Five games you think every gamer should experience?

[Valiance]

This is a difficult list to make.

Since the person is already a gamer, I will assume they've already familiarized themselves with at least one game of various genres, etc.

#1: Braid (Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant.)
#2: Fallout 2 OR Baldur's Gate 2 (depending on personal taste of dystopian sci-fi vs fantasy.)
#3: X-Com: UFO Defense (I'm serious, here. I think this might be a perfect game.)
#4: Duke Nukem 3D (Revolutionary for its time. It was the true logical progression of what FPS games should have aimed to become, but instead, most of them went back to the "just kill everything" motif and remained there without the user being able to interact with their environment like in Duke 3D.)
#5: I really don't know what to put here. I want Bioshock here, I wanted FFX here, I wanted Pokemon Blue here, I wanted Mario Kart here, etc, etc. But instead I'll just make it Supreme Commander, because it really is quite an experience for gamers to control so much at once, so easily. Its "Tactical-Zoom" function REVOLUTIONIZED the RTS market, and more games should be copying this, while they aren't and are instead giving us an outdated interface from 1995, C&C 1 style.

 

[Okami24]

1. okami. a great visual game, shame the good one is only out on the PS2.
2. Digimon world. doesnt look good but a good concept
3. Zoo tycoon (all expansion packs). oh come on you can watch pandas (stupid black and white bears, why do they have to eat all my bambo?)being eaten by trexes.
4.viva pinata... its so anoyyingly addictive !!
5. okami again. seriously. go away and buy it,,,, now!!

 

[Cockney Weasel]

Rome: Total War - The best in the series (admittedly I've only played up to Rome, the later ones may be better...) for reworking the world map system, the massive variation in factions and playing styles and finally the extremely satisfying, slightly cartoony animations at the moment of impact when two regiments of doomed soldiers crash together... the sight of legionairres leaping fifteen feet in the air or watching a phalanx buckle under a charge of elephants makes me smile.

Hitman: Contracts - Deliciously darker than the others in the series, complete with a new cast of lunatics, opium-smoking bondage fiends, morbidly obese Scotsmen, man-hunting aristos and terrorists with the shits to match the old favorites of crime bosses etc. The lack of bullshittingly difficult missions combat-based missions running and gunning around around ninja-infested castles or (unarmed!) through a monastery full of ridiculously tooled gangsters in favor of the stealthier, more unusual kills that make the series great was pretty epic too.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 'Cos they have it on the gamecube at a club/rave night that I go to and the feeling of bombing, incinerating, screw-attacking and laser-blasting the fuck out of someone trying to zap you with a fairy wand whilst rushing on MDMA is awesome.

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines - Yeah it was buggy and you needed the patches for a lot of the content/to make the game work, but you know what? The story was astoundingly well-written, the characters and world were hilariously dark, the action was satisfying and varied and playing the game through the deranged mind of a Malkavian and hallucinating all manner of shit was not only another slice of its gruesomely evil humour but also a great way of ensuring that there was an actual difference between the clans rather than just changing which powers you could have.

Left 4 Dead: Because I have to suppress a shudder of horror when I hear a Witch crying and that creepy '2001: A Space Odyssey' wailing music...

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Trilogy - for the characters, platforming, development, platforming, story and platforming.
Kingdom Hearts (series) - because it shows that a Disney/Square combination is awesome.
Pokemon Gold/Silver - they're the best Pokemon games, as well as fantastic RPGS. Wait for the remakes if you can't get the originals.
Metal Gear Solid (series) - this is how stealth should be done. Interchangeable with Thief: The Dark Project.
Dragon Quest: Journey of the Cursed King - my perfect JRPG, in every way shape and form.

Honourable Mentions
Final Fantasy (series)
Okami
Loco Roco
Patapon
Pikmin (series)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Fire Emblem (series)

 

[sms_117b]

1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, polished graphics, excellent (but short) single player, still the best multi-player game around, hours of fun especially with online rankings to get.

2. Portal, proof a game doesn't have to be violent to be fun, it thinks out side the box and could be considered one of the most important releases in recent times.

3. Medieval: Total War, my favourite Total War game, easier to get into than it's sequels and the mods for the game make it last forever.

