Hello everyone, I just got back from a trip out in the American West and I couldn’t help but compare it to the video games I’ve played in my life. This amazing ancient land was first held by the indigenous peoples (Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and others), and then came Spanish conquerors, and then the Atomic era of American chrome. There were so many references that I had to assemble this short highlight list before I did some normal travel posts.
The western themed games (Red Dead Redemption and Fallout) are easy, but I couldn’t help but see so many of these videogame references and motifs out in the great states of New Mexico and Arizona.
I. Meteor Crater (Arizona)
This huge meteor crater was crazy windy on the day we visited, but the awesomeness of the view was well worth it.
The whole time I couldn’t help but think about this being a real life Boss arena, like the one you fight the Fallingstar Beast in Elden Ring, on the big jump before you get to Volcano Manor. I dusted off ER and retook these “travel photos.” 🙂
II. Valles Caldera (New Mexico)
This next spot was crazy as well. You go past Los Alamos (birthplace of the Atomic Bomb) and upwards to a collapsed prairie on top of a somewhat dormant ancient volcano.
This isn’t even the top yet, this valley and crater is just on the drive up. It’s not until you get to the top, that it turns into something out of Tomb Raider.
This is the top of the volcano, a vast 13+ mile prairie that in the summer time is a lush field of wildflowers. If this were a Tomb Raider game, you’d definitely come out of the cave and be greeted by a village or area with plenty of animals to get crafting supplies from. In terms of real animals this land is home to plenty of chubby prairie dogs, so in a way they are grassland type Pokemon or like digletts poking up from their holes. If this area were an RPG there would also definitely be a boss battle in this insanely beautiful place.
III. Grand Canyon (Arizona)
In the watchtower on the east side of the south rim Grand Canyon there are some amazing art all inside. It’s pretty tall too, with winding staircases that made me think you had to solve a puzzle before going up. The big round main art on the first level definitely makes me think of SPELUNKY!! Still one of the favorite games ( …but definitely not Part 2 🙁 )
And back in Santa Fe behind this coffee shop is the prototypical 40’s and 50’s flying saucer! Which can be found in the ice caverns after you pass by the mines and jungle in SPELUNKY!!
IV. Misc Places
On the drive out there in the vastness of the deserts and plains, I thought to myself, surely Japanese game developers probably toured here and got some inspiration. Way off in the distance on the highways are mountains, hills and valleys that just scream RPGs.
The other thing that was so bonkers is that in the span of an afternoon you can go from a piercing hot UV desert to being in a sleet/snow shower. It really is like traveling through an open world video game with the fast weather change and the texture maps download and update in the background.
This crazy coal plant looks like a Mako Reactor from FF VII at night
On the drive you see mounds, plateaus, and mesas out in the distance that clearly holds some treasure/labyrinth/boss battle. Alas I didn’t see any cactuars out there that you have to battle quickly to gain massive loot before he decimates your entire party with that spike special finishing move.
On a serious note though, the beauty of the landscape is on par with its loneliness and the realization that people live, and have lived in these parts for thousands of years. Far from the amenities of the big cities we call home.
The modern American desert in NM really is so crazy. You can go from a Tibetan temple, to buildings in downtown Santa Fe that look like Tatooine, to the tiny town that housed the brightest minds developing both a weapon and energy source.
Wild Pheasant/Bird Type Pokemon in Aspen Trail. Seriously, this was one angry and mean bird. It didn’t want food, it just wanted to chase us peaceful hikers and explorers in its lovely forest. His beak attack did minimal damage to my shoe though.
Since the elevation is so high, the aspens didn’t have any leaves on them. It would be so nice to come back in late September to see them all in yellow and gold. Every time I’m running around the castle area in Elden Ring I can’t help but marvel at the forever autumn forest setting around the Erdtree.
What’s crazy about the Santa Fe area is that even at the end of April rolling into May, they were just now getting spring blossoms and leaves. Which Georgia has quickly passed about a month ago. This entire mountain side will be yellow in the Fall.
So that’s it for a nerdy first post recapping some of my trip! Still slow to get back into the rhythm of things and catching up on my event photos. Thanks for reading!
