Moments in Gaming That Have Blown You Away

Goron_3 · February 9, 2014

Inspired by a thread over on GAF, I was wondering if any of you have been truly mind blown by a game, and if so which game was it?

I can personally recall a few of these moments, most notably:

Super Mario 64: The first time I saw Mario in 3D, my jaw dropped. I was 7 years old and up to that point I had only played games on my Sega Mega Drive. Seeing a 3D game where I could explore a world and make Mario walk or run depending on my use of the controller's analogue stick was breathtaking

Journey: If you've played this game all the way through in one sitting, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about. I experienced this game with a randomer online who had alreayd completeld the game but who was willing to go through it with me to ensure I made it to the end. Whenever we got seperated I got worried but I'd hear him chirping away in the distance, waiting for me. Stunning game.

Braid: The ending. Holy crap.

Jonnas · February 9, 2014

Baten Kaitos: That plot twist was pretty ballsy, even today.

F-Zero GX: Defeating Chapter 7 in Very Hard. It's an accomplishment to be proud of.

Mother 3: The final boss/sequence. First time a game brought me close to tears.

To The Moon: Speaking of touching endings... That music is beautiful.

Ocarina of Time: Removing the Master Sword, and its consequences.

Wind Waker: The cutscene with the Tower of the Gods is a thing of beauty.

Spirit Tracks: Might seem minor, but there's an optional boss in this game that left my mouth wide open.

Pokémon Gold&Silver: Dat final boss...

drahkon · February 9, 2014

Jonnas said:
First time a game brought me close to tears.

Close to tears you say?

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**Rummy** · February 9, 2014

Tbf front page I see first tag of this that I thought it'd be 'Moments in Gaming that have stayed with you' and it pretty much bloody is! I wanna contribute proper; but I don't have time right now as I'm really pouring my soul into some shit and it's amazingly draining(no emo it's good stuff) but I want to just say;

Goron_3 said:
Super Mario 64: The first time I saw Mario in 3D, my jaw dropped. I was 7 years old and up to that point I had only played games on my Sega Mega Drive. Seeing a 3D game where I could explore a world and make Mario walk or run depending on my use of the controller's analogue stick was breathtaking

Yep. We got it for Xmas...97 I think? At xmas we get one present early/at midnight(amazingly quite a feat for a child) - me and my bro camped downstairs with quilts and an alarm clock and BAM! at midnight we opened the present we knew somewhat of - the N64. Had SM64 and MK64, played the former over the latter(in fact might have been banned from the latter under the one present rule).

Wow. Wow siree. That opening. Peach(first time we heard her called that), lakitu, mario...that's a really strange and not really elaborated on setting - which I realise was done just to 'explain' the camera - but wow. You always know when moving the camera too that it's lakitu cos it handily reminds you with the icon - and whilst it's something never ever really talked about with SM64 that idea REALLY works imo. So subtle yet so fucking effective - beautiful throwback when you end up in front of the mirror in later game. That whole game stays with me for so many things, but I just wanna really smash home that opening as a strong fucking contender. Then my crazyass parents made me spend Boxing day in Tottenham! Luckily my uncle/aunt were well safe, didn't have kids at home and I could take my N64 and shit there - my brother was a bit older and maybe realising what girls were but I was happy as fuck playing my SM64 all day.

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Journey: If you've played this game all the way through in one sitting, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about. I experienced this game with a randomer online who had already completeld the game but who was willing to go through it with me to ensure I made it to the end. Whenever we got seperated I got worried but I'd hear him chirping away in the distance, waiting for me. Stunning game.

Man. Man oh man. I don't know what happened with me, but I did it in TWO sittings, and I'll tell you why. My mate leant it to me on a disc, so I played(well after it was a thing) knowing general concept bits and bobs etc. whole call button system single comms etc, even my mate had told me when he played and someone had to leave him(or vice versa) - so all they could do was call/stand idle/run backwards and call repeatedly. Non-verbal comms in a co-opish game...very interesting. I think I gotta tl;dr+spoiler this:

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Yet despite this. Me. Man. Start of, find/meet a dude/dudette, spend a lot of time doing most of the game with him/her(now known as him for ease). It was nice, I have a feeling they'd played before but they were not playing for progress, they were playing for me - and I for them, albeit fuelled by knowing what the game was. We got seperated on the sand-dune hill slidey bit? We'd call and look for each other. We got hit by those fucking snakey rapey things, we'd call and look for each other(and quickly attend if/when it happened). It REALLY felt like a journey. It was beautiful.

