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The Top 7... Amazing video game maps that do more than just show the way to go

Pioneering navigation tools with more cool ideas than a few full games we could mention

Words: , GamesRadar_MattCundy, David Houghton on January 16, 2012
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63 comments

  • aberkromby - January 16, 2012 12:10 p.m.

    I'm surprised Skyrim wasn't mentioned... It was definitely more interesting than some of the entries on this list.

  • yonderTheGreat - January 16, 2012 1:49 p.m.

    TURbo disagrees

  • shawksta - January 16, 2012 2:56 p.m.

    Nah man, seriously, its not, just because its a great game, doesmt mean its map is as special as these.

  • BladedFalcon - January 16, 2012 3:27 p.m.

    ...Interesting how? Sure, it's all on 3D, but it's displayed so far away and with so many obstructions, that you never can see shit in it. And no, the zoom doesn't help at all since it's a pretty meager zoom. That, coupled with the lack of fully turning the map... and you have something that is virtually useless if the game didn't put big icons on the places you've visited. Not to mention, aside from being rendered in 3D, it does absolutely nothing to make itself different or special.

  • aberkromby - January 21, 2012 6:14 p.m.

    Yeah, it was a pain in the ass to use, but so was Far Cry's map. It's still the prettiest map to look at in any game though.

  • BladedFalcon - January 21, 2012 6:42 p.m.

    ...It's not at all. It's a far away shot that isn't really that pretty because you can't zoom in and turn it around properly. And then clouds and other kind of weather never let you appreciate it fully. And it's not a pain in the ass to use at all, you pull it up, you choose the icon of the place you want to go and presto. but it's not innovate, it's not out of the box, and it doesn't do anything special like the other maps in this list do. Driver: San Fransico's Map is a similar idea to the one in skyrim, except this one you CAN zoom it in and turn it as much as you want and it's vital and integrated into the game's main innovative mechanic, which is what makes it so different and so much more superior than skyrim's.

  • shawksta - January 16, 2012 11:53 a.m.

    Awesome list, especially San fransisco, SMW, and Metroid Prime.

  • Riq12 - January 16, 2012 11:52 a.m.

    What about Descent (PC)??? THAT was a totally mind blowing map! If you looked at it for too long it made pop your eyeballs out.

  • Sjoeki - January 16, 2012 11:32 a.m.

    Mass Effect 2 was and still is an amazing game but I find that if you start a new game and you have all the DLC installed that the galaxy map can be a bit overwhelming. So much to do and where to start? The word clusterfuck comes to mind.

  • StealthyMangos - January 16, 2012 11:28 a.m.

    ODST map!

  • MidianGTX - January 16, 2012 11:26 a.m.

    I agree Dark Souls map should have made an entry. It probably wasn't the first to do so, but the way it presents itself as an actual map that doesn't translate directly to the game gives the player a better sense that the world really exists. Also, you failed to mention Minecraft's map, similar to Far Cry 2's but you freakin' create and fill it yourself! And how about Phantom Hourglass? Writing notes on a game map not revolutionary enough? I also think Midnight Club: Los Angeles' map is worthy of mention for being the first time a map really managed to impress me by zooming in and out of the action. Skyrim's kinda cheats by cutting away from the action. Oh... and Just Cause 2's for being huge, beautiful and subtly three-dimensional.

  • MidianGTX - January 16, 2012 11:27 a.m.

    Basically, what I'm saying is this list could easily have been a top 10.

  • NearNRiver - January 16, 2012 12:47 p.m.

    A top ten? ....You're new here, aren't you?

  • Robx - January 16, 2012 1:44 p.m.

    Seems so... Quick, poke him with a stick!

  • BladedFalcon - January 16, 2012 3:32 p.m.

    Um... considering that dark souls map you mention doesn't even appear in game... No, i don't see how it could count. (And I AM pretty sure there's no way to see it in-game, since I've beaten the game, twice. Unless there's an extra obscure way to see it, I am pretty sure it's not there, and if this is the case, then it's not available, functional enough to be considered as an entry.)

  • profile0000 - January 16, 2012 10:58 a.m.

    I found the original Dead Space to have an awesome map, but it totally was a pain in the ass to use most of the time.

  • madmax21st - January 16, 2012 11:32 a.m.

    "awesome map" "pain in the ass" By definition, it's not awesome if it's pain in the ass.

  • profile0000 - January 16, 2012 3:56 p.m.

    Hence "most of the time." That implies that some of the time it wasn't a pain to use and that is when it was awesome.

  • MetroidPrimeRib - January 16, 2012 9:53 a.m.

    Far Cry 2 had THE WORST map ever.

Showing 21-40 of 63 comments

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