I hated Hordes of the Underdark, and the other expansion pack, and Neverwinter Nights 2. None of them capture the feel of the first one. And I have to agree with you, the first chapter was a little slow, but once you got into 3 & 4 you couldn't put the game down. When I reached the end (won't say what happens because holycrapspoilers) I was actually quite heartbroken at some of the stuff that happens; something which doesn't happen in games anymore.BanalityDUFF said:
Best/Favourite Stories in a Game?
- Thread starter Gaz-L
- Start date
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Tactics Ogre - This had the most compelling, beleivable, and ultimately malliable storyline of any game I have played, EVER. (I never played Battle Ogre, but I've heard it was very good as well).
Starflight (c 1984, Commador 64, IBM 8086) - A very excellent tale indeed that puts thousands of years of accepted "history" and the very notion of what is right and wrong on it's head at the very end of it. Can't say I'd recommend it in this day and age (although if you really must try it I can tell you that it runs flawlessly under the current version of DosBox) although I keep looking at its basic storyline for inspiration in a possible, future project of my own.
Final Fantasy VI - Anyone who says that VII is thier game has never played VI (originally released as III in the United States). Most all of the characters are very well done, entertaining, and fit well into the plotline (I still say that there is no way in hell that Setzer would have willingly joined with the rebels prior to the apocalypse, but it's a fairly minor niggle). Even the villain, who's METHODS are as shallow as a teaspoon is driven by a philosiphy that is deep enough to keep people up at nights plunging its depths. All of the characters change, grow and develope during the course of the game. And it's finale is a very satisfying conclusion to them all (even if they don't all have happy endings).
X-COM: Enemy Unknown, X-COM: Terror From The Deep - Since we're talking about STORIES in this thread I felt compelled to throw Enemy Unknow's bastard sibling on the table (great story, broken game... shame really since it COULD have been much cooler than the original). I have heard great things about the storyline in X-COM: Interceptor, but I never finished the game myself so I probably shouldn't include it here.
World of Warcraft - If there are any of Blizzard's devs reading this forum, PLEASE FINISH THE DWARVEN RACE'S STORYARC. Thank you.
Subwar 2030, Subwar 2032 - Both broken as hell games, with both a facinating setting and an excellent backstory. Although I don't really agree with the "Mercenary's RULE" ham-handedness, the background material could keep someone busy for quite some time.
Final Fantasy IV - Any game that starts as many storyarc cliche's as this one did wins points in my book (originally released as II in the United States). Stuff that makes us groan and roll our eyes was new, exciting, and innovative when this game was released.
Masters of Orion III - Another great backstory fitted to a broken-arsed game. I still wonder what the ultimate fate of the True Orions was, shame I couldn't get through the game (I've heard the latest patches fix most of the problems).
Grim Fandango - Excellent, excellent story. I loved the relationship between Manny and Glottis throughout the game.
Escape from Monkey Island - (And these are just the ones I liked the storyline to... damn I've played a lot of games.)
Psychonaughts - This one hooked me from the openning cutscene and kept me playing to the bitter, bitter end (I think I broke not one but two keyboards trying to get through the "Meat Circus" sequence), hard as holy hell but definately worth it in the end.
(any Lucasarts board monkeys might take a moment to notice that there isn't a single StarWars title listed here)
Metal Arms - This one was awsome, the only flaw in the plot was that the "suprise twist" was so damned obvious that I had it called before the openning credits finished rolling. Loved everything else about the plot though. That it also happened to be a fun-as-heck game didn't hurt anything
Crimson Skies, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge - Nathan Zachary rawks. Nuff said.
Independence War, Independence War: Defiance - Wonderful story and setting, I must shamefully admit that a hardware bug prevented me from finishing these games and I still stare longingly at them wishing I had a P-II to play them on.
Heavy Gear II - I only don't have HG1 listed because I never played it, but I have heard good things about it.
Wing Commander: Price of Freedom, Wing Commander: Prophesy - Even though WC 1 - 3 redefined the genre I really didn't care that much about the Man-Kzin, er I mean the Kalrathi War era (the Man-Kzin Wars books were sooooo much better that I just couldn't let myself enjoy the game stories). Price of Freedom on the other hand was awsome (a war-machine that refused to let itself be shut down) Prophesy was even better (what happens to your enemies when they are no longer your enemy?). I highly recommend replaying both (good luck on finding hardware to run WC4 on though).