And then I'll never forget the best bit; there's a stage where you raise the 'dust' or w/e it is that allows for unlimited flight when in it via various switches - it's essentially a tower climb. This guy(or gal) seemed to know a bit of what they was doing but as I said they played for me, they didn't steam ahead. We stuck together, true and calls and shit and it was fucking beautiful.

Until he fell. He fell when we'd done so much, and so I went down to/with him. There he was, sitting on the ground, and there I was making my calls. Running around and around and around calling calling calling. He just sat there. I got nothing. I swear, I spent an actual half an hour just doing this - KNOWING this game gives this from my friend's experience and I just...I waited. I wanted him. I wanted my friend that I had made. We'd done it all so far. I had to give up, I had to move on.

I did - it wasn't easy, struggled to solo a bit on this level(falling/not landing proper etc) but was doable and someone else appeared. They were...less caring. They seemed to come in on the end of my almost completed level, ran the fuck on however they liked and didn't seem to give as much of a shit - if anything they were waiting on me impatiently. I finished the level with them, and moved onto the next. Really though I was sad, a little devastated and a little heartbroken at this twat of a replacement for my former buddy. I finished the level, tried a bit of the next - the first snow level(where keeping company of your buddy keeps your tails/jump charged) but I had been working, I was tired, I was sad from my loss, and eventually I stopped. I sat down, sent some cries, I gave up. I'd come back to this later on. I'd lost something, lost someone. Ah well, game's a game, I'll finish another day.

I did. A few days later. Came back, sat down, and played it through. However, you'll note I'm in the snow now, and buddies are handy. They warm you up, you keep each other going, and that really makes it awesome. I didn't find anyone though. Not for a long while. I did once, so very briefly, but lost them very quickly too through I don't even know how. I heard some cries, many(ok, like 5) but I never actually found those people. Their cries for me were teh haunting cry of my lost buddy from before. I finished the game, I completed the entire snow section - and not at any point with a buddy. I was left alone, in the cold, literally a shadow of my former self(cos the scarf/power freezes) with nobody to keep me going, without my original friend to make it through - I did it alone, without them, in tribute. It was hard, but I went on, I did it without them but felt it was for them.

I don't know if the game was designed like that, or it was jut coincidence(I missed the few calls nearby in the snow) - but for me to have lost that first buddy I felt traversing that harsh cold snow all by myself was absolutely apt and just, and I think it's the first time a video game has done what it did so well that it broke my heart a little. Some video games have made me feel sad, but this was the first that felt close to real loss that it broke my heart a little. I will never forget it.

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Braid: The ending. Holy crap.

I 'finished' but didn't get all the bits, so I still don't know this. I think I actually read it once, but I forgot it...so meh.

Sméagol · February 9, 2014

With my bad memory I can´t really recall many moments that really "blew me away".

My jaw dropped when in The walking dead season 1

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Blue Rogue · February 9, 2014

Pokemon R/B/Y: My first Pokemon game was Red. I had very little idea of what sort of game it was. I bought it after watching an episode of the Anime (First battle of the Pokemon League when Krabby sweeps a team. If you're interested.)on TV. I think looking back at it actually this may of been my first RPG.

I was used to games with set levels like World 1-1 etc. This was the first time I felt the freedom to explore and hunt for all the Pokemon. It amazed me how many teams that could be made. Discovering Legendary Pokemon and the frustration catching them. (Used my Masterball on a frigging Graveler!)

While Yellow version became my main game (Surfing Pikachu yo!) of this generation. It was Red that opened my eyes to a whole new type of game.

Ocarina of Time: A few here. The feeling Hyrule Field gave me the first time I saw it. Most temples, The Master Sword. It was my first Zelda game and the whole adventure gripped me.

Dark Cloud: Collecting pieces of Villages and rebuilding them in my own image. Goddamn good game for that alone. One bit that stands out is the fight with the White Serpent. The dual was pretty damn cool. As was the twist near the end.

Final Fantasy X: That opening cutscene. The story was interesting as well. Was surprised by the twist at the time as well.

Skies of Arcadia: Moonstone cannon fire! Plus discoveries and all that exploration that I'm a real sucker for.

Edited February 10, 2014 by Blue Rogue

Oxigen_Waste · February 9, 2014

Would you kindly?

drahkon · February 10, 2014

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Tales · February 10, 2014

Jonnas said:
Baten Kaitos: That plot twist was pretty ballsy, even today.

First thing I was thinking when I saw the thread title. Also the prequel.

Hero-of-Time · February 10, 2014

Jonnas said:
Baten Kaitos: That plot twist was pretty ballsy, even today.

drahkon said:

Baten Kaitos - see @Jonnas' post.

