Help me defend us!

[CCountZero]

So, I need a game that represents games at their absolute best, but something accessible enough for a total non-gamer to play and enjoy.
(Also, it'd have to be a PS2, PC, or Xbox 360 game)

First, check all of your friends and see if any of them have a PS3

Then follow this guys advice:

Heavy Rain

This guy was the first to say Heavy Rain, and he is spot on.

Your dad reminds me of my own, and it would most certainly be the best game to prove your point.

Personally, I'd rather call it an "interactive movie", but it would be a good starting point, and you dad won't suffer from what he doesn't know. To him, it'll simply be a game.

 

[FalloutJack]

I like several ideas in this thread, especially Portal games and Shadow of the Colossus and Ico. HOWEVER...

I would also recommend Dark Cloud. If has the patience for an RPG, I might suggest a Persona game as well, like one of the recent ones.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

After all the previous suggestions, your best bet would be for Portal. I'd go with the sequel because there is no blood to prove your point even further, Also, try Sam and Max. Incredible point and click adventure games.

 

[Irriduccibilli]

If you could tell us what type of movies and such your dad likes, because right now we are just shooting in the dark, coming with suggestions. If he's a guy that likes sci-fi, make him play Mass Effect, if he likes adventure in different worlds, make him play Oblivion/Fable. If he likes action, make him play Call of Duty (anyone, I suggest CoD4, first Modern Warfare), if its historic games = Red Dead Redemption/Assassins Creed, if it's horror = Amnesia. If he is an military man, or ex-military = Battlefield. Survival/zombies = Left 4 Dead, it also gives you a chance to play it together with him. Lastly, if he likes Indiana Jones = Uncharted 2

EDIT: So I just noticed that you don't want him to play games with only shooting and blood, well, then I would still say Mass Effect, it's more than just shooting enemies, same goes for Uncharted and Amnesia, Oblivion and Fable

 

[Harkonnen64]

KotOR I & II are some of the best story based video games out there in my opinion. Violence is there, of course, but no blood or gore and the real-time element makes it more engaging than a straight turn-based RPG.

The lead-in to the big reveal in KotOR I was subtle and damn-near flawless and genuinely felt like Star Wars.

KotOR II didn't have a big reveal and the main villain was somewhat obvious, but both the antagonist and protagonist are made interesting enough through various discoveries throughout the game that it stays engaging. (Until the last act, that is-- damn development schedule.)

 

[KezzieZ]

It's already been said but I think Portal, Portal 2, ICO, and Shadow of the Colossus would be some of your best bets.
They're all very engaging and at least fairly well-known (so they can't try to throw in the "Well, it's good but I'm sure it's a rare example. No one even knows about it." argument).

 

[ExileNZ]

Personally, I'd recommend Portal or Heavy Rain.

You'd need to do some coaching for Portal, goading him along as necessary rather than just leaving him to his own devices - he's not a gamer, mouse + WSAD is not a natural occurance in his repertoire.

Heavy Rain seems good for a dad, because even if it's got some violent and/or disturbing content, he COULD just spend hours helping his son with his homework.

Black and White is also good like this - I got bored 5 minutes after leaving the tutorial, on which I had spent hours showing my mum how easy it was to get attached to Kitty and his worshippers.

 

[conflictofinterests]

Bioshock. Decent gameplay, great story with philosophical undertone.

I wouldn't go Bioshock at first if the the guy is predisposed to thinking games are violent time-wasters. Do you remember that one crazy doctor boss? I was SOOO creeped out, and you have to kill almost everyone you meet.

 

[lolmynamewastaken]

you could crack out mass effect or anything by bioware, they don't tend to get that violent and the story telling is seen to be of most importance.
i wouldn't suggest a driving game though, because all that happens with them is the mindless violence is that its replaced with mindless driving. unless he really likes cars, then you should get a gran tourismo for your playstation 2, no story telling at all, but a good progression and difficulty curve and scary addictive.
if you got a co-op game you could play through it with him and pursade him he's enjoying it more, but if he has no experience with gaming, getting his head around something like portal 2 might take a while.
Good luck with this though, it would be interesting to see the out come.

 

[conflictofinterests]

If you could tell us what type of movies and such your dad likes, because right now we are just shooting in the dark, coming with suggestions. If he's a guy that likes sci-fi, make him play Mass Effect, if he likes adventure in different worlds, make him play Oblivion/Fable. If he likes action, make him play Call of Duty (anyone, I suggest CoD4, first Modern Warfare), if its historic games = Red Dead Redemption/Assassins Creed, if it's horror = Amnesia. If he is an military man, or ex-military = Battlefield. Survival/zombies = Left 4 Dead, it also gives you a chance to play it together with him. Lastly, if he likes Indiana Jones = Uncharted 2

EDIT: So I just noticed that you don't want him to play games with only shooting and blood, well, then I would still say Mass Effect, it's more than just shooting enemies, same goes for Uncharted and Amnesia, Oblivion and Fable

Does the player character in Amnesia get any attacks as the game progresses? I was watching my boyfriend play through, but he pussied out almost immediately after he saw the shadow of the first baddie. Anyways, Amnesia sounds like a FUCKING INCREDIBLE first game. Just got to know the player can handle it and won't be scared off games forever

 

[AMAZED]

mass effect or half life

 

[conflictofinterests]

OKAMI. It's GLORIOUS. Or Mass Effect. NOT RED DEAD REDEMPTION. Aren't half the objectives Shoot Women, steal their horse, tie it to a railroad track and stand there laughing?

