Games that set a new standard and all others since it have sheepishly followed the tradition

[pulse2]

I wonder who started the "sheep" standard...

Anyway, any game that started a new genre or subgenre (Donkey Kong, Super Smash Bros., Adventure, Super Mario Kart, ect.), defined how a genre--or gaming in general--would develop (Resident Evil, GTA 3, Super Mario Bros., ect.), or started/popularized a new mechanic (Final Fantasy 2US, Shenmue/God of War, Halo 2). For some reason, a lot of people seem to think that techniques and genres catching on are bad things...I never quite "got" that.

I don't think its a bad thing at all, its just annoying that developers release games lazily copying other game mechanics and don't really try to think outside of the box, make something new, become a leader, it takes one developer to do that and everyone copies until someone says "NO! We will not copy, we will make a new awesome mechanic and others will copy us!"

We had halo, then bam, 1000 halo rip offs, we had Cod, bam, 1000 Cod rip offs, we had Mario Karts, bam, 1000 MK rip offs. That's why those who started the originality will always be remembered and those that didn't bother to attempt won't.

 

[Drop_D-Bombshell]

Halo Combat Evolved and Doom.

 

[Cheesus333]

Half-Life 2. The book on the subject isn't called 'Raising the Bar' for nothing.

It's also a clever play on the whole crowbar thing.

 

[BlueMage]

You all suck.

Deus Ex. /thread

 

[Katana314]

Minecraft. If you've followed indie games, there have been quite a few clones, or even strong advancements of the concept, appearing.

 

[k-ossuburb]

Silent Hill, since nobody else has gone for it.

To my mind there wasn't a single atmospheric survival horror like it but as soon as it came around we've had plenty trying to replicate that same level of isolation and fear.