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[Mama Robotnik]

Wikipedia's collected articles on the history of gaming work around a constructed timeline. The backbone of this history is the assumption that we are in the Seventh Generation of gaming. Distributed across the successive numbered generations are all released consoles, ranging from the Magnavox Odyssey (1972), to the PSPGo (2009).

I thought it would be interesting to list our favoured game (one from each generation, with an optional runner up), using this timeline as a construct:

The First Generation

Magnavox Odyssey -- Tele-Spiel ES 2201 -- Atari/Sears Telegames Pong -- Coleco Telstar -- Nintendo Color TV Game


The Second Generation

Fairchild Channel F -- RCA Studio II -- Atari 2600/2500 -- Magnavox Odyssey -- Mattel Intellivision -- Vectrex -- Emerson Arcadia 2001 -- ColecoVision -- Sega SG-1000 -- Milton Bradley Microvision -- Nintendo Game & Watch


The Third Generation

NES -- Sega Master System -- Atari 7800 -- PV-1000 -- Epoch Cassette Vision -- Supergame VG 3000


The Fourth Generation

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis -- SNES -- Nintendo Game Boy -- TurboGrafx-16 -- Neo Geo -- Sega Mega CD -- Sega 32X -- Amiga CDTV -- Philips CDi -- Atari Lynx -- Sega Game Gear


The Fifth Generation

Sony Playstation -- Sega Saturn -- Nintendo 64 -- Jaguar -- 3DO -- CD32 -- Pippin -- Virtual Boy -- Nintendo 64DD -- Sega Nomad -- Gameboy Colour -- NeoGeo Pocket -- Wonderswan


The Sixth Generation

Sega Dreamcast -- Sony Playstation 2 -- Microsoft XBox -- Nintendo Gamecube -- Nintendo GBA/SP/Micro -- Nokia NGage


The Seventh Generation (Present Day)

XBox 360 -- Nintendo Wii -- Sony Playstation 3 -- Nintendo DS/Lite/i -- Sony PSP/Slim/Go -- Ipod/Iphone

My choices:

Gen 1: Pong (Atari/Sears Telegames Pong console)

Gen 2: Breakout (Atari 2600)
Runner up: Dig Dug (Atari 5200)

Gen 3: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Runner up: Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan) (NES)

Gen 4: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
Runner up: Sonic CD (Sega Mega CD)

Gen 5: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Runner up: Final Fantasy IX (PS1)

Gen 6: Okami (Playstation 2)
Runner up: Metroid Prime (GC)

Gen 7: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Runner up: Portal (360)

So there they are. Feel free to pick my opinions apart if you like. On reflection, I find it interesting that over the decades I favour a range of different genres.

So, I put the question to GAF: What games are your generational choices?

(Read before posting: We're not including PC developments due to generational ambiguity, so console games only please. If you've not played a generation, feel free to indicate this or leave it blank.)

 

[beelzebozo]

here are mine:

Gen 1: not sure i feel qualified to make a choice

Gen 2: q*bert

Gen 3: legend of zelda (nes)
Runner up: duck tales (nes)

Gen 4: super metroid (snes)
Runner up: super mario world (snes)

Gen 5: ocarina of time (n64)
Runner up: blast corps (n64)

Gen 6: metroid prime (gc)
Runner up: resident evil 4 (gc)

Gen 7: super mario galaxy (wii)
Runner up: bioshock (360)

 

[SabinFigaro]

Gen 1: n/a

Gen 2: Pitfall (Atari 2600)
Runner up: Adventure (Atari 2600)

Gen 3: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
Runner up: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

Gen 4: Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Runner up: Final Fantasy III (SNES)

Gen 5: Vagrant Story (PSone)
Runner up: Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSone)

Gen 6: Metroid Prime (NGC)
Runner up: Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (PS2)

Gen 7: Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
Runner up: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

I have to say, this list is much easier with PC games excluded.

 

[BocoDragon]

I think generations 1 and 2 are a complete enigma for most of the current gaming community. The games were good for what they were, but they were very of the moment experiences which didn't inspire fandom in the ways that the vast worlds and great soundtracks of NES onward would.

And its an age thing, of course, but many young gamers DO go back and educate themselves on old games.... but they surely don't go back beyond NES.

