If someone you knew came up to you and knew nothing about video games, what is the one game that you would show them that would explain what video games are like? In other words, what is the most ideal game out there?

I would probably choose Legend of Zelda II if I wanted to make my point. It has nearly every genre in it: Action, Adventure, RPG, Puzzle, Platformer, etc.

This is a tough choice for me, because most of my head is saying, "Say Psychonauts!" and the rest of my brain is saying, "Think first..."

I have too many I'd want to show such a person. I could show them one that changed my life, like Silent Hill 2, but they'd probably get bored. Odin Sphere is a great game to show someone who knows nothing about video games, and also questions if they can be art. This game is a 2D side-scrolling RPG with amazing visuals. The graphics are still amazing to this day. It's like you opened a picture book with beautiful art, in fact.

If they wanted to see multiple genres in one game, I'd go for Odin Sphere because it gives an example along with beautiful visuals. If the person was more likely to be impressed by things such as a racing game that can make even someone like me, a person who normally is bored by racing games, love it, I'd go for any version of the PSone and PS3 exclusive title WipEout or WipEout HD.

Either version of the game is great to look at, and extremely fun. It says what the heart of a game is. The heart of video games is fun. The WipEout games are huge in fun. It's even more impressive that it doesn't have to be a racing game. You could just choose to run 99 laps solo with no competition if you wish to do so.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a questionable choice, but if someone was unaware that a game with such a conventional Tolkien landscape could be engrossing, this game would be what I'd show them. It's easier on the mind compared to the Fallout games made by or with Bethesda. Why? Those Fallout games just would give the wrong idea. New Vegas could be less of a bad idea to show someone who knows little about gaming, but Fallout 3 is just overkill.

Oblivion simply is much more laid back. That sounds like the kind of game I'd show to someone who would prefer that. If they wanted something based on a classic sci-fi short story called I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, I'd show them the game version. It's a conventional click and point adventure game from the DOS era, but it is a fantastic one that captures the spirit of the story well.

I simply can't decide what I'd show such a person. I have so many games, and I am far too specific to just show something like the second Legend of Zelda game. I have to show something that is different, interesting, engrossing, or simply fun.

I would show them "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time".

I'd make them steer clear of Call of Duty, as it will make them into a noob if that's the first game they'd play.

alexanyways : I second each and every word in your above post. OoT is awesome, and CoD mass produces noob style players...

I gotta agree that Legend of Zelda II might be a good start just because it represents a few genres, so you can get a good feel of the video game world. 

Super Mario Bros. or Final Fantasy.

I think both are represenative of Video Game lore.

I know I've already posted, but I've played a variety of other games after that post. I'm more of a shooter, RPG, and action fan when it comes to gaming, but I'd say something simple like Tetris would be the best example to show someone. I could probably have my mom play it, and she'd understand it. She's pretty much helpless when it comes to computers and the like, but she'd probably understand the concept of blocks falling.

I still stand by my previous choices.

I would Choose CastlevaniaOTN or Super Mario World. SOTN had the Action, RPG, Story, and Platforming a Game needs and Mario World because it is easy to pick and play and get used too and can get quite challenging. Never give them Action 52 or Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde those games may have the basics, but are so bad that anybody who first plays it as their first game will shun Video games for the rest of their lives.

Depends on the person .

I would show them the climax of the Elder Scrolls or maybe Halo.
The Elder Scrolls just pulls you in, everything feels a bit real but you know it's not. You can do magic and have intense combat, join guilds and collect items.

Halo has a storyline that is interesting and has many different environmental feelings in the different levels, fright when the flood is around, rescuing trapped people and even stealth on an enemy cruiser.

Grand Theft Auto maybe, to show the pure silliness and non-seriousness you can do in videogames.

Kirby for that platforming action.

Well to start with I would tell him to try a game which is simple and fun as he is new to games...."Paper boy"