Perhaps the PlayStation 2 era i.e. the 6th generation console era. You had 5 GTA games that came out, 2 Max Payne games, 4 Metal Gear Solid games, the first 3 Guitar Hero games, Resident Evil 4 and all the different RE games and expansion packs, Red Dead Revolver, Gran Turismo 3, Final Fantasy X, games just seemed very new and exciting and there was a big jump in quality in terms of graphics, voice acting, etc.