A lot of us play games to escape reality. However, there are times when real-world locations are playable areas on our screens. Often, these realms of reality are warped or altered in some way to fit the storyline, but other times they’re perfectly rendered as they appear to the residents of the town, city, or community. Here’s a list of those virtual locations placed alongside their real-life inspirations.
Paris, France – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Paris has a lot of video game exposure. Like a lot a lot. But this is perhaps the one everyone thought of when video games in Paris was mentioned, right? I haven’t even played it and even I thought about it. But how realistic is it? Surprisingly, it’s not too far off.
One YouTuber went through Google Street View and pointed out all the flaws and irregularities, but as someone who has actually been to Paris, I gotta say, they definitely captured the overall feel of City of Lights very well (aside from the place being a total war zone). The streets are narrow, winding, and made of stone, the Seine is flowing through the city, and the residential areas all have those Haussmann roofs. Even the Eiffel Tower area has the pools of water and statues in the right places (kinda). Unlike the game, though, the Eiffel Tower is actually still standing. Phew!
London, UK – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
I think London surprises many Americans in that we don’t realize how built up it actually is (it definitely surprised me when I stayed there last year). That must sound so bizarre to Londoners, but we get a lot of mixed messages from their media; one minute London is super-tech, the next minute the city is having a jolly good Victorian Christmas.
So how accurate is Nathan’s view? Well, when it was in development back in 2009ish it was probably pretty close. The Gherkin (egg-shaped building), Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral are roughly in their correct places. But 2009 was a long time ago, and since then London has built up like a million more skyscrapers…with plans to build even more. At least they got the skyline down. Too bad the cringeworthy Cockney accents were way off base.
Salt Lake City (Utah), USA – The Last Of Us
As a native Utahn, this game tickled me in ways I did not think I could be tickled. Who doesn’t love seeing their hometown in a video game? Of course, this is one of the ones the developers got absolutely wrong, but hey…it’s the thought that counts, right?
Like, look at that gorgeous building that is the Salt Lake Temple. In the Last of Us, it’s surrounded by buildings and a lawn with mountains looming in the background. In reality, those buildings don’t crowd the temple, although it is smack dab in the center of SL, UT. And while it’s true that there are mountains that close to it, they’re just not so close on the Western side. Also, we’re in a high altitude desert, so I doubt it’d be that green without any work. Plus no public tunnels. I really appreciated the effort, but this didn’t feel like SLC – more like Portland or Seattle. Nice try, though!
New York City, NY (USA) – Tom Clancy’s The Division
Ubisoft really made a lot of fans angry with this game. The glitches gave a lot of unfair advantages to those that would take advantage of them, and even prompted a discussion about the banhammer and its potential applications. Say what you will about glitches, but one thing is for certain: the developers absolutely nailed their replica of New York City.
I mean, look at that! How did they get it so perfectly? Did they code from the streets of Manhattan? Seriously. PlayStation took to the streets and proved The Division’s accurate mapping down to street signs and subway exits. In fact, the game’s version of Manhattan almost looked more realistic than reality! Are we in the Matrix? What is going on anymore? Why is reality less real than fiction? Hold me, I’m scared.
Washington D.C. – Fallout 3
Fallout 3 was so cool in that it took place in the capital of the US. It seemed so much more…serious? than any of its other locations. Like any Bethesda game, I played 300+ hours of it before moving on. Little did I know that when I visited Washington DC some 5 or 6 years after playing that, I would feel right at home thanks to the game’s map accuracy.
I mean, look at that. How cool, right? And that’s the part that really hit me as familiar while I was visiting. Of course, in real life the metro stations are well-lit, free of debris, and actually functional, but I was still totally reminded of one of my favorite games for its amazing replica. I’m sure it helps that Bethesda’s headquarters is literally right outside Washington DC, but proximity doesn’t always mean perfection will be achieved. Job well done!
Tokyo, Japan – The World Ends With You
To say Tokyo is packed is a bit of an understatement. With 13.5 million people residing within its city limits, there’s a lot of streets, buildings, and landmarks that can be recreated in video games.
Okay, so it doesn’t get points for realism since it’s a DS game, but the Shibuya Scramble in The World Ends With You is instantly recognizable. This street is a hot tourist spot and known for being very crowded, and in the game, it’s also filled with people scurrying to and fro. I wouldn’t let the cartoony aspect detract from its depiction, honestly – they certainly did a good job recreating this for a handheld!
I’m sure there are hundreds, if not thousands, more locations that should be on this list. After all, it’s easiest to take inspiration from one’s surroundings, and why not incorporate our favorite cities into games we love? Sure, sometimes developers get a few details here and there incorrect, but as long as they convey the overall feel of a location properly, I think that’s all that matters.
