Exploration in video games has taken many forms over the years and I'd argue that cities and other places of human inhabitation are where the best practices of gamifying traversal can be found.
This might be the most esoteric game design thing-y that I've ever discussed, but regardless, here we are :)


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Chapters
00:00 Intro
04:05 Jak & Daxter
07:52 Silent Hill
12:50 Dishonored
21:56 Fallout
33:14 Bioshock
41:38 From Software
53:34 Grand Theft Auto
57:59 The Arkham Series


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My Esoteric Game Design videos:

Interfaces & Immersion:
   • Interfaces & Immersion • Video Game A...  

Zelda & Nostalgia:
   • How Do THESE Games Talk about Nostalgia?  

Resident Evil & Flesh:
   • The Horror You Must Touch • Resident ...  

Silent Hill & Impurity:
   • The Horror Lost in Translation • Anal...  


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My videos on some covered titles:

Silent Hill:
SILENT HILL:    • Silent Hill • Retro Analysis.  
SILENT HILL 2:    • Silent Hill 2 • Analysis (Full Commen...  
SIELNT HILL 3:    • Silent Hill 3 • Analysis (Full Commen...  

Bioshock:
   • Bioshock • Analysis.  

From Software:
Armored Core Videos:
ANALYSIS:    • Armored Core • Retrospective • [The H...  
ARMORED CORE 1 CHAT:    • Themes in Armored Core (with AesirAes...  

Dark Souls Videos:
ANALYSIS:    • DARK SOULS • The Ultimate Analysis • ...  
LORE:    • Exploring the Story of Gwyn (Dark Sou...  
TRANSLATION:    • Gwyn's Story • Dark Souls Translated ...  

Sekiro Videos:
ANALYSIS:    • Sekiro • Analysis (Full Commentary).  
LORE:    • Exploring the Story of Sekiro: Shadow...  

Bloodborne Videos:
ANALYSIS:    • Bloodborne • Analysis (Full Commentary).  
LORE:    • Exploring the Story of Bloodborne (Lo...  
TRANSLATION:    • Bloodborne's Story • Translated (Lore...  

Demon's Souls Videos:
ANALYSIS:    • A Look Back At • Demon's Souls (Analy...  
LORE:    • Exploring the Story of Demon's Souls ...  
TRANSLATION:    • Re-Exploring the Story of Demon's Sou...  

King's Field Videos:
King's Field 1:    • A Look Back At • King's Field (Analys...  
King's Field 2:    • A Look Back At • King's Field 2 (Anal...  
King's Field 3:    • A Look Back At • King's Field 3 (Anal...  
King's Field 4:    • A Look Back At • King's Field 4: The ...  

Shadow Tower Videos:
   • A Look Back At • Shadow Tower (Analys...  
   • A Look Back At • Shadow Tower Abyss (...  

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Footage Suppliers:

World of Longplays:    / @worldoflongplays  
-Dark Souls, the Jak Trilogy and Ratchet & Clank was recorded by "martanius".
-Super Mario 64 was played by "RickyC".
-Silent Hill 1 was play by "Tarosan".
-Silent Hill 2, GTA5 and Breath of the Wild was played by "Spazbo4".
-Fallout 3 was played by "Geekmeister".

BlueLizardJello:    / @bluelizardjello  
-Demons Souls.

SinclairLore:    / @sinclairlore  
-Elden Ring

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Patreon:   / medievalmegaman  
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/aesiraesthetics
Essays&Espresso:
   / @essaysespresso8637