Which games would you love to be able to play for the first time again?

[Reaper195]

Fallout 3, the Mass Effect trilogy, Skyrim, the Halo games, Red Dead: Redemption, XCom: Enemy Unknown, the GTA games.

Pretty much almost all of my games. I look back at the amount of time I've played them, as well as grinding through them for achievments (all of those are on 30) when I was unemployed for a year and a bit...it's hard to go back and play them and still enjoy them. Hell, Fallout 3 came out before I even started working. I put hundreds of hours into that game. Now when I start it up, all the memories come flooding back and suddenly I can't be arsed doing stuff I've already done god knows how many times. Same with all the others mentioned. I loved discovering the landscape in Red Dead, I loved the fascination I had when I realised I was going to have to lose soldiers to continue on in XCOM, I was ecstatic at a series with such diverse weaponry and enemies and, at their times, the graphical quality of the Halo games. I loved first playing Skyrim and realising that I genuinely the 'backyard England' fantasy setting (That was my first ever foray into 'real' fantasy. The second was A Song of Ice & Fire).

 

[Phasmal]

World of Warcraft.
Was my first real MMO, loved playing it, it always seemed like there was loads to do and everything was so interesting. I'd like to have another MMO that gave me that feeling again, but I doubt it's something that can be replaced.

 

[Jedamethis]

The Portal games, definitely. I want that sweet, sweet hit of problem-solving euphoria again.

 

[Kinitawowi]

If I went in with literally no knowledge whatsoever, I'd like to re-see if FF7 can actually stand alone without the fuss of the hype machine. (I'm not sure it could - the materia system will still have issues.)

And I'd love to go through Bayonetta's amping all the way up to eleven and beyond again. I'm almost holding off taking on NSIC on it precisely because of this; I want to allow enough time so I don't get bored of it (although I'll probably still always cry at the Space Harrier level).

 

[JagermanXcell]

Persona 4.
I must be pretty masochistic choosing this game considering how often I cried the first time I played. The euphoria I'd get would probably kill me.

 

[Chaos Isaac]

Skyrim. Dark Souls. Dragon's Dogma. DMC 3. GTA IV. Skies of Arcadia. Tales of Vesperia/Symphonia. Call of Duty (The series, so, it's a bit less old.)

There's a lot more, but that's the ones on top.

 

[Evonisia]

World of Warcraft.
Was my first real MMO, loved playing it, it always seemed like there was loads to do and everything was so interesting. I'd like to have another MMO that gave me that feeling again, but I doubt it's something that can be replaced.

I second this. Starting in vanilla was one hell of a trip to be thrown into. Of course in hindsight it was grindtastic but still, I'd love to 'start' again.

 

[Fijiman]

The top three on my list are Oblivion, Halo:CE, and Ratchet &Clank.

 

[Frezzato]

Same here with Mass Effect, but only the first. Halo: CE as well. And Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. And maybe Burnout 3.

Each game stands on its own, with no real need for sequels, which isn't a surprise considering that they're each the first in their respective series, except for Burnout.

I really loved driving around in the Mako, there were so many worlds where you really felt like you were exploring. And the component swap in ME1 was almost a game in itself. I tried mixing the explosive ammo with two Frictionless Materials X in the assault rifle just to see what would happen (you only get 6-7 shots with no added benefits), but it was fun playing around with mixing and matching.

I guess the first Tomb Raider as well. It really did feel like you were the first person to be exploring an area in a hundred years, other than the plentiful health packs lying around. And by definition, I suppose it was the only game that stayed as true as possible to the name.

Okay, fine. Add Operation Flashpoint to the list. I may not be the most skilled player, but I'm damn patient.

 

[The Enquirer]

For me, I have quite a recent example - the Mass Effect series.

I gotta disagree with you there. Garrus died in my first playthrough of Mass Effect 2. Suffice it to say watching him being carried away by a Collector Swarm after 30 hours was really depressing. I like being familiar with the games though. I actually refused to buy the next copy of the game until I got everyone out alive in the previous game. Wrex, your entire crew in ME2 etc.

For me, probably Far Cry 3. Vaas in that game was really memorable. Anyone who's seen his "Insanity" Speech remembers it. Even if you haven't played the game. You feel like you progress in skill as the game goes on. At first you are terrified of bears, tigers, packs of dogs, single enemy patrols can cause issue. You are so concerned with the timing of when to take down guards at outposts, but by the end of the first island you know what you're doing. It introduces some new stuff on the second island but you quickly adapt. The environment suited that adaptation well because the ai would vocalize their fear of you. It was just fantastic. I just wish they didn't kill off Vaas halfway through.