 

[beelzebozo]

I think generations 1 and 2 are a complete enigma for most of the current gaming community. The games were good for what they were, but they were very of the moment experiences which didn't inspire fandom in the ways that the vast worlds and great soundtracks of NES onward would.

And its an age thing, of course, but many young gamers DO go back and educate themselves on old games.... but they surely don't go back beyond NES.

yeah. i had no choice at all for the second generation until i realized that i played the shit out of the nes port of Q*BERT.

 

[Stumpokapow]

I think generations 1 and 2 are a complete enigma for most of the current gaming community. The games were good for what they were, but they were very of the moment experiences which didn't inspire fandom in the ways that the vast worlds and great soundtracks of NES onward would.

And its an age thing, of course, but many young gamers DO go back and educate themselves on old games.... but they surely don't go back beyond NES.

plenty of us have 2600s

 

[beelzebozo]

i had an atari 2600 and a colecovision, but i just remember almost nothing about either.

 

[brandonh83]

Gen 1: N/A
Runner up: N/A

Gen 2: Pitfall (Atari 2600)
Runner up: N/A

Gen 3: Castlevania III - Dracula's Curse (NES)
Runner up: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

Gen 4: Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Runner up: The Legend of Zelda - A Link to the Past (SNES)

Gen 5: Final Fantasy VIII (PSone)
Runner up: Resident Evil 2 (PSone)

Gen 6: Silent Hill 2 (PS2)
Runner up: Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)

Gen 7: Metal Gear Solid 4 - Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Runner up: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

 

[beelzebozo]

it really hurt not to mention CHRONO TRIGGER or LINK TO THE PAST in that category. hurt so fucking bad.

that was a great time for me in games.

 

[crazy monkey]

Gen 1 & 2: DId not play
Gen 3: Excite bike
Gen 4: Zelda
Gen 5: zelda OOt
Gen 6: RE4
Gen 7: Mario galaxy

 

[shintoki]

Gen 1: Not Alive!
Gen 2: Almost Alive!

Gen 3: Duck Hunt(NES)
Runner Up: Punch Out(NES)

Gen 4: Goof Troop(SNES)
Runner Up: Super Metroid(SNES)

Gen 5: Pokemon Blue/Red(Gameboy Pocket)
Runner Up: Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix(PS1)

Gen 6: Zone of the Enders 2nd Runner(Ps2)
Runner up: Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition(PS2)

Gen 7: Crackdown(360)
Runner up: Dead Rising(360)

 

[Hellshadow]

Gen 1 - Wasn't born

Gen 2 - Too young

Gen 3 - The Legend of Zelda(NES)
Runner Up: Metroid (NES)

Gen 4 - Final Fantasy II (IV)(SNES)
Runner Up: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past(SNES)

Gen 5 - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask(N64)
Runner Up: Mario Kart 64(N64)

Gen 6 - Metroid Prime(GCN)
Runner Up: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater(PS2)

Gen 7 - Mass Effect(Xbox360)
Runner Up: Dead Space (PS3)

 

[Shig]

Gen 1: Not qualified to make a choice.

Gen 2: Centipede (5200)
Runner-up: Super Breakout (5200)
[both of these are made 100x more awesome by the 5200's Tracball controller, which is far and away the best peripheral of all time.]

Gen 3: Super Mario Bros 3 (NES)
Runner-up: Contra (NES)

Gen 4: Super Metroid (SNES)
Runner-up: Zelda: LttP (SNES)

Gen 5: Metal Gear Solid (PS1)
Runner-up: Suikoden II (PS1)
[Please come back to us, Awesome Konami of Old.]

Gen 6: Resident Evil 4 (GC)
Runner-up: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GC)
[Jesus christ this gen is like Sophie's Choice. GC had the weakest lineup out of the major players here, but its superlatives were fucking amazing.]

Gen 7: Batman: Arkham Asylum (360/PS3)
Runner-up: Rock Band 2 (360/PS3)
[Tough damn decisions here, too. Regardless of its freshness, I'm confident in voting Batman; I've already been through it twice within a month or so of release, it's almost certainly going to be my new Super Metroid-esque "play through this once every year" type of game.]

Man, I feel bad at the Sega neglect here. I love plenty of Gen/Saturn/DC games but all of them got edged out.

 

[Cartman86]

Gen 1 and 2 is tough since most of the games I have played from this gen were actually the Arcade or later console versions.

