GoldenGremlin

@ToxicFrog, thanks for those references! They're a great start. I am especially interested in top-down and isometric perspectives, and which represent the stages as nodes on fixed paths. (In contrast, Commander Keen and Secret Agent seem to have overworlds which are free roaming.)

You're right... that's a bit open-ended. I guess I just want a list of some games that have an overworld stage select similar to Super Mario Bros. 3. that I can take a look at. Doesn't matter if they're well done or not. Especially interested in 16-bit games that use the feature.

Hey, I'm looking for inspiration. What 8 and 16-bit games have the best overworld stage select screens? (I'm talkin' the kind of stage select in Super Mario Bros. 3.)

I'll give away my defense to anyone who wants it.

Yes

2: Type of soup

Yes

4: Friend's win in chess (4)

CRANSTON

Contact 6

5 is dead (was ILK)

INSTANCE is wrong for 5.

5: class

@BeastlyGerbil contact 1

Yes

2: To bury most of a trainee (5)

contact 1

Yes

4: cannot be done

Yes

3: White coast in Africa (5)

Yes

contact 2

1: creepy plant?

@Rubio contact 1 (was in the process of cluing it myself, actually)

Yes

contact on 2 remains

5: type of chicken preparation

3 is dead (was RORSCHACH TEST)

hesitant contact on 10...

the crowd was fallen on by a hush

contact 2

@Sconibulus contact 5

contact 14

3: ink blot exam

Yes

2: Colonel Mustard with the __ in the conservatory.

RILE

contact 1' if it's allowed...

I think the apostrophe indicates that Rubio was using the same clue to clue a different word.

Well, I was going to say RAGE, but I see that it was already an answer and that Rubio's clue was a redux...

contact on 1

@Rubio contact 4

Yes on ROBOT

@BusinessCat contact 6

2: automaton

@Sid hesitant contact 10

10 dies (was ECTOPLASM).

10: ghost goo

ELEUSINIAN