4. Pong, damn it, appreciate where video games started how good they really are today.

5. Elite, this game from 1984 showed me what a video game should be.

Honourable mentions to Age of Empires and Final Fantasy 7

 

[Torque669]

Timesplitters Future Perfect
Overlord 1 or 2
Dynasty Warriors (Any)
Rome or Medievil Total War
Populous

Honorable Mentions:
Earthworm Jim
Portal
Half Life (Whole series)
Valkyria Chronicles
Elder Scrolls Morrowind or Oblivion.

 

[MurderousToaster]

1. Simpsons Skateboarding. Everyone should have to feel the pain of one of the worst games ever.
2. Any of the GTA games.
3. Doom/Wolf3D
4. I know I'll get flamed for saying this but a Halo game. They have had a big impact on the shooter genre.
5. Diablo 1/2.

 

[HellbirdIV]

1. Half-Life - Either the original or the sequel, either is really an experience.
2. StarCraft - Quite possibly the best RTS ever made.
3. Star Wars: Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight - The sheer scope of the story is hard not to appreciate wether you're a Star Wars fan or not.
4. Donkey Kong Country - The most fun you will ever have with an SNES or SNES emulator.
5. World of WarCraft - The game itself is actually fun for a fair bit even if it doesn't get you hooked, and all gamers could probably use a little more socializing in their gaming.

 

[Arayis]

Goldeneye - played on a 64, with a 64 controller
Wonderboy in Monsterland - again played on the orignial Sega so you get the authentic experience of not being able to save your progress and only getting one continue...
Legend of Zelda series - really I guess OoT or LttP are the obvious choices, but ay of the Zelda games are good.
the MGS series - great storyline with great gameplay.
Silent Hill 2 - it is a freakin fantastic and scary as all buggery, and should be played by all

I know I'm gunna look at this tomorrow and think of a hundred other games to put in this list, but those are the 5 that sprung to mind when reading the OP...

 

[Laura.]

-Portal
-Left 4 Dead
-Dawn of War II
-Castlevania: SOTN
-Fallout 2
-Deus Ex

Yes, I know that's 6 games, but I couldn't leave any of them out!

btw: lots of Portal love in this thread!

 

[Terror_666]

Duck hunt: the most frustratingly fun game ever
Super Mario Bros: THE platform game
Metal Gear Solid: the first one at the very least
Command & Conquer: THE RTS
DOOM: always good fun

 

[Mirroga]

1. Half-Life Series - best FPS campaign which actually makes you think
2. Portal - best FPS puzzle ever
3. TF2 - best FPS multiplayer ever. The only FPS I can think in which you can never win if you're not a team player
4. Bioshock - I just love using my environment and using elements which actually have elemental properties outside being a beam or just a blaster.
5. World of Goo - physics puzzle with a lot of variety and hard, but not frustrating, challenges.

Yes, I love FPS, puzzles, elemental properties, environmental advantages, AND PHYSICS!

 

[Sviests]

if you`re looking for some real awesomness, go get Heroes of Might and Magic 3 (if you`re wondering what genre it is then I say strategy. Actually the game`s quite a mixup of genres)

EDIT: I`ll post a gamespot player`s review

Spoiler

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is a game that truly shines in every way.
Basically, it's a turn based strategy game. You can build armies in your town and then join them up with a hero.
Your hero has to complete certain objectives to beat the level.
On the map, your hero "icon" will encounter creatures, and when you run into one it enters the combat scene, where your units are represented by a single creature of that type per "stack", with a little number representing how many is in the stack.
You can split your armies up into different stacks, if you want to.

I think of it as though it's a game of cards. You have a stack of spades; but you can only see the one on the top. However, you have labelled the stack to show how many is in it. If you want to, you could cut the stack so you have 2 stacks with half the cards in each. Well, that's the general idea, anyway.

Enough of the cards metaphor.
So, different units can move different distances on the battlefield, and attack enemy creatures, dealing different amounts of damage depending on the quality of the unit.
If you win the fight, you gain experience and your hero may level up.
Your hero will learn spells and skills for usage in combat or on the main map with each level.
You can upgrade your town to produce better units, spells, and income. You run around the map collecting goodies of all kinds, and generally attacking creatures, taking relics, and capturing enemy castles and heroes.

