Which games did you find most immersive? And why?

[Skeleon]

Well, basically the title says it all.
Not all games require immersion (Serious Sam, Tetris,...), but those that have it are usually better for it. It's what makes a game believable, what makes it involving.
Now, I'd like to know what games you perceived as very atmospheric and why.
Especially concerning the way this immersion was achieved: Graphics? Sound? (Ambient) music? Scripted scenes? Gameplay? Something else entirely?

For me, I'd have to say System Shock 2 and Arx Fatalis.
Both of these games aren't that good in terms of graphics or usability, but they can still catch me, immerse me in the worlds they create.
How is that accomplished? Well, I'd have to say that ambient music and lighting is probably what's most important to me to feel as a part of the gaming world.
A dark corridor, set with too few flickering lights and a suspenseful, almost silent background music (or even just an assortment of sounds) makes the difference between actual immersion or, well, just another dark corridor.

So, what are your experiences with immersion?
And what part of a game do you value the most concerning it?
Or do you not really care about immersion but the gameplay alone?
Let me know what you think.

 

[Peach_hat]

Umm.
Ico. Because you don't have a choice.

I got fair immersed into CS for ages. I know you are yourself but like, that shit changes you.

 

[TaborMallory]

There was a certain female on Oblivion in the Dark Brotherhood that I almost forgot wasn't real. No, nothing sexual.

 

[Snor]

oblivion always pulls me in (especially Dark Brotherhood, thieves guild etc.)

i can still remember that I was plundering the skingrad whine cellar with a buddy of mine when the count de cloaked behind is and hunted us down throughout the castle while we were screaming like little girls (mainly because the guy went through walls it seems)

 

[Tullio]

Hmm, I have a few, but these come to mind

Doom - yeah, Doom, oddly enough. Mostly because it was just me against the daemons, trying to esacepe. That story is actually quite sound, if rarely ever mentioned. Coupled with the designers cleverness for level design, it sucked me in

The Wind Waker - Sue me. The Wind Waker was charming, and stuck to that theme. The whole game world was so much more expressive than other Zelda games, and kind of moved away from the usual formula without forsaking it entirely

 

[NeutralDrow]

Anything with a story that sucks me in and a soundtrack that accents the mood. Gameplay can help or hinder, but as long as I'm used to the controls, it doesn't get in the way.

Of course, for the whole "gameplay not in the way" thing, my two most favorite games are both visual novels. My other big genre for immersion is, surprisingly only to a few, JRPGs. Tales of Symphonia is still the only game I can remember to draw me in so thoroughly I started screaming at a character on the screen...half expecting them to hear. Then I realized this was silly and resorted to the customary enraged stabbing.

Other games are hit-and-miss when it comes to immersion. The big exception I can think of is Devil May Cry. I think it's inferior to DMC3 in almost every way but one. Its atmosphere was so well put together and oppressive I was actually twitchy while playing it, and nearly jumped every time one of those creepy puppet things started moving...

 

[insanelich]

STALKER

The original one.

Exceedingly difficult barring getting bored, a strong visual resemblance to the real world, excellent ambiance.

 

[Sugarfluff]

I feel obligated to mention the Baldurs Gate series, but other than that I'd have to say Metroid Prime and Warcraft 3 (RTS I know but I got really sucked into the story, no matter how mediocre it was).

 

[ShadowPen]

I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this because its a JRPG, but...

Recently, I've been addicted to Persona 3. I don't know why. Its the strangest game I've ever played, and yet I can't get enough.

 

[AlphaOmega]

At the time diablo2 sucked me into the story, lately Fallout 3 and Chrono Trigger managed it.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R is also a very strong one for this.

 

[Anachronism]

Shadow of the Colossus.

The completely empty environment, with only your horse for company. The subtle music which helped to add to the sense of isolation. The way the music really kicked in when you're fighting a Colossus, giving you an adrenaline rush unlike in any other game. It says a lot about the immersive nature of this game that I nearly cried at the cutscene before the last Colossus (if you've played it, you know which one I'm talking about).

 

[Skeleon]

Ico.

Hu?

*snip*

*and again*

Sounds good the way you guys describe it.
I once tried Morrowind and never got into it (didn't feel immersive at all), so I never even tried Oblivion. Maybe a mistake?

Doom

The old one or the 3rd?
I found Doom 3 to be quite immersive as well. At least at first. Jump-out-scares, flickering lights, dark corridors, a lot of scripted sequences...
But after a while it got old. A jump-out-scare only works so often, after all.

The Wind Waker

Never played it. I played one for Gameboy Colour about some wind fish. I liked it, don't get me wrong, lots to do, riddles, secrets, items. But it didn't feel immersive to me.
It was kind of addictive like Diablo 2 (which is also a great game but one of the most un-immersive games I ever played).
As I said, immersion is not always necessary for a game to be good.

Anything with a story that sucks me in and a soundtrack that accents the mood.

Hmm, similar to my opinion I see.

Gameplay can help or hinder, but as long as I'm used to the controls, it doesn't get in the way.

Yeah, that's what I wanted to say with my examples.
Both System Shock 2's and Arx Fatalis' controls aren't that great, very unintuitive in some cases. But the games more than make up for it in other areas, so the useability doesn't matter too much.

As for your examples, unfortunately I don't know that many JRPGs. Can't comment on those.

Fast paced RPGs that just keep you focued on the story. Alot of character development, lots of little cut scenes scattered around so I always feel the story is progressing.

Hm, I know what you mean. But take Gothic, for example, it has a very big and free world. Yet somehow it is one of the most immersive games I know.
Focusing on the story and character development is one approach to immersion that definitely works great!
But there must be something else as well.

Nice to see more people agreeing on music/sound.

STALKER

Hey, you're right!
I played that game, too.
The high difficulty always keeps you on your toes. Being vulnerable is definitely a part of immersion.

...Warcraft 3 (RTS I know but I got really sucked into the story, no matter how mediocre it was).

That's no shame. Even though the story is very basic, it is presented very, very well. Sticking with a primary hero for an entire campaign, seeing him/her develop skills, find items and grow stronger as well as developing personally (think Arthas' turning to ruthless vengeance) is very immersive in an RPG-esque way.
I doubt it would've worked as well without that focus on specific persons, though.

Recently, I've been addicted to Persona 3.

Again, I can't comment, unfortunately.

 

[The Hitman]

As a genre RPGs are the most obvious choice, obviously. Games-wise i think Fallout 3 immersed me quite well but i did play it for very long periods of time, Fable 1TLC was much more immersive than Fable 2...

 

[tomtom94]

Zelda. Especially Wind Waker because it is such a beautiful and huge game.
Also the Championship Manager series. If you've never played one of them then you could do worse than give it a try. Download the 03-04 demo, you will most likely lose quite a chunk of your life if you're a football fan. Don't download any of the later ones though cause that's when the development of the series changed and it went pear-shaped.

 

[WittyName]

I'd go with Bioshock, that was pretty immersive.

 

[Yudas]

Silent Hill 1. Played this the first time when I was 12 years or so. Quite horrifying but I haven't been as immersed since.