Most memorable opening line in a game

[Flinsha]

"Where's everybody going? Bingo?"

Oh, Leon!

 

[Generalissimo]

"the year is two thousand four hundred and one, humankind finds itself locked in a mortal struggle with the timesplitters, an evil race of creatures bent on the destruction of the entire human race, using the power of the time crystals, they travel through our history, pushing humanity to the very brink of extinction. with resistance weakining, our last hope lies with a small ship speeding towards earth, on board are nine stolen time crystals intended to power the time machine constructed by earth's finest scientists. the plan? to travel back in time, find the source of the time crystals, and destroy them all. ending the wat, before it EVER began"

opening speech to timesplitters: future perfect

 

[VincentR]

"At 0830 hours, alien forces boarded the Marathon. The current
situation is dire. All personnel are required to arm
themselves and fight for their lives." -Leela, Marathon ship A.I.

Oh god Bungie, I love you so much.

 

[Jungy 365]

'They let me pick. Did I ever tell you that?'

 

[hermes]

The combination of "To Zanarkand" in the background and the voice of Tidus saying "This... this is my story".

Also, "war never changes" in Fallout and "the war has changed" in MGS. Such a clear dichotomy makes it clear how vague both quotes truly are.

 

[Blondi3]

The Nietzsche quote from the intro cutscene to Baldur's Gate adds some nice pseudo-philosophic flavor to the whole thing.

Damn it that was my line! And the other obvious one being Fallout...

 

[Fenra]

"The world is full of stories, and from time to time they permit themselves to be told..." - Prey

Always loved that line

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

"Look at you, hacker. A pathetic creature of meat and bone, panting and sweating as you run through my corridors. How can you challenge a perfect, immortal machine?" -SHODAN

 

[Zay-el]

Here's one I'm curious if anyone will remember. It's from a whole opening scene, but there's one line in particular that I always remembered:

"Very well. This story, like all good stories, begins where it ends, in a tower, in a realm that is no more..."

 

[Mallefunction]

Ron Pearlman's openings for Fallout games are always pretty cool.

Really. Really. The only one I could think of and you have to steal it. Fine, I'll go with Bioshock and Andrew Ryan's whole, I chose Rapture bit. Great start to a great game.

And damnit! You ninjaed me! XD

Bioshock's opening is pretty much what made me get back into video games again.

 

[Anthony Wells]

"so you want to hear a story huh.."

yay i havent been ninja'd

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

"This is Rupture Farms... They say it's the biggest meat processing plant on Oddworld."

Well it's memorable for me...

 

[Solid Reece]

From Saint Row the Third
"You're robing a bank dressed as yourselfs"

 

[Ne1butme]

"It's dangerous to go alone! Take this."

But of course, to prove your mettle, you don't take it.

 

[Indignator]

A consensus seems to be forming:

1) Fallout (War ... war never changes)
2) Bioshock (technically not the opening line - the first words spoken are the protagonist's inner monologue, but whatever)
3) Half-Life 2 (Rise and shine Mr. Freeman)

I often think that Half-Life 2 has unjustly overshadowed its superior (IMO) predecessor so I'm going to add this:

"Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System"

 

[Trivun]

Here's one I'm curious if anyone will remember. It's from a whole opening scene, but there's one line in particular that I always remembered:

"Very well. This story, like all good stories, begins where it ends, in a tower, in a realm that is no more..."

The Longest Journey, yes? I absolutely love that game, and indeed you have ninja'd me to this post. The only other one that really stuck with me was Bioshock and Andrew Ryan's monologue, but then again that kind of sticks with everyone...

 

[The Funslinger]

Assassin's Creed 2

"It is a good life we lead brother" -Ezio's brother

"The best. May it never change." -Ezio

"And may it never change us." Ezio's brother. Cue sweeping orchestral score.

First time I can say I felt like I was playing a movie

This. That intro was LEGEN-wait for it-DARY!

 

[Cid Silverwing]

"This is Snake. Colonel, can you hear me?"