Halo.
I don't really like the series new titles, but Halo 1 through and including Reach stand as some of my favorite games of all time. I think it's very sad that, in part because of the kind of mass somewhat-toxic audience they drew in originally, and also because of the reception of newer titles, the series is often looked upon as "never having been that good" or being a fad that just helped get us to where we are currently with console shooters and nothing more. Even if the stories usually amounted to popcorn flicks (sometimes bad ones like 3), there were a lot of great themes (2), great use of videogames as a storytelling medium (1 and 2), great level design (3), great art direction and armor/enemy designs (all the games but especially 3, ODST and Reach) and a great OST for all of the Bungie games (even 4 actually had some highlights there). And the way these games brought people together ... like I know that kind of tagline is a meme now but, damn. Forge :ok_hand:
Still one of the best songs in gaming history.
That being said, Gears of War was also a big part of what made me the gamer :tm: I am today, 3 in particular stands in memory as one of the best games I've ever played. It was also awesome discovering Banjo & Kazooie back in the beginning of this console generation when I didn't have much to play on my 360. Though, I didn't really like much of what I played of Tooie.
I'm excited to try out Fable when that gets released.