Freespace 1: The Great War - The ommision of Freespace 2 was not accidental. The story in 2 was a mess that was chock full of more cliche's than your average RPG-clone and had a completely unsatisfying ending that made less sense than the writings of Thoreau. The original had the best build-up and the greatest storyline I have seen in the genre from the End of the Vasuvian War right up to the final moments of the Lucifer. Don't ask questions, just buy a damn joy-stick (or dust off the one you have) and find a copy of this game. Do it!
I'm sure I'll think of others later, but as it is nobody is going to read this post (lol). If you managed to make it to these words then I commend you on your geekiness (bonus points if you've heard of or have played most of the above titles).
Starflight (c 1984, Commador 64, IBM 8086) - A very excellent tale indeed that puts thousands of years of accepted "history" and the very notion of what is right and wrong on it's head at the very end of it. Can't say I'd recommend it in this day and age (although if you really must try it I can tell you that it runs flawlessly under the current version of DosBox) although I keep looking at its basic storyline for inspiration in a possible, future project of my own.
Final Fantasy VI - Anyone who says that VII is thier game has never played VI (originally released as III in the United States). Most all of the characters are very well done, entertaining, and fit well into the plotline (I still say that there is no way in hell that Setzer would have willingly joined with the rebels prior to the apocalypse, but it's a fairly minor niggle). Even the villain, who's METHODS are as shallow as a teaspoon is driven by a philosiphy that is deep enough to keep people up at nights plunging its depths. All of the characters change, grow and develope during the course of the game. And it's finale is a very satisfying conclusion to them all (even if they don't all have happy endings).
X-COM: Enemy Unknown, X-COM: Terror From The Deep - Since we're talking about STORIES in this thread I felt compelled to throw Enemy Unknow's bastard sibling on the table (great story, broken game... shame really since it COULD have been much cooler than the original). I have heard great things about the storyline in X-COM: Interceptor, but I never finished the game myself so I probably shouldn't include it here.
World of Warcraft - If there are any of Blizzard's devs reading this forum, PLEASE FINISH THE DWARVEN RACE'S STORYARC. Thank you.
Subwar 2030, Subwar 2032 - Both broken as hell games, with both a facinating setting and an excellent backstory. Although I don't really agree with the "Mercenary's RULE" ham-handedness, the background material could keep someone busy for quite some time.
Final Fantasy IV - Any game that starts as many storyarc cliche's as this one did wins points in my book (originally released as II in the United States). Stuff that makes us groan and roll our eyes was new, exciting, and innovative when this game was released.
Masters of Orion III - Another great backstory fitted to a broken-arsed game. I still wonder what the ultimate fate of the True Orions was, shame I couldn't get through the game (I've heard the latest patches fix most of the problems).
Grim Fandango - Excellent, excellent story. I loved the relationship between Manny and Glottis throughout the game.
Escape from Monkey Island - (And these are just the ones I liked the storyline to... damn I've played a lot of games.)
Psychonaughts - This one hooked me from the openning cutscene and kept me playing to the bitter, bitter end (I think I broke not one but two keyboards trying to get through the "Meat Circus" sequence), hard as holy hell but definately worth it in the end.
(any Lucasarts board monkeys might take a moment to notice that there isn't a single StarWars title listed here)
Metal Arms - This one was awsome, the only flaw in the plot was that the "suprise twist" was so damned obvious that I had it called before the openning credits finished rolling. Loved everything else about the plot though. That it also happened to be a fun-as-heck game didn't hurt anything
Crimson Skies, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge - Nathan Zachary rawks. Nuff said.
Independence War, Independence War: Defiance - Wonderful story and setting, I must shamefully admit that a hardware bug prevented me from finishing these games and I still stare longingly at them wishing I had a P-II to play them on.
Heavy Gear II - I only don't have HG1 listed because I never played it, but I have heard good things about it.
Wing Commander: Price of Freedom, Wing Commander: Prophesy - Even though WC 1 - 3 redefined the genre I really didn't care that much about the Man-Kzin, er I mean the Kalrathi War era (the Man-Kzin Wars books were sooooo much better that I just couldn't let myself enjoy the game stories). Price of Freedom on the other hand was awsome (a war-machine that refused to let itself be shut down) Prophesy was even better (what happens to your enemies when they are no longer your enemy?). I highly recommend replaying both (good luck on finding hardware to run WC4 on though).
