Best opening sequence.

[VulakAerr]

Descent 2. 'Nuff said.

Really? I always preferred Descent 3's opening cinematic. That opening note from the choir is just spine-tingling.

Mass Effect 2. Obviously. Opening cinematic plus the

Spoiler

destruction of the Normandy SR-1

were hugely memorable. I loved the zero G effects.

 

[Schauzeit]

I loved the Soul Reaver Intro when I was younger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ztK2c661w&fmt=18

 

[Brazilianpeanutwar]

The first god of war.
Such a confident explosive opening to a great series,and it's all playable not just a cutscene.
Fighting the gladiator zombies right from the off,walking over perilous beams,hydras eating the sailors around you,then you talk to zeus and gain lightning,then you fight a hydra and walk into it's stomach and retrieve a key,brilliant.
And all within the first 10 minutes AND it's a ps2 game.

 

[Mariakitten]

EV Nova's opening, its short, sweet, and feels surprisingly epic.

 

[Sieni]

Bioshock easily.

Bioshock 2's intro would've been even better if it had been playable.

 

[Generic Difference]

For me it has to be MechCommander:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smq8Oe5CFE8

It's got some action, shows you what the game is about and even teaches you how to take down enemies when seriously outmatched!

Don't think MechWarrior, find out.

 

[Proteus214]

For me, a toss-up between

Spoiler: Shadow of the Colossus

and

Spoiler: Little Big Planet

 

[dan_keenan]

this gen = God of war 3 and Uncharted 2. Both mind blowingly Epic!

 

[Sebenko]

Damn, I'd hate to be that marine.​

Flame-thrower marine refuses to die.

Notice how he's still alive when everyone else is dying?

 

[Chal]

My favorites:

Spoiler: Brood War

for the action and "cinematography"

Spoiler: Myst

for nostalgia and good writing

Spoiler: Dwarf Fortress

for awesome use of ASCII and also HFS

Seeing the Oblivion intro listed here makes me remember the fun I managed to have the first time through. Despite my misgivings for the game itself, it did manage to entertain me for quite some time. I just have trouble getting back into it. Coincidentally, Simulord, it was the same game that necessitated an update on my own machine here.

 

[imnot]

For me, a toss-up between

Spoiler: Shadow of the Colossus

and

Spoiler: Little Big Planet

Gah so happy and coulerful, better go play L4D to stop me catching 'the gay'

 

[ChaoticKraus]

Bioshock's are a obvious one, it always manages to give me the chills. The whole ship prologue level in CoD 4 are incredibly intense. Oh and ofcourse the two classic intro movies from GTA: San Andreas and Battlefield 1942.

 

[bodyguarddied]

All Dawn of War openings (except Soulstorm), and Killzone 2. Also high on the list are the Mass Effects and Left 4 Dead games.

 

[googleit6]

I really liked the Assassin's Creed sequence that plays right before the main menu, where Altair is set to assassinate someone, and he escapes in a crowd of monks. That's probably the most exciting.

I also really enjoyed the sequence before the main menu in Fallout 3 where you start inside a bus, and slowly, the camera pans backward, showing the destruction of the wasteland with "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" playing on the broken stereo. It sets the mood so well, I get chills everytime I watch it. That would probably be the most effective.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

I think we should all just wait until Mafia 2 is released. I have safely made the assumption that it will have an amazing opening sequence I will never forget.

 

[Denamic]

I'd have to say Mass Effect 2.
Just... Damn!
That was pretty dramatic.
Edit:

Spoiler: Little Big Planet

If LBP really did use the dreams of people, the place would be seriously scary, not cuddlecute.

 

[MBergman]

Don't forget this baby!

 

[Shoqiyqa]

The opening gets a lot of inspiration from Alien and that black Sergeant pretty much comes from Aliens. Overall, the impression was of epic scale.

The original Half Life opening was great as a way to get you into the whole game world the first time you played.

Other than that, none.

 

[Rickyvantof]

Half Life 2

Rise and shine, mister Freeman.
Rise. and. shine.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Gonna have to say it's a tie between:

Bioshock
GOW3
Half Life 2 and,
Uncharted 2.


All epic in their own ways.