Games that shaped/matured you as a gamer

[Why do I care]

starcraft got me into rts games while halo got me into fps's.

 

[thingymuwatsit]

in order of genre:
Halo: Combat evolved (FPS)
Gears of war: (TPS)
Mass Effect: (RPG)
Just Cause: (Sandbox)
Heavy Rain: (Mystery/detective)

 

[k0kRoach]

This thread hits home with me. Not only did I mature as a gamer but I grew up with the games. I was born in '79 and I remember playing Atari 2600. I remember how Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy blew me and my older brother's minds. We used to co-op them in a sense. One of us would play while the other navigated with maps and monster data. I've never quite got that sense of working together in a game since. Not even when me and my younger bro would group together in Everquest.

I got my first computer in '94 and Doom destroyed my fervor for console gaming. I've been a PC guy ever since. I just so happened to get a brand new computer in early 99 and Half-Life just furthered my support to PC.

 

[TheBaron87]

- Starcraft taught me sportsmanship (not kissassiness, fighting spirit), dedication, and the glory of victory.
- Chrono Trigger taught me that games aren't just another kind of toy, they're adventures for the mind. A great game can be just as imaginative as Harry Potter or Narnia.
- Portal taught me that games can change the way you perceive the world.
- Shadow of the Colossus taught me that purely mental stimuli can create a VERY real physical reaction.
- Metal Gear Solid taught me that games are capable of moving you.
- Knights of the Old Republic taught me that you can care for imaginary people.
- Ocarina of Time taught me the joy of exploration and the accomplishment of overcoming puzzles.
- Starfox taught me that getting back on the horse after a hundred falls is worth it when you finally beat hard mode.
- Final Fantasy 6 taught me that sometimes bad guys are the best guys.
- Half-life taught me that games don't have to be something some company makes, you buy, and then get a little entertainment out of. Truly great games with caring developers can become communities of friends in and of themselves, and anyone can create a great game or mod with the right tools and knowledge.

All of these greatly raised the bar for what I expect from games, and taught me something new about what games can be.

 

[ImprovizoR]

Counter Strike 1.3
That's when I finally realized I'm gonna play games forever.

 

[gl1koz3]

Grew up with Dune 2 (it's a whole lot different deal on SEGA), then Red Alert 2, then Mass Effect. Few games I care remembering.

 

[Amphoteric]

Ever since I played the Original C&C when I was 6 I've prety much been addicted to RTS games and I now have all C&C games except, well, you know.
Call of Duty 2 made me love FPS games.
KotOR made me love RPGs, and there is still no game that matches in character and story development in my opinion. The characters in Mass effect seemed very shallow by comparison.

 

[Imp Erection]

Kinda hard to say what I'm thinking, but I guess what I mean is: What games matured you as a gamer? Made you want more in a game, or want different games?

For me it would have to be KoTOR. This was the first RPG I ever played through the entire way, this was the first game I played with such a compelling story. This was the first game that made me want every game I played to be spectactular.

It was the first game where I cared for the characters, and was the first game that made me replay it more than once or twice. It wasn't until I played KoTOR that I would have called myself a gamer. Since beating KoTOR, my standard for games has been raised drasticaly, and I have a harder time playing through games that I find mediocre.

And I've had a hard time finding games that have met that standard, and have found even less that have exceded that standard. (Note: I didn't even play KoTOR until like 2007, so it wasn't like I played it when it was brand new. Yet, it still stood up spectactulary)

For those who haven't noticed, I'm a HUGE KoTOR/Star Wars fanboy. I tend to grovell about/rant about the glory that is KoTOR a lot...

THIS. This so much.

It's my absolute favorite game. I had gotten Kotor when it first came out, and since then the only other game to meet that standard is Mass Effect. Kotor had such a huge impact on me that I instantly liked Kaiden Alenko because he was the voice of Carth Onasi. Hell, I think part of the reason why I'm so drawn to Female Shepard's voice (aside from her being incredibly badass) is because she was also the voice of Bastilla in Kotor.

Yes, I'm pretty much a Kotor fangirl. DON'T JUDGE ME!

Pretty much? I'd say it's quite well established.

Regardless, we've established that you like KotOR, but what did it leave you wanting more of in a game?

Everything that Cimil said, hence why I quoted him.

Although it also left me wanting more interactivity -- I pretty much jumped on every game that focused on letting the player make the choices after that.

 

[Generic Difference]

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans got me into gaming.
Baldur's Gate made me appreciate complex RPG's.
Might and Magic VIII taught me to never give up.
Mechcommander taught me about online clans.
Age of Empires 2 let me know how fun custom games can be.
Heroes of Might and Magic 3 let me appreciate learning unit statistics to make decisions.
Warcraft 3 introduced me to the concept of Roleplaying in Games.
Morrowind showed me that Modding a game can make it so much better.
Supreme Commander had me macro managing like never before.
Portal teaches that a game doesn't have to take all day to be awesome.
Halo & Modern Warfare crushed my enjoyment of consoles.

World of Warcraft made me change fun into numbers... but not back again.

My Final Fantasy IX disc had a scratch on it and never played the ending cinematic. I kept that memory card save for YEARS before one day getting to load it up on another disc. The lesson being to never give up.

Now, I feel Starcraft 2 is going to do something for me. Either turn me into an achievement hunter or finally get me playing competitive online... we'll see.

 

[Tattaglia]

X3 taught me an extreme sense of patience, which helped not only in understanding Dwarf Fortress but also in real life. I can't think of any others that have really matured me, though.

 

[Blackality]

Planescape: Torment, no doubt.
Also, Civilization IV, set my standards for a truly fantastic strategy game.

 

[AMMO Kid]

Splinter Cell 1
Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow
Legend of Zelda - The Windwaker
Left 4 Dead
Fallout 3
Oblivion


All of these games have left a footprint in my life that I will never forget

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

Civilization 2-4.
Nuff said, i think:]

 

[The DSM]

Okami.

That showed me that video games can be art.

 

[Continuity]

...KoTOR...

Aye its a great game but for me it came along many years after I started gaming, my formative games are all from the early to late 90's. Probably one of the most important games for me was Baldurs gate though there were many before and after it, it hard to pick one as in each period of my gaming "career" there have always been several important games.

However I guess the first game that really showed me the promise of the media as a whole was... No, I can't even pick one back then when I was a kid every game was fantastic, from Beneath a steel sky, Syndicate, Dune II, Eye of the beholder, Elite 2, Cannon Fodder, Lands of lore, Mech Warrior II, Xcom, Xwing and Tie Fighter, etc. etc.

 

[Harlemura]

Uncharted helped me make the jump from platformers to shooters.
TF2 showed me the way to online gaming.

Sonic '06 showed me that believing a game is good and a game actually being good are two very different things.

 

[ArchAngelKira]

Anything thats an RPG made from Japan and final fantasy