Freespace 1: The Great War - The ommision of Freespace 2 was not accidental. The story in 2 was a mess that was chock full of more cliche's than your average RPG-clone and had a completely unsatisfying ending that made less sense than the writings of Thoreau. The original had the best build-up and the greatest storyline I have seen in the genre from the End of the Vasuvian War right up to the final moments of the Lucifer. Don't ask questions, just buy a damn joy-stick (or dust off the one you have) and find a copy of this game. Do it!
I'm sure I'll think of others later, but as it is nobody is going to read this post (lol). If you managed to make it to these words then I commend you on your geekiness (bonus points if you've heard of or have played most of the above titles).
Genso Suikoden II: While most JRPG heroes seem to fall underneath the two categories of "Invulnerable, unfeeling, killing machine" (See Crono of Chrono Trigger), or "whiny, emo-wrist-slitting, ball of putty" (See Squall Leonhart from Final Fantasy VIII), or a combination of both (See Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII), Suikoden II introduces a character who seems to balance both emotion and general harbinger of doom pretty well. One of the few (questionably?) homosexual RPG heroes, "Riou" (at least according to the novel), a young lad at about 16, has to rally a nation to defeat his homeland which betrayed him, which ends up being lead by his best friend/lover(?). The only reason I keep questioning the hero's sexuality is simply because the game continues to have the two give each other longing looks, as well as the song that plays when they're in the same screen (Reminiscence) had been commissioned by Konami to be turned into not one, but two love songs. 108+ characters to keep track of, but the amount of diversity between them don't make them that hard to keep track of. Also unlike later games in the series, you don't have to (as in plot line forces you), to make decisions that make no sense, such as recruit a paedophile in your ranks.
The first play through seems to actually have some twists and turns and there are multiple endings, none of which seem to be simply "All is right and beautiful in the world" which is how ordeals usually end up. Finally, back to the hero, while most games do attempt for the "Silent Protagonist" angle, so that the player feels like they somehow are talking (I've never really understood that), the dialogue in the game comes off that at least Riou is speaking and people are responding to him. No inane or random verbiage like one sees in early Dragon's Quest games, or the ilk, but rather what sounds like the second half of a conversation, while confusing at times, it does make the "Silent Protagonist" angle a bit easier to swallow. Also the setting of some fantastic rendition of China makes the game less cookie cutter from the majority of RPGs that generally set the characters in a pseudo European Medieval environment or Feudal Japan.
Fallout 2: Wonderful story simply because there is no real set plot. You are dropped off in the middle of the apocalyptic desert that once was the northern west coast of the United States, and your story depends on what you do where. People don't seem to be simply sitting around waiting for some hero to complete their day, and while the events are scripted to not occur until you arrive, the events seem fresh enough that they have the odour of "just happening." Companions and allies alike have personalities that make them enjoyable to interact with, making your story of the Chosen One as unique as the player and their character. For those of you waiting for that Mad Max game, this would be it.
Chrono Cross: One thing that seemed to be dreadfully missing from the first game, Chrono Trigger, was the fact that one should have been spending more time messing with the very fabrics of the space-time continuum. Every time frame seemed to simply be independent of one another aside from subtle differences, and when one actually does get the chance to do something, it seems like your efforts didn't do much (in example, after turning a desert into a forest, the adjoining town seems exactly the same). The third instalment of the Chrono saga (counting Radical Dreamers), sates that thirst for wanton misuse of power, even if it is simply in parallel universes. Again, like Suikoden, the cast of characters is immense, but it isn't difficult to differentiate a Mexican luchador exorcist from someone with an annoying faux Australian accent. And speaking of messing with the space-time continuum:
Day of the Tentacle: A masterful reminder that Tom Schafer was one of the two golden boys that LucasArts proceeded to treat like faeces and shoo them off. The game takes place once again in the evil mansion owned by that strange Edison family, but this time in the past, present, and future. Getting to interact with Schafer inspired Founding Fathers (which would put the Edison Mansion somewhere in the East coast, (which would put the mansion somewhere near Philadelphia) is pure comic genius. The static cast of heroes (unlike the group of teens you could chose from in the original) were exceptionally well rounded and made the player think about how to interact in different situations, which created a complex story of doing the same action without being repetitive.
