The Five games that define you as a gamer

[Arslan Aladeen]

1. Super Metroid: Kind of a cliche pick, but what can I say. This is probably the game that turned my interest in games into a passion.

2. Devil May Cry 3: Call me crazy, but I kinda actually like the story in this one. And as someone else has mentioned, it's the standard I measure melee based combat.

3. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory: Here's to you SC, I'm going to miss the days you were an actual stealth game.

4. Hitman Blood Money: Most games seem to have extremely linear levels or huge wide open spaces. What I love about Blood Money's levels is the detail you normally find in the linear, with the options you get in the open.

5. Super Mario World: This one was a tough one, but I just love platformers, and it would seem unjust to not include one of the best platformers of all time.

 

[vxicepickxv]

In the order I type them in.

Civilization - Once you get past the learning curve of the the game, and you realize what you're doing, taking over the world becomes a great way to pass time.

Ultima VI - This is the first game of the series I played, and I fell in love with everything about it, from the (now) simple soundtrack, to the fact that games can have complex moral choices without either of them actually being evil, to the fact that schedules are kept, to other little details that make this game great.

Magic:The Gathering - Yes, I know it's not a video game, but it's still a rich and complex game that allows me social interaction, and has more depth than it first seems.

Saints Row 2 - Sometimes you just want to blow stuff up. Naked.

Neverwinter Nights - While the single player is pretty mediocre, the online multiplayer sustained worlds that are still around are pretty amazing.

 

[Melondrupe]

I. Theme Hospital
After Sim City and before The Sims, this game was what got me truly hooked on managerial games. Maybe due to my love for Ultima III or the humor of the game, there's a certain draw that brings me back to it.


II. Fort Zombie
For the most part, I generally didn't give much concern for zombies. They were just a low-level enemy with nothing special to them. Even attempts to spice them up never drew my interest. Resident Evil was a series I played for the resource management. Left 4 Dead didn't excite and it was only due to the Valve pack that I even bothered playing the game. Me not considering it all that bad made give Dead Rising a chance, another game I didn't care if it existed.

The collection of resources and people in Fort Zombie, just as Dawn of the Dead did for other media, made me realize I care more about community and the rebuilding of civilization than the survival aspect of a zombie apocalypse. Unless a game with a zombie focus has something interesting about, I'll generally ignore it.


III. Ultima 3
My introduction to RPGs and reason for my obsession with them and all video games. For the longest, if an RPG wasn't turned-based and featured a party, I wouldn't consider it a real RPG.

IV. Chrono Cross
Opened my mind up to a different way of thinking about the mechanics of RPGs. The lack of mana, three different levels of attacking and the element board together created a beautiful battle system that still feels me with joy whenever I revisit the game.

V. Parasite Eve 2
The change from straight leveling and equipment upgrading was an interesting change which has also affected my eye for design. While I still enjoy upgrading in games such as Borderlands, I long for the direction of Parasite Eve 2. The ridding of multiple spells of the same type, just different power levels between them, and replacing them with skills that get better and cheaper as they level was an intriguing mechanic. It also furnished a hatred of skill trees that force you down a path.

 

[jebara]

1.Persona 4: the game that saved gaming for me, at the time I was bored, bored from pretty much everything, especially games as cinematic as Uncharted and Call Of Duty, I thought it was time to give up my favorite hobby, until I tried getting into the town of Inaba where I was intrigued by its mysteries,fell in love with its inhabitants and addicted to the kind vibe it gave, Inaba was the place I wanted to be in.

2.Portal:It wasn't long after Persona 4 till I found another game I would love to death Portal, but I could not help myself from getting hyped up to an ridiculous extent for its sequel, I had not been that exited for a game since GTAIV, the biggest videogame disappointment I've ever had, so after that I thought that there was no way anything could live up to that amount of hype, Portal 2 proved me wrong, although the puzzles weren't as good as the first, the story and writing just blew me away.

