Games that broke the mold.

[Stammer]

Dark Cloud 1&2.

Their battle system, level-up system, and level-building systems never cease to amaze me. Hands-down the best action-RPG game series I've ever played, because it took it to new levels. In DC2, the ability to take pictures, come up with ideas, and synthesize your own weapons and items is really neat too.

I can't wait to see what Dark Cloud 3 is going to be like.

 

[Artheval_Pe]

Battlefield 1942 : for the amazing concept of the conquest multiplayer mode

Warcraft III : for the introduction of RPG elements (Heroes, XP, items, etc...) in a RTS in a very successful way

Half Life 2 : for the interaction with the world, the physics, the design of the characters

STALKER : for the free non-linear FPS-RPG experience, the A-life system, the day/night cycles and the unique atmosphere of the game.

Bioshock : for the unique art style and story

Portal : for the new concept of a FPS-puzzle game, the portal gun and GLaDOS

 

[Gravy Devil]

REZ
Frequency/Amplitude (precursor to Guitar Hero)
Front Mission 4
Wild Arms 1-3
Gran Turismo
Another World
Katamari Damacy

 

[kyekye]

Cubivore, polygons eating other polygons is just strange sometimes

 

[Frosk]

Descent

first game to have full 3d polygon enemies and environments and, of course, 360 degrees of freedom movement.

 

[Stammer]

Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64.

There we were, enjoying all of our games and just picturing what it would be like if Mario and Link had a duel with Pikachu and Samus, and then bam this game came out of no where. On top of it totally shooting out there having characters from all over the place (not just Marvel vs. Capcom or something), but this game also introduced the coolest fighting style ever. It wasn't just button mashing and memorizing combos. It was instead just a wicked clusterfuck where anything could happen.

 

[BBLIZZARD]

Halo:Combat Evolved-Helped poularize console FPS
Gears of War-Invented the simple third person shooter aim & cover gameplay
Portal-Humorous, proved that fun in a game doesn't have to rely on violence, and down right fun

 

[AntiAntagonist]

Pong ... someone had to say it!
Seaman
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Gex

Hehe this thread just reminded me of a unique game I played: "Konami Smash". I don't know the real name, that's just what we called it since it was all in Japanese. It had several Konami licensed characters duking it out Smash Bros style, plus several others (Optimus Prime!). Snake VS Belmont VS Optimus was always fun.

 

[Blayze]

Planescape: Torment. It practically tore the RPG genre apart. No Demon King invading the world. No boring background NPCs with two lines of dialogue at best. No world-saving.

 

[the protaginist]

i'm going to say saints row.i'm pretty sure it was the one of the few free roam games to get into platinum hits other than the gta series.

 

[wgreer25]

I would have to say.

Okami - Taking zelda type action and story and adding a truely unique atmosphere and unique gameplay elements.

Shadow of Colossus - Amazing game. Puzzle game meets platforming in a totally new way. Very little repetition and a unique story.

The original Mortal Kombat - I think the first game to use digitized graphics of actors. Plus it pushed the limits with graphic violence.

Gears of War - In my opinion, the first true next generation game. It took a 3rd person shooter and changed the dynamics of how you play and had amazing graphics and sound.

The origainal Devil May Cry - Took the familiar 3rd person action from games like Tomb Raider and kicked up the coolness factor and made it more stylized with modern music.

COD4 - Yes the graphics and sound are good, but that is not why I included it here. I think the single player story really sets it apart from other games. I really can't think of another game were gameplay and story were so well married. It really gave you a gritty realistic view of war, and that war can really screw you over.

EDIT: I almost forgot Portal *ducks to aviod thrown bricks*. Taking platforming and comedy to new heights.

 

[Arachon]

TBH, I think the entire COD series have been quite "mold-breaking" in the FPS genres, especially since it's not just the "Oh lookie, great america winz teh war!111eleven"-esque story that is found in many WWII shooters, being quite unusual that it lets you play through the eyes of the soviets (in some of the games).

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Quake (Real Time Networked Games?????)

I thought Doom did that.

-- Alex

My bad, Quake was the first to have the 3d flare effect.

 

[lumi21]

Earthbound definitely struck me as a breakaway RPG in terms of conventions, style, and general feel. It had this goofy ambiance that you just don't see in many other RPGs, and none before its time (that I ever found, anyway).

The two-player (specifically excluding single-player) experience of Super Mario Galaxy was also very different from anything I'd ever experienced before. It really had this "pilot & support" feel to it that made the whole thing remarkably more enjoyable for me.

The original Resident Evil basically gave birth to and defined the survival horror genre as we now know it, and was incredibly atmospheric for its time.

Katamari Damacy, obviously.

I want to say Symphony of the Night, but I'm not really sure it "broke the mold" so much as it just breathed a new and amazing form of life into an existing series. I would consider it "an influential gaming experience", to be sure.

The original Smash Bros., again obviously. And GTA 3. And DDR, which also pushed boundaries in its own way.

Good topic, I like this one =)

 

[laikenf]

The wii broke the mold .

 

[lumi21]

How could I forget? Mega Man.

The Blue Bomber IS his own genre and style of game at this point, but when the original hit the shelves, it was something new and fun and amazing. My first Mega Man is another gaming milestone I'll never forget.

 

[blackcherry]

I think i will add in agreement with a lot of others games like portal and smash bros. Also, majoras mask, simply because of how it handled the story and the world.

Its friendly and nice enough that kids can enjoy it, whilst those with a more developed sense of black humor can laugh themselves ragged on just how bloody dark the game is, twilight princess dark my arse, majoras mask did things that game wouldn't even contemplate. As well, the game wasn't afraid just to add a what the hell moment into the mix.

Last but not least killer 7. If I ever play a cooler game i will tell you. Somehow it took the idea of a very simple, very flawed system of interacting with the game world (can only walk in a predetermined line whereas everything else in the game is under no such condition) and some poor, if not illogical puzzles at times and made me love it and want to play more. Most games would have been crushed under killer 7s game play flaws. Killer 7 makes it so you don't care, and somehow just use it enhance the games weirdness.

 

[CodeChrono]

Definitly Earthbound. One of the best RPG games hands down.

Chrono Trigger for sure, did the RPG genre a great service.

Phoenix Wright & Trama Center: Worked really well to open up games into professional feilds.

 

[Trogd0r]

Viva Pinata, Dead Rising & LocoRoco

 

[friedmetroid]

I don't understand the people saying Half Life 2... its gameplay was virtually identical to Half Life 1.

As for me, the original Sonic the Hedgehog drew me into gaming with its unique super high speed style of platforming.