All time favorite FFXI zone

[Anathiel]

Absolutely has to be boyahda tree for me, it always had such a psychedelic appeal to me that made me wander around for hours.

[Leonlionheart]

Abyssea - Miseraux Coast.

Red Sky > Blue Sky, come on I can see that if I go outside.

[Modoru]

Zi'Tah; reason: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCiGb8n9C7Q
Tav'chipelago; reason: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBiy2fo-8LU [Partly, this is Lufaise Meadows specifically, but still.]

[Kimara]

Arrapago Reef <3 the zone and the music.

[Reiterpallasch]

Gustaberg, for the music. It's where I started and has one hell of a nostalgic feeling to it.

On a side note, does it remind anyone of the 2002 PS2 game "Way of the Samurai"?

Never thought about it, but yeah it kinda does. Sunk tons of hours into that game.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

I have a screenshot somewhere of a friend and me sitting on the beach in bibiki bay at sunset just as the kraken that agroed me slapped me in the head. It was always fun just sitting around out there.

[Selzak]

After 7 years of game play I still find myself drawn to this, even after all my original friends have moved on to other things. I've been trying to figure out what exactly it is that makes me log in daily.

It may be that the game's atmosphere and music has a lot to do with it. Which brings me to my favorite zone, South Gustaberg. I love the music there and when the sun is setting, the place just feels like home. (On a side note, does it remind anyone of the 2002 PS2 game "Way of the Samurai"?)

So gents, which zone in FFXI is your all time favorite zone, and why? Discuss.

I came in here to post some of my honorary mentions (Zi'Tah, Lufaise Meadows, Jugner Forest...) followed impishly by my true favorite, South Gustaberg- for pretty much the exact same reason. First battle I ever fought in FFXI some seven years ago, endless Leaping Lizzy camping, tons of new job leveling (which is always exciting), just feels like home, etc...
I think it's the music mostly that makes it feel so nostalgic for me.

Was surprised to see it in the OP, posted by someone who started playing at the same time as me no less, awesome.


Edit: Wow, just read the rest of the thread. It seems that there's lots of South Gustaberg love, who'da thunk it?

[SilverObi]

Favorite vanilla zone: Ronfaure. Not my first zone ever (that was Sarutabaruta) but the misty forest atmosphere is fantastic.

RotZ: Tie between Sanctuary of Zi'Tah and Ru'Aun Gardens. Zi'Tah reminds me of the redwood forests of my home state and Ru'Aun is just beautiful.

CoP: Gah.. pretty much every zone from this expansion. SE was at their zenith with the art direction on these zones in my opinion and I love every area.

ToAU: Arrapago Reef and Alzadaal Undersea Ruins. Reef has that haunting music and atmosphere, Alzadaal has the ancient technology motif and feel that's a personal favorite of mine.

WotG: Southern San d'Oria [S] hand's-down. The starter nation I settled down in years ago was San d'Oria so between the more lush visuals and the stirring music, it felt like a homecoming marching into the city (being in full pld relic at the moment just made it all the sweeter).

Abyssea: Yeah i know they're all reskins but Abyssea - La Theine gets special mention to me because of an epic moment I had when exploring the (then) new zone. The somber music reached that particularly low point just as I crested a hill, just to see the Abyssea version of Carbuncle trotting along slowly and alone. Don't know what it was but it was just the perfect moment and I had to take a pause as that special mix of melancholy and nostalgia washed over. One thing SE can still do right by far is create unique moments for players.

Sorry about the huge post lol but I had to get in on this ^^

[Vagrua]

The music from the zone West Saurabaruta [S] always got me. It's so peaceful.

My favorite zone scenery wise would have to be Beaucedine Glacier (S) during dark weather.

[Tohihroyu]

Castle Zvahl, Purgonorgo Isle, Castle Zvahl [S], Mt. Zaylom, Mamook, The Boyahda Tree, North Gustaberg [S], Grauberg [S], Walk of echos (some of the structures...look like some seen in the pommy zones), Xarcabard & the rivinene. Just to name a few.

I would say Altepa & quicksand caves but I would prefer seeing what the place would have looked like before the anticans took over. site