Persona 4. It was my first Persona, and JRPGs typically have points where you need to grind and it's that point where I fall off. But I ended up playing through it 3 times in a row lmao
Nothing can ever match that original control scheme, and it's slower and less hectic as a result, but it's at least *playable* - though much, much better on the touch screen than with pointer controls on the TV, which are inaccurate and need a lot of re-syncing
The new content is pretty underwhelming aside from the sequel tease, but the expanded soundtrack [including songs from both the JP and NA versions] (with new remixes!) is very, very good
Tried getting into Abyss and Symphonia on a few occasions, couldn’t stick with them. Grabbed Arise for $10 and was instantly hooked! Now I’m playing Graces Remastered and I can’t stop playing lol. Excited to give the other games a shot
Unironically, probably Undertale. Bought it on a whim after seeing some Tumblr posts about it, close to release, and it ended up being a huge boost of positivity and humor to me at a pretty dark time in my life. Always going to hold a special place in my heart because of that.
Returnal on PS5. I figured it was going to be simply too hard for me but I finally broke down and picked it up. Once I got into the right groove it was a thrill ride!
Was gonna say the same thing. I hate roguelikes and though I'd bounce off it but the combat felt like third person Doom and the atmosphere, music and VA incredible. Played through till the true ending and the Ascension DLC (insane that playstation just gives free DLC Sometimes) as well
Cyberpunk. I started playing when it first released and couldn’t get into it. Started a new playthrough a month ago and have been loving it ever since.
Persona. Played quite a ways through P3P and P4G before dropping them. It all finally clicked when I gave P5 a shot. It inspired me to go back through Golden, but I waited until Reload to finally finish P3.
Ghost of Tsushima. I don’t know why it never really appealed to me. I gave in a few months ago and played it. If I could erase it from my memory and play it again for the first time I would. It was a masterpiece. I got the big sad when it was over.
Assassin Creed and Final Fantasy franchises. I knew they existed for a long time but took about until 2022 for both that I actually played Odyssey/7 Remake, and ended up playing most of the games out of both. Can't believe it took me so long
I liked Xenoblade Chronicles and X but avoided XC2 and XC3 until my boyfriend managed to push me into it. XC2 is still not my jam until the last few chapters but XC3 and its dlc is just incredible.
I bought Legends: Arceus off of a whim while at a game store, and I genuinely really liked it. Catching Mons out of battle was super addicting and I liked how it was more challenging than other generations I played.
Definitely the Kingdom Hearts series. It's my husband favorite series and I wanted to be able to enjoy it with him. I love it and now I get to wait for the next game like everyone else 😂
For so long I only knew Star Control 2 from the demo on 3DO, just being the ship combat which I thought was simple.
I found it on sale for 10 bucks in 1995 and realized WHAT! THIS IS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE that I would play for thousands of hours over 30 years and actually try the third game!
Xenoblade. I played 2 for a few hours back in 2018 and just could not see the appeal at that point, mainly in terms of combat.
Went back and actually played Torna then 2 in 2022, and the rest is history. I've played every numbered game and their expansions and am feverishly awaiting X:DE. 😊
Xenoblade, got it during the pandemic and was like I’m sure it’ll be like a mid tier game. It’s has legit consumed my life. I played Xenogears shortly before 3 came out and that whole series has changed the way I think of the world. Also in a similar vein NieR Automata and Replicant
Probably the divinity series. Played the first game, thought was alright, and then played the second game and I just got hooked, and I'm looking forward for Divinity 3.
Burnout, it took me multiple tries with Takedown to get into it, but once I did it clicked and became a fan for the rest of the series. I wish EA would do a compilation and consider a new entry
Xenoblade. Started with 2 on Switch and now need to play them all. I'm dying to try X now and have high hopes for a new entry in the series soon enough.
HUGE shoutout to Sutte Hakkun. I know most ppl saw it on SNES Online and were like "lol wtf is this shit", but I played some and this game is like, FUCKING FANTASTIC. Like, "How does nobody talk about this game with the SNES greats" fantastic. Absolutely genius puzzle platformer.
TRAILS MY BELOVED. Was so great going through this series last year, the stories, the characters, the gameplay, and the world itself. All of it is just so well done and easily cements itself among one of my favorite gaming franchises period.
Doom! I've always struggled with FPSes, and was terrified watching older cousins play the originals back in the day. But 2016 won me over, I subsequently got obsessed with Eternal as well, and I've gone back and...tried really hard with the original and 64 (I can do fine on medium difficulties).
But really, most series I like now were like that.
MGS I didn't play until Snake was announced for Brawl. My bro had MGS2, so I started playing it. (Again, knew nothing about it. I even assumed Solid Snake was some weird metallic serpent because the Brawl trailer never loaded right away)
It took a second playthrough of MGS2 for me to get invested, but after that I immediately rented MGS3, then said screw it and bought Twin Snakes, MGS2 Substance, and MGS3 Subsistence off of eBay all at once.
