From Pokemon to Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy, cities and towns have been the safe havens of gaming. They've been places where you can stock up on items, meet new characters, advance the storyline, and explore a truly engrossing new location. At the same time, they can be pinnacles of gaming design and ascetics. They can be towering metropolises or small, coastal fishing villages. Often, they can be some of the memorable locations in gaming.

A major example would be Jerusalem from Assassin's Creed.

Not only was it the most important city (historically) in an era based around the crusades, but it was absolutely beautiful. It had touches of subtle design that immersed you in the time period and made you feel like an assassin. And ultimately, it was the pinnacle of a game layered with truly breathtaking locations.

So what are some of the cities, towns, or even simple villages that you remember most from gaming?

All the Italian cities in Assassin's Creed II are magnificient, I think Florence was my favorite.

Fabul Castle from Final Fantasy IV just because of the big thumping music that made you jump out of your seat when you entered.

Figaro Castle from Final Fantasy VI: A Castle that can bury and travel underground. I don't think I need to say more.

Great choice. Figaro Castle is a personal favorite of mine as well. It's also worth noting that a lot of great cities and locations are accompanied by similarly memorable theme songs (and, of course, awesome leaders like Edgar).

All the GTA cities are great - Liberty City, San Andreas and Vice City.

Any city besides Vivec. Easily the worst of any game D:

[Spoiler] So glad it was destroyed[/spoiler]

Liberty City, mostly because I live in New York

Kingdom of Zeal, I mean, the city was jaw-dropping, and just listen to that music!!

Just one of many, the city in Mirror's Edge:

It manages to feel so alive, yet dead; so colorful, yet grey; so beautiful, yet dangerous.

It's a playground that is hard to match when you couple it with the gameplay of Mirror's Edge.

Vice City. It was a perfect 80's Miami.

Oh, goodness. I hate Mirror's Edge screenshots. It always makes me want to play the game. Yet, I know I hate it T___T. Why do all the bad games have to look so awesome?