Games That Have Defined A Genre?

[gdavall2003]

To the people on this, what games have you played that you feel have truly been the pinnacle of their genre. Give the name of the game and reasons why you think they are the defining game. Here be an example.

Genre - Beat 'em up.
Game - Street Fighter 2.
Reasons - Very well balanced, extremely good variation of characters, a decent challenge without leaving you wanting to actually kill anyone out of sheer annoyance, very enjoyable music and nice voices on the characters (God knows why they changed Guile's voice later on)

Your thoughts?

[jetfire]

Genre - Platformer
Game - Super Mario 64, Sonic 2
Reasons - The game completely revolutionized 3D gaming, and is still one of the best 3D platformers today. With it's clean graphics, great camera, and how it's platforming elements transitioned seamlessly from 2D to 3D, it proved that Super Mario had not lost that magical, classic feel to it, when going from 2D to 3D. It earns the title of my absolute favourite game. It's perfect.

I don't know if Sonic 2 revolutionized every game that came after it. In fact, it's pretty much in it's own league, but when I think of platformers, I think of Mario and Sonic, first and foremost. Sonic 2 was the best game in the series. It introduced a cooperative mode into the platforming genre (which I havent even seen many other games follow up on this element to date), it had a very unique level design, very fast gameplay (which was a more action based approach for a platformer, instead of just taking your time and exploring), and the best special stages that have ever graced the Sonic series. Mario defined the platforming genre. Sonic made it faster.

Genre - CONSOLE FPS
Games - Halo, Goldeneye
Note that I emphasized that the genre is FPS games for consoles. I'm not that much of an FPS gamer on the PC (since I could not get the hang of the whole mouse/keyboard control scheme), and there werent many good FPS games on consoles. However, Goldeneye came out, and emerged as the first great FPS game to ever grace a console. The game was well balanced, had a great mission mode (and many difficulty settings for it), and a completely entertaining multiplayer mode (which was a great amount of fun to be had, when you had a lot of friends over).

Halo was also revolutionary for FPS Console games to me. It's true that it didnt redefine FPS games in general, but since I couldnt get the hang of FPS games on the PC, I don't care. It redefined it for me, because there were hardly any good FPS games on consoles since Goldeneye (I think the only decent one was Perfect Dark). Halo had a huge sense of scale to it, great enemy A.I, an extremely fun deathmatch mode, balanced weapons, useful vehicles, a challenging Legendary mode, and most importantly there was cooperative mode, which kept my friends coming back to play it over and over with me.

Genre - RPG
Games - FF7, Star Ocean: The Second Story
Reason - Yes, I know everyone sais that FF7 is overrated, but it did have a lot of influence on RPGs today. The story was captivating, the materia system was my favourite magic system in any rpg, the characters were full of life, the setting was engrossing, and the combat was fast and fun. It was the game that got me into RPGs, and if I started with something else, I may have not been as interested to keep trying RPGs.

Star Ocean: The Second Story had a fun plot, very likeable characters, and a world that felt like no other to me. It was so full of life, and I truly cared about saving the world that was on my shoulders. It had one of the best combat systems I've ever seen (Grandia 2 also comes close), and the ability to create anything (weapons, food, alchemy, etc...) could get you lost in the game for hours (and it would actually pay off to learn many things). This is one of my favourite RPGs of all time. I don't know if I can pick between this and FF7. The game wasnt insanely popular, but I think it perfected almost every point that is important to an RPG.

[f1rst children]

I would put SF2 into the Fighter category, with beat-em-ups more along the lines of Kung Fu, Double Dragon, and Final Fight.

Puzzle - Tetris.

MMO - Everquest. Ultima Online was big and Meridian 59 was first, but until Everquest MMO was never considered a genre on equal footing with other RPGs.

Flight Sim - Falcon 3.0. Is there really a debate here? The gold standard for a decade.

Sports - Madden Football. It's been around forever, starting as a purely coaching sim and eventually coming full circle's with the spinoff NFL Head Coach game. It's taken on all comers across multiple consoles and outlasted every one of them.

RTS - Command & Conquer/Warcraft 2. Dune 2, Herzog Zwei and Warcraft 1 were all classics, but it was this 1-2 punch in late 1995 that truly elevated the RTS genre into mainstream gaming.

TBS - Civilization.

Adventure - Zork/King's Quest.

Edutainment - Where in ______ is Carmen Sandiego?

Shmup - Space Invaders. How big was this game? In Japan they had to mint more coins to cover the shortage caused by people playing Space Invaders.

[Saya-biki]

As much as I love Street Fighter in terms of defining a genre I think Guilty Gear XX would be better .

Guilty Gear XX has awesome, detailed sprites, fluid animation, a soundtrack like I've never heard before, and a memorable cast of characters. Surprisingly a lot of people don't know the Guilty Gear series, but XX is one of the greatest fighting games ever in my opinion. (I haven't played the ones before but I've played the ones after it...they need to make a true new one >.>)

[Ritalin]

Genre: Platformers
- Crash Bandicoot (ps1), Sonic the Hedgehog (genesis)
Crash was the first fun, 3d platformer and was super silly to boot. It never had confusing camera angles and stuck with side view or front view depending on the level. Sonic the Hedgehog brought platformers alive for me, it had much more going on than other platform games, and was generally just more appealling by design when I was an 8 year old.

Genre: RPGs
- Legend of Dragoon (Honorable mentions: Star Ocean: second story and til the end of time)
This is extremely biased because I love this game, but it felt like a 3d RPG done correctly for the first time. FF7 was there, sure, but I didn't care for it at all. Awesome scenery, great character design, wonderful battlesystem and a unique plot. Totally biased, but I was giving RPGs up for dead on 3d consoles before this came out. Star Oceans because they have the best battlesystem in any RPG ever.

Genre: Adventure, a billion other possible genres
- Shadow of the Collusus
Yes it's new, no I don't care. It, to me, has revolutionized adventure games. Will the same gameplay work in other games? Doubtful, but I don't care. It's an adventure done right. Go explore the beautiful world and find spots all on your own that serve no purpose other than to be found and gazed upon. Go fight giants and kick their ass, while wondering if you're the bad guy or good guy. Awesome fun.

Genre: MMORPG
- EVE Online
MMO's suck. Admit it. They all need you there 24/7 to level grind and reach a goal. Who cares about goals? What about the journey? That's what I like. I don't like getting in a game where some hambeast who joined the same day will be 20 levels or higher than me because they don't get off the computer and level grinded all day instead. Give me something with life-like politics, something that takes effort to play and not just wacking NPCs, and allows you to do and be anything. That's why I have now put EVE as my genre definer for MMO's, others need to beat it or match it. >P

[animanic_critic]

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Games: Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, Quake

Reasons: Among the three, I personally believed that Doom originally cemented the true idea of a gory 1st-person shooter. Doom, at that time, excelled at enthralling video-gaming junkies with its arrays of weaponry and intimidating beasts that would keep the gamers' hearts pumping.

After Doom's success only Duke Nukem 3D and Quake emerged outstandingly with the Duke's wild attitude and mature sexual and fory scenes, and Quake showing religious connotations and horrifying Satanic adaptations.

