In Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy, Star-Lord and his ragtag team of heroes go on an adventure to pay off their debt while taking on a series of threats to the universe. This brings the cosmic superheroes to all sorts of planets and locations battling villains and monsters alike.
This raises the question, which location in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy stands out the most? There are many factors to consider with this, from aesthetics to exploration and even the enemies that the Guardians encounter. Star-Lord's ship, the Milano, will not be counted since it is so small and is mainly used for talking to the Guardians.
The Quarantine Zone
Filled with derelict ships, a Kree Sentry, and endless amounts of pink resin, the Quarantine Zone is the first place where the Guardians Of The Galaxy start their cosmic adventure. It's also the perfect place to introduce these versions of the characters with minimal exploration and some fun starter enemies.
Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy takes place in a world that's still getting over a galactic war with Thanos. Places like the Quarantine Zone help in showing that this cosmic side of the Marvel universe is lived in while also showcasing the bright and colorful visuals that players will see throughout the game.
Hala's Hope
After being arrested by the Nova Corps, they are brought aboard the Hala's Hope. This is the first big introduction to this game's version of the Nova Corps, featuring a very polished and technologically advanced aesthetic.
It also introduces some of the many characters featured heavily in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy, Ko-Rel and her daughter Nikki. Unfortunately, while it is a visually stunning ship, there is no combat due to Star-Lord being in shackles and the section holds the player's hand throughout with only a few options of exploration.
The Rock
The Nova Corps land their ships such as the Hala's Hope in The Rock, a massive space station for the Nova Corps. Along with returning to the Hala's Hope, The Rock provides more of the same Nova Corps aesthetic while providing a lot more exploration and combat to make it more interesting.
Thanks to the tight corridors and the abundance of corrupted Nova Corps attacking the Guardians, it can be easy to miss chests that can provide some of the best outfits in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy. There are also plenty of Easter Eggs and small details that will make Marvel fans grin.
Lady Hellbender's Fortress
Unlike anything else seen on Seknarf Nine, Lady Hellbender's fortress mixes a primitive architectural style with futuristic technology. It's reminiscent of advanced civilizations seen in the likes of The Legend Of Zelda, mixing fantasy and sci-fi together.
It's also one of the most tension-filled locations, with the Guardians having to sneak past Lady Hellbenders forces known as Hellraisers. Exploring the fortress is fun too, but where it really shines is in its final boss where the Guardians fight the creature known as the Dweller-In-Darkness.
Seknarf Nine
Seknarf Nine is where the player is given quite the difficulty spike. There are two portions to this rainy planet: the fungal islands barely being held up and being constantly struck by lightning. Down below is the more rocky and cavernous area where monsters live, such as killer jello cube monsters, tentacled felines, flying manta ray-like creatures, and more.
Each enemy is so visually unique and contrasts well with the bleak setting; it even features some of the hardest enemies in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy. Considering it is the first actual planet that the Guardians explore, Square Enix and Eidos effectively made Seknarf Nine appear alien-like.
Sacrosanct
The Sacrosanct is headquarters for the villainous Church Of Universal Truth and acts as both a ship and a massive temple. Twice the player comes to this massive temple to fight Grand Unifier Raker and his zealous cultists. The first time is fun but kind of drags on, especially during the skiff fight.
However, the return to the Sacrosanct in the final fight is nothing short of epic, with fights happening in space and inside the ship, feeling akin to a climax of a Star Wars film. The mix of cubic architecture and golden lighting gives a presence that is both beautiful and ominous, fitting for a villainous cult.
Lamentis
To free Drax from the Church's hold over him, the Guardians with the help of Mantis must travel to the heart of the planet Lamentis. Most of the journey is spent in the red caverns, but they almost resemble deserts down beneath the surface.
From the encounters with evil phantom versions of the Guardians to a few well-executed puzzles that might confuse a lot of first-time players, there is a lot of challenge to be had on Lamentis, but also plenty of character-driven moments and introduces Adam Warlock into the story.
Knowhere
The floating head of a celestial being, Knowhere is given a much different design than the movies. The head is much more organic and alien in design, it would actually be a terrifying presence if it was still alive. On the inside is the more familiar aesthetic of a seedy underworld with bars, casinos, clubs, and even the Collector's emporium.
Running Knowhere is the Russian dog with psychic abilities named Cosmo. Every visit to Knowhere has Cosmo and his adorable puppies stealing the show. Knowhere also features some of the best Easter Eggs in the game, such as an appearance of Stan Lee's signature sunglasses.
Drax's Promise
Saving Drax requires going somewhere that nobody ever thought they'd want to go: his own mind. With the help of Mantis, the Guardians and Adam Warlock travel into Drax's mind to free him from the evil entity known as Magus.
It involves battling through false and/or corrupted memories, seeing Drax's pain, and seeing why Drax was so easily manipulated by Magus' lies. It makes for one of the most emotional parts of Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy, especially when Drax has to break out of the Promise himself.
Maklu IV
With white soil covering a red crystalline surface, not dissimilar to Crait from the Star Wars mythos, Maklu IV features beautiful snowy scenery, challenging enemies in the form of the Wendigos, and an epic boss fight with Fin Fang Foom all lead to Maklu IV being the ultimate highlight of the Guardians' journey.
It's also on Maklu IV that Peter Quill unlocks the final his Element Guns and as a result, all four elements are put to the test, forcing players to think strategically. Fans of the classic Marvel monster will also love the aforementioned battle with Fin Fang Foom that mixes spectacle and tension.