(Because that sounds HILARIOUS, I'm sad to say)

Naw, the women try to steal your horse when you're nice to them, so you lasso them and bring them into the sheriff. Damn horse-theif bitches

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Not sure you'd get him to really play through a long game - try Flower. Nothing, to me, goes so against the grain of games being story-less wastes of gore pixels than a rousing trip through a field as a petal.

 

[beeejay]

Of course you've got Portal 1 and 2, mass effect 2 is very compelling narrative wise and Braid is very very cool. Certain parts of modern warfare might be worth a shot also. ICO and Shadow of the colossus have already been mentioned as has flower.

In short there are quite a few, if I had to make an attempt to name something that hasn't already been mentioned I would say Fl0w. Made by the same people as flower and although it does not have much in the way of story it very fun and accessable.

 

[Irriduccibilli]

If you could tell us what type of movies and such your dad likes, because right now we are just shooting in the dark, coming with suggestions. If he's a guy that likes sci-fi, make him play Mass Effect, if he likes adventure in different worlds, make him play Oblivion/Fable. If he likes action, make him play Call of Duty (anyone, I suggest CoD4, first Modern Warfare), if its historic games = Red Dead Redemption/Assassins Creed, if it's horror = Amnesia. If he is an military man, or ex-military = Battlefield. Survival/zombies = Left 4 Dead, it also gives you a chance to play it together with him. Lastly, if he likes Indiana Jones = Uncharted 2

EDIT: So I just noticed that you don't want him to play games with only shooting and blood, well, then I would still say Mass Effect, it's more than just shooting enemies, same goes for Uncharted and Amnesia, Oblivion and Fable

Does the player character in Amnesia get any attacks as the game progresses? I was watching my boyfriend play through, but he pussied out almost immediately after he saw the shadow of the first baddie. Anyways, Amnesia sounds like a FUCKING INCREDIBLE first game. Just got to know the player can handle it and won't be scared off games forever

What makes Amnesia so great is that you feel so defenceless, you got no way of fighting back if a monster sees you, the only thing you can do is try to run away and hide, and i'm telling you, running through insanely dark corridors with a monster right behind you, and desperatly trying to find a door you can open and try and put up a barricad as fast as you can by throwing random objects like barrels, tables and shelves in front of the door trying to keep the monster out. Imagine after barricading the door, you think you are safe, a couple of seconds passes, and you are waiting to get the courage to see if the monster is gone. You take two steps towards the door and SLAM, the monster tries to knock the door down, you turn around and are trying to find some places to hide, like a closet or behind barrels and such, and just as you find a place to hide the monster breaks through the door and stumbles into the room. You look out from the crack in the closet, and you see that the monster is walking around the room looking for you.
I tell you, this happened to me, and my god, this is one of my most adrenaline filled moments in gaming ever. Amnesia is a fantastic game, and I think that this should be your dads first game, its truly amazing, and it's the scariest game I have ever played

 

[goni]

Even though it's been said to death, Portal.

I'm a little disappointed that nobody has said Eternal Sonata yet either. Besides being absolutely beautiful, It has taught me an appreciation for classical music that I never had before. And while yes, there is combat in the game, remind your father to keep in mind that he'd be hard-pressed to find a game that wasn't violent in some shape or form. Just about every great story is great because of conflict, and in the realm of video games the "violence" aspect of the conflict lends itself to game-play better than any other aspect.

Also, like BloodRed Pixel said on the last page, watch as many Extra Credit episodes as you can, and actually, get your father to watch them as well. Letting him see those will hopefully drill in the fact that there are groups of "gamers" out there who HATE the "gamer" stereotype, and are actively attempting to educate the masses to counteract those stereotypes.

 

[Walter44]

Oddworld (the first or the second game, 'cause the third one's "meh", and the fourth is a shooter, so probably not what you're looking for)

Pretty good story with a message, atmosphere so thick you can cut it with a knife, Gameplay based on puzzle solving and stealth rather than fighting. But when the death scenes occur, they can be pretty violent (enemies mostly explode), so it depends whether your father is the person to understand that even though there is (very little) gore in it, it's not the focus.

 

[___________________]

Dunno if anyone said this already but Dreamfall: The Longest Journey might be a good bet. Other games that were mentioned here were pretty good bets too like the Portal ones. Good luck mate.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

L.A. Noire, it may have its violent moments but its mostly you playing as the good guy and violence is the last resort. Another one might be Braid, its simple and a good way to further you're relationship by solving puzzles together.