It's that standard formula, yes, but it's the way it's executed that really matters.
The 2d graphics are fantastic. Not the "mind-blowing-next-gen-fps-graphics" kind of fantastic. They're fantastic in a different way.
The creatures look great, and they move how you would expect them to -
From the shuffling limp of the Zombie to the rigid stomp of the Iron Golem.
The towns are all breathtakingly beautiful.
The barbaric Stronghold is my favourite ? you can see canyons and arid, rocky plains stretching out in the background.
The Tower also holds some amazing views ? frosty mountains that rival Everest, and some really high towers, as the name suggests!

The sounds in this game are pretty good. You hear a pleasant ding that changes pitch every time you collect some resources or open a chest on the map, which I thought was a nice touch.
The battle music fits nicely, but what I like best is the music that plays when you're in a town.
It's different for each town, of course. And it suits the faction you're playing PERFECTLY.
It really helps to set the atmosphere of the game.

Game-play-wise, all the factions are balanced, and are each a blast to play.
You get a real thrill when you conquer an enemy town.
It's all got a very polished feel, and I've not encountered any bugs whatsoever.

Overall, it's very hard to find a single fault with HOMM3. It's a superb strategy game, with immersive graphics and rock solid game-play mechanics.

All credit goes to Shru-Bracken from gamespot.

 

[SecretTacoNinja]

Yoshi's Island
Mario Kart 64
Portal (mainly so everyone will stop making the 'cake is a lie' joke)
Bioshock
Super Metroid

 

[jonnopon3000]

Portal-- If I need to tell you why, you're broken.
Geneforge-- High-edge writing up the arse and then some
KOTOR--see above
Fallout 3-- see 1
Gears of War 2-- It's got a gun...that's also a effing CHAINSAW. If you tell me that's not awesome, you have no soul or sense of youthful awe.

EDIT: Screw that, the first two were the only ones I really meant. everything else trembles before the godsent paragon of a game that is Prince of Persia (2008). It was an unforgettable experience, and the only game that I EVER watched the credits for. Plus, it had Nolan North in it. NOLAN EFFING NORTH! (he being The hero from Fable II, Nathan Drake, and more importantly, Deadpool. Mutherphuking Deadpool!)

P.S: Lair, just to show how easily it is to fall into the ocean of s**ttiness.

#

I LOLed at your list for the reasons for playing portal and fallout 3. Incidently, I agree. And yes, POP 2008 is AWESOME. But i still prefer the TSOT trilogy.

My list:
1)Portal - Absolutely incredible game...there is NOTHING else like it, and the black humour...
2)Half life 2 - Massively intuitive, fun, interesting, great storyline. And the gravity gun.
3)fallout 3 - Epic. Simple as. Epic and a flipping half.
4)Burnout paradise - The most fun racing game out there...and free roam. AND ITS BURNOUT.
5)Spore - Unique game. NBothing else like it at all. And now an expansion that lengthens its appeal and makes it even more awesome.

I truly believe all those games NEED to be experienced by EVERY gamer.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Hm, let's see...
Golden Sun - Fun puzzles, great combat, and one of the best stories in gaming.

Ratchet & Clank - Good platforming, guns and gun play is varied and fun, well designed planets and hilarious dialog.

Kingdom Hearts II - Quirky (if not childish) story, and awesome combat system.

Portal - Sense of humour and wacky portal puzzles.

Shadow of The Colossus - Innovative boss fights and an epic crescendo, boss-wise and story-wise.

 

[lolmynamewastaken]

you know, out of EVERYONE'S list i have played like 2 games in total.
i suck as a gamer! *hangs head in shame*

 

[Blow_Pop]

Shadow of the Colossus
Silent Hill 1
Metal Gear Solid 1
Diablo 2
Starcraft
Chrono Trigger

I took out Portal since just about EVERYONE has said it but yes Portal too...

For the record out of all of those listed including Portal the only one I am NOT currently playing yet is Chrono Trigger....need to find my PS1 memory card...oh and Silent Hill 1 already beat it playing 2 now

 

[Lowbreed]

1: Super Mario World
2: Super Smash Bros (Brawl or Melee)
3: Mario Kart 64 (OR the Wii one)
4: WoW
5: aaand a generic shooter, so I'll go with COD 4

Harder than I thought :| Honourable mentions for RCT and WC3

By the way, in what way is Portal really that revolutionary? I bought it the day it came out, beat it and sure I had my fun, but I don't see it as being a ground breaking game, am I crazy?