 

[DarkhoIlow]

This may be clishee but Planescape Torment is by far one of the games I would love to forget and play again.

After learning "What can change the nature of a man" I can't unlearn it unless I get a memory wipe. By far the best gaming memory ever.

 

[DugMachine]

World of Warcraft for me as well.

That game blew my fucking mind when I first played it. Was my first MMORPG and essentially first online play. Having this huge world with other players just like me running around was too awesome for me to comprehend at the time. Exploring the world and having a new adventure every day... some of my fondest gaming memories are in WoW. Sadly no other MMO has given me this feeling again but I think it was the newness of online play for me that gave me those feelings. Now I'm so accustomed to it.

I'd also love to play Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask for the first time again. Those games really got me hooked on gaming in general

 

[Barbas]

1st place goes to Dragon Age: Origins. I can't remember the last time I was that emotionally invested in a video game.
2nd place goes to Freelancer. The missions were brilliant and exploring distant asteroid fields for valuable wrecks or pirates bases was always an interesting way to spend time as well. The ending had be punching the air in triumph.
3rd place goes to Half-Life. It was a hell of a challenge when I first played it as a kid, but getting through every fight with aliens or soldiers against the odds was incredibly satisfying.

 

[Chester Rabbit]

Mass Effect. Especially now that I own the entire trilogy, man what a ride that would be going into each game fresh, back to back one after the other.

Resident Evil GC Remake. But still remembering the first one as was the case when I first played it. God, from the moment I first saw the front hall I was taken right out of my comfort zone and plopped right back into not knowing anything and being completely on edge. My friend and I were literally jumping at our reflections in that game.

Bioshock. That way i could play it again without having the twist ruined for me

Silent Hill

 

[an annoyed writer]

Agreed with Mass Effect. I just loved having so much... optimism about the games. now, since all has been said and done, it feels like a hole in my life that needs filling. I'd love to see another series take up that game's promise and end on a higher note, rather than the sour one that still bugs me to this day.

 

[Hurrly]

This is the thread that got me to sign up to the forums so thanks Jess.

It has to be Deadly Premonition for me.
Im surprised it hasnt been mentioned allready, but going through the story and trying to figure out what was going on was one of the best experiences iv had.
I was constantly second guessing the story and now when i play it i dont get the same excitement as i did that first time as i know what twists are coming up.
One of the best storys in my opinion anyway that kept me hooked throughout.

 

[AceTrilby]

Mass Effect, all day every day. I still remember that feeling, booting up a game I bought second hand and had no idea about, then getting to the main menu and being greeted by THIS:

Spoiler

...and thinking "Wow, this is going to be special."

And it was. I still get a little emotional whenever I hear Vigil.

 

[wulf3n]

It's hard to pick a select few, effectively it's any story heavy game I liked.

Narrowing it down I would have said Mass Effect but everyone else has so to be different for the sake of being different I'll go with Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines.

Probably the first game I ever got too involved in. Every waking moment from it's start to finish that wasn't necessary to keep me alive or keep my job was spent playing it.

 

[Clarence Dass]

World of Warcraft - nothing beats your first time in Azeroth when everything this is new an unexplored.

I started playing with a best friend of mine back in 2006, made some of our best gaming memories back then.

Some noob memories:
> Trying to exchange BOE gloves with my buddy after trying them on.
> Getting to Desolace and seeing a "Cool looking" white item staff selling for 4g and telling my friend: "Ima save up for that"

haha - good times

And very few things are as frightening and overwhelming as playing Dark Souls for the first time.

 

[Artaneius]

Ultima Online. First MMORPG I ever played. The amount of freedom and abilities you can do is still unparalleled across MMOs. Never loved another MMO as much as I do UO.

Doom - First FPS I ever played and was immediately hooked.

Quake - First online competitive deathmatch game I ever played. The memories of owning and then getting owned in this game will never fade away.

Unreal Tournament - IMO, this game was much better than Quake when it came to team gametypes. I will never forget the maps Deck 16, Facing Worlds, Pressure, and Orbital.

Warcraft II - Best RTS in terms of depth.