Name your first, favorite, and overall history in a game genre.

[DanielBrown]

Going with MMO's, since it's the freshest in my memory.
First one was World of Warcraft, back in 2006. The concept was brand new to me, the world and gameplay blew my mind and I had tons of fun learning how the game worked.

After I grew tired of WoW I began looking for other MMOs. Over the years I've played Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, Guild Wars 2(and the first one, though I wouldn't call it an MMO), Rift, Final Fantasy XIV and LOTRO. Also tried plenty of F2P ones, but they were all worthless.

Out of those LOTRO would be my favorite by far. The atmosphere is perfect and the community is one of the most mature you'll find in an MMO. Played it almost daily for over three years before I grew bored. Unfortunetly the developers have been making all the wrong choices since after their first expansion(releasing their fifth tomorrow) and seeing the game drop from amazing to a remnant of it's past feels really sad.

 

[RJ 17]

Hmmm, I've the most experience with RPGs, but I'll also play this game with Strategy-games since I've a bit of a background with them as well.

First: Well, the first one I encountered was the very first Final Fantasy for the NES, though to be fair that wasn't the first one I played. I just spent hours upon hours watching my older brother play it when I was a little kid. The first RPG that I actually played was FFII (for the SNES, so actually it's FFIV).

Favorite: This one's a bit tricky since I hate picking out "favorites" in anything because as soon as I do I'll think "But I really liked that one too!" But if I had to pick one, I'd have to go with Final Fantasy: Tactics for the original Playstation, only because that's the RPG I've logged the most hours with, Oblivion coming in a close second.

History: As I mentioned, I started out watching my brother play Final Fantasy as well as a couple of other old-school RPG's, the first one I ever played, though, was FFII (IV). The first one I ever beat on my own, however, was FFIII (VI). I played, enjoyed, but never got around to finishing Super Mario RPG, then we got a Playstation and picked up FF7. Beat that, moved on to FFT and absolutely loved it. FF8...ehhhhhh. Well, I think it's easier to simply say that the reason I love Spoony from The Spoony Experiment so much is because his feelings on the FF series pretty much mimic my own word-for-word. FF8 is where the downhill slide began for the franchise. I played it, beat it, but didn't really like it. Didn't like the characters, didn't like the story, didn't like the magic system, didn't like the card game...didn't really enjoy anything about it. Moving on to FF9, Spoony mentions that he can never even force himself to get beyond a couple hours into FF9 before he's sick of it and that's pretty much how it was for me: I completed the first disc and never touched it again. Spoony says he fully admits that it could be a good game, but he just absolutely hates the art style, the same can be said about my feelings towards the game. Again, my feelings mirror his perfectly with regards to FF10 and FF10-2, only he apparently actually beat FF10-2 where as I rented that one, played it for 3 hours, and returned it. Thus marks the end of my journey with Final Fantasy...I haven't played a new one since then.

Moving on, I got sucked into the time-sink known as World of Warcraft for a few years, right up until the very end of Burning Crusade. Towards the end of my stint in WoW came Oblivion which I played the fuck out of and Mass Effect, which I also played the fuck out of and still declare it as my favorite RPG series of this generation, perhaps of all time. The two Dragon Age games fit in there somewhere as well, annnnnnnd I think that about covers it, unless you count games that simply have "RPG elements" but aren't really RPG's at their core.

Strategy Games

I'll keep this a bit more brief.

First: Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2. Fan-frickin'-tastic game and pretty much the reason I'm a huge Dynasty Warriors fan. In particular, the DW: Empires spin-offs since they add in a strategy element to the beat'em-up style. Really hoping DW8 Empires comes out on the 360 since Empires 7 was a PS3 exclusive. xP

Favorite: This one's a bit trickier. I'm tempted to say StarCraft/Brood Wars since those were the one's I've spent the most time playing, but I also played a hell of a lot of WCIII/Frozen Throne. In the end I'll go with WCIII/Frozen throne because, unlike SC, I was actually pretty good at WCIII/Frozen Throne and could do fairly decent in actual competitive play, where as in SC I mostly just had fun playing custom games against the computer or going online and playing custom maps (like Marine Madness or something) or stuff like 3v5 Comp.

History: My brother got me started with Romance of the Three Kingdoms II because he had the game, liked it, and wanted someone to play with. He suggested I play as Cao Cao since he gets a lot of bad-ass generals, so I did and had a lot of fun. Of course, he picked Liu Bei who starts out slow but over-all ends up with the best generals in the game. Don't think we ever finished a game. Like, ever. One game takes FOREVER! Next strategy game I played was a game called Lords of the Realm III, a combination turn-based strategy game in the overworld with RTS combat on the battle maps. Next came WarCraft II and Beyond the Dark Portal. These were the games that REALLY got me loving RTS's and Blizzard in particular. After that came StarCraft and Brood War. In high school my brother picked up a game called Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain. If by the grace of god you can find it, I highly suggest getting it. It's a really in-depth and massive strategy game that would take too long to fully describe here. After that was WarCraft III and Frozen Throne.

