Well, what I thought would be a foray into the shooter genre has quickly become a long-lasting love. I spoke most kindly of Dead Space and when I finished it, I was left wanting for more. I perused our library of existing games and settled on Half-Life 2. I'm playing it on the PS3. We have the PC version as well, but I'm spending so much time on my computer for work that I can't bring myself to use it for gaming right now. So, what I give up in the graphical presentation, I am more than making up for by being able to sit on the recliner 
I've decided that I really, really like to shoot things. That sounds a little disturbing, huh? Oh, don't be that way, I know that most of you like to shoot things, too. I just got the crossbow and there is huge satisfaction in that soft thwack followed by someone crumpling in the distance. I think my favorite weapon thus far though is the shotgun. It's very satisfying to shoot those head sucker things.
One aspect of the game that I LOVE is the puzzling. Stack some boxes up here, throw some blocks on that ramp, jump on the rocks to avoid the antlions - grr @ that one. It's not just a hack and slash or a plain ol' shooter. One has to think while playing the game. While that can be frustrating, it is huge amounts of fun!
So, as I delve deeper into the shooters, I'd like to know what your favorites are. What did you like about it? Let me know and you'll be helping me pick the next one.
Sorry for the excitement over something that is probably old hat to most of you who have been playing shooters for a while, but it's new and exciting to me!
~Toni