3.Dark Souls: The atmosphere, the lore, the gameplay and the challenge...this is a game to remember.

4.Pheonix Wright Ace Attorney: when I first heard of the game I was skeptical, then I saw a couple of pics and was even more doubtful, and when I heard the gameplay and how it resembled the snorefest that was LA Noire I rolled my eyes, yet some kept recommending it to me and since I had nothing to do at the time I gave it a try,played the first case and....HOLY FUCKING SHEEP! THIS GAME IS INCREDIBLE!
The way I was pinned to the corner then eventually turned the tables around!
OH AND THAT MUSIC!
It just makes you scream to yourself that it was the best videogame theme you ever heard!
Before you know it...BAM!

 

[RobfromtheGulag]

It's fun to post in these threads, but does anyone really go through and check each person? 'Oh my God, KingBilli likes Portal! I never would have guessed?!'

1. Xernogerz
2. Serlernt Herl 1
3. Merr'rs Erge
4. Ernrl Trnermernt
5. Ferr Cry

 

[Tallim]

Wow that's a tough question :/

Forbidden Forest:
Incredibly old game, has elements of survival horror in a way. I loved it and I still play it.

Ikaruga:
I love shmups and this one in particular due to the insanity of the colour switching.

Lords of Midnight:
Another old one but it was fantastic and there isn't anything like it. There was a brilliant fan version that just made it better without changing the core game.

Solium Infernum:
It's such a good strategy game and really lets your devious side out when played with "friends"

Bulletstorm:
Well more specifically the Echo mode. It's an FPS that is best played as a puzzle game.........I'm quite good at it.

 

[Living Contradiction]

Five to define me, eh? Let's see...

M.U.L.E.: Among the first games I ever encountered and played so much that I wore out the floppy it was stored on (back in the days of 5&1/4-inch floppies. Insert obligatory sex joke here), this sci-fi/business sim gave me power for the first time not just as a form of self-preservation, but exploitation as well. I learned how easy it is to cause a crisis in a closed economic system; how money allows for specialization but is, in the end, really only there to keep score; and how much I enjoy making a world flourish. I see my love for this early game mirrored in titles like Civilization.

Archon: The Light and the Dark: A game of chess where the pawns can kill the queens in single combat and even losing a king doesn't end the game? Oh hell yes. Simple, elegant, and engaging, I wiled away many an hour playing against others or against the computer. This one whetted my appetite for fantasy games (I started playing D&D shortly after finding this game) and strategic combat systems, an appetite satisfied by Dungeon Keeper 2, Disciples Gold, Mass Effect and Dragon Age as I got older and games got prettier and prettier.

The Colonel's Bequest: I've always enjoyed a good mystery and this game provided a wonderfully twisted one. Delicious characters, a creepy scenario, and the introduction (for me) of gameplay narrative that took place in the player's absence. You are never there when the killer strikes for if you are, you become the victim. The ending is wonderfully executed, showing me for the first time that if you don't work at discovering what's going on, inertia won't help. This title also got me started on the point-click adventure path that led me to Below the Root, Monkey Island, Zak McCracken, Hero's Quest (It damn well isn't a Quest for Glory! Screw you, Milton Bradley!) and, much later, Psychonauts and Costume Quest when pointing and clicking gave way to walking with a joystick. Give me a bizarre tale with interactive goodies and just a little tongue-in-cheek humour and you've made me a very happy gamer.

Castle Wolfenstein: No 3D here. Go further back, back to when you held a pistol and were encouraged not to use it because gunshots drew unwanted attention and bodies couldn't be hidden away from watchful eyes. This game scared me and I loved it, loved sneaking around corners and disguising myself, hopeful that I could escape without being found out and gunned down. I was also impressed by the ability hold up a guard without having to shoot him. As I got older, I watched as gunplay became focal to gameplay and longed for the thrill of being a fugitive in the castle. Then I found Hitman...and the rush still gives me chills.