Another fun little note about high school: I actually went to high school with an RTS celebrity! Two of'em, in fact. You might have heard of them: Nick and Sean Plott. Watching them play StarCraft (Nick in particular, I mean Sean was good but he was more interested in other games at the time...DJ Revolution, to be specific) was simply mind-blowing. The way he moves around the map, doing 10 things at once...I could - and did - literally watch him play all day long. Truly it was like watching a master artist at work.

I did manage to beat both of them once in a Free For All on the map Three Kingdoms. They both decided they wanted to save me for last since I was LEAGUES beneath them in skill, like not even on the radar as a threat. So while they were duking it out, I built up a massive swarm of guardians and mutas and was able to roll over both of'em after they softened each other up. :3

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Action RPGs:

First: Oblivion

I remember Oblivion being my first action RPG and being blown away by it. I had never seen anything like it before (this was before my house got the internet, so I didn't know much about genres, other games and such) and instantly fell in love with it. It more or less constructed my passion for action RPGs. Sadly, it doesn't hold up today as a very good game. Not unless you mod the fuck out of it.

Favourite: Gothic II

Tough choice, but I think I gotta go with Gothic II. Oblivion developed my interest for action RPGs - Gothic II solidified it. I remember it quite clearly, my mother came home with this $9.00 game she saw in a bargain bin and thought I might like it. Rather random, but okay. I played it, hated it at first and put it away. However, because it was a gift from my mother, I wanted to like it, so I put it back in and gave it a second chance.. it didn't take long for me to understand the greatness that bursts forth from this game like ash from a volcano. Needless to say, it became my favourite game of all time and I'm confident that it still is. I played it many, many times and recently I did a "hardcore challenge" run of the game where if I die once, it's over. I beat that challenge, so that alone must be testament to how much love I have for it.

History:

After Gothic II, I got Gothic 3. Well, my PC couldn't handle it for shit. I don't know how many FPS it had, but it ran slow as hell. And you know what? I still muscled through it. More than once. In its straight out the box buggy galore. Somehow, someway, with a great deal of patience, I enjoyed the fuck out of it. It wasn't long after that that I got the first Witcher. It was still new at the time, and I hadn't heard anything about it (again, no internet) so it was a completely blind buy at like $70.00. Well, it too ran slow as shit on my PC, but again I muscled through it and enjoyed it quite immensely. To this day, Geralt now remains my second favourite character in fantasy, and my favourite video game character of all time (the books are rather good too).

At some point after this, I got a much-needed PC upgrade and could play these games much smoother (Gothic 3 still lagged like a motherfuck, but it was at least playable now). I got the first Risen sometime after and enjoyed it for what it was, though it was no Gothic II, it was still a very solid game. Witcher 2 then followed to blow me away and further confirm my love for Geralt and the Witcher world. I believe Skyrim was next up and that really impressed me. I was expecting a mess of a game at vanilla, but bugs notwithstanding, the vanilla game was very solid. I prefer the more focused games of Gothic/Risen and Witcher though.

Risen 2 disappointed me. I wanted to love that game, but alas, I'd only consider it average. There were some good things in there (setting, aesthetics, 1 vs 1 melee combat once you have some skills) but it was extremely clunky and unresponsive, even for Piranha Bytes standards, and the early game was a fucking mess. Not to mention some of the very serious bugs and the weak storyline. Well, some of the characters were alright (in true PB fashion, most of the better characters were the many quest givers and support NPCs, rather than the main cast). Anyway, it overall disappointed me, and I really hope this does not spell the beginning of the end for Piranha Bytes, who alongside CD Projekt RED are my favourite developer.

I then played the entire Mass Effect trilogy back-to-back after the massive ending controversy. I'd never really heard of the games before then, and I was curious. Before then, I had no interest in sci-fi and astronomy. Now, I have at least a moderate interest in those subjects thanks to these games. Now whether you would even consider the games as RPGs or not, well that's another debate, but I enjoyed them for what I consider three good crossover action shooter/action RPG games. I have since played through the whole trilogy again for a second run and enjoyed it just as much.

Also around this time I got Gothic 3 back out, after another PC upgrade, and this time I modded it a bit. Community patch and a couple of smaller quest and content packs, and they, together, transformed the game into a hugely playable state. It was vastly different than the laggy and buggy vanilla state I remembered years ago. Massive props to the modders there.

After that I embarked on a bit of an old school historical journey by buying Baldur's Gate, Fallout 1 & 2, Planescape: Torment and IceWind Dale, but seeing as they aren't action RPGs, I won't talk about them much other than I've liked what I've played so far.

Well, now here we are creeping up to the end of 2013, and I'm waiting anxiously for Witcher 3. I'm also excited for Risen 3, as I'm interested to see what PB does. I really, really hope they do well this time and nail the game I know they still have in them.

 

[putowtin]

RPG
First: KotOR II (yes I played them in the wrong order... sue me!) Loved it, I was just getting into the Expanded Universe so this amazing game that added more was just the best for me.

Favorite: Difficult, Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout: New Vegas, Skyrim... too many to choose from!

History: KotOR I & II, Fallout Series, Balder's Gate, Gothic II, Risen, Witcher I & II, Elder Scrolls Series, Dragon Age Series, Mass Effect Series, loads more but I can't remember!

