Like CGI said games impact me on several different fronts too so I'll divide up my fronts:
Story -- MGS4......just no words..more than story the way it was told, each moment of the game is amazing for me. I can never forget bashing the triangle button on the controller during the microwave scene hoping snake would just move an INCH closer to the room at the other end....it made me care for that character.....it gave me a feeling of urgency with the battle outside being shown on the other screen, it was an amazing moment.
Gameplay -- FFXIII.....after 14 years I can truly say I was REALLY addicted to a RPG's battle system & wanted more & more....the last time such addiction happened was Pokemon Gold. Loved the paradigm system.....loved the satisfaction of changing roles every 10 seconds. Also when I used to play FF7/8/9 I used to always imagine the way the characters may carry out their ATTACKS....it couldn't just be .....go up to the monster, hit. FFXIII delivered on that imagination and really the way I imagined monsters and my warriors would fight and attack the monsters came to life in front of me....seeing the characters going and twisting turning while fighting, launching moves. Fantastic.
But finally as a GAME overall:
It was actually the Phoenix Wright series......I had never played games like them before and I got crazily addicted to them in a way I never expected to be. I went in thinking they were some niche anime style game BUT boy was I wrong. What I got was some of the most compelling stories, with really classic music & a very polished game with likeable characters (Gumshoe FTW)!
Expectations weren't blown, they were bombarded out of the water