The 7th Guest: What a terrible game it was. Disjointed and with cinematics that wobbled between wooden and over-the-top, I waded patiently through the cut-scenes to reach the only reason I wanted to play: the puzzles. They were contrived, yes, but so very satisfying to solve and they did have a logic to them. I scratched the itch this game gave me with logic problems until Valve included an intriguing little game called Portal with the Orange Box, proving once and for all that a puzzle game can have a good story, be engaging, and leave you satisfied at its end instead of just relieved.

 

[sageoftruth]

Nice topic.

1) Super Mario RPG. It was my first RPG, and it's essentially what got me into them. It had plenty of action elements to make it easy for me to get into in my younger years.

2) Chrono Trigger was my first pure RPG. I had trouble getting into it. Embarrassingly, it took me awhile to learn that the critical hits in Chrono Trigger weren't the same as the timed hits in Mario RPG, but once I finally figured out how everything worked, I loved the game and have loved RPGs ever since.

3) Rome: Total War got me into strategy games and opened me up to games like Civilization.

4) Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven was my first stealth game. Since then, I've loved taking advantage of stealth, even in games that don't primarily rely on it, like Uncharted 2. Since then, I've branched out to games and franchises like Splinter Cell, Thief, and most recently, Dishonored.

5) Ninja Gaiden Black was my first hack n' slash game. I've developed quite the affinity for games like that. It was known for its challenge, which is one thing I loved about it. It also was great for rewarding skilled players with awesome moves and imagery. From there, I branched out to Devil May Cry games, and God of War games.

I wish I didn't have to stop here. Basically, the only games I'm not really into are sports simulators and social games, as my "Jack of all games" badge demonstrates. Anyway, that was fun.

 

[NightStalker]

5 games that define me: hmmmmmmm
I guess I'd have to go with these:

1. Halo CE / Halo 2 (Xbox)
Although I'd been playing games for years, Halo was the first game that I ever played that involved playing with other people (other than the occasional game against my brother). Halo got me into the FPS genre and was the game that actually made me buy my first game console - all others had been gifts or owned by someone else - so that's why it has to be number one. Halo 2 also deserves mention because it got me into online gaming. I remember getting DSL internet right after the Xbox 360 came out and since there were no other good FPS's at the time on the 360, Halo 2 was my online game until late 2006 when FEAR and Gears of War came out, so Halo 2 was retired. To this day, I still play Gears and Call of Duty regularly because Halo got me into the multiplayer shooters. I played Halo 3, ODST, and Reach, and they were fun, but they never hit the sweet spot that Halo 1 and 2 did in my opinion.

2. Super Metroid (SNES)
As stated above, I played games for years, but they were always gifts or games no one else wanted and so they were given to me. However, Super Metroid was the first game I actually remember wanting specifically, and it turned out to be one of my favorite games ever. If I still had a SNES, I'd still play it. The art, gameplay, and bosses made me keep coming back for more, and it was the first game I ever strived for 100% completion and succeeded. To this day, this is the only game on consoles older than the Xbox/PS2/Gamecube that I still remember that fondly and truly sparked something in me that made video games more than just something to do after school.

3. Fallout 3 / Fallout: New Vegas (Xbox 360)
The two games I've spent the most time with other than online shooters, the two current gen Fallout games are two of my favorite games ever, and are the only two current gen games that I constantly revisit long after I've beaten them. The gameplay is great, the game world is dark and absorbing, and it really makes you think about the direction the world is going - could something similar happen to us if missiles start firing? Also, this games karma system is the first light/dark moral system I'd played aside from KOTOR that seems to have major implications on the way the world evolves around you (althought NV is more about reputation than karma). Also, I remember anxiously waiting for Fallout 3 to be released (seriously, I've never been that excited for a game, and I've never been since) and when it was, I skipped two days of college classes and played until I dropped. The weapons, character choices, and environment all make for one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, and now I'm thinking about booting up Fallout 3 again!

