Best introduction in a game?

[Kryzantine]

While my thought processes were cycling today, I hit upon the idea that the reason Modern Warfare was so successful at shaping the rest of the market was its first introduction, and one of the first missions, Crew Expendable, which was about as close to being a badass SAS operative as you could get in a video game. It was probably one of the best video game introductions in a long while, perhaps even better than the Stalingrad boat sequence in the original COD.

So I pose the question, what was the best introduction to a video game, whether by opening cinematic or opening sequence? Apart from MW, I'll also mention AC2, which had an awesome title sequence.

 

[Furious Styles]

Medal of Honour frontline, with the normandy landings. it was really a very good beginning to a game

 

[Fanboy]

I can't think of any opening quite as memorable as Bioshock's Rapture reveal. Perfect setup for an incredible game.

 

[b3nn3tt]

I'd have to go for Bioshock, for the sheer fact that you hardly even realise you've actually started playing. The whole introduction could have been one giant cutscene, but by letting the player control the character it makes the whole thing so much more immersive

 

[Applejack]

Metal Gear Solid 2 had a really good intro, or maybe it seems that way because of the rest of the game

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

Devil May Cry 4 has the best intro I have ever seen.

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

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When Kaim comes in all up in everyone's face.

EDIT: I agree with Bioshock too, I love how the music is timed perfectly with the scene. It's fucking awesome.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

I can't think of any opening quite as memorable as Bioshock's Rapture reveal. Perfect setup for an incredible game.

I second this. I'd also include, as the OP mentioned, the original Call of Duty's Russian campaign, which technically was over halfway through the game, but was the start of the campaign. Very dramatic.

 

[Alon Shechter]

I'd have to go for Bioshock, for the sheer fact that you hardly even realise you've actually started playing. The whole introduction could have been one giant cutscene, but by letting the player control the character it makes the whole thing so much more immersive

Pretty much this.
Bioshock did it great!

 

[Ultress]

I really liked Wild Arms 3's Mexican standoff intro due to sheer badassery and it gave each character a decent introduction while showing off the basic game mechanics.

 

[Dark2003]

Devil May Cry 4 has the best intro I have ever seen.

i Second this, i saw it yesterday and I am still impressed

 

[MikailCaboose]

I'll always remember Fallout 2's opening cinematic. Peaceful family steps out of the vault and the Enclave soldiers just gun them down with their mini-guns. Definitely set the mood for the game.

 

[A Pious Cultist]

Modern Warefare 1 (cutscene and gameplay)...
Half-Life 2 (cutscene and gameplay)...
Borderlands (the introductionary cutscenes)...
Borderland's DLCs...
Arkham Asylum (the actual gameplay, the actual cutscenes look kind of ugly to me... apply some bloody anti-aliasing doods)
Oblivion (epppppic)...
L4D 1/2 (the cutscene)

 

[manythings]

Mass Effect 2, it's just a great sequence. You get killed in an exceptionally cinematic piece of work. It really was creepy stepping onto the deck of the normandy with it exposed to the vacuum of space the planet in view and no sound but your breathing.

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

Mass Effect 2, it's just a great sequence. You get killed in an exceptionally cinematic piece of work. It really was creepy stepping onto the deck of the normandy with it exposed to the vacuum of space the planet in view and no sound but your breathing.

Yeah, spoiler alert btw.

That, or the original Mass Effect's intro. Just something about it...

 

[octafish]

Fallouts 1 and 2. Also for its time Mechwarrior 2's opening cinematics were awesome, I'm particularly fond of MW2:Mercenaries. "I'm not paid enough to die".

 

[Outright Villainy]

I can't think of any opening quite as memorable as Bioshock's Rapture reveal. Perfect setup for an incredible game.

Ah, I knew this would show up. I agree completely anyway, the fact that you're in control for the whole thing makes it all the sweeter.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

inFAMOUS. *clicks start* YEAH EXPLOSION!!