My Top Ten: Wow Moments

It’s Friday, I’m slightly bored but I’m not in the mood for writing big serious pieces. Also, GDC seems to have used up all the decent news and I feel like I’m on a roll with posts this week so I want to keep that up.

Anyway, I digress. I had been sitting in a daydream thinking about replaying Far Cry 2 with its lovely fire effects when I started thinking about those moments in my gaming life that have made me go and get people to show them what’s on screen.

I suppose you can call them the “wow moments” if you want a snappy sound-bite (and why wouldn’t you?). So off the top of my head, here’s my top ten:

1. The rain effect on the ship: Metal Gear Solid 2 (PS2)
2. The grass waving in the wind: Flower (PS3)
3. First helicopter ride over Liberty City: Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
4. The lighting and textures: Gran Turismo (PSX)
5. Polygonal car models: Virtua Racing (Megadrive)
6. Water effects: Far Cry (PC)
7. Player sprites and animations: FIFA (Megadrive)
8. Everything looking like a video in 1992: Mad Dog McRee (Arcade)
   
9. Desperately addictive multiplayer: Super Mario Karts (SNES)
10. 3D graphics when I was only just old enough to hold a Kempston: 3D Deathchase (Spectrum 48k)

I might do this every Friday as a feature with a different subject for the list each week. Feedback and (dis)agreements in the comments please!