I remember being so blown away by Final Fantasy III, all the way back to the early Japanese previews. Playing a 20 lap race on one of those giant 8 man Indy 500 game rigs at Sega City. Basically, it was get the most points in five minutes at Super Mario. I later found out that I had won the local event, and just barely missed the provincial title - would have gotten a free trip to BC for the Nationals had I won. I'm such a nerd.
Sad thing is, there have been many such experiences.
I grew up alongside the games. The older and more mature I got, so did the games. Take Silent Hill, or Metal Gear Solid, or Max Payne, or Gran Turismo, or countless others. These aren't your children's toys anymore, they are now a viable form of entertainment geared as much to the parents as to the teens. A very well made game is so much more satisfying than a well made Hollywood movie - Goldeneye is much more fun than Goldeneye.