What game would you start a newbie gamer off on?

[shoes23]

If this topic has already been posted then please forgive me. I wonder because I have a girlfriend that I've been trying to get at least semi-interested in gaming...but to no avail so far. I've thought about pitching an RPG to her, but the time factor of putting in 40+ hours wouldn't fare too well, and her interest isn't perked when I spend hours combing Dracula's castle in Castlevania SOTN looking for a better shield, or when I go on a headshot rampage in the newest shooter on the market. About the only game that has even come close to spawing an interest is Tetris and SMB. Essentially, if you were to pitch a game to a brand new gamer what would you choose?

[Quintracker]

Puzzle games for newbie gamer girls.

[robotriot]

Yea, puzzle and Katamari Damacy :)

[Berty]

My GF likes the following...

Wario Ware Inc - Gameboy Advance
Monopoly - Gameboy Advance
Tetris - Gameboy

[FurinkanianFrood]

I personally like Puyo Puyo and Magical Drop 3 as far as puzzle games are concerned, though I have never gotten a newbs opinion on the latter (not to mention I would try to remember to avoid certain characters like the bouncy one with nothing but that piece of cloth... Didn't somebody around here have that one as an avatar?) Just general off hand comments about my favorite puzzle games, as I am certainly not a female non-gamer.

Hmmmm. RPG's always seemed like a good bet back in the day (I used to know some really big fans of Phantasy Star who were female), but many of today's RPGs are kind of eh. I'm sitting here playing an RPG from 16 years ago as I type.

Mario and Zelda were always good back in the day, but the most recent iterations can be irritating in subtle ways that might be quite off-putting to a new gamer.

Any good platformers that don't go off the deep end in difficulty.

I have known some girls who like cutesiness, but that depends on personality.
My game collection is off the scale on the cute meter, and I'm not any interested in headshot rampages than most women are.

It really depends on the person, and it's hard to say other than avoiding games that have a steep learning curve/high difficulty/ultra-violence.

Older games are definitely a better place to look I'd say.... Might require some creative thinking also.

My taste in games is so far off from the mainstream consumer that I might not be one to ask. I'm far too tempted to start listing obscure imports. (If you want I could list a few but they might be too esoteric/expensive, you gotta realize I'm the guy who immedialtely thinks of Magical Drop when he hears puzzle games mentioned, and most people haven't even heard of that one, let alone some of the rare stuff poking around on my shelves....)

At least you probably don't have to make sure that a PCFX Pia Carrot or something isn't lying there on the coffee table..... Collecting for some systems can be hazardous ;)

[towerofsong]

all girls like Mario Kart...

[Humanoid]

Might I suggest Mario Party? Good quick easy to pick up burst of gaming.
I also find games like Donkey Konga and DDR are good ways to go.

[Ulticron]

If you have any console generation at your disposal I'd suggest either Super Mario Bros 2 or Sonic 2. If you don't have those at your disposal, I'd go w/something like Spyro or Crash. A simple fun game w/a cute character, can't go wrong w/that.

[djbeatmongrel]

puzzles are the easiest games to get women into. especially ones like the bust a move series and puyo pop

[shoes23]

Thanks a lot everyone! I took the puzzler advice and booted her up my favorite puzzle game of all time...Gals Panic! :hmm:
Just kidding!

I think the Mario Party idea will fly great (plus with her two kids it'll give us something to do together), its about time the N64 gets to see the light of day again anyway. I also found Dr. Mario buried away in a box, along with some newer puzzlers like Devil Dice and Fantavision (I shudder everytime that game somehows makes it into the disc tray, but I'll take one for the team if it comes to that).

[LAGO]

Animal Crossing might work ... i've not played it but fom what I hear almost everybody likes that game. That or something like the sims.

[squidblatt]

Yeah, I was also going to say Bust a Move. But I think you're going to have a hard time convincing anyone who doesn't see the appeal at the outset. I've tried several times to get my wife involved in gaming to no avail. I thought maybe the Sims would be a good bet, but no. She was interested enough to watch me load it up, but the gameplay wasn't appealing to her. Puzzle games didn't do it either. Trivial Pursuit may have been a possibility, but the questions kept repeating and they were really dumbed down. So now I don't even bother. She liked the cut-scences from Armed and Dangerous, but nothing else. We each have our own hobbies, and just have to find other ways to spend time together.

[Ikari Warrior]

I'd say:
Animal Crossing
Super Monkey Ball
Tetris Worlds
Katamari Damacy
Karaoke Revolution/DDR
SSX Tricky

I've seen girls like those before.

[FlufflePuff]

Jak and Daxter if she needs an introduction to 3d. My gf loves sidescrollers like Mario, but hasn't quite made the leap yet. I've been pushing Jak and Daxter on her and she's starting to get the hang of it. Next test is seeing if she can play Kingdom Hearts.

