Well, someone who hasnt played CS since the start, or at least since 1.5, problably has a hard time getting into it. The game's been aroung for years and therefore players have gained in skill and a noob has a really hard time dealing with it. There's practically no noob servers where all rookies gather, bcause there always is one or two skilled players who easily own all rookies.

As i've been around since 1.1 I obviously prefer 1.6 to css, though someone just getting into the game might rather go for css.. your call.

the monkey series.... if you can handle the grafics of 1&2, but if not, go with curse of monkey island (mine favourite)

There's a lot of great adventure games (not all 3rd person)

there's also grim fandango, and Sanitarium (one of the most underrated games of all times), Zork grand inquisitor.... and the list goes on...

freespace 2 is probably THE best space shooter out there... oh, btw the game was available for download for quite some time now, I know, cause I got it more than half a year ago, and I dont even know how long its been abandonware before (well the source code was given to the community).

The game has a great story, controls are superb, ship design is awesome (talk about ships being big eh :) ), the only thing I really hate about it, is THERE IS NO SEQUEL!!!!! Cmon, this game has to get a sequel, the story's not over yet.... there's so much more to be told..... hope my dreams come true one day, cause there really hasnt been any game like it since... oh well...

silent hill series and clive barkers undying

Crucifier

right on the spot if I say so myself. undying is one of the best horror games. I still remember I couldnt make myself to play it in the dark hehe too scarry.

Play Gothic 2 and 1 (you won't regret it, just get over a bit outdated graphics, which i dont mind, and enjoy)

Then Divine divinity is also an awesome rpg, a bit like diablo 2, only with more quests, which is great (with the exeption of few looooong boring dungeons with notihng to do but hack and slash)

Then you have the classics like Fallout 1&2, post apoc. rpg, Vampire the masquerade Redemption and Bloodlines (the first is 3rd person rpg, the second is a newer one, half life 2 engine driven 1st person rpg, both are excellent in their own way (just get the latest patch for bloodlines).

You might give Thief series a try, maybe start with the latest one deadly shadows, which is more "mainstremed", but in a good way (medieaval-sneek-thieving-creepy-great-story game)

There's a lot of great games out there :)

They dont make them as they used to....

Deus Ex- one of THE best

Then you've got curse of monkey island, sanitarium, undying, HMM 2-4 etc etc....