4. KOTOR / KOTOR 2 (Xbox)
As a longtime sci-fi fan, Star Wars was never one of my favorites, and when I got KOTOR for Christmas one year as a Platinum Hit, I wasn't convinced about a Star Wars RPG. Two playthroughs later (light and dark) proved me wrong. The story and process of following your destiny, earning your lightsaber and powers, and discovering your real identity (no spoilers) made KOTOR my favorite RPG of that time. KOTOR 2 only expanded on what KOTOR did and gave even more options, and although the story wasn't as great, I actually prefer it to KOTOR 1. The storytelling really got me interested in Bioware's games, and now I've played Dragon Age and Mass Effect as well. Still, KOTOR gets the nod for getting me into story based games, and along with Halo 1 and 2, KOTOR 1 and 2 are the only original Xbox games I still have.

5. Minecraft / DayZ (PC)
Although these are seemingly two completely different games, they do have a few things in common that I really admire. First, they are proof that a little smarts and creativity can make something amazing and unique. Before these two games were released, there had never been anything quite like them, and the fact that both exploded in popularity proves that doing something never done before can work. Second, they are both going about a similar release system (Minecraft and DayZ standalone) in that you pay less for an unfinished but playable version, help play and test the game and its new content, and fund further production in the process. This system could become much more prevelant in the future in my opinion. Third, both are completely storyless and rely 100% on the player to define the game. While other games allow you to play it your way, nothing gives you quite as much freedom to do what you want as these two games do. Seriously, watch youtube LP's of these two games and see just how different and absorbing they can be. Players adding a good narration or story to these games in their LP's makes for experiences like nothing ever seen, and I hope that developers see this and realize that this kind of freedom is what many people want. Merging this with great gameplay and existing formulas will be the future of gaming, and that's why both of these deserve a mention for the path they are taking.

Honorable Mentions
Pokemon series: grew up with these, and enjoyed them a lot
Half-Life 2: Great seemless merging of story and gameplay, and still a favorite
Valve - PLEASE GIVE US HALF LIFE 3 OR EPISDOE 3 SOON. PLEEEEEAAAAASE!!
Metro 2033: Amazing atmosphere and story - truly felt like I was in a doomed Moscow. Also taught me to keep my eye open for "under-the-radar" games
Gears of War / Call of Duty series: some of the best multiplayer ever and two of my personal favorites - they just didn't define or change me the way Halo did

 

[gamexpert1990]

Oh geez, I can only pick 5? Well this will be hard, but here goes nothing... (Though it should be noted that my username does not actually depict my skill level, just saying).
(in NO particular order)

1. Pokemon Crystal (GameBoy Advance) - Pretty much the game that effectively started me as a real gamer (and Pokemon fan). Before I pretty much only played video games at rare occasions, though my family did own a NES...

2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)- The first Zelda game I ever beat, and the one that really got my interest into the series. The first Zelda game I ever really played though, was The Ocarina of Time/Master Quest remake for the GameCube (though I never beat it partly due to losing it somewhere).

3. Golden Sun (GameBoy Advance) - THE first RPG that I ever really cared to play. It opened a few more windows for me in that regard. The reason I don't say something like Final Fantasy is because I have always thought it overrated, but to each their own...

4. Soul Calibur 2 - (GameCube) - (Runner Up for this spot - Super Smash Bros. Melee) What can I say, you got to play as Link in a fun fighting game, and I spent a lot of time with this series in general. Also, before I got this game, most of the fighting games I played were in arcade cabinets, and I can't remember them all that well...

5. Tie (is that cheating?) - Dark Cloud 2 / Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition (Both Playstation 2) - Loved the gameplay in Dark Cloud 2, I liked the camera and invention system, and it had a neat story to boot (even if I do have a slight affinity for anything with a time travel aspect). / Midnight Club 3 was essentially the first game I bought for my PS2, and I spent a lot of time customizing cars for no particular reason, other than to see how cool or ridiculous I could get them to be. It helps that the gameplay felt pretty smooth for a racing game in my opinion.

