Mandatory Play by All Gamers - Pt.2

Last time, I detailed a few of the games that must be played by gamers of all ages. Seeing as how there were too many games to list (and because I was really tired), I decided to split it into 2 parts. So...here's the second part. Enjoy!

Half-Life 2 - PC, PS3, 360, Xbox (only if you don't live in the next-generation of consoles)

It took about 6 years to finish, but when it finally came out people were proclaiming it as the greatest thing since Mario. What can arguably be called the first game to really make the most out of physics, Half-Life 2 used the hell out of those realistic physics with a little doozy called the Zero-Point Energy Field Manipulator, or Gravity Gun for short. Chucking things at your enemies has never been so fun. While the use of physics is what many people point this game out for, it also has realistic behaviors in its characters, memorable levels (anyone remember Ravenholm?), and gunplay that actually requires strategic thought, as these enemies will tear you apart if you don't play right. HL2 is also normally considered the greatest PC game ever and won the most GotY awards in 2004.

Chrono Trigger - SNES, PSX, DS

It has a battle mechanic that allows you to fuse two or more character's special attacks to form one super attack, which is awesome. If that isn't reason enough to play this game, perhaps the collaboration between famed artists Akira Toriyama and Yuuji Horii, Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu is reason enough. Still not? Maybe the multiple endings and fantastic time travelling story will be. Still no? Well then you can't enjoy anything cool. This is one of the defining RPG games in the biz, and if you love (or even remotely enjoy) RPGs, then you have to play Chrono Trigger.

God of War - PS2, PS3

The king of action games, even though it was never the first. If a game is so great that it is the centerpiece of a genre that has existed long before it released, don't you owe it to yourself to experience it? Devil May Cry (PS2) came out about 4 years before it, and it isn't even held in as much reverence as GoW. With an epic story set in Greek mythology, the most badass character since Solid Snake, and combat that raised the bar to nigh unreachable heights, GoW was and remains the king of action games, and by the looks of GoWIII, will continue to reign.

Tetris - Everything (literally)

This game has appeared on every system that requires electricity, and even on one that doesn't make any sense. It is probably one of the longest running franchises of all time, in any medium, and continues to prosper as a break from the daily grind. It can be played for a few minutes, or forever, either way is still fun. Tetris is hard to classify. Some say it's a puzzle game, others say it is a strategy game. I say it's fun, and leave it to that. Plus, Music A is still ringing in my head.

Diablo II - PC

"Grind" is a word not usually used to describe video games, but it's perfect for Diablo II. Actually, "left-click" would work just as well, seeing as how that's all you really need to do to play it. Deceptively simple, Diablo II has drained hours away from many gamers during its years out in the public. Blizzard is known for making games that destroy more lives than drugs, and Diablo II further proves that. It creates more "just a little longer..." moments than you'll know what to do with, as the game makes you believe that you need another weapon, or piece of armor, or jewel, or whatever you think you "need". This game needs to be played just so that all gamers can experience the addiction of Blizzard games, and that satisfying moment of finally breaking the addiction. The same also applies to StarCraft and Warcraft. 

Grand Theft Auto III-IV  - PS2, Xbox, PS3, 360, PC

Every gamer has to have played at least one GTA game. With it's sandbox worlds, excellently written scripts, and only slightly frustrating gunplay (with the exception of IV), GTA stands as one of the top franchises in gaming history. GTA III created the sandbox sub-genre, Vice City refined that formula to near perfection, San Andreas tripled the land of III and VC, and IV was GI's 2008 GotY (over MGS4). These are all reasons to play the one franchise that is as big as Mario or Zelda.

These are my choices, but what about you? What game(s) do you think every gamer owe themselves to experience?