In the recent times though, Doom III seemed to be the new king of 1st-person shooter with incredible haunting sounds and topnotch cinematic visuals. Other titles worth mentioning are Quake 4 and Unreal Tournament.

[Risen Hell Fire]

Genre - Beat 'em up.
Game - Street Fighter 2.
Reasons - Very well balanced, extremely good variation of characters, a decent challenge without leaving you wanting to actually kill anyone out of sheer annoyance, very enjoyable music and nice voices on the characters (God knows why they changed Guile's voice later on)

Your thoughts?
Well Street Fighter is closer to Fighter (hence the name most likely) then a beat 'em up. A beat 'em up would be like Golden Ax, Streets of rage, Double dragon and River city ransom.
I'll make my list later when I can figure what to put in there to explain.

[Zero]

Genre: Stealth/Action
Game: Metal Gear Solid
Reasoning: MGS was not only a huge evolutionary jump for the franchise which had previously seen its last action on the NES, but changed what we now call the Stealth genre (or subgenre, depending on how you classify it in the context of action games). Playing an action game protagonist no longer meant going Rambo style into the enemy base (though such an approach could be taken), but using subtlety as your ultimate weapon. Creative and innovative AI made enemy soldiers take notice at seemingly insignificant changes in the environment, such as following your footprints as result of snow or puddle, and investigate. Boss fights were the peak of gameplay; players used an array of weapons/tools to get the job done and were often forced to think outside the box in what might initially seem like a severe bug in programming (Psycho Mantis, anyone?). The plot launched the player into a foray of politics and conspiracy, stacked on top of hollywood-quality (in the positive sense) voice acting that wasn't seen very often in the world of video games. MGS remains one of the greatest titles ever to have graced the Playstation and the gaming world.

Genre: Platformer
Game: Super Mario 64
Reasoning: I thought the Mario series saw its peak with Super Mario World for the SNES, which already had given multiple courses of action from getting to point A to point B. Unlike other games that lost its charm in the transition to the 3D world, Mario retained every ounce of the franchise's spirit and expanded upon it. Replay value was key, particularly due to the number of details to levels and worlds you could discover even in your 3rd or 4th run.

Genre: RPG
Game: Chrono trigger
Reasoning: Hooboy, even for an oldschool FF afacionado for myself, CT was light years ahead in my experiences of the RPG genre. Multiple endings, New Game +, Double/Triple techniques, numerous side quests and loveable characters made this game the top of its kind. Watching the effects of time travel on the setting of the game was particularly fun to manipulate.

[gdavall2003]

Well Street Fighter is closer to Fighter (hence the name most likely) then a beat 'em up. A beat 'em up would be like Golden Ax, Streets of rage, Double dragon and River city ransom.
I'll make my list later when I can figure what to put in there to explain.

I thought that was a scrolling beat 'em up rather than just a plain beat 'em up. Ah well, you learn something new every day :smoker:

[Tamanegi Sensei]

Genre: RPG
-Fable, Final Fantasy 4, and 6
Back in the day IV was the RPG to end all RPGs. With the mode 7 graphics we were able to show off the best of the technical aspects that we had. The story was captivating, the music was memorable cause it stuck with the scene, the battles took lots of thinkin and strategy, and the payoff was grand. The characters each had their own personality and trait which was offered in the gameplay. Sadly the vernacular could have been worked better on. Spoony bard is fine by me, but takin the script and cutting it down does not make it kosher. Even still this RPG brought Final Fantasy on the map in the 3rd generation. and it's still a personal favorite of mine.

Final Fantasy 6 took it a step farther and brought the series to a dramatical turn. The story wasn't your typical RPG fare. It was a captivating story about the development of 12 characters and the trials, tribulations, overcomings, and success in their dark pasts. My god there was alot of character development that took them a year after the world died to realise that they are not just tools for the Empire or that their past should be let go. If there was a time where music took a turn for the best, this would be it. Hearing the sounds and MIDI file of Epitaph, or Phantom Forest really showed the best that the SNES could do. Motifs and points/counterpoints were able to show through the limitations of the hardware that we had. The music alone is what really stood out in this game as it brought more fans to the genre of RPG. Censorship is what brought it down from near perfection. It can't be noticed by casual gamers, but the lots of the different no-nos in the game itself involved pubs turnin into cafes because of the booze, the ass of Siren greyed out by shorts, and quite importantly the whole I-want-to-become-a-god/antichrist/depressive end of the world thing wasn't very hunky-dory or ice enough for the parents to see that in the games children play. Despite all that and the times VI came out then, it still was the best RPG to date and quite simply the best damn RPG of all time.

I mentioned Fable since character development is important when telling a story. Customizing your own character to walk down light or dark sides really gave a kick in the ass for the RPG genre. Basically Fable was a sandbox type of RPG. Alowwing you to do whatever you want for the sake of your own desires. It wasn't perfect, it was short and combat can be exploited makin it a power hungry bore. But RPGs are becoming more advanced as the days go by, and you can't go wrong with any RPG you choose. Just make sure it a good one and not hyped.

[Moe]

genre-simulation/rhythme
game-DDR
reason- prolly not the first but the one to give its kind a good name. you can bearly walk into a good arcade without seeing one of these machines taking up its own little corner. it's great also for the reason that every time a new one comes out the songs are more challenging and are more enjoyable to listen to.. therefore i think this one defines its type!

[oompa loompa]

Genre: FPS
Game: Goldeneye 007
This game gave new and extremely entertaining options for the genre of FPS, not only were the graphics great and playability unbelievable, but this was the firts multi-player FPS that really made u wanna party play

Genre: Fighting
Game: Soul edge
this game was awesome, first to use weapons for every character, were usually it was purely fist (and the claws for vega in SF) now the world of swords, nunchucks and whip-swords were unlocked leading to ore innovations in the fighting genre

[f1rst children]

As much as I love Street Fighter in terms of defining a genre I think Guilty Gear XX would be better .

Guilty Gear XX has awesome, detailed sprites, fluid animation, a soundtrack like I've never heard before, and a memorable cast of characters. Surprisingly a lot of people don't know the Guilty Gear series, but XX is one of the greatest fighting games ever in my opinion. (I haven't played the ones before but I've played the ones after it...they need to make a true new one >.>)

Wouldn't the fact that so many people don't know about Guilty Gear be an argument against it being genre-defining?

Extreme Sports - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. It wasn't the first alternative sports game - see Skate or Die and 720 - but it was the first to go HUGE. This game not only opened the floodgates of X-games-based titles, it actually inspired gamers, as excercise-detesting a group as there ever was, to try skateboarding.

Survival Horror - Resident Evil. RE was the game that literally coined the phrase "survival horror" in its ad campaign. All the hallmarks of the genre are here - fixed camera angles, enemies bursting through walls, bestowing of the title "Master of Unlocking," etc.

Waiting - Duke Nukem Forever. No, DNF didn't define the waiting genre - Daikatana, Max Payne, and Prey all took forever. But, even as we speak, DNF is currently re-defining the genre of waiting and taking it to all-new heights.

[Roark]

Could someone explain to me how this is different from "what ur fav game?! lolzorz!"?

Also, DDR isn't a simulation, it's a rhythm game. And the definining game in that category goes to Gitaroo Man.

[Ritalin]

Could someone explain to me how this is different from "what ur fav game?! lolzorz!"?

