Games that absolutely blew you away when you first played them?

[Eddie Teach]

. I got to around level 40, but then the game turned into a massive grind for me and I stopped playing.

Yeah back then questing was a real chore after 40, there were few decent quest hubs and the levels went by pretty slowly. However, I'd played a couple earlier mmos and they were even grindier, so I managed to stick it out. Shortly after reaching 60, they introduced Warsong Gulch and that was the point I fell in love with the game.

[Syt]

To be fair, I think playing on a PvP server also killed it for me at the time - nothing like wanting to do some quests in Stranglethorn Vale and then spending half the evening getting ganked by bored level 60 rogues.

[Razgovory]

No MMO really did much for me.  I guess I should mention Sid Meier's Gettysburg and Alpha Centuari.  Both great games.

[FunkMonk]

Sid Meier's Gettysburg, forgot about that one. Good choice.

Also I'll put forward NFL Blitz. That game rocked.

[Queequeg]

Anarchy online was the only MMO that did that for me.
Fallout
System Shock 2
Jade Empire
688i
EF-2000
Shogun:Total War
Darklands
Half Life and Half Life 2
I pretty much loved Arcanum at first sight
Thief 2

[fhdz]

This one was less fantastic.

Well, you know, sometimes we are error.

[Tamas]

You guys listed some games I should have mentioned. Alpha Centauri and Aces of the Deep, most notably.

[Liep]

Neverwinter Nights

I had forgot about that one, great game.

[DGuller]

If by blown away you mean "why is my alarm going off, I haven't gone to bed yet?", then Civ2, Civ3, Civ4, and Civ5 would definitely be at the top of my list.  I've also been obsessed with the first attempt at a racing sim with realistic physics called Grand Prix Legends, and it was my first serious experience with multiplayer.  I've also been highly impressed with GTA IV, just due to how seamlessly they've managed to create an entire city that you can just explore without a mission in mind.

[The Minsky Moment]

The one game I didn't see here that I would add is Balance of Power.  Flawed and frustrating, yet very sophisticated for its time.

[Ed Anger]

I should have been rewarded for causing WWIII. Chris Crawford sucks.

[The Minsky Moment]

I should have been rewarded for causing WWIII. Chris Crawford sucks.

Russians had more nukes and we had better cities so no you shouldn't.

[Ed Anger]

I should have been rewarded for causing WWIII. Chris Crawford sucks.

Russians had more nukes and we had better cities so no you shouldn't.

You're no fun.

[The Minsky Moment]

And you evaded my trap. 

[Tonitrus]

The one game I didn't see here that I would add is Balance of Power.  Flawed and frustrating, yet very sophisticated for its time.

BoP was good.

BoP: Multipolar Edition was superior.

Games "that blew me away" is often a bit too strong for the usual reaction.  But other games I remember enjoying intensely (and could likely still play today):

- Alpha Centauri
- Seven Cities of Gold
- Ancient Art of War at Sea
- Command HQ
- Ultima V
- Ultima VI
- V for Victory: Velikiye Luki
- V for Victory: Utah Beach
- V for Victory: Market Garden
- Defender of the Crown
- Civ I & II
- Half-Life
- Half-Life: Counterstrike mod
- Battlefield 1942: Desert Combat mod