Tales said:
First thing I was thinking when I saw the thread title. Also the prequel.

I clearly need to unpack the Cube and replay this because for the life of me I can't remember what this twist was!

I'm gonna go all mushy and pick the moments that actually made me cry.

Metal Gear Solid 3

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Ronnie · February 10, 2014

I don't normally judge games based on graphics but I find the art style of Braid really off-putting so have never played it even though I like that kind of game. Is it really that good?

I wish Journey would come to Vita so I could play that too.

Most of Tearaway had me blown away.

drahkon · February 10, 2014

Ronnie said:
I don't normally judge games based on graphics but I find the art style of Braid really off-putting so have never played it even though I like that kind of game. Is it really that good?

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Ronnie · February 11, 2014

drahkon said:

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Play it!

You've convinced me just about to purchase on Steam

Sheikah · February 11, 2014

Hero-of-Time said:

Final Fantasy X

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The world is saved and Yuna and Tidus can be together forever. WRONG. Tidus starts to disappear and Yuna goes to hold him only to fall right through his spirit. At that point To Zanarkand hits and the perfect moment. That's when the waterworks start.

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Yuna: Everyone...everyone has lost something precious...

...

*Plays cutscenes of various moments with characters in the game*

"Never forget them..."

Such a tearjerker. That game had such a great ending and characters. Can't wait to play it all again next month.

Oxigen_Waste · February 11, 2014

As much as I like Final Fantasy X (it was my first FF, it'll always hold a special place in my heart), I never really got how people can seriously praise the story/characters... It plays out like an over-melodramatic Mexican soap opera, but just because it's a videogame, suddenly it's considered good? oO

We've raised the bar way too low when it comes to our expectations/ideas on what makes a good videogame story...

I'd like to mirror what's been said about Journey and the MGS3 ending in this thread. Amazing.

Also, just remembered... Red Dead Redemption, the first time you cross over into Mexico and

kicks in. Gave me goosebumps, especially since it happened at sunset (in my case), which helped make the whole moment even more beautifu!

Sheikah · February 11, 2014

I think you need to stop over analysing things O_W. Stories that leave lasting impressions on us are often down to what they make us feel rather than possessing any complexity or novel storytelling elements.

Oxigen_Waste · February 11, 2014

Sheikah said:
I think you need to stop over analysing things O_W. Stories that leave lasting impressions on us are often down to what they make us feel rather than possessing any complexity or novel storytelling elements.

You're absolutely right.

It's just that it bothers me a bit that we develop these double standards regarding video games... plots we wouldn't tolerate without cringing in any other medium suddenly become acceptable or even "good" because they're presented in a context we've already embraced.

Don't get me wrong, I do it too! Still a die hard fan of MGS's story even though it's pulpy trash of the worst kind. =/

Bradleywhites · February 12, 2014

while i was playing Nightfire, a James Bond series game in 2007, i was not that much old with the present time gaming as you may say just my introduction to the high end gaming then .. i was shocked with the night vision of the character i was playing with .. as by that feature, the character could see through any concrete object to detect the enemy behind and to get alerted in due time .. to me, that was pretty helpful to move ahead without getting hurt .. still remember that i enjoyed that much

nekunando · February 12, 2014

I will have more posts to make on this topic but I'll start with one game for now..

Mario Kart 64

Train in Kalimari Desert

I remember walking into an electronics store in my local town in 1998 and seeing their N64 on display with a controller plugged in (which was only there because a previous customer was interested in buying the console )

Anyway, having only received the console a few months earlier for Christmas with FIFA 64 ( ) this was my first chance to try out another game on the console as Mario Kart 64 was inserted. I grabbed the controller and immediately went for the D-Pad, something I had been using for FIFA at the time as the analogue stick seemed like such a strange and scary invention at the time, and noticed that it didn't work. For the first time, I was being forced into playing with the new feature of the N64 controller

It felt weird initially but I used it to navigate my way through the menu and into a Time Trial with new character Wario and a random track in Kalimari Desert..

WOW

There's a train.. and it crosses the track in front of you! It seemed so advanced compared to what I had experienced in Super Mario Kart on the SNES and I was simply blown away and wanted to know what else the game had to offer. The fact that you could veer off course and drive down the railway tracks as well was just amazing

We bought the game soon after

Peach's Castle in Royal Raceway

Part of this entry stems from that ability to explore areas off the track that I mentioned previously about Kalimari Desert. Being able to drive into the castle area from Super Mario 64 was so cool and it actually became a feature of some multiplayer sessions on the best Mario Kart game ever created. We would do things like have races where you had to drive into the castle and hit the door on each lap or even play hide 'n' seek where people would leave the room while the other hid somewhere on the course.. and then the other players would have to come back and try to find them.