Also, DDR isn't a simulation, it's a rhythm game. And the definining game in that category goes to Gitaroo Man.

Well, Crash and Sonic aren't my favorite games, they just defined a genre to me. :)

And yeah, DDR is not a simulation game. The Sims/Sim City are simulation games.

[Saya-biki]

Wouldn't the fact that so many people don't know about Guilty Gear be an argument against it being genre-defining?
I considered that

But then I just said 'screw it'

The way I see it is a game doesn't have to be as well known as Halo to define a genre. Maybe I'm looking at this too personally...

oh well

[Moe]

Well, Crash and Sonic aren't my favorite games, they just defined a genre to me. :)

And yeah, DDR is not a simulation game. The Sims/Sim City are simulation games.

technically it is a simulation b/c it simulates dancing(even though there is no one i know who would dance like that...) same goes for drum mania and beatmania IIDX, they simulate what drumming would be like and what DJ'ing would be like...(although beatmania isnt even close to dj'ing) but if i'm wrong i'll just edit my post...

[f1rst children]

Could someone explain to me how this is different from "what ur fav game?! lolzorz!"?

Along the lines of what Rit said, none of the games I listed would even crack the top 10 of personal faves.

I was trying to think industry-wide, the way I would say Elvis defined rock n roll, even though he didn't invent the genre nor is he my favorite artist in said genre. It's more about popular impact and legacy than it is game quality, although the two aren't mutually exclusive.

[Tamanegi Sensei]

technically it is a simulation b/c it simulates dancing(even though there is no one i know who would dance like that...) same goes for drum mania and beatmania IIDX, they simulate what drumming would be like and what DJ'ing would be like...(although beatmania isnt even close to dj'ing) but if i'm wrong i'll just edit my post...

Sorry DDR Master, but I'm goin with the former and say that DDR is a rythym game. It simulates dancing sure, but a simulation is game where you take control of a character you create and it's basically do whatever you want to it. Whether it be setting em on fire to laugh at their burning macbre, or feel sad about laughing at it, or letting it do whatever it desires, thats simulation. Dancing is just that; dancing. You dance in front of a screen of pretty pictures in tune with music.

As for Gitaroo Man, I wouldn't say that defined MUSIC games or the MUSIC genre. That goes to Parappa the Rapper.

Genre: Music/rythym
Game: Parappa the Rapper, Rib Ribbon, Gitaroo Man, Guitar Hero

Think of Parappa as a musical Simon Says. The story is a bit silly, a paper thin puppy, Parappa wants to earn the love of a flower Sunny Funny. He does so by goin through different trials that define what the hell they are singing about. But despite the strange presentation, the game sold well and brought in what we have now as a genre.

Gitaroo Man, what else is there to be said? I kinda feel responsible with it's overnight popularity. Buying it in Visalia in late 2004, showin it to a bunch of kids and pretty soon, lots of people love it. A kid, Yuuichi (U-1) is the last bloodline of gitaroo wielding warriors and it's up to him to stop a space emporer named Zowie from taking over the planet Gitaroo. Yeah. Scratch your head all you want. This S**t is not somethin I made up. But the story isn't whats important in this, it's the music and the gameplay. Using a combination of precise button presses and rotating the analog stick, you have a revolutionary game with a catchy soundtrack made by Coil. It's quirky presentation and very J-ish feel makes it a game everyone can enjoy.

Now revolutionary can't be said without mentioning Guitar Hero. Bringing the guitar Freaks style to the home is what Red Octane did. Giving a plastic toy guitar with a game full of the most popular and famous rock themed songs to date shows that everyone can enjoy a little rock in their lives. The only thing I hate the most about it and it's not because of the game, it's that there is no Stairway to Heaven, Back in Black, or even Van Halen's cover of You Really got Me or Running with The Devil. Why we don't have those songs in the game is because of copyright issues. Regardless, this game so far kicked the music genre in the ass by a game where we know most of the songs that we used to play when we were kids growin up in garage bands.

[Roark]

Well, Crash and Sonic aren't my favorite games, they just defined a genre to me. :)

And yeah, DDR is not a simulation game. The Sims/Sim City are simulation games.
As long as it keeps that, fine. I just noticed a lot of popular "fav. gamez!" popping up.

As far as defining sim games... Populus.

And if people want the defining console/computer RPG, you won't find it in any of the final fantasy games. I believe Ultima holds the honor of defining computer RPGs.

EDIT: You youngins may be confused what with this here newfangled Ultima Online thingamabob... so here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima. Now, get me my cane and dentures...

[Emeraldas]

As long as it keeps that, fine. I just noticed a lot of popular "fav. gamez!" popping up.

This thread has nothing to do with favorite games.


Genre: Survival Horror
Game: Resident Evil/Silent Hill

Although many games attempted this genre long before Silent Hill and Resident Evil, these two are by far the reigning champs. With Silent Hill's creepy environment and characters and Resident Evil's intensity, they really gave players what they wanted as far as feeling truly scared and actually in danger.

[soundchazer]

First Person Shooter: Castle Wolfenstein 3D

The FIRST first person shooter, everything done today is a derivation of that game and has not really changed much since those days except for graphics.

Turn based strategy: X-Com: UFO Command.

While not the first of its kind, it elevated the genre to new levels. No game before or after has been able to capture mood, upgrades and fog of war like this game did.

Old school RPG: Ultima IV / Darklands

Ultima IV was the first RPG that had an epic storyline and defined most of the mechanics used in a multi-party group.

Darklands was the first effective open ended RPG, where the small missions could be as fun to achieve as the big ones. It also boasts one of the best character creation engines, later on copied (quite effectively, I may add) by the likes of Fallout.

Real Time Strategy: Starcraft / Total Anihilation

Starcraft was probably one of the most intense RTS ever, basically because of the background in which it was played, and the effective use of scenarios to enhance an already elegant combat engine.

Total Anihilation was perhaps one of the most successful RTS ever to grace the genre because of the smooth animation, innovative designs and the ease of use of its scenario creation. It was also one of the best at the use of direct melee combat, for those not wishing to go into a fully scaled campaign.

[madpierrot]

Wow, this is pretty hard consider all the subgenres so i'll try to hit some big ones.

Platformer
2d - mario
3d - mario 64
Basically they were the first great ones that were as well made as they could be, not to mention it did make this genre, so getting it perfect the first try deserves some credit.

FPS
Doom2 - wolfenstine wasnt much puzzle solveing, just find the key and the exit and kill the 3-4 types of bad guys doom 2 you had to actually think a bit. There was more then 1 door, not to mention levels, places where you could actually look down so you had to findout how to get up there or in a certain room not just find the exit door. This was just clearly that game that really defined this genre and made it known.

Half-Life - Half-life brings it into a sub genre because it really expanded how to tell a story no cut scenes, it conveys the story in game while you play


Fighters
2d figther - street fighter 2 - Too put it simpley street figther 2 made them not suck, haha.
3d figther - virtua fighter - Virtua Figther was the first 3d one and still one of the most indepth series. Tekken was just 3d, but virtua fighter was based off of real martial arts and played like it. No kick people in the sky and keep them up there till they die.

