Metroid...
To some of us this is a classic that defined the dungeon crawler/platformer genres. To some of us it was a revolutionary 3D fps that took puzzlers to a new level. But let's be honest it has fallen with many of the other great classics and it's sad that it doesn't get more attention.
Metroid wasn't one of my first games but when I did play it for the first time, it completely blew me away. The simplicity, and yet deeper complexity of how it played made it so enjoyable and fun.
To me the last great Metroid game was Prime and ever since Nintendo has lost touch with what the franchise is supposed to be. I'm actually appalled at the new Metroid game announced at E3 this year and it saddens me that there will probably never again be a game with Samus at the forefront of a clever title. The series has so much to work with and yet they don't even try to make it shine anymore.
Discuss, remanence, vent... What are your thoughts on the Metroid franchise?
[spoiler]"The Great Fallen Classics" as I call them include: Sonic the Hedgehog, Megaman, Metroid, Pacman and Resident Evil. There are many more but these were the main franchise driven games that I feel lost touch with their originals or have ended completely.[/spoiler]