Games That Were Better Than Expected...

[adumir]

Everquest II.

I'm really surprised at how great a game this is compared to my expectations. Yellowking, I'll never doubt you again

[mathfed]

I forgot about Far Cry. That game kicks ass! I hated the demo, but I could tell that somewhere beyond the bugs, there was a great game hiding.
I bought it the day it was released and loved it until the stupid last levels.

I'm in the exact same boat. I didn't know anything about FarCry. I got it with my new video card. I just couldn't get enough of sneaking through the bushes to pop mercenaries in the head with the sniper rifle. The game is brilliant until the Volcano level. Then, it all goes to hell. I had to use a god mode to finish the game because the last levels were so insanely hard. Being locked in a small room with uber-powerful sharpshooters got old real quick. I did like the very first volcano level where you're dropped from the helicopter onto an island with no weapons, though. The ones after that.....ugh.

Another one for me would be Children of the Nile. I had a lot of fun with that game. It didn't get a lot of hype or publicity, but I played the hell out of it. I sure hope there is going to be an expansion or new content for this one.

Painkiller also floored me. I didn't know what it was about. I just bought it on a whim. Once I started playing, I couldn't stop. Sticking a baddie to the wall with a wooden stake through the neck is just too much fun.

[Jolor]

In descending order:

Painkiller surprised me in how much sheer fun it was. I remember snickering at the 'Heaven's got a Hitman' tagline. Good, good game which would be my pick for best of if not for Pirates!.

Far Cry was another pleasant surprise. I found it more intense than Painkiller (because you were so much more vulnerable) and only slightly less enjoyable.

PoP Sands of Time. Very, very engaging.

CivIII Conquests. Added so much gameplay compared to previous Civ expansions.

RoN: Thrones & Patriots. Not so much my being overwhelmed by how good the expansion was but I was very pleased, indeed.

[Brain]

I'll second Crusader Kings - pretty cool. First game in a while where I've definitely had to RTFM.
I was playing Spartan heaps up until Rome Total War came out.