Ninja Gaiden/Ninja Gaiden II: Dark Sword of Chaos/Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom: One of the first games to utilize the "Cinema Sequence" that is commonplace in almost all games today to push along a storyline, The Ninja Gaiden trilogy gains a sentimental place on this list. Not as ground breaking, or as deep as some of the other games, it was interesting to see a platformer have something more than simply "Run right" as it's whole point.
The first play through seems to actually have some twists and turns and there are multiple endings, none of which seem to be simply "All is right and beautiful in the world" which is how ordeals usually end up. Finally, back to the hero, while most games do attempt for the "Silent Protagonist" angle, so that the player feels like they somehow are talking (I've never really understood that), the dialogue in the game comes off that at least Riou is speaking and people are responding to him. No inane or random verbiage like one sees in early Dragon's Quest games, or the ilk, but rather what sounds like the second half of a conversation, while confusing at times, it does make the "Silent Protagonist" angle a bit easier to swallow. Also the setting of some fantastic rendition of China makes the game less cookie cutter from the majority of RPGs that generally set the characters in a pseudo European Medieval environment or Feudal Japan.
Fallout 2: Wonderful story simply because there is no real set plot. You are dropped off in the middle of the apocalyptic desert that once was the northern west coast of the United States, and your story depends on what you do where. People don't seem to be simply sitting around waiting for some hero to complete their day, and while the events are scripted to not occur until you arrive, the events seem fresh enough that they have the odour of "just happening." Companions and allies alike have personalities that make them enjoyable to interact with, making your story of the Chosen One as unique as the player and their character. For those of you waiting for that Mad Max game, this would be it.
Chrono Cross: One thing that seemed to be dreadfully missing from the first game, Chrono Trigger, was the fact that one should have been spending more time messing with the very fabrics of the space-time continuum. Every time frame seemed to simply be independent of one another aside from subtle differences, and when one actually does get the chance to do something, it seems like your efforts didn't do much (in example, after turning a desert into a forest, the adjoining town seems exactly the same). The third instalment of the Chrono saga (counting Radical Dreamers), sates that thirst for wanton misuse of power, even if it is simply in parallel universes. Again, like Suikoden, the cast of characters is immense, but it isn't difficult to differentiate a Mexican luchador exorcist from someone with an annoying faux Australian accent. And speaking of messing with the space-time continuum:
Day of the Tentacle: A masterful reminder that Tom Schafer was one of the two golden boys that LucasArts proceeded to treat like faeces and shoo them off. The game takes place once again in the evil mansion owned by that strange Edison family, but this time in the past, present, and future. Getting to interact with Schafer inspired Founding Fathers (which would put the Edison Mansion somewhere in the East coast, (which would put the mansion somewhere near Philadelphia) is pure comic genius. The static cast of heroes (unlike the group of teens you could chose from in the original) were exceptionally well rounded and made the player think about how to interact in different situations, which created a complex story of doing the same action without being repetitive.
Ninja Gaiden/Ninja Gaiden II: Dark Sword of Chaos/Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom: One of the first games to utilize the "Cinema Sequence" that is commonplace in almost all games today to push along a storyline, The Ninja Gaiden trilogy gains a sentimental place on this list. Not as ground breaking, or as deep as some of the other games, it was interesting to see a platformer have something more than simply "Run right" as it's whole point.
Someone mentioned No One Lives Forever, and I'd agree. Lots of funny moments, and a serious question of how different is Cate Archer (the hero) from the villains?
One particular plotline that got me shouting at my monitor in anger and surprise was "The Man from Yesterday" plotline in City of Heroes. Man, talk about being played.
I had a similar moment in City of Villains with Virgil Tartikoss and "Binder of Beasts"
One particular plotline that got me shouting at my monitor in anger and surprise was "The Man from Yesterday" plotline in City of Heroes. Man, talk about being played.
I had a similar moment in City of Villains with Virgil Tartikoss and "Binder of Beasts"
Games with good stories:
The Thief series: my favourite game series, ever. Great story, great dialogue, great universe, great atmosphere, great anti-hero. Simply fantastic.
Fahrenheit: very underrated game, one of the best games I've played over the past few years. Known as "Indigo Prophecy" in the US. If you see this one for cheap, go pick it up. I've never seen humans being modelled more realistically in any game before. Not it terms of graphics, but in terms of how they behave.
Prince of Persia: Sands Of Time: just a great adventure game all around.
Escape From Monkey Island: funny stuff, and a good story too.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: the story itself isn't complicated at all, but the player definitely connects with the NPCs, which is good.
