Summary
Every worthy villain needs a lair. Gaming baddies often make their dwellings in or around active volcanoes. These locations aren’t exactly practical, but they look cool. Because of that, they leave an incredibly sinister impression on players.
That’s why lava bases are a proud tradition of video games. These locales are great at setting a menacing mood. That’s due to both the visuals and the hazards they present. The molten environments create a slew of natural obstacles. If the heroes want to reach their foe, then they must navigate these perilous pits. Maybe that’s why so many baddies flock to volcanoes.
This base is both imposing and informative. Clockwerk has a compulsive need to prove his superiority over his enemies, namely Sly Cooper and his thieving family. That’s why the evil owl replaces his organic body with immortal machinery. That mindset informs his volcanic base.
The villain peppers the place with archways and towers in his image, perfectly portraying his inherent vanity. What’s more is that the sharp angles and hellish lighting are truly devilish. Players get a firm idea of the metallic menace before he ever appears.
Reaching him is no easy task, either. Sly must have master thief reflexes and agility. Only then can he land on the precise points while avoiding lasers, turrets, and lava just a few feet below. As if that wasn’t enough, owl drones dive-bomb any trespassers who survive. Instant death awaits at every turn, and the struggle to avoid it only gets more urgent.
The base eventually starts sinking into the volcano. Sly must scramble to scale it before going under. The scenario has all the challenges of previous segments, but with an unforgiving time limit. With such a deadly domain, it’s no wonder how Clockwerk has endured for centuries.
Gaming’s most iconic villain needs a lair to match. Bowser has had many castles throughout theMarioseries (such asSuper Mario 3D World), and they usually involve lava. The Big Bad builds his home inside a volcano. The oppressive aesthetic is perfect forthe fire-breathing turtle monster, and it contrasts sharply with the colorful Mushroom Kingdom. It’s not just for show, though.
Bowser’s castle also comprises the most challenging levels. They put players' platforming skills to the ultimate test. The areas are rife with spikes and koopas. Mario must make precise jumps and grab what few power-ups he finds. All of this trouble is too much for one plumber. Bowser might as well keep Princess Peach.
On a similar note, Risky has several robot factories intheShantaeseries, but the volcanic base inHalf-Genie Herois the most sinister. Lava covers the whole floor, with the molten substance pouring in from all sides. The only safe places are the brick walls and platforms, but these have spikes waiting to skewer any unsuspecting heroes. Finally, the base is littered with robots.
Commanding them is the Tinkerbrain: a mess of wires and gear sloppily assembled into a giant cranium. These factors give Risky’s Hideout an impersonal atmosphere, which is radically different from the rest of the game’s cartoonish tone.
It makes navigating those tropical locales look like a cakewalk. Like any worthy platforming challenge, the lair requires players to be at the top of their jumping and climbing game. Even if they make it to the end, they still aren’t safe. The Tinkerbrain’s defeat causes the base to explode. Lava flows out in a tidal wave, and Shantae must escape. The whole time, the deadly liquid is right on her heels. If she wasn’t a genie, she’d never make it out alive.
Team Magma opts for both flash and function. In theRubytitle, these Pokémon crooks make their base deep in Mt. Chimney. The location alone scares off any law enforcement or meddling trainers. Not only do Magma’s minions guard it, but it contains legions of fire and rock-type Pokémon. These can wear down any would-be heroes, allowing the evildoers to cary out their plans in peace.
The volcano is integral to those plans. The gang wants to induce an eruption, thereby spreading molten rock and expanding the world’s land mass. In theEmeraldversion, Groudon slumbers here. The thugs aim to controlthe legendary Pokémonfor their unscrupulous ends. Setting up shop in Mt. Chimney is ideal on multiple levels, making Team Magma one of the most practical Pokémon gangs.
This name describes both the place and the guy in charge.Dagoth Ur is a dark god capable of tremendous feats. He illustrates that by building a multi-tiered fortress within Red Mountain. The deeper players go, the creepier it gets. The scare factor stems from both the volcanic roots and unholy enemies. Ash vampires run rampant, lashing out at the most unexpected times. Exploring the base is like journeying through Hell itself.
That sense gets stronger once players reach the inner sanctum. Dagoth Ur has constructed a machine god named Akulakhan. Its stomach is the whole chamber, with protruding ribs comprising the frame. The visual is morbid and overwhelming. It makes players feel like insignificant specks meddling in forces beyond their imagination.
Shadow the Hedgehog’sspin-off strives to be darker than the mainlineSonicgames. Dr. Eggman adopts that mantra for his lair. The Lava Shelter is the most imposing part of the Eggman Empire. Metallic platforms and crates permeate the base, and the only way to traverse them is by grinding on rails, which hover over molten rivers. One misstep means roasted hedgehog. The location encapsulates the unfeeling fires of industry. It couldn’t be further from the flamboyant lairs of previous entries. It’s also less stable.
Lava Shelter is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s where Eggman keeps his deadliest weapons. In addition, each area contains a cache of fuel tanks suspended right above the lava. Making matters worse is the industrial complex: flame jets and laser-shooting robots send projectiles flying in every direction. Eggman is just asking for the place to blow up, and the maniacal doctor is just crazy enough to do it. Sorry for the pun, but exploring this futuristic nightmare is like walking on eggshells.