Gen 1: Pong (Atari/Sears Telegames Pong console)

Gen 2: Breakout (Atari 2600)
Runner up: Pac-Man (?)

Gen 3: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Runner up: Super Mario Bros. (NES)

Gen 4: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Runner up: Super Mario World (SNES)

Gen 5: Metal Gear Solid (PS1)
Runner up: Chrono Cross (PS1)

Gen 6: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Playstation 2)
Runner up: SOCOM: US Navy SEALs (Playstation 2)

Gen 7: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Playstation 3)
Runner up: Bioshock (360)

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I'm taking the liberty of using arcade games

1- Nothing stands out/too young

2- Ms. Pac-Man (arcade)

3- Mario 3 (NES)

4- Super Street Fighter II Turbo (arcade)

5- NiGHTS Into Dreams (Saturn)

6- Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)

7- Crackdown (360)

 

[Perfect Blue]

Gen 1 & 2: N/A
Gen 3: NES - Legend of Zelda
Gen 4: SNES - Chrono Trigger
Gen 5: Saturn - Radiant Silvergun
Gen 6: Gamecube - Resident Evil 4
Gen 7: Nintendo DS - Dragon Quest IX

 

[Shig]

Gen 1 & 2: N/A
Gen 3: NES
Gen 4: SNES
Gen 5: Saturn
Gen 6: Gamecube
Gen 7: Nintendo DS

RTFT

 

[VGChampion]

Gen 1 & 2: N/A
Gen 3: NES - Legend of Zelda
Gen 4: SNES - Chrono Trigger
Gen 5: Saturn - Radiant Silvergun
Gen 6: Gamecube - Resident Evil 4
Gen 7: Nintendo DS - Dragon Quest IX

Funny, I was quoting you when I saw all the game names and couldn't figure out why. I thought they were somehow invisible when I first read your post. :lol

 

[revolverjgw]

Gen 1
NA

Gen 2
Warlords (2600)
runner up- Pitfall (2600)

Gen 3
Castlevania 3 (NES)
runner up- Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

Gen 4
Super Castlevania 4 (SNES)
runner up- Thunder Force 4 (Genesis)

Gen 5
Metal Gear Solid (PSX)
runner up- Syphon Filter (PSX)

Gen 6
Metal Gear Solid 3- Subsistence (PS2)
runner up- Splinter Cell (Xbox)

Gen 7
Warhawk (PS3)
runner up- Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)

 

[BocoDragon]

Gen 1 & 2: N/A
Gen 3: NES
Gen 4: SNES
Gen 5: Saturn
Gen 6: Gamecube
Gen 7: Nintendo DS

Gen 1: Carter
Gen 2: Reagan
Gen 3: Bush
Gen 4: Clinton
Gen 5: Super Clinton
Gen 6: Bush 2
Gen 7: Obama

 

[Perfect Blue]

Chill guys, I fixed it. I read the thread wrong. :lol

 

[cartman414]

First: ?

Second: Tron Deadly Discs
Runner up: Donkey Kong, I guess

Third: Super Mario Bros. 3
Runner Up: Bionic Commando

Fourth: Super Metroid
Runner Up: Final Fantasy VI

Fifth: Paper Mario
Runner Up: Final Fantasy Tactics

Sixth: Soul Calibur
Runner Up: Metroid Prime

Seventh: Undecided

 

[Shig]

Gen 5: Super Clinton

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/34639

 

[pseudocaesar]

Gen 1: n/a

Gen 2: n/a

Gen 3: n/a

Gen 4: Golden Axe (Mega Drive)
Runner up: One of the Sonic games, I forget which

Gen 5: Metal Gear Solid (PS1)
Runner up: Gran Turismo (PS1)

Gen 6: God Of War (PS2)
Runner up: MGS3 (PS2)

Gen 7: Uncharted (PS3)
Runner up: MGS4 (PS3)

 

[Slavik81]

Gen 3: Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Runner up: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

Gen 4: Super Mario RPG (SNES)
Runner up: Super Mario World (SNES)

Gen 5: Majora's Mask (N64)
Runner up: Half-Life (PC)

Gen 6: Metal Gear Solid 3 (PS2)
Runner up: Super Mario Sunshine (GCN)

Gen 7: Portal (PC)
Runner up: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

 

[rbenchley]

Gen 1: Pong (Atari/Sears Telegames Pong console)

Gen 2: Burger Time (Atari 2600)
Runner up: Pitfall (Atari 2600)