Beyond Good and Evil: I agree that the story in this one is very good, but the combat system is really frustrating. I've never finished this one.
Max Payne: the film noir story telling that Max does is just so cool.
Deus Ex: never finished this one, but what I've seen was great.
I'm sure there are more but these are all I can think of for now. Alright, I guess I'll add S.T.A.L.K.E.R, though the games gives you a great experience because of the great atmosphere and the freedom, not necessarily a great story.
The Thief series: my favourite game series, ever. Great story, great dialogue, great universe, great atmosphere, great anti-hero. Simply fantastic.
Fahrenheit: very underrated game, one of the best games I've played over the past few years. Known as "Indigo Prophecy" in the US. If you see this one for cheap, go pick it up. I've never seen humans being modelled more realistically in any game before. Not it terms of graphics, but in terms of how they behave.
Prince of Persia: Sands Of Time: just a great adventure game all around.
Escape From Monkey Island: funny stuff, and a good story too.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: the story itself isn't complicated at all, but the player definitely connects with the NPCs, which is good.
Beyond Good and Evil: I agree that the story in this one is very good, but the combat system is really frustrating. I've never finished this one.
Max Payne: the film noir story telling that Max does is just so cool.
Deus Ex: never finished this one, but what I've seen was great.
I'm sure there are more but these are all I can think of for now. Alright, I guess I'll add S.T.A.L.K.E.R, though the games gives you a great experience because of the great atmosphere and the freedom, not necessarily a great story.
I agree. I've played many of the games listed here, and Torment is still my favourite, story-wise.Ajar said:
I would not recommend Fahrenheit at all, if only because it was one of the most disappointing games I've ever played. The premise was brilliant, and worked for about two-thirds of the game...Force Feedback Codpiece said:
Then it launches into -the- worst plot twist in video-game history, and the last third of the game is incredibly stupid.
Also, Escape from Monkey Island was easily the weakest game in the series (in my opinion). Then again, I'm Australian, so maybe that's why I thought that the villain was crap.
From a "epic" stand point, id say the Half-Life series is up there, but it has done in 6 games what BIOSHOCK and SYSTEM SHOCK did in 1.
the single most retarded statement in internet forum history.
Halflife saved the first person shooter, halflife has the best story, the best gameplay and although system shock and bioshock are good games they in no way come remotely close to being any better than HAlflife 1 or 2. Oh and Halflife 1 was the best game of its generation, same with hl2
the single most retarded statement in internet forum history.
Halflife saved the first person shooter, halflife has the best story, the best gameplay and although system shock and bioshock are good games they in no way come remotely close to being any better than HAlflife 1 or 2. Oh and Halflife 1 was the best game of its generation, same with hl2
Let's not try and get all up in arms over trying to avoid stereotypes we fit.twrk said:
He never said that you were wrong, he basically said that you were being a bit... devoted to say the least and rabid to say the correct amount.
Sure it could, possibly be true, but:
is a bit... extreme.twrk said:
I'd still say the best stories in video games are the old school adventure games, BECAUSE they are interactive stories. There are no other mechanics that get in the way (platforming, shooting, etc.) that interfere with the pure storytelling. The best of these are the old Lucasarts adventures (Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, Monkey Island and Grim Fandango.) My favorite story in a video game is still King's Quest VI. It is a fairy tale that you get to live out and experience. A lot of games people have mentioned so far are the descendants of the basically gone adventure genre. (Pschonauts, Beyond Good and Evil, Eternal Darkness.) I believe that adventure games are the true beginning of story in games and they deserve the credit that everyone's placing in their modern day counterparts.
1.Chrono trigger
2.FF3(6)
3.FF7
sorry im a rpg fan
And im downloading grim fandingo since everyone is talking about it. I love games with good storyline. Iv missed out on gaming in the past 5 years or so :/. I started playing EQ when i was 14 and have been lost to MMOs till recently. I finially ebayed my WoW account.
Iv got some catching up to do.
P.S. portals was awesome, funny, and fantastic... just not epic. (maybe because its a short game)
2.FF3(6)
3.FF7
sorry im a rpg fan
And im downloading grim fandingo since everyone is talking about it. I love games with good storyline. Iv missed out on gaming in the past 5 years or so :/. I started playing EQ when i was 14 and have been lost to MMOs till recently. I finially ebayed my WoW account.
Iv got some catching up to do.
