrigued to continue the game.

 

[MrMatt555]

Parm in Grandia reminds me a bit of my own hometown and there are plenty of quests in the town which set the tone perfectly.

COMING INTO THREAD LIKE,

ctrl + F: Town of Parm- woah, wtf? it's in the OP!
Bless you, OP! BLESS YOU!

 

[Morrigan Stark]

C'mon GAF, 26 28 posts in no one mentions Narshe?

 

[Morfeo]

Seyda Neen from Morrowind was also a favourite of mine.

Holy shit, I need to replay this game. Does anybody know how the xbox-version holds up? I only have a laptop these days, which suck for PC-gaming.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

Yharnam, Bloodborne.

 

[entremet]

I hate to say it, but Midgar.

I like FFVII. I'm no hater, but it just seems like a cliche answer.

But I loved the Slums, the Church with the garden where you first meet Aeris, Honey Bee Inn and Don Corneo, and Shinra Tower.

 

[Pinky]

Rabanastre (Final Fantasy XII)

 

[Syril]

Domina from Legend of Mana. It's a really effective introduction to the themes and goals of the game.

 

[TheYanger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2evIg-aYw8

Depressing, dreadful, atmospheric to the bone, the glue that held that entire game together.
"I sense a soul in search of answers"

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Santa Monica in Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

And most of you are posting worthlessly tiny images.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

Yharnam, Bloodborne.

Yharnam is amazing, but it's not really a "town" in the RPG sense though, I'd say. I don't know if the OP meant to include towns that are dungeons/combat areas or just "safe" places with safe NPC interactions and whatnot.

 

[Mr Rivuz]

Well done OP, first town i thought after reading the title was Parm from Grandia!

 

[Data West]

Ni No Kuni either the starting 'real world' town or the first major town you go to

also cheat answer

 

[Funyarinpa]

Does Inaba count?

Otherwise, Sigil from Planescape Torment.

 

[spcd]

Found a nice image of Tristram (Diablo 1)

 

[BumRush]

Narsche in FFVI is awesome in that it sets the desolate tone for the rest of the game

 

[Tenebrous]

Ctrl+F "Rolent"
Phrase not found.

Rolent from Trails in the Sky. Finding a good SS is impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2evIg-aYw8

Depressing, dreadful, atmospheric to the bone, the glue that held that entire game together.
"I sense a soul in search of answers"

And this, holy shit...

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

Lahan in Xenogears.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

 

[Vanille]

Phenac City

The music. The calming sound of the water. You don't want to leave.

And yeah, Midgar.

 

[Sasie]

Had to think about it for a minute and go through a few RPGs until I realised Athkatla exists. Not only is it a starting town but it also happen to stretch out over several zones, it's also huge and I don't think any other game I can come up with would even compete as far as I'm concerned. In second place I would say Easthaven from Icewind dale. The snowy atmosphere made me want to cuddle down in front of a fire each time I played it.

 

[DanteRavenkin]

Pallet Town. To me, that was the springboard to so many adventures that I will love until the day I die.

 

[Theanine3D]

The Mushroom Kingdom in Super Mario RPG

It's got a really happy BGM and some funny NPC moments, and it's where you meet Mallow for the first time. Lots of nice memories of this place.

 

[themagicalkitsune]

Has to be Fishbel or Onett for me.