 

[rob_simple]

I'm not really sure what you title the genre, so I'll say Action/Adventure:

First: Probably Ocarina of Time. The only games I had for my Mega Drive were sidescrollers that were all just a variation on the theme of 'how much like Sonic can we be without getting sued' so my first adventure game must have been Ocarina of Time.

Favourite: A toss-up between Ratchet & Clank 2 or Kingdom Hearts. I've sank well over a hundred hours into Kingdom Hearts, but I've probably put considerably more time in R&C 2 since I've played it at least once every year since it came out. It's pretty much a perfect game as far as I'm concerned, with the exception of the first game, Ratchet has always controlled better than any other platforming game (he doesn't grease the soles of his shoes like Mario does, either) and even though the streamlined the process a bit better in later games, switching weapons and attacking while moving is all ridiculously satisfying.

Overall History: Like I say, I'm not really sure what falls into the genre that I've picked --in a sense I guess I would include Mario 64 and Jak and Daxter for their exploration/collectahon elements-- but if there is a semi-open world game with things to collect/upgrade I have most likely played and enjoyed it.

 

[OneCatch]

Strategy:

First: Started with Civ II and Rome Total War.

Favourite: Total war is favourite franchise, and Medieval II is probably technically the best of them. Still have a soft spot for Rome I though.

History:

Moved onto COH and Pharaoh after Rome (not sure if latter counts - it's more city building that strategy.
Then moved on to Rome's expansions and conversion mods rather late in the day.
Bit of a hiatus in college and didn't have a PC, then Medieval II, Kingdoms, Empire, Napoleon in rapid succession. Couldn't get into Shogun II. Bit of Civ III and IV, more recently COH 2. Endless Space, a bit of Sins of Solar Empire, probably a load of other stuff I've forgotten.

Just gotten Rome II and Civ 5 G&K, enjoying both.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

Many have thrown their hat into the JRPG ring, but I shall do so as well.

First: It's difficult for me to pin down exactly what my first RPG would be. I'd probably have to say that the Game Boy Advance Pokemon games (specifically Sapphire and FireRed) were my introduction to the strange and wonderful world of turn-based combat and level ups, and an integral part of my development as a gamer even if I no longer consider myself to be a Pokemon 'fan' per se.

History: From there, I was introduced to the Final Fantasy franchise by a friend who had a PS2 (I was a Gamecube kid). He had both Final Fantasy X and the original Kingdom Hearts, and I remember being struck by how *different* these games were compared to what I was used to. I immediately gravitated towards the turn-based combat of X, was awe-struck by the gorgeous box art and the fact that the cutscenes were telling such a dramatic story. Years later, I would obtain a PS2 with Kingdom Hearts and Dragon Quest VIII... played through Squaresoft's PS1 library... now I can safely call the RPG genre my favorite, with Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, and Shin Megami Tensei all being series I hold dear.

Favorite: For a while, my favorite RPG was Chrono Trigger, and while I still love the game and find it to be a shining example of RPG design and creative storytelling, I must say that Personas 3 and 4 have somewhat overshadowed it of late.

 

[Multi-Hobbyist]

RPG's

First
EarthBound!!!! First got my grubby little hands on it when I was ... 5?6?7? Somewhere around there, I think just 1 year after it released in NA. First time I played it, I had no clue how to read. This game made me want to learn how, which over the years I guess helped me achieve the level of literary expertise I'm at today. Thanks, EarthBound!

Favorite
Still EarthBound. Normally my favorite things aren't the firsts, but this game is an obsession exception. The sillyness of Cthulhu meets the Peanuts gang, with all sorts of oddball individuals and their dialog along the way helped solidify it's place in my books. It's the only game I've beaten more than 27 different times in different ways. .... Christ I love this game too much.

History
Well, as stated above, it started with EB. But since then, I loved RPG's. You get the most bang for your buck in terms of gameplay and story, and if it does it's job well in the storytelling department, you can become immersed and actually enjoy taking on the roles of whoever you play and shape. It's a nice escape from reality when you need it, and you can replay an RPG and do things differently rather than the boring linear path.
As for other games in my history, Dragon Age Origins, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Mass Effects 1,2,3, KotOR, etc. etc.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

Role-Playing Games.

First
Final Fantasy. I knew of Dragon Warrior but I much preferred playing multiple classes instead of one. Hence, the first game I ever played was Final Fantasy, and I've liked most of the franchise entries ever since.

Favorite
With so many that I've played over the years, it's hard to pick a favorite. I mean, Secret of Mana, Legend of Mana, Wild ARMs, Legend of Zelda, Grandia (see avatar), Earthbound, Breath of Fire, Persona, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger - the list is almost endless. However, in the near 33 years of my existence, the one game I've loved to play over and over again despite its age, is Final Fantasy Tactics. Which might explain my unabated joy with Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn.

History
Over the years, I've noticed a trend in RPGs in general - that the quality of the stories has decreased while the quality of the graphics has increased. I still love the good stories that I find (Persona has some of the best tear jerkers around), but I'm wary of this recurring trend I find with RPGs in the industry.