Great video game openings

[JagermanXcell]

Ok good, no one mentioned IT yet. All that style.

 

[A BigCup of Tea]

As is often the case to any gaming related question, the answer is Final Fantasy IX.

The genius of the game's opening isn't just the way it wows you with a stunning look at the city of Aexandria. It's the way it introduces core gameplay mechanics in novel and interesting ways. The game doesn't just throw you headfirst into a heroic quest, or into the middle of an epic war. It starts you off controlling different characters, and their stories are equally novel and atypical. Zidane and the Tantalus group are staging a faux-Shakespearean play in order to steal away the princess of Alexandria. Vivi is trying to gatecrash the same play because his ticket turned out to be a dud. And Steiner is trying to marshal the Knights of Pluto to protect the Princess, all of whom are either lazy, incompetent or too busy womanising to do their job.

It really is a one-of-a-kind way to set up a game. The game gets you comfortable with the battle mechanics by having an on-stage battle in the middle of the pay. It gets you settled with the game's saving system in the middle of Vivi's gatecrashing attempt. It introduces you to these key three characters in separate scenarios, but shows you how their stories are going to become interconnected. And it still finds time to throw some entertaining minigames your way, such as the staged sword fight with Blank during the pay section, or the skipping minigame in the main square of Aexandria.

All of what i was going to say is in the above post! damn you j-e-f-f-e-r-s!! but yes the opening of FFIX really eases you into the game quite smoothly, I also believe you can play the card game at the start aswell which is a good way to get used to it as cards are everywhere......damn you once again j-e-f-f-e-r-s now i want to go back and play it!!

 

[happyninja42]

Homeworld and Homeworld Cataclysm had great introductions, really set the mood and tone for me.

Mark of Kri has an awesome opening as well.

Really for me it's about sucking me in and making me feel the world that's been created, if the opening sequence can do that with a few images and well placed words, I'm hooked. Doesn't have to be big and flashy, that's usually pretty boring.

 

[NerAnima]

For opening cinematics, I'm gonna go with Chrono Trigger (haven't played or seen Crono Cross, so not sure how the two compare) and Grandia.
For opening gameplay, I'm gonna go with Majora's Mask (possibly my nostalgia talking, but whatever.)
I would post links on here to these, but I have no idea how to do so, so if someone could tell me how, that would be greatly appreciated.

Since I like the intro for Majora's Mask I'll post it and show you how to post future videos. First, copy and paste the url from a site like Youtube onto this site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVCHGGv0W_c

You could leave it like this, but it's better to put it on the site itself. So, you erase everything besides the word youtube, the = and whatever appears afterwards like this: youtube=PVCHGGv0W_c. Then you put these [ ] on the edge of the new link and it will appear as it does below.


I know there is a guide on the site for learning how to do things like this, but since I forgot where it was, I figured I could just show you how to do it.

Ah, thank you, I'm going to have to remember that for later reference. Also, glad to know that I'm not the only one that loved the intro, I like both the opening cinematics and gameplay for it, set the atmosphere perfectly for the rest of the game.

 

[Rooster893]

Mortal Kombat always has great ones, but my two personal favorites are

<youtube=5KrAohurTMk>

(My comment is the top comment! )

and, of course, the best one in the series...

<youtube=yNmg66B-SSQ>

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

Now since I'm replaying Kingdom Hearts I, i'd say that. Also Silent Hill 2 and 3 are pretty great and terrifying.

 

[Gregory McMillan]

Armored Core 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrZRoJxq3rI

as well as Silent Line, Nexus, and Last Raven

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFiLNc46jAM


Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=n5vkkG5wvlI

Also, FF7, FF8, Crisis Core, Left 4 Dead

 

[Fox12]

Final Fantasy 8:

I know alot of ppl don't like FF7 but Square really were on top form with the presentation and cinematic direction. That opening where it zooms in and out of the cityscape and seamlessly transitions into gameplay was my most jaw dropping moment in gaming, beats even playing a PC FPS for the first time.

FF8 has a good opening but it doesn't come close to FF7 imo.

Yeah, I have to agree with you on this. It's also the first game that seemed to have a truly cinematic opening, one that most games today only wish they could emulate. A really powerful piece of fiction, despite what the detractors say (and there are plenty of them). I always felt like all the FF games had great openings, even the bad ones. Except FF 10-2. That made my eyes and ears bleed.

I'll stick with Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2. They had weaknesses story wise, but the first game had one of the best openings I've seen in a game, helped significantly by the masterful score.

The Last of Us, obviously. It grabs you in the first few minutes and doesn't let go. It gets extra points because it lets you play the opening, letting gameplay dictate and tell the story in a way I haven't seen many games do effectively. It helps that the gameplay seems to change subtly and naturally depending on the character.

