*tips his hat to rocketpig*

Shadow of the Colossus. Two scenes got me.

The first was losing the horse. After slaying fifteen Colossi, the horse and I were one, especially after having to use the horse to kill two of them.

The second was when your character becomes a Colossi and then you get sucked into the whirlpool. I was trying my damnest to stay alive, but eventually I got sucked in Then, when the girl wakes up, and the horse comes back, I was smiling like a kid. I love that horse!

So, yeah ... Shadow of the Colossus. I love that game.

<3 Team Ico

I guess that's not obvious enough by looking at your sig and avatar right?

Agree completely with FFVI comments, with the addition of ABSOLUTELY LOVING that you could sleep in certain inns near the end of the game and if Shadow is in your party will have flashbacks to his little-known past. That's the sort of master's touch that you don't see in literally 99% of games.

I would feel the same way about Chrono Trigger but I never have had a chance to play that all the way through without months-long interruptions. Even so it was a powerfully moving game.

FFIV was excellent but it didn't grip me emotionally the same way FFVI did. I did get somewhat invested in the characters, especially in the second half of the game.

And Resident Evil! I mean, sure, I don't know how much you really connected with the characters' plight, but the atmosphere was very engrossing, and the puzzles of what had happened to create these horrors was ten times as interesting as the gameplay puzzles.

Zelda games. I get way into those... I'll say "What the Hell" So many times while the plot unfolds... lol

Super Metroid (SNES) - unparalleled level design, intricate, addictive and so many other things I just cant go into detail bout now cuz my eyes r barely open.

Ocarina of Time (N64) - awe inspiring

MGS1 (PSX) - Riveting, if unconventional at the time.

FF7 (PSX) - a guilty pleasure of mine lols

Metroid Prime (GC) - amazing.

For me, I research a ton about games way more than compared to how much I play them. I actually am a 'hardcore' game researcher, but not a player. I don't play or buy a ton of games.

My favorite games are ones where I interact with other people; multiplayer games. I had many fun experiences with video games, but the first true 'wow' moment came in college. About 3 years ago I learned that lots of people in my dorm were into Super Smash Melee. There were many competitions which I jumped into quickly and soon dominated everyone on campus. It was awesome because it is always the fun to be the best at something, yet more importantly because it connected me to people and made me new, great friends. I was so thankful that this game was able to bring me together with other awesome people [for an introverted person for me this is fantastic].

The first game I experienced the really fun interaction experience with was when my older brother brought over friends and I could compete with them in GoldenEye64, and then later in Mario Golf. These games opened up to me how much video games can bring people together.

Obviously I can't go without mentioning Super Mario Brothers. This game was bought by my grandparents for us. I was probably 5 and I still remember it. I went over my friend's house and played it for hours, struggling of course. We watched my friend's dad beat some of the toughest 8th world levels and we were so impressed. This was the starting point.

So it started with Mario, moved onto GoldenEye and then it really hit me with SSBM. I am looking forward to Brawl so much because I hope I am able to meet new people and also connect with my old friends by playing.

Connecting is really why I love gaming.

FF7 PSX

Zelda Snes

Zelda n64

MGS1 Psx

Golden Sun 1-2 GBA

Plenty more i can list but those are the main ones

FF 7 and 8, got me truely into jrpgs, i could add all of them, but since these two were my first (and 9) ill add them

Halo got me into shooters, had never done that before.

Kessen into strategy games

Overall
I pick The first final fantasys, they hit me really emotionally, and truely got me itno a huge jrpg fan (its the single reason why i will def be picking up a ps3, long as ff 13 stays exclusive, which it should....)

The one that affected me the most, like many others, was FF III/6. And twesterm has done a good job of summarizing some of the reasons this game is held in such high regard by so many. I absolutely loved the part where Kefka poisons the water and kills Cyan's wife and son. I think I wanted to cry after that.

I would like to add that the original Gabriel Knight would probably be number two on this list. It came out at the pinnacle of adventure games and truly one upped King's Quest and the rest of the genre with it's engaging adult storyline and puzzles.

I can't really think up of any but I would probably say one of the closest ones would be Phoenix Wright: Ace of Attorney, too. The characters are likable. The main character's reason behind being a lawyer and his past make you, err... what's the word. (I'm sure naznatips would understand what I mean[?]) I'm also a sucker for good drama (even melodrama) and imo the sad part of Phoenix Wright was done pretty well.

But then, I don't play a lot of game due to budget...