Favorite dungeon archetype?

[ReturnofMCH]

So in the pokemon games, like any good rpg there are dungeons
A lot of them are similar to eachother at that
This poll is to decide which dungeon archetype is the fan favorite
Mine is the abandoned building one

 

[~ Blazing White Yang]

The giant mountains would have to be my favorite. I just love how much there is to find in those. Johto's Mt. Mortar is without a doubt my favorite.

Although I'm also a big fan of the Abyssal Ruins for its interesting concept and glorious loot.

 

[Esserise]

Great idea for a thread.

I feel like I should want to vote for abandoned buildings, but I don't think the concept has been done to its full potential often enough in the series for me to say it's my favorite, even though I love the idea on paper. I do adore the Dreamyard, however.

I like [item] sidequests (the Abyssal Ruins are a favorite of mine), but I can't think of very many examples beyond the two listed, and Sea Mauville(/Abandoned Ship, or would that count as an abandoned building?).

I think, ultimately, I am going to have to choose "Other," and specify "caves/mountains with backtracking value," like the Ravaged Path, the Oreburgh Gate, and Mistralton Cave. Above just about all else, I love having choices for optional exploration, and reasons to revisit a location.

 

[sc190191]

I really love the forests, although the fact that they are always early in the games limits their size and difficulty. Pinwheel forest is probably my favorite because it is the biggest and the idea that you can go off the regular path and "get lost" in it is pretty cool. I have to say I would like mountains better if not for the need for repels, because I get super annoyed when every 4 steps is an encounter.

 

[Almonds]

Buildings related to the crime syndicates are my favorites. For one thing, there's almost always a reliable source of healing ready (usually in the form of beds) and you rarely run into any wild animals (with some minor exceptions like Hoenn syndicate buildings built to blend in with the environment). In most cases the dungeon floors are either puzzles or mazes with you having to navigate through spinning tiles, fast currents, or warp panels, which are pretty cool. Fighting trainers along the way and reading extra dialogues are also part of the fun because it gives more details on the story. Best of all, you enjoy the thrill of building up the tension before you reach the boss.

 

[Blockhead Pippi]

I've always been partial to the forests, early or not. Mostly because of the scenery, especially in later games, but also because the forests are not quite as annoying with its encounters as the caves are. Ilex Forest being the exception of course. They're also not nearly as long and tiresome as the caves and tunnels are. I find myself consistently dreading having to go through the caves, though that might be a product of me playing one game so many times that I become sick of its dungeons. But no, I think I like the forests best. They can either be really serene and calm or forbidding and unsettling depending on how they're presented.

I also like the buildings too to an extent. They're better if they don't rely on puzzle gimmicks (spinning or teleporting tiles) and if they don't have constant encounters. Though even then I find those to be more bearable than the caves.

 

[Juliko]

While I wouldn't call any of these my favorites, I do find that the forest areas usually have a lot of Pokemon I absolutely love.

 

[Boss1708]

Here are some of my favourites:

- Sky Pillar, Tin Tower, Bellsprout Tower, MT. Mortar

- Abandoned Ship/ Sea M.

- Ruins of Alph, Undella Bay ruins

- almost all forests

 

[NinjutsuSen]

- Big mountains with caves like Mt.Silver and Mount Coronet
- Caves with own themes like Mirror Cave, the volcano caves (Stark, Chimney, Reversal Mountain), Chargestone etc.
- More unique areas like the Olivine Lighthouse, Johto towers, lost hotel etc.

And please more third person views in caves like the Glittering Cave. The only cave where you can lost the overview. Refreshing experience after so many caves with the regular view.

 

[Lord Clowncrete]

Victory road, for the challenge and since at that point, you essentially have your strongest team with all the hms.

 

[Gengarzilla]

Anything post credits, such as Cerulean Cave, Stark Mountain, and Challenger's Cave.

 

[Camille]

Giant mountain by far. I've always really liked exploring Mt. Coronet and Mt. Silver, Even if they require multiple HMs to navigate, I don't care, especially since Surf and Waterfall are awesome moves in every way.

 

[Bolt Strike]

Victory Road, especially the recent ones, have been really good. They've really pushed to give them a variety of environments and make them feel like true final dungeons.

 

[Stratelier]

The ones that immediately come to my mind as memorable -- not necessarily 'favorite' -- are the dark dungeons requiring Flash to navigate. Not being able to see 3 steps in front of you really gave them a special atmosphere, and the optional ones were better for it because there was no real reason to be there -- YOU chose to explore it of YOUR own volition.

I would also count Glittering Cave in Kalos among this group -- not for being a Flash cave, but because of the unique camera angle chosen for it.

 

[PinkIceFox]

Forests! I just love the atmosphere of forests. Finding mushrooms and stuff is fun and forests are just so relaxing plus unlike caves for the most part you only get attacked in grass.

 

[Esserise]

Have to come back here and give a special shout-out to Chargestone Cave and Reflection Cave. Two of my favorite dungeons just for being so different from normal caves and having fairly unique, creative concepts.

Glittering Cave is a good one too. It is the only part of either of the 3DS Pokémon games where I turn on the 3D view, feeling that it is for once entirely justified - the camera angle creates a unique atmosphere where it's great to be able to sense the rocky protrustions in the wall as you pass them, or to perceive actual depth in the wild Pokémon shadows.

 

[Lyrebird]

Mountains

 

[al_the_bard]

The crime syndicate hideout.

 

[Eggseggseggseggs]

I like the climatic feeling building up to big "Boss" moments, so I like the Hideouts and Legendary Dungeons the best. Now that I think about it I have vague good memories of climbing up Sky Pillar and going through Turnback Cave. Especially the latter. It was so creepy!

 

[Mia Dessendre]

I've never been a fan of dungeons in RPGs. Pokemon is no exception. But pretty much, I like any dungeon that doesn't require HMs. Something special and odd like N's castle was my favorite dungeon. So I guess I voted crime and syndicate-related, but really, it's more if it's extremely relevant to the story that I like it, which is rare in a Pokemon game. That's the only moment I can think of where I felt a sense of tension as I made my way through