Top 5 Video Game Vacations

For many of us, summer vacation is just starting.  Usually, this would mean a time of working somewhere, anywhere to try and save enough money to take a vacation somewhere or just waiting in anticipation for that family trip to Disney World.  Unfortunately, in these tough economic times, jobs are hard to come by and that family vacation might turn into a mere trip to the local circus.  Not that there’s anything wrong with circuses (except for the clowns), but the current global financial crisis sure puts a damper on our summer travel plans.  But fear not!  Video games are still quite affordable, and our ability to imagine ourselves in these worlds costs absolutely nothing.  Here are the top five video game worlds I’d visit in lieu of a real vacation.  What are yours?

5.  El Nido (Chrono Cross)



While not as popular a game as its predecessor, you just can’t beat the tropical paradise that Chrono Cross is set in.  An island with both Caribbean and Mediterranean architectural styles, this is one of the most colorful gaming worlds I’ve ever encountered.  Even the swamp shrouded in toxic gas is full of color and life, with emerald green pools and rust-toned trees. 

There are plenty of fun activities to do, once you’ve saved the world that is.  Everyone on the island is pretty friendly and you only have to get into fight if you want to!  Or, you can kick it on the beach with the whole gang from Chrono Trigger, collect rainbow colored seashells, and even take a cruise on a real-life pirate ship (Yes, there is gambling)!

4.  Yoshi’s Island



While technically part of the larger Super Mario World, who would argue against spending some time on an island full of cute, helpful, and colorful dinosaurs?  While I can’t say this with any certainty whatsoever, I think Yoshi’s Island is everything Jurassic Park should have been.  The dinosaurs are the rides and they’re so safe a baby can go on them!

3.  Spira (Final Fantasy X, X-2)

No matter how you want to spend your vacation, Spira won’t let you down.  There are a number of breathtaking places to visit in Spira, most notably the Macalania Forest pictured above.  Ahhh, young love.  What is it about an enchanted forest at night, lit by thousands of glowing crystals and pyreflies, that causes such romanticism?  I just don’t see it. 

Anyways, once you’ve had your summer fling, there are a multitude of other places to see and experience!  Try dodging lightning on the Thunder Plains, racing a Chocobo in the Calm Lands, or riding a shoopuf across the Moonflow.  Spira is also steeped in culture and history, with many temples and ruins to visit.  The only thing keeping Spira out of the number 2 spot is you might get suckered into a wholly unnecessary and frustrating game of blitzball while visiting this magical land.

2.  Earthbound



Perhaps it’s not the most fantastical of places, and it’s kind of a parody of American society, but the world of Earthbound nourishes the inner child in all of us.  Where else would four young children be able to not only set off on an adventure without parents, but also save the world?  Fighting off enemies like Antoids, Annoying Old Party Men, and Cranky Ladies with yo-yos, baseball bats, and frying pans?  This is a story right from the daydreams of my childhood.  What better way to spend a vacation than in a place where everything is as wondrous and possible as things seemed when we were children.

1.  End of Time (Chrono Trigger)



Yeah, I don’t know if words are quite sufficient to describe how awesome this place is.  Not only do you get access to Time Gates which allow you to visit different eras, you get access to the Epoch, which can fly and is way cooler looking than that car your dad bought for his midlife crisis.  Oh yeah, it’s also a fricking TIME MACHINE.  A vacation to the End of Time means access to pretty much anywhere at any point in history.  How can you top that?

Report Post