Games that unexpectedly blew you away !!! :-D

[Smeags]

The 7th Generation's biggest and most pleasant surprises for me were:

Bioshock (2007 - X360): The moment I saw this game in action, I knew that this would be more than an average FPS, and I was right about that. But it was also so much more than I ever expected. Such an engrossing, terrifying, mysterious, and wonderful adventure through Rapture.

Super Mario Galaxy (2007 - Wii): Listen, the Super Mario games have always been great, but after Sunshine, I really wasn't sure what to expect out of Galaxy. It looked like, initially, that platforming nirvana would take a back seat to odd gameplay gimmicks (like Sunshine's FLUDD waterpack). But oh man... I was so wrong. The crazy worlds and levels of Galaxy only served to enhance Mario's platforming skills, turning every level into a unique and exciting experience. Galaxy ended up being one of my favorite games of all time... until Galaxy 2 came and blew my mind once again.

Okami (2008 - Wii): Okami was on my radar ever since it released on the PS2, and the moment it was announced for Wii I knew the game would be mine. The game blew me away from the start with its gorgeous visuals and incredible soundtrack. It kept me glued with it's Zelda inspired gameplay and level design. It imprinted itself in my memory with its incredible charm, scope, humor, and sense of beauty and wonder. Great game!

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (2009 - Wii): I was never much of a Silent Hill fan. Sure, I knew about the series and appreciated its psychological horror elements (especially in this age of over the top action horror), but I never took my time to play a game. But with Shattered Memories, a re-imagining of the original Silent Hill, I was intrigued to take part of this new path that had opened. While I did greatly enjoy the game itself, it was the story itself that really touched me. The story of Harry Mason and his search for his beloved daughter Cheryl came to a conclusion that really took my breath away and actually made me think about my own life in ways I had never done before. For a game to do that... well... that's quite the pleasant surprise.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (X360 - 2009): Video games based on comic book characters have always had quite a low ceiling when it comes to overall quality. As good as previous comic book games were, they were never among the all time greats. Well fast forward to 2009, where the previously unknown RockSteady studios came and blew everyone away with Batman: Arkham Asylum. They used the Metroid series as their gameplay inspiration, which is never, ever a bad thing. Then the iced the cake with an amazing heaping of Batman rogues and the sinister Arkham Asylum location. In the end they created a world and a game that complimented each other wonderfully, and started a series of utmost quality. Awesome stuff.