Fallout 3 had a good opening section, far better than the other bethesda games.

I'll begrudgingly admit Bioshock had a good opening, even though I'm not crazy for the game. You win this one, Bioshock.

Finally, it must be said, I love everything, EVERYTHING, about Saints Row 3. To me a great opening should have subtlety, but if you're going to be stupid, then you better go full retard. Saints Row delivered. You tackle an airplane. Enough said.

 

[Quantum Star]

No opening for a horror game is as creepy, twisted, or mesmerizing as Silent Hill 4's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfnTrAxTFfk

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Does anyone else remember an game called Terminal Velocity? Aside from being pretty darn fun, the oping cinematic was very effective. There was no real explanation, just your space-craft / fighter being prepped and launched to some increasingly dramatic music. Simple but very effective, in my opinion.

I remember that. Incredible menu music too.

Hm... A lot of people have already mentioned the ones needing mentioned so I'm going to be different here and mention some other games.

Halo 2. Really great contrast when they were showing how John was getting awarded and admired and then switching over to the Arbiter who was paying for John's actions on the ring in an equally proportionate amount. John's the hero once again while the Arbiter unfairly gets screwed over.

Second place is Mercenaries. It just gets you so pumped and excited for the game.
[/quote]

 

[AroLombardi]

Left 4 Dead still gets me. Not for being all around outstanding, but because it sets the game's tone and subtly shows a bunch of the gameplay mechanics.

 

[scorptatious]

The Fallout games in general have really good intros. They set the mood and they're brilliantly narrated by Ron Perlman.


War. War never changes.

Also, Shadow of the Colossus's intro is AMAZING. Then again, so is pretty much everything else about the game.

 

[scorptatious]

Now since I'm replaying Kingdom Hearts I, i'd say that.

Heh, same here.

I love Kingdom Hearts.

 

[obsolescence_is_drm]

Xenogears! It has the type of opening I love, one which is seemingly unrelated to the plot initially, but makes perfect sense towards the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSc59wy4aT4

 

[martyrdrebel27]

Nobody has mentioned Farcry 3 yet as far as I've seen, and that confuses me. Look it up, the whole first part, including your initial escape. Its just awesome.

 

[Brian Tams]

Somebody posted a Majora's Mask video, but I'm going to post one that includes the entire opening.
[youtube.com/watch?v=pUWSOXgAmm0]

Everything about that game is fantastic, and is one of the best games of its generation (which is a shame, because it was one of the last games to come out on the N64). I really enjoyed Link's quiet, downcast trot through the deep forest.

Majora's Mask is the only Zelda game that cares to flesh out Link as his own character, and it worked really well. It shattered the typical Zelda story mold and replaced it with something unique, engaging, and laden with metaphor. It offered the first unique take on Zelda gameplay that hadn't been seen in years, and hasn't been seen since. If you haven't played this game, you have got to.

Consequently, if Nintendo were to announce a Majora's Mask remake done in the Wind Waker art style for the Wii U, I would buy it in an instant and would play it over and over and over and over...

*ahem* Anyways, I uh... I love Majora's Mask. And it really is a great game, and it really had my favorite opening ever.

 

[volcanblade]

I love too many, Persona 3 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7ZLA5FX_v0] and Persona 4 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h73LvR8V2LA] are obvious mentions along with Chrono Cross [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=923fVDDwaHo].

For lesser know ones I enjoyed Ar Tonelico.

Spoiler

The japanese opening for Tales of the Abyss, though I enjoy all the the Tales of openings this one is my favorite.

Spoiler

I agreed on those two, though I prefer Ar Tonelico 1's opening

Spoiler

I just like the music for it, and I love how they made a new language for the games.
or Mana Khemia

Spoiler

The music isn't amazing, but I love the characters.
or Disgaea 2

Spoiler

For this one, the music is awesome, and it helps that it is in simple enough Japanese for me to be able to translate with my limited knowledge.

The Dark Cloud games are great too. Their composer is great.

 

[FPLOON]

Rayman Origins... What better way to open up your game by have Rayman and friends create music with their snoring/chillazing, thus causing the whole plot of the game to commence?
After seeing that for the first time... I knew this was going to be a great game to nostalgia back on in my later years...

 

[TehCookie]

-snip-

I was going to add Disgaea 2, but I didn't feel like posting too many so I'm glad you did. I also have to salute you for liking Ar Tonelico, I don't see many other fans.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Spoiler: Metal Gear Solid 3 - You know the one.

Spoiler: And BlazBlue

I can't believe these two weren't mentioned yet :/

EDIT: Apparently MGS3 was mentioned. I can only apologize