Odd that I never posted here before. I've played many a game with cool backgrounds, but the first game that actually made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside is
FFXII. I felt like I was really going through the same locations as the party as I played, and the one location that really struck it home for me was the Phon Coast. Like damn, that place is so gorgeous. It'd be the perfect vacationing spot if it weren't for all the monsters running around.

This pic doesn't really do it justice, unfortunately. You need to see a much farther out view of the coast to understand what I'm getting at.
I also concur with FFVIII.
Jam it back in, in the dark.