RPG
Turn Based RPG - Final Fantasy - it was copied to heck and back for the single defining reason and having over a dozen sequals to it's name isn't half bad either and having a game with final fantasy in the title can still move an entire console by itself.
Action RPG - Diablo 2 - over 6 years later and people are still saying, "when will the next diablo 2 come out" that alone makes this THE game in this genre when people still want a game that can come close to it's quality.

Considering you basically can't just say and action or adventure game I'll just try and name the big one.
Zelda - basically when you tell someone what an adventure game is you say, "oh you know Zelda... yeah that's an adventure game", also it's Zelda one of the biggest names in gaming. But adventure and action are too big to pick out a game for the most part.

[Ritalin]

Wow, this is pretty hard consider all the subgenres so i'll try to hit some big ones.

Platformer
2d - mario
3d - mario 64
Basically they were the first great ones that were as well made as they could be, not to mention it did make this genre, so getting it perfect the first try deserves some credit.

I know this is what defined it for you and I'm not trying to change that opinion, but I have to correct this because it drives me nuts. Mario did not make, build, or was the first successful platformer. Pitfall for the Atari 2600 was the first successful platformer, and in many eyes the first platformer because it beat the other two previously out (them being Space and Apple Panic, if I recall correctly...)

The Mario games didn't come out until 4 years later. :p

[madpierrot]

Ah sorry if you misinterpreted me, I probably could of phrased it a bit better. I didn't say it was the first platformer just the first to do it correctly and to me that's what made the genre. When Mario came around and did it right. That's why I said "basically they were the first", but to me personally I might just say they are the first b/c they actually managed to nail it down perfectly the first time around.

[soundchazer]

I know this is what defined it for you and I'm not trying to change that opinion, but I have to correct this because it drives me nuts. Mario did not make, build, or was the first successful platformer. Pitfall for the Atari 2600 was the first successful platformer, and in many eyes the first platformer because it beat the other two previously out (them being Space and Apple Panic, if I recall correctly...)

The Mario games didn't come out until 4 years later. :p

I will dispute your claim. The first successful platform game was Donkey Kong, which came into markets 2 years before pitfall did, plus it established the Mario character that would later on become a franchise. At the time, any place with a couple of arcade machines had Donkey Kong, regardless of the part of the world you were at (I remember seeing them in places like Spain back in 1982).

Even the Atari 2600 and C64 versions of the game were introduced about the same time Pitfall was released by Activision for the 2600. Another thing that I find highly suspicious is that a game extremely similar to Pitfall was introduced a couple of months before Pitfall saw the light of day, called Jungle hunt. Obviously, while jungle hunt was a very successful arcade game, Pitfall would become even more popular.

[Roark]

Turn Based RPG - Final Fantasy - it was copied to heck and back for the single defining reason and having over a dozen sequals to it's name isn't half bad either and having a game with final fantasy in the title can still move an entire console by itself.
Action RPG - Diablo 2 - over 6 years later and people are still saying, "when will the next diablo 2 come out" that alone makes this THE game in this genre when people still want a game that can come close to it's quality.

Considering you basically can't just say and action or adventure game I'll just try and name the big one.
Zelda - basically when you tell someone what an adventure game is you say, "oh you know Zelda... yeah that's an adventure game", also it's Zelda one of the biggest names in gaming. But adventure and action are too big to pick out a game for the most part.

These I actually take a bit of issue with. As both Soundchazer and I noted, turn-based RPG's all stem from Ultima, noteably Ultima III and Ultima IV. The Ultima franchise encompasses quite a few more games than FF and the NES Final Fantasy games draw heavy influence from Ultima.

I guess you and I have very different meanings for the word "Adventure" game. Adventure games generally come in two flavors: text adventures and graphic adventures. Text adventures were defined by Zork way back in the day. Graphic adventure games have numerous contenders for defining games, but probably the one that really gave the feel to an adventure game is good old Monkey Island.

[Zushio]

This thread has nothing to do with favorite games.


Genre: Survival Horror
Game: Resident Evil/Silent Hill

Although many games attempted this genre long before Silent Hill and Resident Evil, these two are by far the reigning champs. With Silent Hill's creepy environment and characters and Resident Evil's intensity, they really gave players what they wanted as far as feeling truly scared and actually in danger.


OBJECTION!
I would contend that the Alone in the Dark franchise defined the Survival Horror game years before RE or SH came on the scene. Sure it isn't as pretty, and the story telling isn't as strong, but you can't tell me there isn't a definite atmosphere to the first Alone in the Dark, that game to this day still creeps me out. There is also far more Horror to AitD than in RE, I mean the thing is pretty much Cthulu Mythos in action, which are pretty creepy.

Anyway, just my two cents.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

These I actually take a bit of issue with. As both Soundchazer and I noted, turn-based RPG's all stem from Ultima, noteably Ultima III and Ultima IV. The Ultima franchise encompasses quite a few more games than FF and the NES Final Fantasy games draw heavy influence from Ultima.

And even if you don't look at Ultima, there's Dragon Quest. Either way, FF is not the defining game for the RPG.

[Griveton]

First Person Shooter: Castle Wolfenstein 3D

The FIRST first person shooter, everything done today is a derivation of that game and has not really changed much since those days except for graphics.



I will have to dispute that argument on three grounds:

First, Catacomb/abyss. A full-fledged FPS in the fantasy genre that was published by none other than John Carmack for the Apple II three years before Wolf 3D hit the shelves.

Second, Ultima Underworld: A FPS/RPG game made possible by the genius of Warren Spector, which was released about two months before Wolf3D, and which was infinitely superior technically and artistically. UU was not surpassed by an FPS for years. Not even Doom was superior technically. UU had non-90º walls, different levels, water (that you could swim in) different attack modes, non-hostile NPCS, and the ability to fly. Wolf3D only is remembered above UU because it was easier to pick up and play, was more gory, let you shoot nazis and was much more hyped.

And third, saying FPS haven't changed from the times of Wolf3D is a rather closed and deluded notion. The fact that the basic gameplay is the same means little. Have RPGs not changed a lot from the times of Ultima 1? Have RTS have not changed since Dune?, Heck, is 4D-Boxing the same as Chavez' and Fight Night Round 3? Hell, is Football (soccer or american, take your pick) the same as it was, say, 25 years ago?

Answering yes to any of those questions is an obvious mistake, usually fueled by cynicism.

[Ninja Realist]

A lot of the games you all have mentioned seem more like influential games, or early games, than definitive ones. Donkey Kong and Pitfall may have preceded Mario, but not only was Mario IMO a far better game, it was also far more popular. It may not have been the first, but it was definitely one of the most influential, and is, in most peoples minds the definitive RPG.

[Emeraldas]

A lot of the games you all have mentioned seem more like influential games, or early games, than definitive ones. Donkey Kong and Pitfall may have preceded Mario, but not only was Mario IMO a far better game, it was also far more popular. It may not have been the first, but it was definitely one of the most influential, and is, in most peoples minds the definitive RPG.

Mario, Donkey Kong and Pitfall aren't RPGs-- they're Action/Adventure.

OBJECTION!
I would contend that the Alone in the Dark franchise defined the Survival Horror game years before RE or SH came on the scene. Sure it isn't as pretty, and the story telling isn't as strong, but you can't tell me there isn't a definite atmosphere to the first Alone in the Dark, that game to this day still creeps me out. There is also far more Horror to AitD than in RE, I mean the thing is pretty much Cthulu Mythos in action, which are pretty creepy.