Gen 3: Phantasy Star (SMS)
Runner up: Faxanadu (NES)

Gen 4: Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Runner up: Phantasy Star IV (GEN)

Gen 5: Panzer Dragoon Saga (SAT)
Runner up: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)

Gen 6: Persona 4 (Playstation 2)
Runner up: Tales of Symphonia (GC)

Gen 7: Tales of Vesperia (360)
Runner up: Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)

 

[Pyke Presco]

Gen 1: Nothing

Gen 2: Nothing

Gen 3: Wonder boy in Monster Land (SMS)
Runner up: Duck Hunt(NES)

Gen 4: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
Runner up: Sonic 2(GEN)

Gen 5: Ocarina of Time(N64)
Runner up: 007: The World is not Enough (N64)
Honorable mention: Star Craft (PC)

Gen 6: God of War(PS2)
Runner up: Halo 2(XBOX)
Honorable mention: Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)

Gen 7: Call of Duty 4:Modern Warfare(X360)
Runner up: Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion (X360)
Honorable mention: Company of Heroes (PC)

 

[batbeg]

Generation 1 - N/A
Generation 2 - Pitfall
Generation 3 - Super Mario Bros 3
Generation 4 - Pokemon Red
Generation 5 - Final Fantasy IX
Generation 6 - Valkyrie Profile 2
Generation 7 - Disaster: Day of Crisis

 

[Novid]

Gen 3: Super Mario Brothers (NES)
Runner Up: Tie - Alex Kid (SMS) CV3 (NES)

Gen 4: Four Way Tie: Chrono Trigger (SNES) Sonic 2 - 3 and Knuckles (GEN) Beyond Oasis (Gen) Ogre Battle (SNES)
Runner Up: F-Zero (SNES)

Gen 5: Xenogears (PSX)
Runners Up: Chrono Cross (PSX) Metal Gear Solid (PSX)

Gen 6: (This is Split Between Handheld and Console)
Handheld: Metroid Fusion (GBA) (Still the closest to Super Metroid)
Runner Up Handheld: Golden Sun Series (GBA)

Console: MGS3 (PS2)
Runners Up: MGS2 (PS2), Devil May Cry 3 (PS2), NFL 2k5 (PS2), Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (PS2), Dark Cloud2 (PS2).

Gen 7:

Handheld - Tie: Metal Gear PO, Star Ocean Series, God Of War: COO (PSP)
Runner Up: Patapon, LocoRoco 1 and 2 (Patapon would have been the only one on top if 2 was in UMD format)

Console: MGS4, VC1, Killzone
Runners Up: UFC 2009, DMC4, Uncharted, Ratchet

 

[INTERNET]

1: pong - we had it i guess
2: Adventure - it's ludicrous to say that somehow a line was crossed with the NES that somehow made fandom possible. There was just more space to fill in the details on your own.
3: Zelda I - I dismissed this until it was literally the only thing to do one weekend, and was amazed.
4: Super Mario World - In late high school, this pretty much rekindled my gaming urges. I snuck off during parties at my friends house to 100% this over the course of a couple months.
5: Mario Kart 64 - Block Fort is still unmatched in one on one play. Hundreds of hours and still more to learn.
6: Vice City - pinnacle of the series and the generation, just great in every way
7: Braid - everything I love in games distilled to 190 proof

 

[Sohter.Nura]

Gen 3 Sonic for the Sega Master System X)
Runner up: Kenseiden
Gen 4 Super Mario World
Runner up: Sonic for the Gen
Gen 5 Star Fox 64
Runner up: Super Smash Brawl
Gen 6 Disgaea
Runner up: Final Fantasy XII
Gen 7 Super Mario Galaxy
Runner up: Tales of Vesperia

 

[bernardobri]

The Third Generation: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Runner-up: Duck Hunt / SMB1)
The Fourth Generation: Final Fantasy VI (Runner-up: Sonic 2 / Snatcher)
The Fifth Generation: LOZ: OOT (Runner-up: MGS / Super Mario 64)
The Sixth Generation: Metal Gear Solid 2 (Runner up: God of War / Persona 3)
The Seventh Generation: Uncharted (Runner-up: MGS4 / Super Mario Galaxy)

 

[Drkirby]

Eh, hard to say for most, but here's a list.
1st: Pong (Only game I have ever played and remeber from then, so it wins by default)
2nd: Donkey Kong
3rd: Kirby's Adventure
4th: Tales of Phantasia
5th: Smash Bros
6th: MGS3
7th: SMG

 

[Drewsky]

Didn't really come in till Gen 4, so I'll start there.

