Topic: If I were to get someone into the more "hardcore" video games...

[Oblivion]

...what would be the first thing I'd have them play? They've played various Nintendo franchises, but nothing like Uncharted, CoD, Halo, etc. etc. I was wondering what's the first "hardcore" game I should have them play. I was thinking The Last of Us. Might as well push into the deep end.

[RedBlue]

Tetris

[broodwars]

It depends on the genre they're into, but one thing's for sure: I wouldn't start anyone w/ The Last of Us. I've been playing games for almost 25 years now, and at times that game still packs a hefty challenge for me.

Assuming we're excluding Nintendo Games and anything released before this generation (and I'm limiting this to 1 game per genre)...

1st Person Shooters - Bioshock: Combat can be challenging, but there's no real penalty for death under the default settings. There's also a strong emphasis on storytelling and atmosphere.

3rd Person Shooters - Tomb Raider: The most recent game - it's as polished as Uncharted, but with better combat and some really impressive set pieces. Combat is also less punishing than Uncharted is on average, and you have more options.

RPGs - Valkyria Chronicles: The game has something of a stiff challenge, but it's one of the most inventive games in the genre, not to mention prettiest. It's a game that's easy to grasp with a good story, but with deep mechanics and strategy. And yes, it is an RPG AND a Strategy game.

Racing - Split/Second: This is a seriously good arcade racing game, but at its heart it has many similarities to the Mario Kart franchise with its rubber band AI and tracks that can change at any moment. The rules are easy to understand, but the mechanics are difficult to master. And dropping a jet liner on the 7 cars ahead of you is just too cool NOT to see. 

Music - Child of Eden: Yes, Child of Eden. For all its pretense at being this casual rail shooter light show, Child of Eden doesn't pull its punches. If you don't get the hang of how it plays very quickly, it WILL kick your ass. That said, the music and presentation is absolutely phenomenal.

Stealth - Mark of the Ninja: Once again, the rules are easy to understand, but the game packs a hefty challenge. But anything you might want to do in a given situation, the game not only allows you to do but rewards you for doing it. Splinter Cell: Conviction's another excellent choice there for similar reasons.

Platformer - Hmm...I would give this one to Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, despite generally liking Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time better. The storytelling is very good, the game does an excellent job of catching you up on the overall story, and there are some truly devious time puzzles in the game. Plus, weapons. Lots and lots of cool weapons. Its overall style would definitely appeal to someone weaned on Nintendo titles. If they like their platforming on the ridiculously fast and hard side, it's hard not to argue for Super Meat Boy.

Adventure (Zelda-style games) - Darksiders: An obvious pick, but the 1st Darksiders pays such homage to the Zelda franchise it's pretty much impossible not to recommend it as a 1st entry in the genre to someone used to Nintendo titles.

Adventure (P&C-style games) - The Walking Dead: Season 1: Another obvious pick, but I really can't think of a better introduction to the genre for a modern player.

Survival Horror - Dead Space: While Dead Space 2 is a better game IMO, Dead Space 1 better introduces players to the game's concepts.

[Oblivion]

Bioshock - She's seen me play a bit of that, and she doesn't seem interested. I'll try to get her to try it herself though.


Tomb Raider - Awesome idea. She's a little squeamish though, so I might just have to try Uncharted for this one.


Valkyria Chronicles - I'll consider it, though I'd rather just get it for myself.


Split/Second - Any excuse to play this game again, the better.


Child of Eden - Isn't that a Kinect game? I don't have a Microsoft system.


Mark of the Ninja - Sounds good, considering I'm actually in the middle of that game right now.


R&C - Her playstyle seems to lean more towards the Sly games, but I'll definitely consider this one.


Darksiders - I personally did not like the game, and ended up selling it. Do you have an alternative for an adventure game?


The Walking Dead - I actually got her to play this one. She beat episode 1 a couple months ago.


Dead Space - Doubt I'll ever get her to play a horror game. I've tried to get her to play Dead Space in the past and she just screams.

[broodwars]

Tomb Raider - Awesome idea. She's a little squeamish though, so I might just have to try Uncharted for this one.

Well, if you're going to go Uncharted, go Uncharted 2. She doesn't have to play the 1st game for the story to make sense, and it's easily the best and most-balanced Uncharted game. If she had an interest in horror games as well, I'd suggest Alan Wake, but from the looks of your Dead Space remark, that's a non-starter.

Child of Eden - Isn't that a Kinect game? I don't have a Microsoft system.

It's on PS3 as well, and while it is a Kinect/PS Move game, you can also play it with a normal controller. In fact, expert players pretty much have to play the game with a controller since motion controls just aren't responsive enough for that game.