I was a SNES kid, but I mostly stuck to Mario, Yoshi, DK, and similar platformers like Banjo, or Crash on PS1. Even Zelda, I just default thought was stupid until I played Wind Waker, and Pokemon, I played Red Version first...I don't remember exactly when but it was GBA era and Ruby was already out.
Eventually, I was really bored one summer and started branching out, and started getting games based on whether they were in Smash or not. Metroid Prime 2, FE: Path of Radiance, Star Fox Adventures. Later went beyond that...Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Custom Robo, Sin & Punishment...
After that, I pretty much would try out any Nintendo game, and by my late teens/adulthood I pretty much came to where I'll at least take an interest in anything regardless of who makes it.
Freedom Planet 2, I quite frankly hated the first game, only got the second cuz I had money on my switch to burn, and it ended up being one of the best games I've ever played
Castlevania. Neighbor had CotM for GBA & i thought it looked kinda dumb for some reason? He's like nah & forced me to borrow it. I ended up liking the series more than him & played HoD & AoS upon release as well as the DS titles. Beat CotM with every file name modifier too! Magician, etc!
Xenoblade! Hated what I saw of the marketing for 2, got it out of curiosity, and ended up completing it twice. Making my way through the other games now!
I'd also say Trails, but I figured I'd like it--I just forgot I had Sky in my Steam library years and years ago until a friend got me into it.
playing it rn. had trouble getting into it at first, especially when the goals are Catch 25 Bidoofs, but now i'm hooked. feels a bit like the Monster Hunter gathering quests mixed with Fire Emblem Engage action quests
The Gears Of War series. I remember back in 06? I’d see my brother playing and through the years he’d play the sequels. I finally played in 2018 and when I tell you I marathoned all the games lol. I fell in love, and even spent the week learning all the lore lol. Shout out to Uncharted Series too 👀.
Bg3. I wanted to understand the hype having known so little about it. Turn-based gameplay was NOT my thing. Gave me something to play as I was bored with other games, I told myself.
Honestly, Half-Life. A lot of old games that everyone loves are... pretty clearly colored by nostalgia if you try to play them for the first time 20 years late, but the original Half-Life holds up shockingly well for a game that's a few months older than I am.
Comments
Tried getting into Abyss and Symphonia on a few occasions, couldn’t stick with them. Grabbed Arise for $10 and was instantly hooked! Now I’m playing Graces Remastered and I can’t stop playing lol. Excited to give the other games a shot
Never played any of the earlier ones and didn’t know what to expect.
I’ve since bought RE4 on GameCube, Wii, Mac, iPad, and PS5
God of War.
Pokemon. (Gen 1 - 8)
Tales of Xillia.
Diablo (1 - 3)
They are all different yet I felt a constant urge to keep playing and replaying them all throughout the years.
As does Immortals Feynx Rising.
Back in 2021 when 3 was coming (for better and worse) I wanted to see what I missed out on. Played through the first game and was instantly hooked.
Pikmin
Mega Man
Metroid
Crash Bandicoot
Kid Icarus
Final Fantasy(currently like 15 hours through 9)
I found it on sale for 10 bucks in 1995 and realized WHAT! THIS IS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE that I would play for thousands of hours over 30 years and actually try the third game!
Went back and actually played Torna then 2 in 2022, and the rest is history. I've played every numbered game and their expansions and am feverishly awaiting X:DE. 😊
Its trailers were only okay but the budget was way higher than expected and the gameplay and story were pretty solid!
Decided to finally try the series when 3 was shown off, played them all and love them all now
Peak series
everyone had been pestering me to play it ever since it came out, to the point where i never wanted to try it ever because the fans were so annoying
picked it up on switch one day in 2018ish because it was on sale, and it had quieted down enough where i gave it a fair shake
I bought Elite Beat Agents randomly at Gamestop, literally knowing nothing about it, just because "Eh, it's Nintendo, so it's probably not awful"
Played through it on each difficulty and immediately needed more. Imported both Ouendan and Ouendan 2, and did the same thing.
MGS I didn't play until Snake was announced for Brawl. My bro had MGS2, so I started playing it. (Again, knew nothing about it. I even assumed Solid Snake was some weird metallic serpent because the Brawl trailer never loaded right away)
I'd also say Trails, but I figured I'd like it--I just forgot I had Sky in my Steam library years and years ago until a friend got me into it.
Ratchet and Clank
World of Warcraft
Portal 2
Bioshock: Infinite
Tried playing it twice, but third time was the charm.
I blinked and I had played over 7h in a single day.
I now have Karlach tattooed on my leg.