Most Groundbreaking, Ahead-of-Their-Time Games?

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What are some of the games that you feel were advanced, groundbreaking, avant-garde, or ahead of their time? Games that virtually defined an entire movement? Perhaps they weren't recognized at first, or perhaps they still haven't been recognized.

Here's some examples:

Clock Tower for the SNES - Nothing like this had ever been seen before. Before this game came out, games like Haunted House for the Atari 2600 and Sweet Home for the NES were the only "survival horror" games. This game changed all that. Featuring more possible endings than any modern game, it was completely revolutionary and managed to create a truly frightening and tense atmosphere on a 16-bit system. Now that's an accomplishment in and of itself. Obviously, nobody even tried to release this game outside of Japan; there was simply no way Nintendo of America would approve it.

Dragonstomper for the Atari 2600 - One of the most tragically underrated games of all-time. Few have played this masterpiece, but those who have will probably tell you it's the greatest game for the Atari 2600. A full-fledged RPG featuring strategy, adventure, and turn-based combat. The very first console RPG, and still one of the best.

Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken for the PC-6001 and NES - A sophisticated interactive detective story where the player must hunt for clues, explore, solve puzzles, and talk to various characters. This game kick-started the visual novel genre, which continues to be extremely popular in Japan.

I, Robot for arcades - This 1983 arcade game was so revolutionary at the time that few could even play it. Compared to the incredibly simplistic games that were popular in the early '80s, this game featured full 3-D polygon gameplay. It also included a mode where the player could design their own images, something never seen again in an arcade game.

So, which revolutionary and ahead-of-their-time games come to mind for you?

"Donkey Kong Country" for the SNES looked like it belonged on a next generation system such as the PS1/Saturn even though those systems weren't available yet in 1994.

Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis, 1991) was an outright revolution in the platform genre. It featured fast action, the ability to walk on curves, loops, walls, and ceilings, and portrayed Sonic himself as a dude with a 'tude.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Jurassic Park: Trespasser was way ahead of its time.

Bump mapping and specular highlighting (in software, even!), "realistic" physics, real-time "foley" sound system, inverse kinematic animations/ragdoll physics, the ability to render a huge game world at once, with hundreds of 3D objects on screen (though it's more impressive on modern hardware with the draw distance increased, otherwise they quickly turn into 2D sprites), etc. etc.

I also loved the hudless system (your health was displayed as a tattoo on your chest), being able to control your arm/hand (though the controls were a bit wonky), and the way you fell over when you died. The AI was really great (it actually felt like I was being hunted, instead of having monsters always coming straight for you), but it was better in the beta version.

I think one of my favorite bits is when a pack of raptors strike you down and then proceed to munch on your corpse, dragging it to and fro, and all you can do is look on in horror.

Not a single Mention for Final fantasy series? Final fantasy 7 was at the time AMAZING, hell even over 10 years later i still play it! it had everything a good game needed : Gameplay, Music, Story, Longevity...everything!

It was the first in the series to go fully 3d and even though now i sometimes think OMG i used to think this was amazing graphics back in the day it really was, the FMVs were outstanding and something very little other games could compete with, of course now the series has moved on but still it was THAT game that got me into my Computer Games obsession i was just simply blown away by it, it was like nothing i had ever played before

The very first Pokemon games. Sure the visuals and animations were just as generic as any other Gameboy title, but the amount of characters, scale and length of the game was huge and amazing.

I can't say for sure, but based on alphas and news I'd say Battlefield 3 would be groundbreaking tech, engine and graphics wise.

Hmmm... in terms of staying power, influence, and impact upon the gaming world and society in general, I would have to say:

1. Go - there is a reason this is the most popular strategy board game in the world
2. Chess (Western) - this revolutionary game has made a continued impact on not only gaming but also literature
3. Backgammon - the mixture of strategy and luck has been irresistible for many a man, even James Bond!
4. Mancala (Aware, etc.) - the ancient game of strategy using pits and stones from the African continent
5. Checkers - picture the tension with two old men hunkered over an overturned pickle barrel in the general store (I guess the same could be said for dominoes)
6. Poker - cowboys, saloons, gamblers, and saloon girls - need I say more?

Sims city 3000 for pc, or Grand theft auto 3 boy that game was captivating when it came out.

Fallout and Fallout 2.
Diablo.
Yeah, the SNES Donkey Kong games looked awesome too.
All of these games use sprites made from pre-rendered 3D graphics.