Anyway, just my two cents.

I've never heard of Alone in the Dark, but I do stand much more firmly by Silent Hill than for Resident Evil, with which I have much less experience and which can arguably consdered just another "shoot the bad guys" game. But I thought it deserved a mention for being so popular (and because I figured someone would bitch at me for not including it).

[madpierrot]

These I actually take a bit of issue with. As both Soundchazer and I noted, turn-based RPG's all stem from Ultima, noteably Ultima III and Ultima IV. Wel if you go buy what started it what's the point of the thread anyway b/c then it'd just be the first game of it's kind as the one that defined the genre? Also in Ultima doesn't everything you do count as a turn? That's quite different from final fantasy. Plus you can't deny just how huge final fantasy is. I'd say it has to be the cornerstone of the RPG genre.

The Ultima franchise encompasses quite a few more games than FF and the NES Final Fantasy games draw heavy influence from Ultima.
Like before when you go by the first of course most other games will take a lot from it, but it doesn't mean that it's the defining game, like i said with fps castle wolfenstien was the first 3d fps and other games used it as a mold, but it's certianly not the defining one of the genre.

I guess you and I have very different meanings for the word "Adventure" game. Adventure games generally come in two flavors: text adventures and graphic adventures. Text adventures were defined by Zork way back in the day. Graphic adventure games have numerous contenders for defining games, but probably the one that really gave the feel to an adventure game is good old Monkey Island.

Well it seems like your meaning of the word adventure is different then a lot of other people. IGN, Gamespot, Gamespy and Gamefaqs all say Zelda is an Adventure or Action/Adventure game. Top that off with the fact that Zelda could perhaps be the most well made video game franchise of all time and that's why I threw it in with all action and adventure titles. Though I also mentioned how it was almost too big to even classify.

[Griveton]

I've never heard of Alone in the Dark, but I do stand much more firmly by Silent Hill than for Resident Evil, with which I have much less experience and which can arguably consdered just another "shoot the bad guys" game. But I thought it deserved a mention for being so popular (and because I figured someone would bitch at me for not including it).

That's an impressive feat. Alone in the dark has been a long-running series, which pretty much created/defined the survival horror genre. Even with the frankly funny graphics (And monsters that looked like Nickelodeon Rejects), and lack of real lightning effects, these games managed to scare you.

Edward Carnby for life.


Well it seems like your meaning of the word adventure is different then a lot of other people. IGN, Gamespot, Gamespy and Gamefaqs all say Zelda is an Adventure or Action/Adventure game. Top that off with the fact that Zelda could perhaps be the most well made video game franchise of all time and that's why I threw it in with all action and adventure titles. Though I also mentioned how it was almost too big to even classify.

You'd be the one is confused, in that case. Adventure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_game), as a genre, has always been defined by puzzle-solving and interaction, with reflexes and active skills (like jumping around and shooting) taking a backseat.

If you're young, then you might not quickly remember these games, since the genre, although not dead, seems to be in life-support, with heirs already fighting for the will.

The so-called Action/Adventure genre encompasses action games which incorporate puzzle solving and, in some cases, NPC interaction, or in other words, aspects of the Adventure genre. Because Action/Adventure is a mouthful, and because Adventure is sadly no longer a factor in gaming, many people just drop the action part, which generates quite a bit of confusion.

[Emeraldas]

That's an impressive feat. Alone in the dark has been a long-running series, which pretty much created/defined the survival horror genre. Even with the frankly funny graphics (And monsters that looked like Nickelodeon Rejects), and lack of real lightning effects, these games managed to scare you.

Edward Carnby for life.

Never heard of it in ten years of gaming. The only horror games that've truly scared me so far have been Silent Hill and, to a much smaller extent, the PC game Phantasmagoria.

But I did look Alone in the Dark up upon Zushio's mention-- are you guys talking about the one for the PlayStation, AitD: One-Eyed Jack's Revenge, or the DOS one?

[Ninja Realist]

Oooops, I meant Platformer.

[madpierrot]

You'd be the one is confused, in that case. Adventure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_game), as a genre, has always been defined by puzzle-solving and interaction, with reflexes and active skills (like jumping around and shooting) taking a backseat.

If you're young, then you might not quickly remember these games, since the genre, although not dead, seems to be in life-support, with heirs already fighting for the will.

The so-called Action/Adventure genre encompasses action games which incorporate puzzle solving and, in some cases, NPC interaction, or in other words, aspects of the Adventure genre. Because Action/Adventure is a mouthful, and because Adventure is sadly no longer a factor in gaming, many people just drop the action part, which generates quite a bit of confusion.

I just want to make sure that I've made it known that I believe action and adventure genres are too big to really pick a game from let alone 10 games from. Each has a million sub-genres that you'd have to go into. I just picked Zelda as my overall big one b/c I believe it to be that way when it comes to action and adventure or however you want to put it. Also like I said if i'm confused i'm not the only one b/c all the sites I listed above say action/adventure or adventure for its genre. And it's not like I'm just finding Bob's big video game page here, they are some of the biggest video game sites that say action/adventure or adventure.

Oh and also, I'm older then you ;) so the only reason I wouldn't remember some was if I didn't play them.

[soundchazer]

I will have to dispute that argument on three grounds:

First, Catacomb/abyss. A full-fledged FPS in the fantasy genre that was published by none other than John Carmack for the Apple II three years before Wolf 3D hit the shelves.

Maybe so. I stand corrected. Still, we are talking about a computer that was on the decline by that time, therefore limiting its impact. Remember we are talking about games that defined a genre, and Wolfenstein 3D did for FPS what the model T did for automobiles. Think about it... Wolfenstein 3D was available in every major format: PC, Mac, SNES, Gameboy, Jaguar, 3DO, Atari ST, etc.

Second, Ultima Underworld: A FPS/RPG game made possible by the genius of Warren Spector, which was released about two months before Wolf3D, and which was infinitely superior technically and artistically. UU was not surpassed by an FPS for years. Not even Doom was superior technically. UU had non-90º walls, different levels, water (that you could swim in) different attack modes, non-hostile NPCS, and the ability to fly. Wolf3D only is remembered above UU because it was easier to pick up and play, was more gory, let you shoot nazis and was much more hyped.

I see Ultima Underworld more as the game that defined First Person RPG than a FPS. While some elements are shared, you would be hard pressed today to say Half Life 2 and Elder Scrolls IV are the same genre, and that is the way I see a comparison between Wolfesntein 3D and UU.


And third, saying FPS haven't changed from the times of Wolf3D is a rather closed and deluded notion. The fact that the basic gameplay is the same means little. Have RPGs not changed a lot from the times of Ultima 1? Have RTS have not changed since Dune?, Heck, is 4D-Boxing the same as Chavez' and Fight Night Round 3? Hell, is Football (soccer or american, take your pick) the same as it was, say, 25 years ago?