P.S. portals was awesome, funny, and fantastic... just not epic. (maybe because its a short game)
Well here is my dime, and in no particular order
Deus Ex, brilliantly written and so many choices.
The Fallout series, I have a thing for REAL multi ending games.
The Hitman Series, the last one was brilliantly written and the music was perfect
Breath of Fire 1 and 2, can't get my greasy mitts on the other ones.
Final Fantasy series, haven't played them all but so far so good
Monkey Island 3, funny and well writen
Chrono Trigger, time travel, multi ending and robots, what is there not to like
Morrowind, I collected almost everything in that damn game :Þ
of course there are the usual suspects: half-life series,WoW, warcraft,starcraft,legacy of kain, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines,kotor and many other that I have forgotten
As you can see I have a passion for RPG
Deus Ex, brilliantly written and so many choices.
The Fallout series, I have a thing for REAL multi ending games.
The Hitman Series, the last one was brilliantly written and the music was perfect
Breath of Fire 1 and 2, can't get my greasy mitts on the other ones.
Final Fantasy series, haven't played them all but so far so good
Monkey Island 3, funny and well writen
Chrono Trigger, time travel, multi ending and robots, what is there not to like
Morrowind, I collected almost everything in that damn game :Þ
of course there are the usual suspects: half-life series,WoW, warcraft,starcraft,legacy of kain, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines,kotor and many other that I have forgotten
As you can see I have a passion for RPG
I only play 3rd person Action/adventure. Sometimes it's difficult to separate interesting characters from interesting story. I think it's a distinction that should be made.
However, when considering story, I'm going to say:
Silent Hill 2
Beyond Good and Evil
Ico
Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (Yes, it's off the map, but I've heard too many people say they completed the game just to find out what happened. I know I did. The gameplay was so attrocious that that must be saying something about the story.)
Okami
God of War (not God of War 2)
However, when considering story, I'm going to say:
Silent Hill 2
Beyond Good and Evil
Ico
Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (Yes, it's off the map, but I've heard too many people say they completed the game just to find out what happened. I know I did. The gameplay was so attrocious that that must be saying something about the story.)
Okami
God of War (not God of War 2)
Call Of Duty 4. I loved the ending. The way it shows that war isn't clean. People do die. When your team mate is shot in the "flucking" face he "flucking" doesnt come back to life because someone stabed him with a "flucking" syringe.
Really knowing only the Amiga and PC side of gaming (and preferring them over console games), my list would go like this:
Grim Fandango: Fantastic noirish feeling, perfectly evolving storyline. Too bad they chose these alienating "arcade" controls.
Max Payne series: The games itself are just plain (but in my opinion darn fine) action shooters, but the way the story is told and the style (again noirish...) makes me play them through in one sitting.
Another World: Beautiful, artful, and the interaction between the player character and his alien friend feels carefully crafted.
System Shock (1): The first episode had a sort of freshness which I misse din part 2, despite the latter being the better "game" from a gaming PoV.
Planescape Torment: Based on the D&D-sources. Everyone who is into computer RPGs should have played this game, one of the most fantastic and weirdest storylines around.
Fallout (1 and 2): The definite wasteland RPGs. Period.
Psychonauts: The only Jump and Run I really enjoyed playing.
The Last Express: Mysterious and beautifully crafted, though I was disappointed that the developers abandoned the free-roaming-gameplay after the first half.
Every LucasArts game and most Sierra Games: played them...a lot
and probably many more games I can't think of right now...
Grim Fandango: Fantastic noirish feeling, perfectly evolving storyline. Too bad they chose these alienating "arcade" controls.
Max Payne series: The games itself are just plain (but in my opinion darn fine) action shooters, but the way the story is told and the style (again noirish...) makes me play them through in one sitting.
Another World: Beautiful, artful, and the interaction between the player character and his alien friend feels carefully crafted.
System Shock (1): The first episode had a sort of freshness which I misse din part 2, despite the latter being the better "game" from a gaming PoV.
Planescape Torment: Based on the D&D-sources. Everyone who is into computer RPGs should have played this game, one of the most fantastic and weirdest storylines around.
Fallout (1 and 2): The definite wasteland RPGs. Period.
Psychonauts: The only Jump and Run I really enjoyed playing.
The Last Express: Mysterious and beautifully crafted, though I was disappointed that the developers abandoned the free-roaming-gameplay after the first half.
Every LucasArts game and most Sierra Games: played them...a lot
and probably many more games I can't think of right now...