[shoes23]

She's watched me play SSX before.
And DDR or any iteration of it strictly forbidden in my house! Period! I simply won't stand for it.

[joshnickerson]

I recommend Donkey Konga. Aside from 1080 Avalanche, that's the only game my sister's played in the past ten years.

[imanerd0011]

Most girls seem to LOVE Dr. Mario. She might like SMB 3 as well. Have here try the Bust A Move games on the N64, she will probabley like them too. They are just like free online game Snood (which I bet she has played before).

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

You start a newbie gamer off with PONG then work your way from there

[Snapple]

In general, anything with simple controls and multiplayer action is going to be a good bet. Perhaps a game of Super Monkey Ball would be something you two could play together.

[mizarkgram]

When I was first getting my ball and chain *hopes she doesnt read that...* :roll: , I got her to play some of the older games that she already knew about and owned...

SMB. SMB3, Tetris, That Snoopy gmae for NES, Mario Kart

Then broght her into the current generation (at the time) with Mario Parties

Now she likes hte Sims, all Mario Party games, Mario Kart, and will even play some of my wrestling games and other fighting games with me... its been a long journey

She also liked to play racing games... everyone likes racing games

[it290]

I would suggest point 'n' click adventure games, especially LucasArts ones. The humor and puzzle solving appeal to a wide range of people, and the fact that you can't die is helpful as well. A lot of non-gamers tend to get turned off by games that require quick reflexes.

[Crush Crawfish]

Bonk's Adventure, Donkey Kong Country, Megaman 3, and Super mario Bros. All great, easy to learn games.

[PDorr3]

the best game for couples:
The adventures of cookie and cream (PS2)
Requires both people to use the same controller, and its a whole lot of fun!

[ghostangelofcky]

My wife is a RPG girl.

But yeah all girls dig mario kart

[Richter Belmount]

resident evil 4 seriously couldnt be a more straight forward game
or take her to a arcade and play ddr with her.

[-hellvin-]

sonic the hedgehog

[bargora]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, available for the Playstation or Saturn. It's a Tetris-style game, but I like it much better than Tetris. More pertinent to you, it's about the only modern console game my non-gamer wife likes and will play for more than two minutes.

[SuperNES]

Might I suggest Mario Party? Good quick easy to pick up burst of gaming.
I also find games like Donkey Konga and DDR are good ways to go.

don't forget karaoke revolution! if your GF can sing well, you might want to pick it up.

[Dj Glitch]

Streets of Rage 2

[tholly]

Animal Crossing
Donkey Konga

Puzzle Games

Most Racing Games

...and, if you have access to a full size Pinball machine, girls love playing on those, although its not really a "video game" ... my girlfriend loves Super Mario Bros. pinball machine

[Kroogah]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, available for the Playstation or Saturn. It's a Tetris-style game, but I like it much better than Tetris. More pertinent to you, it's about the only modern console game my non-gamer wife likes and will play for more than two minutes.

Best thing about Puzzle Fighter is how balanced it is.

Player 1 creates big combo and dumps assload of gems on player 2.
If player 2 survives long enough so that the garbage turns into gems, player 2 creates big combo and dumps assload of gems on player 1.
If player 1 survives long enough so that the garbage turns into gems, repeat from start.

Other than that, DDR and Karaoke are no doubt your best bet.

[tyranthraxus]

It just has to be said: Rez with Trance Vibrator accessory ;)

[Dimitri]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, available for the Playstation or Saturn. It's a Tetris-style game, but I like it much better than Tetris. More pertinent to you, it's about the only modern console game my non-gamer wife likes and will play for more than two minutes.
Best thing about Puzzle Fighter is how balanced it is.

Player 1 creates big combo and dumps assload of gems on player 2.
If player 2 survives long enough so that the garbage turns into gems, player 2 creates big combo and dumps assload of gems on player 1.
If player 1 survives long enough so that the garbage turns into gems, repeat from start.
That sounds like my games of Tetris Attack. I think I've had single rounds go for over 20 minutes before. I wouldn't really say either game is suitable for beginners, though. Puzzle Bobble is a popular one, along with the un-screwed-around-with versions of Tetris that are out there.

Whenever I'm playing games with non-gamers, we usually end up putting either Bomberman or SF Rush in -- 2049's battle mode is a perennial favorite, just make sure you turn on random weapon spawn for a more balanced game.

If I was trying to get someone into gaming, I'd probably boot up something like Katamari, start the first level, and hand them the controller not telling them what to do. Then if they showed signs of disinterest I'd put on Streets of Rage 2. If someone doesn't like balling up pastel objects, they'll probably like beating the crap out of people.

Putting in Mario is probably not a good thing...it may be a classic, but it requires a modicum of skill to make it past the first few stages, which is something you can't take for granted in a neophyte. (I'm totally on Scrabble words today!)