It is not about being cynic. The reality is that FPS, at least in my opinion, has been one of the genres that has deviated the least from its roots. A good example of this is the controls in the keyboard. If you have picked a FPS before, you know more or less how the rest of them will behave. I think the main differences between FPS then and FPS now is more in the graphics, some of the physics of the game and the introduction of chapters or storylines. While games like Thief introduced the concept of stealth, and Max Payne the concept of bullet time (and a very refined use of cut scenes), the reality is few games take advantage of those innovations. Don't get me wrong... the product is much more refined and fun to play, but it is mostly embelishment rather than innovation what drives this genre.

Try to compare it with RPG, for example. RPG branched into many subgenres: First Person RPG (which in reality blended RPG, FPS and Adventure elements), Action RPGs like Diablo and the traditional sort. Even if you went with traditional, this genre has also suffered several changes, since in many cases it stopped using mechanics similar to its pen and paper origins: ultima IV introduced the concept of shifting alignment, darklands the concept of open ended quests... heck... RPG doesn't even need tp type commands like it did in the old days.

As for soccer games? Try the ability to use formations, be able to do skilled maneuvers, to change running speeds, to be able to do substitutions, to have players with different skills, etc. etc.

Boxing? Well... it depends on the game you are playing really. Many boxing games that came after 4D boxing (and in reality I would have gone all the way back to the boxing game for Atari 2600) have introduced concepts like training regiments, changing weight categories, introducing concepts like getting cuts on the face that may stop the fight, specific fighting styles, etc.

So no, I'm not being a cynic. I'm just saying that when compared to other genres, FPS seems to be the one that has evolved the least since the Wolfenstein 3D days. The other one would be the Civilization-type strategy games.


As far as the horror survival games, I do agree that Alone in the Dark was the one who influenced the genre the most, although I played Friday the 13th for the C-64 about 7 years before it came to light, but I would find it hard to find anyone else who did.

[Ritalin]

I will dispute your claim. The first successful platform game was Donkey Kong, which came into markets 2 years before pitfall did, plus it established the Mario character that would later on become a franchise. At the time, any place with a couple of arcade machines had Donkey Kong, regardless of the part of the world you were at (I remember seeing them in places like Spain back in 1982).

Even the Atari 2600 and C64 versions of the game were introduced about the same time Pitfall was released by Activision for the 2600. Another thing that I find highly suspicious is that a game extremely similar to Pitfall was introduced a couple of months before Pitfall saw the light of day, called Jungle hunt. Obviously, while jungle hunt was a very successful arcade game, Pitfall would become even more popular.

Sorry, I was talking console exclusive, not arcade. ;) Which is why I left out Donkey Kong.

A lot of the games you all have mentioned seem more like influential games, or early games, than definitive ones. Donkey Kong and Pitfall may have preceded Mario, but not only was Mario IMO a far better game, it was also far more popular. It may not have been the first, but it was definitely one of the most influential, and is, in most peoples minds the definitive RPG.

Pitfall sold above 4 million copies, which is in 1981 or 1982 (the date leaves me). In otherwords, extremely well for the time period. Even on todays market...

[soundchazer]

Sorry, I was talking console exclusive, not arcade. ;) Which is why I left out Donkey Kong.


So, the fact that there was a version for Atari 2600, Coleco Vision, Apple II, C64 and even a LCD version from Nintendo (the precursor of the gameboys called Game & Watch) does not count?

[madpierrot]

I will dispute your claim. The first successful platform game was Donkey Kong, which came into markets 2 years before pitfall did, plus it established the Mario character that would later on become a franchise.

Ah yes, Jump Man went on to bigger and better things didn't he, though I did love my Donkey Kong game and watch.

[Zushio]

Never heard of it in ten years of gaming. The only horror games that've truly scared me so far have been Silent Hill and, to a much smaller extent, the PC game Phantasmagoria.

But I did look Alone in the Dark up upon Zushio's mention-- are you guys talking about the one for the PlayStation, AitD: One-Eyed Jack's Revenge, or the DOS one?

There are 4 Alone in the Dark games, the first one came out on the PC ages ago, I belive 2 and 3 were ported to the PSX as well. There is also a game simply titled Alone in the Dark on the PSX, which came out in 2001 I believe, this is really AitD4, and frankly is pretty bad being much more a Resident Evil clone than the true Survival Horror that the orignal one was.

If you can fine it online, and I belive that Home of the Underdogs has it, playing the first AitD is well worth your while. It runs pretty well under DOSBox so you sould be fine. Just be prepared for some funky ass graphics.

[Ritalin]

So, the fact that there was a version for Atari 2600, Coleco Vision, Apple II, C64 and even a LCD version from Nintendo (the precursor of the gameboys called Game & Watch) does not count?

Well it was originally an arcade game, not a console. Ports of games I don't really consider... esoecially when the arcade was far more successful than on consoles. Pitfall had few competition in its time. The Donkey Kong franchise on the console really didn't do well until the late 80's/early 90's.

Same game, sure, but not the same success as in the arcades. I'm weighing in console-only basically.

[soundchazer]

Well it was originally an arcade game, not a console. Ports of games I don't really consider... esoecially when the arcade was far more successful than on consoles. Pitfall had few competition in its time. The Donkey Kong franchise on the console really didn't do well until the late 80's/early 90's.

Same game, sure, but not the same success as in the arcades. I'm weighing in console-only basically.

Well yeah, but the reality is Donkey Kong defined platform gaming, arcade or not. As I see it, this exercise is not about a specific gaming medium. Even the person who started the thread, started with an arcade game (Street Fighter 2).

You are also undermining the popularity of Donkey Kong. The colecovision console was popular for its time, selling 6 million units. Part of the reason it sold so well is because Donkey Kong was the game that was included with the unit. In fact, industry analysts at the time said as much when the console sold 500,000 within 3 months (a success considering the market was dominated by Atari 2600 and to a lesser degree, by Intellivision). People just loved the fact that the port of the arcade game was almost identical, unlike the Atari 2600 and C64 versions.

[Griveton]

It is not about being cynic. The reality is that FPS, at least in my opinion, has been one of the genres that has deviated the least from its roots. A good example of this is the controls in the keyboard. If you have picked a FPS before, you know more or less how the rest of them will behave. I think the main differences between FPS then and FPS now is more in the graphics, some of the physics of the game and the introduction of chapters or storylines. While games like Thief introduced the concept of stealth, and Max Payne the concept of bullet time (and a very refined use of cut scenes), the reality is few games take advantage of those innovations. Don't get me wrong... the product is much more refined and fun to play, but it is mostly embelishment rather than innovation what drives this genre.


I'd say controls are a pretty bad way of checking evolution in a genre. Not that controls haven't changed at all, but since the basic idea behind a FPS requires some basic actions (i.e. moving, shooting), all games will have a couple moves that are alike. The WASD configuration has come to dominate, mainly because it's comfortable and useful. I'd say this point is akin to, say, a football game. You still have movement, pass/shoot (which should become slide/tackle), and change player buttons. Of course, the industry doesn't have a consensus on which button is which action, but that doesn't mean the controls have stagnated.

Chapters or storylines are hardly an innovation, especially since they're pretty much a "let's have something pretty for the character to look at while we're loading the next level" in most cases.

The main changes in FPS over the years, as far as I'm concerned, have been subtle, but effective.