R&C - Her playstyle seems to lean more towards the Sly games, but I'll definitely consider this one.

Sounds like my kind of lady.  Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is probably the best choice, then. The Sly series could also be a good introduction into Open World games.

Darksiders - I personally did not like the game, and ended up selling it. Do you have an alternative for an adventure game?

Yeah, I do. Batman: Arkham Aslyum is a great choice (as is its sequel, Arkham City, but Asylum is more accessible), as is the 2008 Prince of Persia game (which is less a platformer than an Adventure game due to the heavy combat emphasis and the platforming downplaying).  Enslaved might also be a good choice in this genre. I'd suggest the most recent Devil May Cry (DmC) as well, but that might be a bit too advance and crude for her. If combat isn't really her thing, you might want to try her on Shadow of the Colossus HD.

A few other suggestions:

RPG - in addition to Valkyria Chronicles, Tales of Graces F on the PS3 is another good, accessible RPG and is more representative of the genre than Valkyria is, though Valkyria is a better game.

Fighting - While I'm partial to PlayStation All Stars, it's really not representative of the genre. Instead, I'd suggest the original BlazBlue Calamity Trigger, which features the option to trigger each character's special attacks with the right analog stick rather than complex button inputs. It gives the game just the right amount of accessibility for newcomers, without going ridiculously condescending like the subsequent BlazBlues' button-mashing "casual" mode.

[MukiDA]

> If I were to get someone into the more "hardcore" video games...

You're literally NAMED after one.

[Oblivion]

Thanks broodwars. And actually, I am not named after the Elder Scrolls game. I can't STAND the series. It's named after the keyblade in the Kingdom Hearts series.

[lolmonade]

Something to keep in mind:  There is a learning curve to the dual analog control scheme used in first person games.  It's something gamers forget about because it's something we've learned through countless games and console generations now.  I tried to have my wife play Portal 2, and it was a nightmare trying to do co-op because of the trouble she had understanding using one stick to move and one to control the camera.
 
If you're going to ease them into "hardcore" gaming, I'd find a First-Person or Third-Person game that has a nice shallow learning curve and without a heavy challenge, and build them up from there.  If someone isn't a hardcore gamer or hasn't played games throughout their adolescence, then they may be prone to frustration and just decide to quit.
 
Just some perspective playing games with my wife.  Hopefully that gives you some good ideas on where to go with this.  Good luck!

[Ian Sane]

Why are we discounting Nintendo games?  I honestly would hand someone Twilight Princess.  It was a little too Zelda-by-the-numbers for me but I have tons of experience with the series.  For someone brand new to the series or "hardcore" games that game would be as astonishing as Ocarina of Time was when it was new.  And it isn't too hard but has depth and complexity.  Oh, and this would be the Gamecube version of course because I would want the person to become familiar with normal controls.

And since Oblivion is talking about a woman, it's a game that doesn't cater too much to juvenile male fantasies.  A woman is not going to want to play a game where the females are all dressed like sluts and the men are all giant muscle bound freaks that live for gorey murder.  Some games, even if they're fun, are pretty damn embarassing in terms of content.  I would never try to introduce a woman to gaming using God of War or GTA for example.

[Oblivion]

I'm discounting them because she's played them all. Did I not say that?

[BranDonk Kong]

BMX XXX

[Oblivion]

Oh, and she's tried GTA and other "male power fantasies" games in the past. She does not give a **** about that. She just has fun.

[Ian Sane]

I'm discounting them because she's played them all. Did I not say that?

But then she's already introduced to hardcore games, right?  If you've "graduated" from Wii Sports to the more core focused Wii games then the conversion has already occured.  Or are you using "hardcore" to mean games for the PS3 and Xbox 360?  I would just ask her what interests her based on the subject matter of the games.  Go though your collection and give her a brief description of what the game is about and odds are she'll say "Oh, that sounds cool!  Let me try that."

Still, I'm looking at it in a general sense that could apply to anyone in that anyone thinking the same thing could look at this thread and get ideas.  If I was going to get someone into more hardcore games I would start with some Zelda.

[magicpixie]

I know they didn't finish on the highest note, but what about the Mass Effect series?  My sister played through the second and third games on PS3 before the collection was released and she seemed to really enjoy them.  She also seemed to enjoy Fire Emblem: Awakening and Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon and the Uncharted games.  She falls into a similar category of gamer, so that might be helpful.

[azeke]

1. There is no such thing as "hardcore" videogames
2. Convincing someone else to try out new things is easy. Just pick the most fun games.

[ShyGuy]

Do a coop game like Left 4 Dead.

[Oblivion]

I don't own a 360.