If I had to pick just one I'd have to pick Xcom UFO Unknown but it would be followed very closely by Chrono Trigger and Super Street Fighter 2.
This is one of the hardest questions you can ask a gamer... I really like Wings on PC, this local multiplayer cave shooter.
I'd like to add Pokemon Crystal Version to the list. Not sure how I left that out. The Pokemon games on the GBC (first two generations) defined video games for my age group's childhood. Not sure how many hours I spent beating the Elite 4 and Red over 100 times so I could level up everything to 100. I'd also add Empire Earth to the list, making these games my top 5. I probably spent more time playing that RTS than every other game I've played in the past decade combined. Hundreds of hours. Then, Sierra shut down the multiplayer servers about four years ago. Not going to bother including any online MMORPGs here since I don't really think they deserve it, but RuneScape and MapleStory were both pretty influential games in my life at one point, lol.
I figure I've been gaming for at least 25 years, so this question is nearly impossible. I may have to go with Perfect Dark on N64.. Not just for the fantastic game and its infinite setup options, but also for the gazillion hours of good times with my friends playing that thing until sunrise. WHY DON'T THEY LET US PLAY MULTIPLAYER GAMES ON ONE SCREEN IN THE SAME ROOM ANYMORE?! ...Actually, I know the answer. It's hardware sales. But dammit, I actually enjoy my friends' company. Headsets can't compare to chilling out together with some beers and butterless popcorn. Viva la Split-Screen!!
I have such fond memories of that game. I used to spend hours playing it with friends. I still remember doing some sniping mission in coop mode and having two targets to take down simultaneously. To be difficult, I shot at the wrong one and ruined the mission I tried to play it on an emulator for my Mac, but it wasn't the same. I really want to find a way to play!
It really is! But with a gun to my head, I'd probably choose Quake 2, in particular capture the flag, as It was my first real 'proper' online experience which I continued to play for 9/10 years, including being involved in leagues and tournaments which were very well organised. There was actually a sense of community too, as the following was relatively small by todays standards - it was all mIRC IRC & forums
You know thinking about games I've played a lot online I'd probably have to add Microsoft's Freelancer to my list, that's a game that really deserved a sequel I have some great memorys from playing online and some of the dogfighting was truely epic. I really hope one day Galaxy on Fire or something else can capture it's essence.
+1 for Galaxy Of Fire MMO I actually bought a Dreamcast to play PSO with a mate, perhaps that should be on high on my list also - tho the combat was caca it was pretty fun being in lobbies, seeing the text bubbles appear usually with random abuse or love =]
I kind of like MW2 on xbox 360. Has anyone ever heard of Midnight Club? It sounds kinda bad, but it is actually a free world where you drive a car and is made by Rockstar Games. EDIT: I do not own Battlefield 3, MW3, Gears of War 3, Madden 2012, or basically any new game. 2ND EDIT: I would probably like Grand Theft Auto, but I can't get it. At least I can understand why though.
I have a neighbor who (at least he used to) play's MapleStory 3-5 hrs a day. He tried to get me into it, but I found it dumb, lame, and repetitive. I seriously played it for about 5-7min before the game lost it's charm.
Super Mario RPG, Final Fantasy VI, Knights of the old Republic, the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series... With those games I could be left out on a desert island (with electricity and some comforts I hope) and never get bored... Edit: Gosh I almost forgot Final Fantasy VIII, loved Squall to death when I was younger and the gunblades were the epitome of cool for me back then...
There's a lesser-known game made by Squaresoft called Einhander for the PSX which was a rare gem of a shooter. 15 years later, I could pop it in and still enjoy it. (yay first post )