Support NeoGAF

[OricWindstar]

What are some of your favorite areas where you get buy equipment in games? I feel this is often an overlooked opportunity in games, as a well-themed shop can add a lot of character to the atmosphere. Here are a couple of my picks:

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: Bazaar
Not my favorite Zelda games, but I sure do love the Bazaar in Skyloft. Really convenient to have all the shops in one place. And all the shopkeepers have such great personalities!

Resident Evil 4: Merchant
He may not be a brick-and-mortar shop, but this guy has enough charisma to make up for it. I fucking love this guy. No explanation needed for how he always finds you; he just gets around.

 

[thestopsign]

I was going to say Resident Evil 4. I still quote him constantly.

 

[Fandangox]

Sorry I aint selling.

 

[Philippo]

The one and only

 

[Reule]

Caxton's Armory, Dragon's Dogma. They're masterworks, all. You can't go wrong.

 

[OricWindstar]

I was going to say Resident Evil 4. I still quote him constantly.

I had a GameStop employee say "Whatcha' ya buyin'?" to me in a weird voice. Haha, still not sure if he was quoting the Merchant or just rude.

The one and only

Considered this one as well, but I limited myself to one Zelda for the OP. "THANK YOU!!!"

 

[mp1990]

The one and only

Hahahahahahahahaha best shop,best quote.

 

[Phreaker]

Mac's Skill Shop in Phantom Dust. It had a really cool look back in 2004.

 

[Huggers]

Stockpile Thomas counts right? 'You have a heart of gold. Don't let them take it from you'. What a man

 

[MikeyB]

Caxton's Armory, Dragon's Dogma. They're masterworks, all. You can't go wrong.

Damn straight. Now upgrade my armor with some blood, a rock, and some feathers.

 

[Jachaos]

GameTrailers had a video on this.

10. Rusty (Rusty's Real Deal Baseball)
09. Smilin' Stan (Secret of Monkey Island)
08. Drebin (Metal Gear Solid 4)
07. Old Man Daidara (Persona 4)
06. Moogles (Final Fantasy series)
05. Beedle (The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker)
04. Slim Cognito (Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando)
03. Happy Mask Salesman (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
02. The Merchant (Resident Evil 4)
01. Tom Nook (Animal Crossing)

Or well, top shopkeepers but it's a similar question.

 

[Gilly]

 

[sssstententen]

Caxton's Armory, Dragon's Dogma. They're masterworks, all. You can't go wrong.

Another fantastic answer.

The vendors in the souls games are all pretty memorable. Dark Souls 2 redeems itself with Gavlan.

 

[Crayolan]

Can't forget Malo Mart.

 

[DOWN]

RE4 and Wind Waker are so memorable. Great shopkeepers and settings.

 

[cj_iwakura]

What'll it be, Swordmaster?

(Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean)

 

[thequickandthedead]

The one and only

game?

 

[Philippo]

game?

Beedle, Zelda The Wind Waker.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

Star Fox Adventures, and no, I don't particularly like it, but it was a funny place to go.

 

[Reule]

Another fantastic answer.

The vendors in the souls games are all pretty memorable. Dark Souls 2 redeems itself with Gavlan.

Yeah, Souls games merchants and or NPCs are all great. Dark Souls II had Ornifex, too!

Tom Nook is THE shopkeeper.

 

[Hipster Cthulhu]

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Hee hee, thaaank youuuu~~

 

[theosi]

tee-hee

 

[MichaelFassbender]

This guy from Seiken Densetsu 3:

He just keeps on dancin'.

 

[Peter Sjöstrand]

Always liked the Tomato Convenience Store in Shenmue.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Beautiful.

 

[JSoup]

Any shop in any Atelier game ever.

 

[Despera]

The singing shopkeeper in Crypt of The Necrodancer.

Each stage has a unique track, and this charming dude vocalizes them all.

youtube.com/watch?v=1yJxhAokCF8#t=4m0s

 

[Hockey123]

Zelda shops the thread

Links Awakening shop is one of my favorites

 

[Vindicator]

 

[Fritz]

No More Heroes - Beef Head

Animal Crossing - Nook's

 

[Ein Bear]

I still can't believe the Merchant didn't become a staple of the series after Resident Evil 4, and they instead replaced him with menus.

It's inexcusable, Capcom. Inexcusable.

 

[NoFaceNico]

Fantasy Zone's balloon shop:

Wizards and Warriors II: Ironsword (aka, the NES game with Fabio on the cover)

The shopkeeper would kick you out if you didn't have any money.

 

[br0ken_shad0w]

Celadon Department Store. Just imagine going from a regular PokeMart and visiting this place for the first time. Blew my mind back in the day. Unfortunately can't find the original RBY version.

Add this music and welcome to Ragnarok Online. Closest thing to a living, breathing in-game bazaar.

 

[Tesseract]

elliot's quest

 

[ViviOggi]

Add this music and welcome to Ragnarok Online. Closest thing to a living, breathing in-game bazaar.

Yup it's this.

 

[hydruxo]

Xur from Destiny

 

[Ohmygoditsjrod]

Senran Kagura for best shop keeper.

 

[Sectorseven]

Watto's shop in Star Wars Pod Racer.

 

[PooBone]

Donkey Kong Country 3's Bazaar shops.

 

[SonyToo!™]

Recettear: An Item Shop Tale

Wasn't there a clone on 3DS? What was it's name?

Trouble Witches (360 XBLA/PC/Arcade) is a shmup that includes a shop like Cotton does. Only in this game you can "touch" the shopkeepr who eventually gets pissed and kicks you out.

 

[Beren the Empty-Handed]

I think a shout out is deserved for the original merchant in Zelda NES.

There's something oddly charming about an asshole merchant yelling at you as soon as you walk in.

 

[MetalSlug]

Also, the anime is very good. Worth a watch if you've never seen it (on Youtube).

 

[shira]

 

[Ran rp]

 

[SonyToo!™]

Shining in the Darkness MD (yes it's the dwarf from Golden Axe)

 

[mcz117chief]

Chocolina from FF XIII-2 is one of the funnies vendors I know. I love her lines

Also, Chop2Shop from Lollipop Chainsaw is great

 

[Kain]

I could stare at these all day long.

 

[Dice//]

Add this music and welcome to Ragnarok Online. Closest thing to a living, breathing in-game bazaar.

Oh man, that easy-breezy anime background music is making me giggle.

I like Ocarina of Time for it's excellent kitschy shop theme and I like Twilight Princess/Skyward Sword for its...atypical vendors:

 

[Koren]

Recettear: An Item Shop Tale

Wasn't there a clone on 3DS? What was it's name?

There's a 3DS clone? Interested...

Since there's not a lot of game that let you open a shop (Recettear, but also Harvest Moon Grand Bazaar and Atelier games in another style), it's nice to see them mentioned.

I'd like to have more flexibility in the shop design, though.


A not-so-great shop is the one in Secret of Evermore, not because it's special per se, but because it was the first time I had to enter a working waiting line to access the shop, and that blow my mind at this time...

Tom Nook is THE shopkeeper.

Or rather, was, now

That being said, I still have a place for Stan as a iconic shopkeeper (and generally speaking, Monkey Island shops)