3. Metal Gear Solid
Few will attest to having owned a PlayStation console and not playing Metal Gear Solid upon its first release in 1998. What's incredible about the game that Konami produced at the time (spread across two PlayStation discs) is just how much material and graphics they were able to upload, considering the limits of the console. Compare shots of Ridge Racer Revolution or Medieval with MGS and you'd be hard pressed to agree that the latter comes from the same console as the former. You played as Solid Snake, a ruthless mercenary whose story had already been established by previous titles in the series, but even if you didn't play those (and you didn't have to) this was a rebirth for all concerned. After a terrorist organisation had captured some important hostages, you were sent in as the Government's first (and only) attempt to rescue the hostages and stop the terrorists at all costs. But much like any good Hollywood blockbuster all is not as it seems. The beauty of Metal Gear Solid, because it's intricate plot points and well written dialogue couldn't be ignored, not if you wanted to get ahead. Picking up a controller and button mashing "X" simply wasn't good enough - plans had to be formed, locations had to be scouted and players were encouraged to avoid detection. It also came with free health warnings...
Years later we credit some of the most sophisticated games with having been inspired by the gamer that Metal Gear Solid found - the one's who converted from PC in order to carefully plan and consider their moves and execute their plans. Resident Evil may have scared us, but Metal Gear Solid made us use our brains to evade fear, something few games had done before it.