3rd Gen: Every game seemed fresh and new. There was always the Arcades to give a glimpse of "what might be". That was where you saw games so advanced, you would NEVER be able to play them at home.
4th Gen: Games like F-Zero, Pilotwings, Donkey Kong Country, Demon's Crest, Axelay--there was a quantum leap in graphical quality that just blew me away. Neo Geo was a mythical creature of insane power.
5th Gen: I saw the CGI of Tekken and my jaw hit the floor. Games like Mario 64 and Wave Race set the bar and games like Metal Gear Solid and Ocarina of Time raised it! It was when games got easier but more complex at the same time.
6th Gen: SSX, MGS2, Halo, Luigi's Mansion, etc. Games went from crude 3D to looking pretty damned good. Shenmue on Dreamcast was so realistic, you could see the ridges on fingers! I thought games would NEVER look better than this. That whole era was about making gamess look and play better and better.
7th Gen: On the graphics side of things, games like Gears of War, God of War 3, Alan Wake, RE5, and Tomb Raider (2013) amazed. But this gen wasn't just about beautiful and refined visuals. Motion controls, online play, downloadable games, Achievements--it was like everything we dared to dream about was there at our fingertips. Vidoe chatting, sending games to friends (via Wii gifting), custom soundtracks. With games and gameplay perfected, what would the future hold?
8th Gen: Still waiting to be wowed. Forza Horizon 2, maybe? Wii U hit with great games and an innovative new interface but aside from that, the 8th gen has failed to blow my mind. No feelings of wonder just yet.