The genre has branched into more realistic categories (Ghost Recon, Rainbow 6, the later SWAT games), the "average" categories (with some realistic elements, but that can't be considered realistic, like, Half-life), and a part of the genre that stays on it's arcade roots (Serious Sam). Still, in any of those categories, you can have particularly different gameplay styles.

Ghost Recon can't be really compared to SWAT 3, and neither of those can really be compared to Wolf3D or doom, although you pretty much gun the bad guys (In SWAT 3, you don't really need to gun them, just scare them enough).

AI has improved quite a bit, and that is evolution enough. From the standing Nazis of yesteryear, enemies now behave much differently. Is this a revolution? nope. But it could be compared to using formations in a soccer game :p

With games like Rainbow 6, Ghost Recon, Half-Life, Tribes, Marathon, and even Condemned, if you allow games with more emphasis on melee spearheading the different flavors of FPS, it's impossible to say the genre has stagnated.


Try to compare it with RPG, for example. RPG branched into many subgenres: First Person RPG (which in reality blended RPG, FPS and Adventure elements), Action RPGs like Diablo and the traditional sort. Even if you went with traditional, this genre has also suffered several changes, since in many cases it stopped using mechanics similar to its pen and paper origins: ultima IV introduced the concept of shifting alignment, darklands the concept of open ended quests... heck... RPG doesn't even need tp type commands like it did in the old days.

As for soccer games? Try the ability to use formations, be able to do skilled maneuvers, to change running speeds, to be able to do substitutions, to have players with different skills, etc. etc.

Boxing? Well... it depends on the game you are playing really. Many boxing games that came after 4D boxing (and in reality I would have gone all the way back to the boxing game for Atari 2600) have introduced concepts like training regiments, changing weight categories, introducing concepts like getting cuts on the face that may stop the fight, specific fighting styles, etc.


Which was my point. Still, if you look at it from a specific perspective, you can say there's no change whatsoever. In boxing you still need to keep jabbing to test your opponent then follow with a straigh/hook/upper until one of you falls down, rinse and repeat. In RPGs you still have to travel a (usually large and open-ended) land, killing random people/animal/things and taking up the FedEx courier hat until you're strong enough to fight the Vizier/Wizard/Demon/Bill Gates. And in soccer, you still pretty much just pass the ball around and shoot it into a box.

Of course, saying so is like saying music hasn't changed in centuries because you pretty much have people moving strings and bangin' hides.


As far as the horror survival games, I do agree that Alone in the Dark was the one who influenced the genre the most, although I played Friday the 13th for the C-64 about 7 years before it came to light, but I would find it hard to find anyone else who did.

I remember the NES version, dunno if it's the same game. Still, Alone in the Dark pretty much defined the style that RE would then be credited with inventing. The whole static camera, you move around, finding things, solving puzzles, and shotgunning weird things that come in the window thing.

[soundchazer]

I remember the NES version, dunno if it's the same game. Still, Alone in the Dark pretty much defined the style that RE would then be credited with inventing. The whole static camera, you move around, finding things, solving puzzles, and shotgunning weird things that come in the window thing.

No disagreement there. I was just as surprised as you were that there were people who had not heard about it, specially when you had plenty of sequels which would take away the "too old for me to have known it" factor between our younger members.

Speaking of old games that defined a genre... who can forget Starflight? That game sparked several other games that would define the "space opera" strategy games, with the big interstellar maps, adventure and RPG elements and diplomacy. For those who like Star Control, Master of Orion, or the more recent Galactic Civilizations, you should try this one.

[Ghostmaster]

Like obviously games like Zelda and Mario are very definitive games. Final Fantasy is probably the biggest RPG franchise ever, which probably defines that genre. Zelda is difficult, since its RPG, action, adventure and other stuff too. But for platform games, stuff like Super Mario 64, Sonic the Hedgehog. Halo is one of the biggest first person shooters, so thats one that defines it. I still think Goldeneye has defined first person shooters. It was one of the first and its an awesome game. There are a lot more i'm leaving out, but those few stick out in my mind. Also now that I have played Kingdom Hearts one and two, I think this series will be remembered for a long time. Two of the greatest games I've played in a long time.

[Zushio]

Like obviously games like Zelda and Mario are very definitive games. Final Fantasy is probably the biggest RPG franchise ever, which probably defines that genre. Zelda is difficult, since its RPG, action, adventure and other stuff too. But for platform games, stuff like Super Mario 64, Sonic the Hedgehog. Halo is one of the biggest first person shooters, so thats one that defines it. I still think Goldeneye has defined first person shooters. It was one of the first and its an awesome game. There are a lot more i'm leaving out, but those few stick out in my mind. Also now that I have played Kingdom Hearts one and two, I think this series will be remembered for a long time. Two of the greatest games I've played in a long time.


Way to read the topic before posting...

Also Goldeneye is in no way one of the first FPS games. I mean there are these obscure titles called DOOM, QUAKE, WOFLENSTEIN, and a few other smaller games (Like Star Wars Dark Forces and Dark Forces II Jedi Knight) that came out years before Goldeneye. I can understand how you've never heard of them though, they are pretty obscure.

[Ghostmaster]

Way to read the topic before posting...

Also Goldeneye is in no way one of the first FPS games. I mean there are these obscure titles called DOOM, QUAKE, WOFLENSTEIN, and a few other smaller games (Like Star Wars Dark Forces and Dark Forces II Jedi Knight) that came out years before Goldeneye. I can understand how you've never heard of them though, they are pretty obscure.
Actually I own Star Wars Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight. It's a great game. I actually play a lot of it in 3rd person, but your right it is a fps. I was just saying that Goldeneye I think redefined First person shooter games, in full 3d. It made first person shooters really different from games like Doom or Wolfenstein.

[f1rst children]

I remember the NES version, dunno if it's the same game. Still, Alone in the Dark pretty much defined the style that RE would then be credited with inventing. The whole static camera, you move around, finding things, solving puzzles, and shotgunning weird things that come in the window thing.

The NES version wasn't Survival Horror, it was Death Horror. Survival Horror implies some achievable method of surviving, for which there was none on NES. Death Horror is more apt, as every game is sure to end with yours. That game was freaking impossible.

[Ninja Realist]

If you really want to nitpick the game that is most often credited for inspiring Resident Evil, and a game that predates Alone in the Dark as the first Survival Horror Game is the 1989 NES Game Sweet Home, which Resident Evil is said tp have been inspired by.

[Zushio]

If you really want to nitpick the game that is most often credited for inspiring Resident Evil, and a game that predates Alone in the Dark as the first Survival Horror Game is the 1989 NES Game Sweet Home, which Resident Evil is said tp have been inspired by.

OBJECTION!
Yes, while Sweet Home is a very atmospheric game, and has a similar execution as Resident Evil, it is in fact an RPG with horror elements. How similar is it to RE? Well it takes place in a big mansion, has zomies and such, but that's about it. It has a completely supernatural plot, whilst RE has much more Science-Fiction plot.

So yes, while Sweet Home may have in some way inspired the Resident Evil story and setting, AitD is still the first true Survival Horror in the sense that every other survival horror has copied it's basic gameplay style and execution. Incidently, you should play Sweet Home before you talk about it, it's an excellent game, very good for the early NES era.

