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[CommandThrower]

There are some great areas listed in this thread. I don't remember seeing this one, so:

Cardbridge from Alice: Madness Returns. In a game that's filled with areas that are very unsettling, hostile and creepy, this is the one area of the game that subverts all that. A beautiful blue sky patched with clouds while you run and jump around on giant playing cards floating in the sky. It also helps that the music is pretty soothing as well.

I suppose some of the other areas of Alice: Madness Returns could count, but they almost all go to hell in some fashion. Cardbridge doesn't. It's just a soothing jaunt through forts and bridges made of playing cards.

 

[Deified Data]

At least until this unsettling motherfucker shows up and ruins it, even though he means well:

Hmm...

 

[BlueSummers]

Can't seem to find a youtube link or anything so maybe someone can help me out. When you first start up Shadow of the Colossus, your main guy I forget his name is sitting with his head on his forehead and it's just such a peaceful momenet before you have to set out on your journey again.

 

[Hugo!]

Probably already posted but I like the contrast of security (inside the room) with fear(outside) on the Resident Evil series.

 

[masterlobo]

This is a FFXI thread to me.

Final Fantasy XI - Al'Taieu

Final Fantasy XI - The Garden of Ru'Hmet

Final Fantasy XI - The Sanctuary of Zi'Tah

Final Fantasy XI - Gustaberg

Final Fantasy XI - Rolanberry Fields

Final Fantasy XI - Hall of the Gods

Final Fantasy XI - Lufaise Meadows/Misareaux Coast

Final Fantasy XI - Promyvon

Final Fantasy XI - Mhaura

Final Fantasy XI - Norg

Final Fantasy XI - Bhaflau Thickets

Yup, the game was chill

 

[Symphonia]

Also, not one specific area, but I always found walking through the deserts and countryside in GTAV to be quite relaxing. It really is a shame Rockstar didn't add the option to play your own music in-game via the characters phone. Maybe next time, eh?

 

[sublimit]

Nexus in Demon's Souls... Sooo good.

The couch in Ico.

These two are my favourites i think.

 

[GenericUser]

Don't know if it already has been mentioned, but the plains in skyrim are really cool. It's like the world whispers to you "explore me". Then the music kicks in and you are carried away.

kudos to the numerous Final Fantasy mentions. Ingenious games.

 

[astroturfing]

man.. way too much nostalgia up in here. i feel like busting out a tear or two.

i really miss the days i played FF games on my PS1 beautiful experiences..

here's my ultimate favorite though, i didn't see it mentioned.. Farplane from FFX:

good god it was beautiful. i've never before or since spent as much time just staring at the game screen and listening to the music. THIS MUSIC.

 

[MichaelFassbender]

Any room that "Peace be With You" plays in The Binding of Isaac. THAT is smooth ambiance done right.

 

[Baleoce]

This is a FFXI thread to me.

Good call on sea, love that music

 

[stix zadinia]

Actually a bunch of Fable 2 as well.

 

[malfcn]

Probably already posted but I like the contrast of security (inside the room) with fear(outside) on the Resident Evil series.

This is why earlier RE games were so great.

 

[Camisado]

Besaid Island from FFX, maybe it's the music, but that place always make me feel really happy.

 

[Mr. Poolman]

I'm fond of Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines' Hollywood level, mostly due to awesome music.
Hollywood music

 

[Warewolf]

Some of the early forest and plains stuff in mini Ninjas. just cruise around in your hat boat for a little while, catch some Koi.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

Dobutia in shenmue

 

[Oppo]

I still say Naughty Dog are the masters of atmosphere for this sort of thing.

Red Dead Redemption, and GTA V, get some really nice reflective moments as well.

This is where tech and art running at their best really count, IMO. Ico would have been way up there for me, that impossible arc-bridge, but it's a shame it ran so slow. Still, I remembered, so...

 

[masterlobo]

Good call on sea, love that music

No kidding. Too bad sea content was underwhelming as end game. But boy, did I love spending time there.

It's incredible (sea) you know, everything is so strange, so surreal. It's truly unique, even for a Final Fantasy. I love the imagination that was just straight poured into that game.

 

[Easy_D]

Wandering through the jungles/forest of Faranga in Risen during night is one of my most calming gaming moments ever. Just listen to the music.

The lighting was amazing. Nights were pretty much pitch black, at times it was only you and your torch.

Or the occasional bonfire.

 

[Serra]

Balmorra - Morrowind
Droknar's Forge - Guild Wars
319- Eve Online
Firelink Shrine - Dark Souls

 

[Pitmonkey]

Probably already posted but I like the contrast of security (inside the room) with fear(outside) on the Resident Evil series.

It's amazing how well this game holds up after all these years.

For me, it's any random island you can sale to in The Wind Waker - just love it.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

The salt water tank area in the museum in Animal Crossing City Folk

A combination of the darkness, the gentle fish swimming about and the music make it so relaxing

 

[RurouniZel]

The typewriter rooms in Resident Evil 1 and 2. Soothing music, safe environment.

That perfect first post!

