It's no secret there are tons of nerds/geeks on here, so let's all embrace it once more with another thread about video games! 
Can't believe no one has started a thread like this actually, but yeah, away we go! So for me:
Metal Gear Solid
The first game in the series (on PS1) is still IMO the single greatest story ever told in a video game, as far as striking the perfect balance between great voice acting, suspense (leading to really cool twists that keep you on the edge of your seat), and especially philosophical notions of war and what it means to be a soldier. So many really emotionally charged, powerful scenes - anyone who has been moved by the game like I have will immediately recognize this quote: "Snake, we're not tools of the government, or anyone else - fighting was the only thing I was good at, but, at least I always fought for what I believed in" The sequels are all great too, but IMO none could match the narrative power of the original (though 3 comes close with the story of The Boss, but it falters by putting so much focus on the retarded Volgin plot ) Anyone who wants to play it though, be sure to either get the original on PS1 (ideal) or the PC version, and NOT the Twin Snakes on Gamecube, cuz they re-did all the voice acting and IMO it can't come close to the original.
Deus Ex
Another one I love for its story and philosophy, but it's funny how different it is from MGS; while the latter has strong, rich, deeply-developed characters that form the basis of the tale, DE's characters are comparatively cold and not as well developed, but IMO it fits the cyberpunk setting of the game, and it's not as much of a character-driven story anyway; it's the concepts of government and the nature of the individual person in a world of billions are what really make it for me (the story is basically an amalgam of a bunch of conspiracy theories, namely the Illuminati, Majestic 12, Area 51/Grays, and the Knights Templar). The sequel is certainly not without its flaws, but IMO it got a bad rap, because I feel it still has all the philosophical integrity of the first.
Anyway, again, a warning for those who might want to give it a go - the first game could very well have the most boring and unfocused first level in the history of gaming; it introduces you to the GIGANTIC maps and multiple options for completing your objectives that define the gameplay, but IMO it's a bit overwhelming for a first-timer (and the music for that level just heightens the ennui, but I actually really love the overall soundtrack for the game). Also, the combat can best be described as "sluggish". So what I'm saying is, stick with it, and let it get its hooks in you
Okami
Quite simply the most beautiful game I've ever played (it's cel-shaded to look like a Sumi E watercolor painting come to life), and maybe the most detailed as well; it definitely doesn't hide the influence it takes from the Zelda games in terms of gameplay, but still really takes it and runs with it IMO, innovating on the formula with a lot of new additions, chiefly the Celestial Brush (you play as the Japanese sun god, Amaterasu, incarnated as a divine white wolf, and you have the power to pause time and transform the screen into a scroll, where you can draw symbols with your "celestial brush" to create things like bridges and bombs in the world, or slash things in half). Also, I really have to highlight the music; all traditional Japanese folk instruments (the whole game basically is every aspect of Japanese folklore rolled into one), with really fantastic production and amazing composition - I really can't recommend this one highly enough, so much charm and beauty to it (and it is fucking LONG, 40+ hours despite there being pretty much zero overly difficult puzzles or battles, in other words no padding, just so much content).
Those are the big 3, other great ones are Jak 2/3 (Jak and Daxter, the first, is pretty much unrelated), Ace Combat 5 (I've always loved fighter jets, and this actually has a really good story believe it or not), Call of Duty 4 (the ultimate FPS IMO), and the Gears of War games (can't get enough of the cover mechanics). Also, I have a feeling the Uncharted games will make the list once I get Uncharted 2; the first had some of the best writing and voice acting I've ever encountered in a game, but the story as a whole wasn't quite good enough to make the list, though from all I've read about the sequel, it improves everything about the first, in typical Naughty Dog fashion!
So let's here yours, I always love discovering new gems!
Can't believe no one has started a thread like this actually, but yeah, away we go! So for me:Metal Gear Solid
The first game in the series (on PS1) is still IMO the single greatest story ever told in a video game, as far as striking the perfect balance between great voice acting, suspense (leading to really cool twists that keep you on the edge of your seat), and especially philosophical notions of war and what it means to be a soldier. So many really emotionally charged, powerful scenes - anyone who has been moved by the game like I have will immediately recognize this quote: "Snake, we're not tools of the government, or anyone else - fighting was the only thing I was good at, but, at least I always fought for what I believed in" The sequels are all great too, but IMO none could match the narrative power of the original (though 3 comes close with the story of The Boss, but it falters by putting so much focus on the retarded Volgin plot
) Anyone who wants to play it though, be sure to either get the original on PS1 (ideal) or the PC version, and NOT the Twin Snakes on Gamecube, cuz they re-did all the voice acting and IMO it can't come close to the original.Deus Ex
Another one I love for its story and philosophy, but it's funny how different it is from MGS; while the latter has strong, rich, deeply-developed characters that form the basis of the tale, DE's characters are comparatively cold and not as well developed, but IMO it fits the cyberpunk setting of the game, and it's not as much of a character-driven story anyway; it's the concepts of government and the nature of the individual person in a world of billions are what really make it for me (the story is basically an amalgam of a bunch of conspiracy theories, namely the Illuminati, Majestic 12, Area 51/Grays, and the Knights Templar). The sequel is certainly not without its flaws, but IMO it got a bad rap, because I feel it still has all the philosophical integrity of the first.
Anyway, again, a warning for those who might want to give it a go - the first game could very well have the most boring and unfocused first level in the history of gaming; it introduces you to the GIGANTIC maps and multiple options for completing your objectives that define the gameplay, but IMO it's a bit overwhelming for a first-timer (and the music for that level just heightens the ennui, but I actually really love the overall soundtrack for the game). Also, the combat can best be described as "sluggish". So what I'm saying is, stick with it, and let it get its hooks in you
Okami
Quite simply the most beautiful game I've ever played (it's cel-shaded to look like a Sumi E watercolor painting come to life), and maybe the most detailed as well; it definitely doesn't hide the influence it takes from the Zelda games in terms of gameplay, but still really takes it and runs with it IMO, innovating on the formula with a lot of new additions, chiefly the Celestial Brush (you play as the Japanese sun god, Amaterasu, incarnated as a divine white wolf, and you have the power to pause time and transform the screen into a scroll, where you can draw symbols with your "celestial brush" to create things like bridges and bombs in the world, or slash things in half). Also, I really have to highlight the music; all traditional Japanese folk instruments (the whole game basically is every aspect of Japanese folklore rolled into one), with really fantastic production and amazing composition - I really can't recommend this one highly enough, so much charm and beauty to it (and it is fucking LONG, 40+ hours despite there being pretty much zero overly difficult puzzles or battles, in other words no padding, just so much content).
Those are the big 3, other great ones are Jak 2/3 (Jak and Daxter, the first, is pretty much unrelated), Ace Combat 5 (I've always loved fighter jets, and this actually has a really good story believe it or not), Call of Duty 4 (the ultimate FPS IMO), and the Gears of War games (can't get enough of the cover mechanics). Also, I have a feeling the Uncharted games will make the list once I get Uncharted 2; the first had some of the best writing and voice acting I've ever encountered in a game, but the story as a whole wasn't quite good enough to make the list, though from all I've read about the sequel, it improves everything about the first, in typical Naughty Dog fashion!
So let's here yours, I always love discovering new gems!
