Chrono Trigger - Possibly my favorite gameworld, everything just seems so familliar and nostalgic like a dream you can't quite shake.
Sonic 1/2/3
Micky Mouse in Castle/World of Illusion both had amazing atmosphere for Genny-era games.
Goldeneye: 007 - Despite the fact that you weren't really doing much in the way of Bond-ish activity or stealth this was the first game that really made me feel like I was James Bond, it was just so cool sneaking around the various environments trying to use your surroundings to your advantage erstwhile using cool bond gadgets, oh, and the tank missions
.
Panzier Dragoon II:Zwei - I remember the first time I played this game, the impression the atomosphere leaves is just so overwhelming, I caught myself getting bogged down in enemy fire several times as I stopped to stare at scenery.
Nights - I remember spending hours just kinda going around on foot exploring every nook and cranny of the levels in this game, the amount of stuff going on that you never really get to spend time to appreciate is overwhelming, I still play this game today for atmosphere alone (beautiful soundtrack included.)
Beyond Good & Evil - What a unique experience, just the size and scope of the world is enough as it is, but to be able to fully explore such an idylic world almost seamlessly, you just loose yourself in this game.
Myst - It's Myst, the whole game was atmosphere, coupled with the soundtrack it sucked me in like almost no other game of the time.
Omikron:the Nomad Soul - Lots of people didn't like this game, but I got really wrapped up in the world and charecters, you really felt like you were out to solve a mystery and sometimes the options layed out before you were staggering (although really most of it was still pretty simply scripted.
Deus Ex - For the same reasons as Omikron, only Deus Ex felt alot more well-planned out and balanced just about perfectly so you never felt too overwhelmed, but you still had very large areas to explore.
The Dig
Lair
Sewer Shark
Chrono Cross
Vagrant Story - Like a world ripped straight from a storybook.
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
LoZ: ALttP
LoZ: OOT (another game I Explored for Hours).
Shadow Hearts - (the alternate timeline concept is one that usually doesn't work too well, but it is brought to life really well in the SH series and really adds a new coat of paint to the typical JRPG aesthetic and serves as an interesting plot device while never feeling too over-the-top or fabricated).
Ico - What can I say that hasn't been said already, a masterpeice in terms of atomosphere.
Indigo Prophecy - This game went out of it's way to make you feel as if you were an active participant in its world, to the point of leaving you to engauge in the most mundane of everyday tasks, and the soundtrack was stirring (even the licensed tracks fit very well).
So many games with great atmosphere, I could continue this way for days on end
Sonic 1/2/3
Micky Mouse in Castle/World of Illusion both had amazing atmosphere for Genny-era games.
Goldeneye: 007 - Despite the fact that you weren't really doing much in the way of Bond-ish activity or stealth this was the first game that really made me feel like I was James Bond, it was just so cool sneaking around the various environments trying to use your surroundings to your advantage erstwhile using cool bond gadgets, oh, and the tank missions
.Panzier Dragoon II:Zwei - I remember the first time I played this game, the impression the atomosphere leaves is just so overwhelming, I caught myself getting bogged down in enemy fire several times as I stopped to stare at scenery.
Nights - I remember spending hours just kinda going around on foot exploring every nook and cranny of the levels in this game, the amount of stuff going on that you never really get to spend time to appreciate is overwhelming, I still play this game today for atmosphere alone (beautiful soundtrack included.)
Beyond Good & Evil - What a unique experience, just the size and scope of the world is enough as it is, but to be able to fully explore such an idylic world almost seamlessly, you just loose yourself in this game.
Myst - It's Myst, the whole game was atmosphere, coupled with the soundtrack it sucked me in like almost no other game of the time.
Omikron:the Nomad Soul - Lots of people didn't like this game, but I got really wrapped up in the world and charecters, you really felt like you were out to solve a mystery and sometimes the options layed out before you were staggering (although really most of it was still pretty simply scripted.
Deus Ex - For the same reasons as Omikron, only Deus Ex felt alot more well-planned out and balanced just about perfectly so you never felt too overwhelmed, but you still had very large areas to explore.
The Dig
Lair
Sewer Shark
Chrono Cross
Vagrant Story - Like a world ripped straight from a storybook.
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
LoZ: ALttP
LoZ: OOT (another game I Explored for Hours).
Shadow Hearts - (the alternate timeline concept is one that usually doesn't work too well, but it is brought to life really well in the SH series and really adds a new coat of paint to the typical JRPG aesthetic and serves as an interesting plot device while never feeling too over-the-top or fabricated).
Ico - What can I say that hasn't been said already, a masterpeice in terms of atomosphere.
Indigo Prophecy - This game went out of it's way to make you feel as if you were an active participant in its world, to the point of leaving you to engauge in the most mundane of everyday tasks, and the soundtrack was stirring (even the licensed tracks fit very well).
So many games with great atmosphere, I could continue this way for days on end
