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Games where it is possible to revisit most or all areas except the starting one

zMiiChy-

zMiiChy-

Member
Dec 12, 2017
1,881
I just realized how this is a fairly common trope, and I'm not sure why.

I'll give some examples in any case

Super Metroid: The ship at the beginning


Mega Man Legends: The unidentified ruins with the large robot


Majora's Mask:The unknown land that transitions to Termina(Hyrule?)


Most Mega Man X games: The brilliant intro stage(No video for this one!)

*Metroid Prime: While it is technically possible to return to the Space Pirate Frigate, it is not in the state you initially visited it in


Please post any games that fit this description that you can think of
 
L Thammy

L Thammy

Spacenoid
Member
Oct 25, 2017
50,134
Terranigma, I think? Although in that one it would be weird if you could go back.
 
Alavard

Alavard

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
5,373
This probably applies to multiple Mega Man X games, but I specifically remember Mega Man X5 having an opening stage before you get to the standard stage hub. It serves as a bit of a tutorial, and I'm pretty sure you can't go back there.
 
OP
OP
zMiiChy-

zMiiChy-

Member
Dec 12, 2017
1,881
Brave Fencer Musashi: It's been a long time since I've played this so I could be wrong, but I believe you can return to any areas that comprise the intro sequence


*Final Fantasy 7: You return to Midgar exactly once, at then it subsequently gets destroyed!


*Super Mario Galaxy: This is a really cool example - the reward for 100% completing the game is one final level that is actually a celebratory return to the starting one!


**Metroid Prime 3:
You return to the G.F.S. Olympus exactly once, then it subsequently becomes inaccessible
*The 3 Phazon cocoons are also destroyed
 
Xwing

Xwing

This guy are sick of the unshakeable slayer
Member
Nov 11, 2017
9,940
Kingdom Hearts (the non-corrupted version of Destiny Islands specifically)
 
PCfromNYC

PCfromNYC

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,362
If areas you can revisit in a different state counts, then Zanarkand of FFX should count.

Also, the intro level of Starbound should you decide to play it.
 
KillstealWolf

KillstealWolf

One Winged Slayer
Avenger
Oct 27, 2017
16,249
Does the first Ratchet and Clank count for this?

The final planet is your home planet, Veldin, which is where you start the game, but due to story events it is vastly different now that Chairman Drek brought the De-Planetiser and his army along to the planet.
 
Eila

Eila

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,950
브라이언 said:
MapleStory. In fact there are islanders who refuse to leave the island and level with low-level mobs.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

There's a few MMOs I know that have tutorial islands. Tibia and Ragnarok are two other examples. in Tibia they even made a second tutorial island to replace the really old one. But you can still go there if you want.
They actually mostly took out Maple island from the game. But maybe you can still go in there if you really want to?
 
Filipus

Filipus

Prophet of Regret
Avenger
Dec 7, 2017
5,148
Halo Infinite is a good example. You can ultimately explore everything, except the first mission on the ship. It's a dope mission but it makes sense narratively
 

Atom

Member
Jul 25, 2021
11,673
sixteen-bit said:
Ninja Gaiden 2004/Black/Sigma. Most of the game is interconnected barring the first 2 missions.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Even then, only the very first mission is inaccessible iirc as you loop back through the village part towards the end of the game for the dragon sword.

And then in NG2 you get to do those two missions kind of in reverse lol.
 
gebler

gebler

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,276
Recently played Ratchet & Clank: Drift Apart, and I believe it qualifies. The game has collectibles scattered throughout, and ways to get back to ones you may have missed, but the linear parade route at the start of the game is an exception. No way (or need) to get back, although you do revisit the planet it's on at the end.

The first Jak & Daxter is similar, I guess? And probably some other Ratchet games (e.g. Into the Nexus) as well.
 
Karl Havoc

Karl Havoc

Member
Dec 10, 2019
39
Brooklyn in The Division. I started a new character after spending way too many hours in that game, just so I could revisit snowy Brooklyn in the opening hour or so. (After the tutorial you are transported to Manhattan and pretty much stuck there.)
 
ForthU

ForthU

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,311
KillstealWolf said:
Does the first Ratchet and Clank count for this?

The final planet is your home planet, Veldin, which is where you start the game, but due to story events it is vastly different now that Chairman Drek brought the De-Planetiser and his army along to the planet.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Actually Veldin is mostly the same, though at the start of the game you only get to see the first part of the level. The sequels do definitely count though.
 

mclem

Member
Oct 25, 2017
13,542
Secret of Mana, once you've completed the opening section and first boss, you cannot return to Potos Village.

Fallout 3 is an interesting one:
Once you leave the Vault at the start you can't return... except for one mission partway through the game. After that's finished, once again the vault is inaccessible
 
Planet

Planet

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,358
Dying Light 2, even has two collectibles (required for trophies / achievements) in the starting area you can never collect again (unless the upcoming New Game+ doesn't skip that area).
 
Pyccko

Pyccko

"This guy are sick"
Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,879
i don't think you can go back to the giant turtle in the pandaren origin in WoW
 
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