[f1rst children]

If you really want to nitpick the game that is most often credited for inspiring Resident Evil, and a game that predates Alone in the Dark as the first Survival Horror Game is the 1989 NES Game Sweet Home, which Resident Evil is said tp have been inspired by.

One of my nitpicks for RE was that it was the game that introduced the phrase "Survival Horror" into the gaming lexicon with its ad campaign. While there were earlier games that used horror elements, they were not separated into another sub-genre the way RE was.

Alone in the Dark, for example, was considered an Adventure game with its heavy emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving. And Sweet Home, while influential, did not have nearly the (genre-defining) impact that RE did. Similar to the way Herzog Zwei or even The Ancient Art of War preceeded Dune 2, yet until Dune 2 RTS wasn't really accepted as a subgenre. Instead, the RTS subgenre was "created" with Dune 2 and then Herzog Zwei and Art of War were added to RTS in retrospect.

Basically, the impact from RE was so huge that it became the definitive game in the Survival Horror genre, almost regardless of what came earlier. Although earlier games existed, RE essentially "created" the Survival Horror subgenre, to which Alone in the Dark and Sweet Home were then reclassified.

[Sparrow]

Shadow of the Colossus was amazing. I think it is one of the most unique "puzzle/adventure" games. It may not have defined the genre of adventure gaming, but it's an excellent highlight to the collection.

[punkusa20_2001]

raising: pokemon, monster rancher
historical simulation: kui shibishiwa series from koei
farming: harvest moon
evolution: e.v.o. for the nes.

I can go on all day, some games created their own genre

....and goldeneye defined an entire genre, with what an fps should be.....dont lie because perfect dark was the same damn game from the same developers.

[JOJO]

Pokemon at the very least was innovative, but it can hardly be considered that it "defined" a genre since there were a lot better RPGs out there before it came along. As for Goldeneye, it's defenetly one of the best FPS on the N64, but Turok came out first.

[Ninja Realist]

Pokemon at the very least was innovative, but it can hardly be considered that it "defined" a genre since there were a lot better RPGs out there before it came along. As for Goldeneye, it's defenetly one of the best FPS on the N64, but Turok came out first.

Which hardly makes Turok more "definitive". Almost every N64 FPS that came after Goldeneye tried, and usually failed, to copy Goldeneye's mechanics and style. I can't think of a single game that tried to copy Turok.

[Finnf00]

I can't say much about console games, since I've been an Amiga/PC user all my life, so I'll add a few more categories to the FPS's and RPG's.

Sports strategy/simulation - Championship Manager/Football Manager. Longest running series in this genre and still the definite team management game, even though there were others that preceeded it.

Flight simulators - I should mention Flight Simulator, but the Wing Commander and later X-wing/Tie Fighter franchises probably did cause the biggest headlines back in the 90's (and thus defined the genre for a long time). I know die hard flight simulator fans probably stuck to their SU Flankers and whatnot.

Car/racing games - Out Run, Stunts, F1 GP and later Need for Speed, Colin McRae Rally and Gran Tourismo. all adding a bit of realism on their turn. F1 GP is probably still the most accurate racing simulator together with the Papyrus releases Nascar and IndyCar Racing.

[soundchazer]

Flight simulators - I should mention Flight Simulator, but the Wing Commander and later X-wing/Tie Fighter franchises probably did cause the biggest headlines back in the 90's (and thus defined the genre for a long time). I know die hard flight simulator fans probably stuck to their SU Flankers and whatnot.

Yeah... wing commander (1 and 2 in particular) pretty much defined space combat for the entire decade. Darn good storylines too.

Speaking of storylines, how can we miss what Lucasarts did for the adventure genre?

Between Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, The Dig, Full Throttle, The Monkey Island series, that company pretty much set the standards that every other adventure oriented game should follow.

[Finnf00]

Between Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, The Dig, Full Throttle, The Monkey Island series, that company pretty much set the standards that every other adventure oriented game should follow.They did get some tough competition from Sierra though, with their Leisure Suit Larry, King's Quest, Space Quest, Gabriel Knight and Police Quest series. Have to give respects to Kyrandia too. I really liked the entire series.

[bwing55543]

Genre: FPS
Game: GoldenEye 007

First FPS game to really prove that you can control your character without the good ol' keyboard and mouse.

Genre: Stealth
Game: Metal Gear Solid

First game to actually punish you for just going in firing your guns away.

[Major Tom]

Command & Conquer

Though it ran on the tried and true principles that Dune 2 (which really wasn't any sort of sequal to Cyro's Dune, but hey....) established, C&C took Dune 2's gameplay and made it truly accessable. A really intuitive interface that any idiot could pick up and play set the standards for years to come.

Add in some kick arse graphics (for it's time) and rather interesting use of cut scenes made for a real classic.

Just to chime into the FPS debate, I agree that Wolf3D was probably the first game that set the current principles of the FPS, but to me, it was Doom that cemented the FPS as a Genre. After Doom, Quake was probably the biggest leap forward, with a 3D....well everything almost and as far as I know the first game to really utilise mouselook, and set the mouse/keyboard control system as the default for PC FPS's.

had some gramma guud problems, should be fixed now.

[Tamanegi Sensei]

WW frickin II has been done to death. I know that, you all know that. But, what game brought it to popularity and defined it? Ok I wouldn't say defined, but Medal of Honor must be mentioned. It's ambient soundtrack, it's historical footage, it's realism for it's time it was all good. Why I say this? Cause Medal of Honor brought to us a legacy. MoH begat Underground, Underground begat Allied, Allied begat Frontline, Frontline begat Rising Sun, Rising Sun begat Pacific, Pacific begat European, and European begat Heroes. Did I leave somethin out? Oh yeah, every other stinkin WWII shooter and/or strategy game out there. If theres a game that defined a genre in a genre, it has to be Medal of Honor.

[bwing55543]

WW frickin II has been done to death. I know that, you all know that. But, what game brought it to popularity and defined it? Ok I wouldn't say defined, but Medal of Honor must be mentioned. It's ambient soundtrack, it's historical footage, it's realism for it's time it was all good. Why I say this? Cause Medal of Honor brought to us a legacy. MoH begat Underground, Underground begat Allied, Allied begat Frontline, Frontline begat Rising Sun, Rising Sun begat Pacific, Pacific begat European, and European begat Heroes. Did I leave somethin out? Oh yeah, every other stinkin WWII shooter and/or strategy game out there. If theres a game that defined a genre in a genre, it has to be Medal of Honor.

All of them except for Rising Sun and European Assault. Frontline was an awesome game.

[f1rst children]

Medal of Honor helped pioneer the WW2 FPS, but WW2 games have been around for ages, especially in the vehicle sim and wargame genres.

[animanic_critic]

Grand Theft Auto wins hands down in the category for 3rd-person gangland. This is one title that proves that you'd rather get rich or die tryin'.

[bwing55543]

Grand Theft Auto wins hands down in the category for 3rd-person gangland. This is one title that proves that you'd rather get rich or die tryin'.

Also in games in where:
1. You can do whatever you want.
2. There is content that would make Jack Thompson throw a fit.
3. It's good to be bad.

[The Geomancer]

Genre: Action
Game: Devil May Cry

In it's own way, it created it's own section of the action genre. Unfortunately, that section has been occupied with copycats.