Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Steam link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/71162/(Also available in many other formats)
If I have anyone to credit for igniting my interest in video games, it is Sonic the Hedgehog. I've been hooked ever since I played Sonic 2, the first game that I ever owned. Throughout my early years as a gamer, Sonic games provided me with fond memories and built up the basic skills that would help to guide me through many other gaming experiences.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles did a fantastic job of building upon its predecessors: its characters exhibit the smooth motion and sense of momentum that Sonic had become famous for, the levels were all designed with just as much careful thought as those in the previous Sonic titles, the colorful environments and clever visual effects made full use of the capabilities of the Genesis, the soundtrack was full of enjoyable and memorable tunes, and the sheer amount of content made Sonic 3 & Knuckles the biggest Sonic game as of the time of its release. In my eyes, this game is the full package.
Super Mario 64
Wii U eShop link: http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/TOEiNDty4AHQngsUnC2Eyog0kBeitORN(Also available on Nintendo 64 and Wii Virtual Console)
(Remade on Nintendo DS as "Super Mario 64 DS")
The platformer genre is my bread and butter, so I guess it's no surprise that I respect this game so deeply. Super Mario 64 is widely credited as one of the most influential games of all time, having left its mark not only on 3D platformers, but on 3D games in general. This game has had a massive impact on me as well. In fact, since I see it as holding such a pivotal role in both my life and the development of gaming as a whole, I sometimes forget that it's possible for people to be unfamiliar with Super Mario 64.
Although I appreciate many things about this game, my favorite aspect is the way that Mario moves around in his environment. Between the range of movement directions offered by the control stick and the vast array of actions that Mario can perform, players have a great deal of control over Mario's movement. The fact that the game's levels are structured in order to take advantage of this only enhances the experience. In my case, the cherry on top is the game's heavy use of momentum. Mario's movement isn't just stop-and-go; he moves around by gradually accelerating. Building up speed by using Mario's Long Jump or by sliding down a slope feels very satisfying. (All this talk about momentum-based physics...I really am a Sonic fan, huh?)