 

[Enzon]

The beach in the first part of Yakuza 3, that part of the game really makes you feel the peaceful new life of the protagonist and why he loves it, i don't know i really liked it

Spoiler

PLEASE BRING YAKUZA BACK

 

[jem0208]

The entirety of Proteus:

Really chilled out experience.

 

[Dr. Buni]

Nexus in Demon's Souls.

This. The majority of cities in Sinnoh and Kalos (Pokémon) also makes me feel very relaxed.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

Typewriter rooms in RE.

It doesn't have to be pretty or aesthetically comforting just safe.

If anything, Banner Saga shows how incredibly gorgeous scenery can be stressful as hell if you are running low on supplies for your caravan.

 

[metalmachine]

RE save rooms

 

[SmithnCo]

Some of the rooms in the original Bioshock, where they have the 50s music playing. I would hang out in there and look at all the scenery and listen to the music.

 

[Blinck]

Crystalsong Forest in WoW

Beautiful area.
The song that accompanies it is also gorgeous :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeqVaL8QulY

That's the definition of zen

 

[KeRaSh]

This is a FFXI thread to me.

Yup, the game was chill

So many feels and good memories summed up in one single post. Thank you!

 

[bigol]

Firelink Shrine

 

[Tremas]

Those little holes you drop in across Hyrule in OOT. They have that really soothing ambient music like inside the deku tree.

The much mentioned Grizzly Hills in WoW. When the WoW servers shut for the very last time, I'd like to make one last trip to Grizzly Hills and retire my character there amongst the furbolgs. The music, the atmosphere - perfection.

Balamb Town in FFVIII

Jolly Roger Bay/Dire Dire Docks in Mario 64. If only just for the music alone.

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

Noki Bay from Mario Sunshine. Everything from the colors to the great water to the music is amazing.

The title screen and Fairy Fountains from Zelda are great too.

 

[zlatko]

The Sanctuary of Zi'tah in FFXI, and Rolanberry fields in FFXi.

Also, the promyvion's main theme from FFXI. OH and Aydeewa Subterrane.

That game is chock full of good tunes.

 

[EhoaVash]

Guer plains from Xenoblade and hyrule filed in zelda

 

[Statue of Limitation]

The Hound Pits Pub.

After a mission it really does feel like a safe haven from the regime that is hunting you. If you properly explore between levels you get a ton of optional dialogue which fleshes out the main cast.

The area is a great playground to get used to the wicked traversal system of Dishonoured, I spent so much time exploring the area and was very pleased when it turned out to be an actual level, knowing all of its nooks and crannies it felt like I was taking on the enemy on a home field advantage.

 

[decaf]

Majora's Mask - last six hours in South Clock Town.

 

[Screaming Meat]

Does the character creator in Dark Souls count as an "area"?

 

[koji kabuto]

Cosmo Canyon

When I first got there I just put the controller down and mellowed out to that song.

This +1

 

[limlark]

 

[skoma]

I guess i've spent the majority of my vanilla playtime here. Good memories.

 

[Ithil]

Too many darn places in the N64 Zelda games.

Kokiri Forest, Hyrule Castle Town Market, Lon Lon Ranch, Fishing Hole, Zora's Domain, Fairy Fountains, Zelda's Courtyard, and others from Ocarina of Time.

Romani Ranch, Zora Hall, Milk Bar, Clock Town Day One (only Day One. Melancholy on Day Two, unsettling on Day Three), Astral Observatory, and more from Majora's Mask.

Zelda games in general are good at doing this.

Also Candlekeep (the first time) and Beregost in Baldur's Gate 1, and Kuldahar in Icewind Dale.

 

[Flarin]

Fletz - The Legend of Dragoon

Ding Dong Dell - Ni no Kuni

Balamb Garden - Final Fantasy VIII (dat music)

 

[masterlobo]

The Sanctuary of Zi'tah in FFXI, and Rolanberry fields in FFXi.

Also, the promyvion's main theme from FFXI. OH and Aydeewa Subterrane.

That game is chock full of good tunes.

Ah yes I missed the last one on my post.

Final Fantasy XI - Aydeewa Subterrane

 

[SweetDonuts]

There's many places but Lon Lon Ranch would be the main one for me, that music.

 

[NJDEN]

The Unknown World from Knights of the Old Republic.

 

[Frologic]

The underwater Elevator in Halo 2. I couldn't find a video of it so I recorded it myself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAx3oWG6vQk

Also, the spacewalk in The Swapper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_rBxnh7qEc

 

[Aurongel]

MAJOR THE LAST OF US SPOILERS:

Spoiler

The giraffe scene and accompanying rooftop scene that cleverly lets you rest there for as long as you like

Spoiler

It's a strong juxtaposition with the horribly dark turn that Ellie and Joel's relationship takes afterwards. The deliberate final cut to the giraffe's leaving the field is meant to symbolize lost innocence and strongly foreshadows what comes next. It's also the scene where their relationship is at its' strongest and purest. When I noticed the foreshadowing, I wasn't eager to move on immediately so I just stayed on the roof and soaked it all in. The landscape of Salt Lake City and the wildlife around it had that Terrence Mallick quality to it where this horrible act was occuring in contrast to the beautiful natural world that lives on around it