Hmm..
I'd love to see Advanced Laser Chess redone, with computer AI. Advanced Laser Chess was distributed as freeware with a copy of COMPUTE! way back when.
Of course, my favorite, Dungeon Master.
Maybe Breach II, a turn based strategy game for the Amiga?
As a amature game programmer, I can tell you, if this is your first project, pick a simple game without lots of hard artwork. A few unique challenges in physics or AI perhaps, but detailed pixel art or an overly complex RPG story will end first game projects at 30% done. Most of all, Pick something YOU like or you'll get bloody sick of it!
Blitz basic would be a pretty good choice. SDL and C++ I've seen is pretty easy to use for 2d games. Or .NET with DirectX is easy to develop with (the IDE is second to none, if you don't mind Windows only.)
Java I suppose, I don't know of a good graphics API, maybe someone else can fill us in?
