What game (or series of games) has had the most impact on your life in general? Either in terms of emotionally or in terms of missing an important assignment because you couldn't get your hands off that joypad to write it?

For me, I would probably have to say Shining Force 2. The first RPG I ever played, and the first storyline I ever got myself completely immersed into. It was a breath of fresh air to platformers like Sonic and Mario that had been my staple up until then. The emotional ride of the story was cool, and it kept me glued up until the end. I wouldn't be an RPG fan today if it had not been for this game.

Secret of Mana.
The game made me want two things:
- more games of this sort, especially done by Square
- make games like this

I bought all games that Squaresoft released afterwards... well, Secret of Evermore, that is, and then I waited for another game, and while waiting for years, my devotion to Squaresoft kind of fell into coma, and was reanimated years later by the release of the first FF game ever to cross our borders, FFVII. I remembered: Square, yes... them... and shortly afterwards, I was back on track and into RPGs just like before. It�s why I am here now.

i wouldn't say a game has really had an affect like that on me. the closest i come, i guess, was a five hour solid stint of Abes Exodus. i did play through Grim Fandango and beat it one evening, which is a bit intense. thats it though

Prolly FF8, first time I played it I played it like 13 hours straight. I didn't wanna go to bed coz everytime I said, "I WILL SAVE IT THEN GO TO BED" it took another turn or twist. The sun came up and I thought that then I should get some sleep. After 5-6 hours sleep I woke up and continued where I left off.

Zelda and Mario.

I'd say FF7, it was my first actualy RPG I ever played, since then I've been hooked like mad to RPGs. But not only Turn based RPGs like FF but any other RPG.

It's Mario for me o_O heck I grew up with the plumber, and ofcourse Lufia II because it sucked me into the RPG genre.

Final Fantasy 7, I think in terms from a technical standpoint it really gave the videogame public a taste of what was to come with the advent of the fully 3d worlds and that videogames have �Grown up�. That's what that game means to me and that games are now going to be more realistic.