Runners Up (now I know this is cheating, but I couldn't leave these out)

6. Tie - Mass Effect (Series/Xbox 360) / Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC) - I absolutely adore the story driven aspects of these Bioware games, they can actually make you feel immersed into their worlds at times. Also for SW:TOR, it should be noted that I've only played a total of 3 MMO's so far, this being the only one that I didn't get bored with by level 15. (For those curious, I've only played MMO's at my friend's houses, and the only other 2 I've played are City of Heroes and DC Universe Online)

Sorry if I carried on too long...

 

[Zenkem]

1. Dwarf Fortress - Literally the game I've always dreamed of making. Insanely complex, painstakingly realistic and extremely gory down to medical levels, I think Tarn Adams is fulfilling my life goal.

2. Spring RTS - The online game I've invested most time on. Free, open source, and extremely balanced. I consider it the most intelligent form of gaming, and take winning and losing it way too personally.

3. The Incredible Machine - A true inventors dream. Long ago I was visiting some relatives who had this on their PC. I ended up staying with them for three additional days, just to complete the entire game. When I got a PC myself, it was the first game I wanted, and I routinely made contraptions in the sandbox mode all the way to the maximum item limit.

4. Starcontrol II - This did everything I want in scifi. The races have unique cultures and evolutionary paths that make sense, and most of them are not humanoid shaped. The combat is awesome, and the Super Melee -mode is the game I consider myself the best.

5. Tyrian - It did to vertical shooters what Spring did to RTS:es; after the perfection anything else would be a step backwards. I got the demo version back in the pre-internet days, and played it until I was pretty sure I'd discovered every secret, every datacube and every special mode. The tourist guide-datacubes alone were so great that I still remember every planets culture, entertainment and dining possibilities. Fortunately it is now open source, so I finally got to play the full version in OpenTyrian.

 

[Saviordd1]

Hmmm

1. Mass Effect
Pretty much my intro to sprawling story based RPG's, and still one of my favorites.

2. Oblivion
My introduction to RPG's at ALL, and I still have fond memories.

3. Army Men 2
Yes...that 3DO game no one remembers, got me into games as a kid.

4. Halo
My first shooter and my favorite FPS to this day (That or Halo 2)

5. Age of Empires
Yeah....my first RTS.

Basically all my "firsts" define me as a gamer.

 

[Saviordd1]

Mass Effect (1 and only 1): This was the first game that truly felt like a space epic. A shame there's no sequels.

This isn't fanning flames or anything.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Dragon warriors
Cemented my love of RPGs and exploration focused games

Legend of Zelda (aLttP if you need one in particular)
Influenced my love of fantasy and once again, preference for exploration in games

Pokemon
Once again, RPG, but also influenced me with its collection element

Team Fortress 2
Influenced my notion of team based games, with special note towards balance and diversity in gameplay, and my idea of shooters

Myst
Interesting enough, this has influenced my idea of what constitutes a game and the diversity of types of gameplay

 

[RedDeadFred]

1. Skyrim
This game represents my love for exploration and the freedom to do whatever I want.

2. Bastion
Story, style and sound. Bastion excels in all three of these and is the first game to really show me that smaller games can have an even bigger emotional impact than many bigger games.

3. Borderlands 2
For me this represents the lighter side of gaming (although with a few very dark moments) and is gameplay at its finest.

4. Mass Effect Trilogy
This is by far the biggest emotional roller coaster I've ever been on. No gaming series has ever made me feel so happy or depressed.

5. Minecraft
I am generally a very creative person. This game lets me channel that more than any other.

 

[Jamous]

Okami
TF2
TES:Oblivion
Kingdom Hearts
Medieval: Total War 2

I think that pretty much covers everything.
RPG, Shooter, Excellent World RPG, MOAR RPG and RTS. I think that sums me up quite nicely. The style of story and aesthetics help too.

 

[pilouuuu]

What a great thread! It makes us all think about what we all love about games.

