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Favorite Videogame openings


DarkReign2021
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They always say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and that's a concept that oftentimes carries over into videogames as well, oftentimes warning gamers that they shouldn't write off a game until they're at least a little ways in. That doesn't mean this is always the case and there are always those games that reach out and have you hooked in the first 5 minutes.

 

What are some of your favorite opening scenes in videogames? This could be just the opening cutscene or the entirety of the first level or even just a really intuitive Start Menu.

 

I'll start off with my 3 personal favorites:

 

3. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion-

This is one that you would really have to have been there back in 2006 to truly appreciate. Less than a year into the new generation of consoles and coming off of the more-than-a-little-dated graphics of Morrowind, it was already obvious from screenshots that this game was going to be gorgeous, but you never really grasped the scope of it's beauty until you start the game with an airborne camera flying gracefully around the entirety of the enormous Imperial city, shown in all of it's glory. As if that weren't enough to make you tear up, couple the beautiful scenery with a beautifully narrated summary of the games opening plot by none other than Patrick Sterwart, the second sexiest voice in America. Before you've even created your character, you already know you're in for a treat out in this world of beauty and mystery.

 

2. Halo 2-

Taking place a mere month after the closing events of Halo 1, you get to witness firsthand the implications of your actions in the first game. Johnson and Master Chief are aboard the MAC platform Cairo Station where they're being presented with Medals for their decisive and heroic actions in destroying the installation and eliminating two very immediate threats. The two of you start out aboard a tram with an astounding view of Earth, the first time the Master Chief and you as the player ever get to lay eyes on it in the Halo franchise; Meanwhile, the Covenant Holy City and Juggernaut ship High Charity is stationed in Orbit just outside of the charred remains of the Halo installation as they hold a trial and pass judgement on the failure of failed Sangheili shipmaster Thel 'Vadam for allowing the holy artifact to be destroyed. This is the first time ever hearing of the Prophets, the leaders of the Covenan, and witnessing firsthand the politics behind the dreaded alien collective. These are the details that, in my opinion, truly set Halo apart from other Alien war stories and it had me hooked instantly.

 

1. Mass Effect 2-

Now I know most people probably get tired of me talking about this game and while I may act like it's flawless, that is not the case and there are plenty of moments I could fault the game for in being weak. The opening act, however, was not one of those moments. The game opens up to the Normandy, your ship from the 1st game and where you likely spent more time than anywhere else in your playthroughs, a month after the initial Reaper assault. You're on a less-than-desirable cleanup mission eliminating stray enemy troops when an unknown ship begins to open fire on you. The ship is caught off guard and quickly crippled, leaving many members of your crew dead and the rest fleeing for the lifepods. As you take control of Shepard for the first time, you find yourself in the mess hall on the middle deck of the ship completely engulfed in flames. As you make your way toward the upper level in an attempt to reach and rescue the ship's pilot, you come to the Galaxy Map room, the very center of the ship, and are greeted with sheer vacuum. As the volume goes mute, you notice the entire top of the ship has been torn off, revealing the large icy planet in the background an remains of the ship floating about thanks to the failed gravity generators. As you reach your pilot and convince him to abandon ship, the enemy opens fire again and cuts you off from the lifepod, instead propelling you into Space and damaging the seals on your suit which... kills you. That's right, your character dies within the first 5 minutes of the game. How's THAT for an opening?!

 

 

 

 

Anyway, those are 3 of my favorite videogame openings. I'd love to hear what games some of you guys (and girls) were instantly hooked with and the different attributes that make them so special to you.

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Halo 2.

 

The story-telling or, cinematic design, whatever it's called, in this game was great. The game opens not even with the protagonist, nor with anyone we (assuming you played the first game) know. An Elite Zealot, known as Thel 'Vadam, is on trial for his grand sin of allowing the events in Halo: CE to take place. The "higher-ups" of the Covenant basically tell him, "You fucked up, you're done, nothing you say can save you." What follows afterwards is brilliant - you witness mirror opposites. The baddies are getting punished for what happened in the first game, while the good guys are being praised for it. It's great stuff, "I need a weapon."

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-EHxxBGmw]All Halo 2 Cutscenes: Part 1 in HD! - YouTube[/ame]

 

5:26 in the video below:

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKuN08Hgpgg]Life as Halo's Master Chief - YouTube[/ame]

 

BioShock Infinite.

 

The opening black screen with the dialogue between "the man and woman" (Booker and Elizabeth) immediately captured my attention when he denies his fear in God but says he fear her. The dreary atomsphere captured by the stormy night and gore inside the lighthouse were brilliant and Booker's aniexty as he lifted up into the skies made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and as soon as he arrived in Columbia, my jaw dropped at it's sudden beauty and I felt weird. The descent into Columbia followed by, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," left me in awe. One of the most beautiful openings ever.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Dj0S-hAz8]Machinima: Bioshock Infinite Opening Cinematic - YouTube[/ame]

 

----

 

I also loved the opening scenes to:


  • Hitman Absolution
  • The Last of Us
  • Dishonored
  • Batman Arkahm Asylum

...but I'm too tired and lazy to type out reasoning for those.