Gen 4: Primal Rage on the Game Gear. That was the shit, not as good as arcade, but I had it for when I couldn't make it to the mall which was a lot since I was 8.

Gen 5: Syphon Filter on Playstation. Mostly the first one.

Gen 6: The Grand Theft Auto series. And I liked Splinter Cell and Halo too.

Gen 7: Not ready to make the call yet.

 

[rataven]

Gen 1: NA

Gen 2: Pitfall (2600)
Runner-up: Pac-Man (2600)

Gen 3: Super Mario Brothers 3 (NES)
Runner-up: The Legend of Zelda (NES)

Gen 4: Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Runner-up: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Very Honorable Mentions: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GB) and Final Fantasy V

Gen 5: Final Fantasy VII (PSX)
Runner-up: Final Fantasy IX (PSX)

Gen 6: Resident Evil 4 (GC)
Runner-up: Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)

Gen 7: to early to tell. Some potentials - Bioshock (PS3), Dissidia (PSP), or Mario Galaxy (Wii).

 

[Bresson]

1st pass

2nd: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain (Intellivision)
Runner Up: Utopia (Intellivision)

3nd: Phantasy Star (SMS)
Runner Up: Mario 3 (NES)

4th: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past(SNES)
Runner Up: Chrono Trigger (SNES)

5th: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)
Runner Up: Ocarina of Time (N64)

6th: Final Fantsay XII (PS2)
Runner Up: Resident Evil 4 (GC)

7th: Mass Effect (360)
Runner Up: Valkyria Chronicle (PS3)

 

[andymcc]

Second Gen:
Xevious

Third Gen:
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Runner-up: Mega Man 2

Fourth Gen:
Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo
Runner-up: Sonic the Hedgehog CD

Fifth Gen:
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Runner-up: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Sixth Gen:
Resident Evil 4
Runner-up: Persona 4

Seventh Gen:
Super Mario Galaxy
Runner-up: Street Fighter IV

 

[HUELEN10]

Keep in mind that OP said FAVORITE and not necessarily what we thought was the best.

Gen 1: Fuck you gen 1. :lol

Gen 2: Snafu (Intellivision)

Gen 3: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Second runner up: Sonic 2 (SMS)
Third runner up: Kirby's Adventure (NES)

Gen 4: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
Runner up: Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (SNES)

Gen 5: Paper Mario (N64)
Runner up: Mario Tennis (GBC)
Second runner up: Warioland II (GBC)

Gen 6: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN)
Runner up: Wario Ware Inc. Mega Microgame$ (GBA)
Second runner up: Wario Ware Twisted! (GBA)
Third runner up: Outrun 2006 (XBOX)
Fourth runner up: StarFox Assault (GCN)
Fifth runner up: Wario Ware Inc. Mega Microgame$ (GBA)

Sorry about gen 6, it kicked ass!

Gen 7: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Runner up: Sonic Unleashed (360)
Second runner up: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (NDS)
Third runner up: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations (NDS)

 

[Dambrosi]

Gen 1: Pong and its millions of clones and spinoffs (pretty much everything)

Gen 2: Defender (Atari 2600/Arcade)
Runner up: Battlezone (Sinclair ZX Spectrum/Arcade)/Joust (Atari 2600/Arcade)

Gen 3: Wizball (Commodore 64)
Runner up: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)/Nemesis/Gradius (NES/Arcade)

Gen 4: Star Fox (SNES)
Runner up: Final Fantasy III/VI (SNES)

Gen 5: Vagrant Story (PS1)
Runner up: Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn)

Gen 6 (so far): Resident Evil 4 (GC)
Runner up (so far): Persona 4 (Playstation 2)/Killer 7 (GC)

Gen 7 (so far): Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)
Runner up (so far): Lost Odyssey (360)

I'm intrigued by how similar some of these replies are. No love for home computers of the '80s? For shame, GAF.

 

[Kabouter]

My first and only console is the Xbox 360
It's probably Mass Effect that I enjoyed the most.

