Greatest Game Opening EVER!!!!

[Zagzag]

Other than that, I'm not sure - Freespace 2 had a pretty bad ass opener. I mean hell, but I'm pretty sure that's my favourite game ever so I'm a bit biased. Volition used to be so boss, even more boss than they are now.

Personally I prefer FS1 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_FreeSpace]'s intro. It looked so graphically impressive back when I first played it, and it really blew me away. FS2 never managed that.
I would also be convinced that it was just nostalgia, but I have replayed both Freespace 1 and 2 several times recently, and they are both just as good as I remember them.

 

[OldDirtyCrusty]

You managed to pause it right after the theme song played it's opening?

That takes some major willpower.

Don`t think it`s major willpower. Major willpower would have been to avoid any news, trailers and previews and then play the game after release. I`m still weak... but also hyped i mean it`s MAX PAYNE.
I give my videostore a call now, maybe i`m lucky.

Edit(i`m starting to get a bit offtopic, i`ll change it)
MGS games always had nice intros.
Batman Arkham Asylums intro + the playable part with the whole delivering of the Joker is also one of my favorites.

 

[Zipa]

The first time you get attacked in the original Homeworld


Skip to about 2:20

 

[templar1138a]

I'll admit, I liked the first chunk of The Darkness 2's intro. I don't know who the coked-up Woody Allen is supposed to be, but the character was strangely appropriate and the voice actor did a great job. Between that and the positives from Yahtzee's review, I may just get that game once it's cheaper.

As for the best intro I've seen? That's a tough one. I tend to care less about intro cutscenes than the actual gameplay. Hell, the good RPGs from BioWare pretty much combine the two.

And now that I think about it, I think the best intro I've seen was that of Dragon Age 2. I really like how they had Varric's narrtion be tied to the gameplay in that way (and it didn't just happen in the intro, either). Overall it was one of the best RPGs I've ever played.

 

[Sexy Devil]

If the entire first level counts then God of War 3. Violently murdering Poseidon in the first 20 minutes was pretty bad-ass.

If not then inFamous 2, watching Empire City explode around you was damn cool.

 

[d_wing]

This, I can still remember the state of awe seeing this intro induced in me when I started the game for the first time.


This one is almost as epic, though

EDIT: can anyone explain why the thumbnails for the videos I posted don't show?

 

[gnihton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmZEI_JIm3k&ob=av3n

Bioshock's was rather good, especially when you consider the subtlety of what was written on the card of the present.

In response to the OP in particular, the first Darkness had a superior opening. It actually set the atmosphere, only mentioning anything supernatural in the cryptic sentence "That was the first time I died" which let the player know that there was certainly more to come while not breaking the immersion in the visceral world that they are placed in, unlike The Darkness 2 which shows no restraint, subtlety, or regard for atmosphere. There were times in the darkness 2's opening that I actually laughed a little.

I think that's what makes a good opening, subtlety and accurately setting the scene in a suitable manner that lets the player feel immersed due to it being at least partially interactive, and having a slow(er) build up rather than being thrown into a fight scene (The Darkness, the Half Life games, Bioshock, System Shock 2, Escape from Butcher Bay).
A bad opening is akin to that of the darkness 2, making the player sit through a non-interactive cutscene while a single character (although a well acted one in this case) spouts over the top action movie lines in a pretence of badassery, saying "THIS IS COOL ENJOY IT NOW" rather than letting the player get an appreciation for the game.

I suppose that rant I just accidentally produced applies more to opening sequences as a whole rather than just opening 'cutscenes', but I've seen Bioshock noted so I assume sequences are fair game here (?).

 

[Dragoon]

Every opening pales in comparison to Persona 3 & 4.

Don't forget Persona 3 Fes and Portable

Spoiler

And here's Tales of Vesperia and both Kingdom Hearts games.

Spoiler

 

[Dragoon]

http://youtu.be/rTFLRhV2vI8

This, I can still remember the state of awe seeing this intro induced in me when I started the game for the first time.

http://youtu.be/ELoH5p6VYvY

This one is almost as epic, though

EDIT: can anyone explain why the thumbnails for the videos I posted don't show?

You have to type ["youtube"=] minus the speech marks and insert everything after the slash in your link inbetween the = and the ] it should look like this (Press quote and you can see the actual code.)

 

[Casual Shinji]

"This is Rupture Farms..."

The greatest opening line I've ever heard in a game.

 

[d_wing]

http://youtu.be/rTFLRhV2vI8

This, I can still remember the state of awe seeing this intro induced in me when I started the game for the first time.

http://youtu.be/ELoH5p6VYvY

This one is almost as epic, though

EDIT: can anyone explain why the thumbnails for the videos I posted don't show?

You have to type ["youtube"=] minus the speech marks and insert everything after the slash in your link inbetween the = and the ] it should look like this (Press quote and you can see the actual code.)

I see! Thank you very much, kind sir!

 

[CrashBang]

When I was a kid this was my favourite and so it's always stuck in my mind...

 

[Scarim Coral]

This is probably my favorite:


Does a really good job of introducing all the charactors, who they are and what they are fighting for, while being well edited and having a score that gets you pumped to play the game and kick some ass.

That also my favourite and also this-

 

[Zipa]

you have it right there my friend. that cut scene still gives me goosebumps

The first time you get attacked in the original Homeworld


Skip to about 2:20

you have it right there my friend. that cut scene still gives me goosebumps

Same for me, I think part of it is down to the awesome way that Karan S'jet says almost disbelieving about being under attack.

 

[Shiftygiant]

Modern Warfare had a pretty good opening. OK, so it was the 3rd level, but it introduced us to the world. Showed us the chaos of the world. On the brink. That and GTA IV. I just love how we get the introduction to the Diamonds and Heroin right off the bat.

 

[Dragoon]

snip

snipitty snip

I see! Thank you very much, kind sir!

No problem, welcome to the community