Edited by BiggD
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MGS4

"I'm no hero, never was, never will be. I'm just an old killer hired to do some wet-work"

 

Bioshock

Everything leading up to the door on the lighthouse was great! And then after you open that door..

 

Uncharted games.

All 3 games have had great opening sequences.

Edited by Dirty130
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In my mind, nothing will ever beat a classic.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIwWCioBpEM]Super Smash Bros. - Intro Nintendo 64 (HQ) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Although my favorite may go to FF VIII

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoyEBlNafnQ]Final Fantasy VIII Opening - YouTube[/ame]

Edited by Puppys
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Prey I always felt had a pretty awesome opening scene, in the bar with the native americans, suddenly the bright lights start pouring in to the music of "Don't Fear The Reaper" as bodies start being lifted up to the mothership. It was a cool "alien abduction" moment and the music made it all that much more memorable.

 

Good call by Buzz on Half Life 2 also, brilliant game that captures you from the get go.

 

Dr. Ned's Zombie Island intro was hilarious in the original Borderlands, I remember being in a party with friends the first time we booted it up and all of us getting a good laugh out of the story being told as the DLC began.

 

Call of Duty 2, storming the beach, even though it's been made and remade it was still a pretty epic moment.

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Yah Mass Effect 2 was a show stopper. Wanted to cry.

 

And these:

  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Half-Life 2
  • Bioshock

 

COD4's intro shocked the hell out of me at the time.

 

Have to toss this classic in: Planescape Torment. Awesome awesome game.

[ame=

]
[/ame] Edited by Opiate42
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ME2's opening is pretty good, but I like ME3's better. After two games of "the Reapers are coming" the Reapers finally get here. You are almost immediately greeted with the city of Vancouver coming under attack and you have to get to the Normandy. After the obligatory tutorial segment, you get greeted by the Normandy, now wearing Alliance colours, rather than Cerberus. Then you get treated to that great piece of music, Leaving Earth, while watching the Reapers begin their assault on the planet. Very good opening.

 

I also really like Halo 4's opening. Halsey being interrogated while we get treated to a good piece of music and the gorgeous graphics that we'll see in every cinematic of the game. It gives you a nice little summary about who Halsey is and what the SPARTAN-II program was if you hadn't read the books.

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Can't add much else to what's already been said. Deus Ex: Human Revolution, BioShock/BioShock Infinite, Prey...

 

This one is more so nostalgia than anything else. Giddy to see Guybrush in an all new adventure. I miss LucasArts... (Monkey Island 2):

 

[spoiler=threeheadedmonkey] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lTz2nkPNXA]Monkey Island 2 Opening Sequence - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

Alan Wake was interesting...

 

[spoiler=AWake] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sKBwUfEHuE]Alan Wake - The beginning - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

As was Fez:

 

[spoiler=Gomez] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avl6GJpwyR8]Fez Opening Cutscene - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

I also like this from Metal Gear Solid 3:

 

[spoiler=Cynthia Harrell] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFsTz02Eavo]Metal Gear Solid 3: HD Collection - Snake Eater Opening Video - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

The first 4 and a half minutes of the second mission in Halo 4 was great too. Shame it didn't last longer. I liked not running into enemies and shooting things.

 

[spoiler=Requiem] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baH_As0zlbk]Halo 4 Campaign Walkthrough Mission 2 (Requiem) HD - YouTube[/ame]

 

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The first 4 and a half minutes of the second mission in Halo 4 was great too. Shame it didn't last longer. I liked not running into enemies and shooting things.

 

[spoiler=Requiem]

 

Yeah, exploring the crash site and venturing into that small cave and emerging out into a beam of white light into Requiem was pretty sweet.

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I remember back in the day the first time I saw this I was like wow

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMQB3TENOQ4]Half-Life Opposing Force Opening Video - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

 

Soon as I saw it I had to have it.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwDzavJIIzI]Halo Opening Sequence - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

This is the game I solely bought a xbox 360 for.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=892tFZZbUCk]Gears of War Intro (HD) - YouTube[/ame]

 

 

 

 

This intro got me hooked straight away. Loved the trilogy shame it is ruined by the POS ending in ME3.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a27IdajHUU]Mass Effect 1 Intro and Opening in 1080p - YouTube[/ame]

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I hope it's ok that I just post the links right in here and don't hide them behind a spoiler link. Top 10 (in no particular order):

 

Contra 3

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcvPacxAp_4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcvPacxAp_4[/ame]

 

DOA Ultimate 2

[ame=

]
[/ame]

 

Lost Odyssey (still don't have the game, but plan to one day)

 

Portal

Dead Rising

Call of Duty 2

Bioshock (original)

Doom 3

Halo 2

Gears of War

Edited by Fritz White
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