Monkey Island: this game showed me what adventure games are about. I have to admit they spoiled me. Great storytelling that makes you fall in love with its crazy world and characters. The humour! Games should be fun and funny. And these games are full of so many jokes, so you will always find something that brings a smile to your face in this great series. Monkey 2 made me expect games to be a piece of art, with it beautiful hand-painted backdrops and fantastic music that adapts itself to what happens on screen much better than most games these days.

KOTOR: as a Star Wars fan I was interested in this game because it reminded me of the great Lucasarts adventures. It was the game that made me get interested in RPGs! This game has an epic story that is much better than any prequel trilogy and presents you interesting moral dilemmas. You'll also meet one of the most amazing and funny characters ever!

The Sims: OK, maybe this is not a popular decision and it is a franchise that is sadly famous for its milking. But, you know what? This is one of the few games where the more content we get the better. A sand-box simulation where you can control little people. What's so engaging about that? I can't say for sure, but this is one of the few games which I have played non-stop with each released version. It is more like a creativity toy where you can build places and experiment with virtual people in a simulated world. While many consider it a casual game, it is indeed what you make it to be. Few games let you have a family of a vampire rock star who is afraid of water, a friendly werewolf magician who is married to a witch who is never nude and a neurotic teenager fairy who has an imaginary friend and is a great painter.


Half-Life 2: While it may be dated by now, this is another game that spoiled me, because it defined what I expect from an FPS. Great environment, good action, amazing physics and enganging story.

Portal 2: Simply fantastic! Just like certain character from KOTOR taught us that robots can be incredibly funny, this game is a comedy puzzle. You will keep a smile on your face thanks to some cybernetic sarcastic people during all the puzzles in the game. Portal 2 also shows that first person can be totally enganging without the need to have you shooting people. Also this game is the perfect example of what a good ending is.

I can't help but feel excited about the future of gaming and I hope developers have the balls to make the games we love and not repeat the same experiences over and over because they think they'll get easy money with that.

The kind of games in our lists are what make us love gaming and that's why we remember them many years after their releases.

 

[Buizel91]

Pokemon: First Game i actually played, and i was hooked on it

Halo: This game series got me into proper gaming, Like shooters, etc.

Kotor: The game that got me into Exploring, Customization, and was the first came where i actually cared for other characters

Starwars Galactic Battlegrounds: Was the first RTS game i played, and tbh i think more RTS games should be like this, Simple, Easy to get into, but yet give you a challenge. Most of them today seem piss easy.

And more recently, Assassins Creed 2. Not exactly the first game i played with a good story, but it's by far one of the best i have played. Even though Halo will always be my favourite game to play in terms of story, characters and the amount of stuff to do. Assassins Creed is easily the game that tells it's story better.

 

[malkavianmadman]

As a kid, I couldn't afford lots of flashy games so I made do with demo disks and shareware compilations. Here are a couple of my all time favorites.

The Exile series by spiderweb software. I played these games for hours upon hours and they first introduced me to rpg gaming.

Rise of the Triad. Again shareware, really the first FPS I ever had on my comp.

Command and conquer series. First RTS games.

 

[Adeptus Aspartem]

1. All the early Lucas Arts Adventure Games

I grew up with them during the age of 4-10 or something. Played them together with my father. Probably one of the strongest influences on my person be it gaming or reallife.

2. Civ 2

Also, my father played this all the time, i got interested and hooked. After Civ 1/2 all the AoE's etc. followed.

3. Diablo 1

At the age of 10 i teched myself to read/write english by playing this game. Also my first real Internet game

4. DotA
There's not one game that can even come close to my played time on this game. A few thousand hours surely. Also it sparked my interest for competitive gaming.

5. Freelancer
Actually the most important for my "grown up" player-life. Played on a Server with a special mod. It was the best time i had in online gaming ever. The best community i ever played in, by far.
Also since playin' on this server, nearly 9 years ago, this nickname is in use.