User blog comment:Lord Loss/Discussion of the Week: Unique Areas/@comment-1758220-20120909021059

Castle Schrade: (snore) Huh..? Oh, I'm sorry it put me to sleep already. Seriously though. Drab does little to accurately describe how boring this place is. Yeah the falling gate is cool, but the rest is pretty lame.

Battleground: it's hard to really like this one that much, seeing as it's just area 7 from the Old Volcano. The lack of space is definitely annoying, especially against Akantor, who takes up so much of it.

Snowy Mountain Peak: Now this one I rather like. The "camp", set on a treacherous, snowbound ledge overlooking the range sets the harsh, unforgiving tone of the Ukanlos battle itself. I like that the showdown takes place on a frozen pond/lake in a high-altitude clearing, it's a unique touch that differentiates this area from just being like 6, 7, or 8 from the Snowy Mountains.

Underwater Ruins: I really like this one, even if the batle that's fought here leaves a bit to be desired. The camp is the best part to me, a green, briney cove overlooking the sea. You can almost feel the ocean breeze when you're here. The underwater cave system and eventual ruins are things we don't see very much of in the MH universe, so it's nice to explore them once in a while.

Great Desert: Not much to say here, I'm afraid. I will note that graphically, this map is one of the most impressive in the series. I don't know why, but the lighting effects on the boat/interior of the boat are extremely well done. I really like how Loc Lac is visible even in the P3rd version, makes the world feel a bit more connected.

Sacred Land: I'm not a huge fan of the lava-themed boss arenas, but this one's alright I suppose. The vivd blackness of the ground is a nice touch.

Mountain Summit: The atmosphere here is what makes this arena shine. The rain-swept, drenched camp with the twisted trees being battered by the heavy storm, the small torches offering an ominous glow, it sets up the "God of storms" vibe very nicely. The mountain stream vista you get upon Ammy's defeat is a welcome gift as well.

Polar Zone: I'm not sure whether I prefer this one or the peak, but nevertheless, it's nice-looking. The vast, arctic ocean and the colourful aurora sky are a feast for the eyes. I feel like there's a bit more space here to fight as well, which is nice.

Lava Canyon: A MASSIVE improvement over the Battleground. The added space, the brighter, more vibrant color palette, the ruins in the background, the crashed airship, all very welcome elements here.

Disasterous Sea: I wish I could say more about this area, but for now i'll just say that I like being able to see Tanjia's lighthouse in the background. The shipwreck is a nice atmospheric touch as well. Beyond that, I don't have much to add.