One's first game?

[Obiwanshinobi]

I need to investigate what about games does and what doesn't work for people with various eyesight issues. That's why I need some genuinely accessible games. Not what gamers may THINK might be accessible. Rather, what you've personally witnessed catching some non-gamer's attention. Super Monkey Ball seems like a safe bet (one of embarrassingly few violence-free games rewarding execution), but I need variety.

I have only one such story to tell. Years ago, my mom watching me play Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 on the PC (before console ports were out) asked me to let her control the character for a while. So that kangaroo had the mojo. It was never among best 3D platformers even on the (malnourished in this regard) PC, however, and the kangaroo's voice did suck (then again, now I'm letting my gamer's prejudice take the floor).

Any stories to tell, anyone?
I thought about Sky Odyssey and Excite Truck (Flying Truck, more like), but both take learning the controls first. Super Mario Land is an option but: eight directions, two buttons and he's a bloody mugger in plumber's disguise. With Super Monkey Ball, Baku Baku Animal and the likes (Puyo Puyo?), coin-op origins make them a tad more punishing for newcomers than I'd like.
At the end of the day, the only games made with the person A in mind I can think of are certain Kirby games. Maybe asking on some completely random forum would be a better idea, but I thought asking on here first can't hurt.

[trap15]

Yoshi's Island, Super Mario World

[KAI]

NES Mario, or it was Popeye? I'm not sure.

[gabe]

This thread could easily be titled "games that I can get my wife to play and enjoy."

Mr. Driller is a good one. Non-violent, it uses one button, has a very clear goal, and lacks complex mechanics. Very similar to Super Monkey Ball in that regard. Most rails shooters also fall into this category (one button, simple objective) however, they are rather violent by nature. Finally, I think Pong would be an excellent fit, especially for folks who are visually impaired.

[shmuppyLove]

Tetris

[Octopod]

Katamari

[njiska]

Tetris

Yeah, this turned a lot of people. Power of a gameboy.

[Marc]

Pang. Simple controls, a clear objective and sunny graphics.

[stryc9]

Alien Soldier.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Alien Soldier.

Really? It's a spectacle like no other, but reminds me of some latest GB games (everything is so BIG for no apparent reason other than looking bigger). I think The Adventure of Little Ralph or Keio Flying Squadron 2 would be... a more accessible kind of showy, but what do I know?

[louisg]

I think he's kidding; Alien Soldier is hard to come to grips with.

[moh]

most likely something on super nintendo.

I've literally been playing games since before I can remember

[stryc9]

Yeah I was joking about that one. But in all seriousness how about something like Rainbow Islands - nice clear objectives, simple, easy to understand graphic style and a nice introduction to risk and reward type play.

Not to mention the tunes are infectious as ever (I'm actually playing the Extra version for MD at the moment).

PS this thread is a bit confusing man, Obiwanshinobi are you asking for recommendations of games for casuals/ beginners,
the game we all played first in our lives, or both? People seem to be giving different responses

[Octopod]

Oh is this our first game? I thought it was good first games for non-gamers or something. lol


My first game was Adventure of the VCS. Also Tank, Yars Revenge and other VCS games and earlier arcade titles like Galaga, Mrs. Pacman and Space Invaders.

[Nana]

The first game I remember playing is NiGHTS into Dreams I think, but it's not exactly the most accessible first choice. Crash Bandicoot was what really got me into gaming. (Yes, I know, I'm a baby.)

[Obiwanshinobi]

In my endeavours, I need two folks' approval and support. They don't do videogaming, one is far-sighted and the other one is... astigmatic? Not sure what doctors would say, but he's an accomplished artist and Tetris most certainly isn't out of the question here.
Alien Soldier actually reminded me of the latter. He has bad memories of things in games not looking like the promotional artwork at all (we're talking the last century's late seventies-early eighties here). Many developers, even today, seem to be saddled with some "small sprite complex" that might have begun in those ancient times. Mega Man/Rockman Zero, Viewtiful Joe (the camera zoomed in where it makes the game harder for the wrong reasons), and - above all - Alien Soldier (where EVERYTHING seems at least twice as big as it would be in any "ordinary" game).

Having said that, I might have got a clue in the park today. BurgerTime Deluxe. Always bet on Data East!

[shmuppyLove]

He has bad memories of things in games not looking like the promotional artwork at all

In most cases, that's a good thing

[Obiwanshinobi]

Mega Man is not "most cases" and it was a pretty late NES game.
I have an opposite problem with Mario. The later the games, the more his in-game appearance and promotional artwork looked alike (both have been changing for the worse). Voxel Mario would look business if you ask me. Super Mario Land remains the least graphically compromised Mario game to date (the artwork too).
Speaking of which, I'm gobsmacked be the quality of many GB games' cover illustrations. Fine arts indeed. (I chose the ones I have in a relatively good shape.) The original GB had no chance whatsoever to render anything this gaudy.

[Moniker]

Katamari

Seconded. Literally everyone I've ever shown this game to, gamer or not, loves it. More broadly, non-gamers tend to like SMB3, tetris-esque puzzlers, Mario Kart, and rail shooters (in that order).

My first game was SMB1/Duck Hunt. Packaged with the good ole NES.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Another Game Boy enlightenment moment has occured today.
I don't have any forming memories of Bomberman parties and used to find the single player modes lacking. Super Mario Land made more appealing use of bombs and I'd like to see that concept built upon. I know about unusual adventure modes in Generation and Tournament, have both, but neither seems to be what I'm after now.
Since I like Silent Bomber, I didn't give up and Bomber Boy/Dynablaster/Atomic Punk was my "on duty" game of choice today. Game A/Bomber Boy didn't do much for me, but Game B/Bomber Man had clicked at last. It's apparently the original Bomberman with altered screen proportions, the camera following him smoothly and passwords. Now we're talking.
It's the first Bomberman game I play where he appears to run from the word go. If on "civilised" battlefields under heavy artillery fire grenadiers were of any use, their mobility might have been the reason why. Bomberman here plants a bomb and runs for it. How intuitive. The action is intense enough without any upgrades and every upgrade feels rewarding.
If that's how beefy the first Bomberman was, I wonder why single player modes lost that edge in subsequent games. More puzzling than the - somewhat lifeless - single player experience Mario Kart Wii has to offer.
Does the original Bomberman even have any simultaneous multiplayer mode? Not many computer games this old seem to have.

[Acid_Rain]

My first game was "Quicky" a advertisement game for nestle's chocolate drink nesquick running in DOS.

Video

dat name

[Obiwanshinobi]

My mom seemed to enjoy Game B of Dynablaster played on the GBA SP. She caught the "one more go" bug, which is not always a good thing (games can be compulsive yet very little fun at the same time), but I think some fun was there.
Today, I unlocked Monkey Golf in the original SMB (I don't think the acronym is a fluke; few games are so timelessly enjoyable on the most basic level and Amusement Vision must have known what they had there). Monkey Golf, then. What a game. As if they read this topic over a decade ago and just answered.
I've never played real golf. Neither computer simulations, nor the golf course I saw the other day made me want to. Monkey Golf, on the other hand, makes me think I know what kind of fun golf is about. Quite a feat.