It was such good fun and that ability to explore is something that I feel has been missing from subsequent entries in the series. I remember us spending ages trying to climb the big hills after the jump in Royal Raceway and attempting to jump over large sections of track in Wario Stadium (apart from the obvious one at the beginning )

I love Mario Kart 64

Rainbow Road Shortcut

Shortcuts such as this are well known now thanks to magazines and the internet, but back then all we had was our imaginations and the desire to do things in games that are beyond what you think is possible.

My brother, friends and I explored every course in the game more than any game I can ever remember and that sense of wonder at discovering the possibilites by ourselves is a feeling I haven't really had in gaming for too long

The big jump in Royal Raceway obviously prompted the desire to steer to the left in an attempt to make it over the track near the finish line in order to cut out part of the course but it was Rainbow Road that provided that moment that brought real excitement..

Can we make it all the way over there?

Every time a lap would being, you were greeted wth a massive drop. Looking over to the left, however, and you could see part of the track tantalisingly 'reachable' if only you could get the angle and timing of the hop right as you attempted the leave the track at the top of the drop.

The feeling of hitting the track on the other side as you flew through the starry night sky and realising you had made it was SPECIAL It was something to celebrate and brought with it an amazing risk/reward element during multiplayer races.

I hated that Double Dash didn't let you do these sorts of things, even if it was still a great game.. but my goodness, Mario Kart 64 is AWESOME

jayseven · February 15, 2014

Red Dead Redemption but for the ending rather than the reason O_W listed. @Jonnas the only reason I played To The Moon last weekend was because I saw you rate/comment/whatever that game on steam and thought I'd give it a shot. Damn, that was an amazing experience. I've heard that Dear Esther and Gone Home are worth playing, but I don't trust my laptop will run them.

Jonnas · February 15, 2014

jayseven said:
Jonnas the only reason I played To The Moon last weekend was because I saw you rate/comment/whatever that game on steam and thought I'd give it a shot. Damn, that was an amazing experience.

I believe I recommended you the game here on N-E, but the Steam review was from @gaggle64. I take it his review was what you're thinking

jayseven · February 15, 2014

You are correct - apologies and thanks to all parties involved!

MoogleViper · February 16, 2014

Hero-of-Time said:
Kingdom Hearts

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You've destroyed Ansem and Mickey and Riku show up to help. They choose to sacrifice themselves to close the door to darkness. Sora heads towards Kairi only to push himself away as he chooses to search for the others. Simple and Clean kicks in and manly tears follow.

Those manly tears, they got me as well.

It's also what got me into Utada Hikaru.

nekunando · February 22, 2014

In a follow up to my previous post, I had the joy of playing a Mario Kart Grand Prix on Mario Kart 64 the other night with my brother for potentially one of the first times this century

We jumped into 150cc Mushroom Cup and it was simply AWESOME fun Everything felt nice and fast and the CPU provided a stern challenge, though that couldn't alter the surprise of my brother winning it on Kalimari Desert I still play the game every now and again, so for him to jump in after so long and get to grips with it instantly was impressive!

Afterwards, we did a couple of battles on Block Fort and Skyscraper.. and they were absolutely hilarious. I haven't enjoyed a battle mode since the version in Mario Kart 64 as Nintendo have been intent of ruining the fun of it Watching my brother dropping off the sides of buildings, reversing and making sudden changes of direction to dodge attacks brought back so many memories of just how good it really is I miss that..

Anyway, I want to add another game to my list that provided moments that blew my away.. and that game is..

Donkey Kong Country

Graphics, Music and Atmosphere

I remember borrowing this game off one of my big brother's friends back when being able to get games of our own was extremely limited. Seeing the introduction with Cranky Kong and his music player for the first time was simply incredible and the music really got you into the mood

Everything about the game, from the character models to the backgrounds, weather effects, atmosphere and gameplay was breathtaking and this, along with the outstanding music, makes it one of the greatest games I will ever play in my life : peace:

Fused King · February 22, 2014

The 4 hour moment that was Journey

I feel like this game could justify a one-game museum.

It would be a small building in which one person at a time would be allowed to play Journey, changing his view on gaming forever.....or not because you're a filthy casual who doesn't know how the buttons work or how to jump on a fucking ledge.

But yeah, brilliant moment.

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