 

[Terrordactyl]

1. na
2.galaga
3.mega man 2
4.sonic 2 (with knuckles)
5.tony hawk 2
6.guitar hero 2
7.bioshock

 

[spliced]

Gen 3: Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Runner up: RBI Baseball (NES)

Gen 4: NHL 94 (SNES)
Runner up: Shadowrun (SNES)

Gen 5: Mario 64 (N64)
Runner up: Destruction Derby (PS1)

Gen 6: Super Mario Sunshine (GC)
Runner up: Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)

Gen 7: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Runner up: Tetris DS (DS)

 

[Ten-Song]

3rd Generation:
Super Mario 3
Runner up: Tetris

4th Generation:
Sonic CD
Runner up: Sonic 2

5th Generation:
Pokemon Silver
Runner up: Mario 64

6th Generation:
Halo 2
Runner up: Phantom Dust

7th Generation:
Mass Effect
Runner up: skate.

 

[fatty]

Nobody can deny the awesomeness of this list:

The Second Generation
Adventure (Atari 2600)
Runnerup: Pitfall (Atari 2600)

The Third Generation
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Runnerup: The Legend of Zelda(NES)

The Fourth Generation
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo (SNES)
Runnerup: Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

The Fifth Generation
Final Fantasy Tactics (PS)
Runnerup: Goldeneye (N64)

The Sixth Generation
Metroid Prime (GCN)
Runnerup: Final Fantasy XII/Gitaroo Man (PS2)

The Seventh Generation (so far)
Street Fighter IV (360/PS3)
Runnerup: Rock Band (360/PS3)

 

[GotchaForce]

4th Super Street Fighter 2
5th Street Fighter Alpha 3
6th Street Fighter 3 3rd Strike
7th Street Fighter 4

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Man, it hurt to leave out a lot of the games that I did, but I stuck to just two per generation.

Generation 3: Super Mario Bros 3
Runner Up: Final Fantasy

Generation 4: Earthbound
Runner Up: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Generation 5: Final Fantasy IX
Runner Up: Paper Mario

Generation 6: Mother 3
Runner Up: Persona 4

Generation 7: Super Mario Galaxy
Runner Up: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations

 

[Lumpy Onion]

First Generation: Before my time.

Second Generation: Berserk (2600)
Runner Up: Adventure (2600)

Third Generation: Contra (NES)
Runner Up: Ninja Gaiden (NES)

Fourth Generation: Final Fantasy VI (SNES)
Runner Up: Final Fantasy V (SNES)

Fifth Generation: Final Fantasy VII (PS1)
Runner Up: Metal Gear Solid (PS1)

Sixth Generation: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater SUBSISTENCE (PS2)
Runner Up: Final Fantasy X (PS2)

Seventh Generation Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)
Runner Up: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

 

[conman]

The First Generation
Pong (Atari/Sears Telegames)

The Second Generation
Adventure (Atari 2600)
runner up: Missile Command (Atari 2600)

The Third Generation
Metroid (NES)

The Fourth Generation
Legendary Axe (TG16)

The Fifth Generation
Mario 64 (N64)

The Sixth Generation
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (multiplatform)

The Seventh Generation
Assassin's Creed (multiplatform)

 

[Why would you do that?]

For way too many of these I can't decide so I put 2 choices.

The First Generation
None... Never had a Gen 1 system.

The Second Generation
Asteroids or Missile Command

The Third Generation
Super Mario Bros. 3 or Kirby's Adventure
Runner-up: Legend of Zelda

The Fourth Generation
Super Castlevania IV or Gameboy Camera
Runner-up: Pokemon Yellow

The Fifth Generation
Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Runner-up: Castlevania (64) or Super Mario 64

The Sixth Generation
F-Zero GX or Super Smash Bros. Melee
Runner-up: Rhythm Tengoku (GBA)

The Seventh Generation (Present Day)
Twilight Princess or Sonic Rush
Runner-up: Mario Kart DS
Ever since hitting this age, I haven't playing games nearly as much... so I can't make as concrete of an answer.

 

[Kuraudo]

First generation: :lol

Second generation: Spike (Vectrex)

Third generation: Mega Man 2
Runner up: Super Mario Bros

Fourth generation: Sonic 2
Runner up: Final Fantasy VI

Fifth generation: Final Fantasy VII
Runner up: Resident Evil 3

Sixth generation: Resident Evil 4
Runner up: Kingdom Hearts

Seventh generation: Oblivion
Runner up: Dead Rising