Great video game openings

[Demolition_Human]

what are some great video game openings?

I think Super Smash Bros. Melee intro was a good one. Another one is the Uncharted 2 intro, that was pretty cool, also The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time opening!!

 

[Zhukov]

So far as I'm concerned, the Bioshock games dominate the "awesome video game intros" category.

I rarely see anything that equals them and nothing that surpasses them.

 

[TehCookie]

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

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I remember the last time I answered this thread. My response remains the same.


Cinematic feel, you're already in control, no bullshit Square cutscene of people falling, cool ominous female voice (hi proto-GLaDOS) both briefing the character, the player and setting up an atmosphere, immersive tour gives you a brief summary of the setting and pretty much every level of the game, and works as a foreshadowing of just how much mileage you'll have to cover before you even think of escaping the damn place. It works on a number of levels. You might diss the graphics for how they've aged but this was top notch work back in 1998 and it's set up a standard of quality and immersion.

 

[Tanis]

Final Fantasy 8:

Chrono Cross:

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Opening gameplay or opening cinematics?

 

[Demolition_Human]

Opening gameplay or opening cinematics?

Either works fine with me!! Or you could even put one of each!!

 

[Glongpre]

I always enjoyed ME1s opening, with the music build up and stuff.

Also, all Blizzard cinematics are freaking unbelievable. Seriously.

Also, obvious Soul Reaver entry.

Spoiler: WoW

If that doesn't make you want to play WOW then nothing will.

Spoiler: Diablo LoD

Still freaking awesome.

Spoiler: ME1

 

[Kaendris]

Final Fantasy VIII had one of the best openings I had ever seen during it's age. The music, inherent sadness, sword fighting, art style, was flat out perfection. There was an air of mystery to what you were watching that made you want to take part in the world and solve whatever those puzzling words meant. For me it has always been one of the best opening cinematics around.

 

[TrevHead]

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.

 

[IllumInaTIma]

I still regard this as the best intro of all time.
<youtube=zNolROCkCM0>
I mean GOD THAT MUSIC is just fantastic!

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Well for opening gameplay I'd say Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. It cranks the awesome up to 11.

For opening cinematic, probably Digital Devil Saga 1. It has such an intense and dark opening. (can't find a decent quality video of it)

 

[Jazoni89]

Star Ocean 2: The Second Evolution, has one amazing intro...When i first saw it i had my mouth open staring at the PSP screen, thinking "this is gonna be good!", and it sure as hell was.


I still get chills from it, it's so good. If they adapted this intro as a anime, i would watch the hell out of it.

I still regard this as the best intro of all time.
<youtube=zNolROCkCM0>
I mean GOD THAT MUSIC is just fantastic!

I was mean't to post that too, but you beat me to it, damn you!

 

[The Madman]

Blizzard always make real purdy intro cinematics, if nothing else these days they're consistently good for that... but everyone and their mum has probably already seen those so I'll post an oldie.

Probably the coolest thing I'd seen in a game first time I saw this:


Still not half bad looking either, but I suspect the ultra low resolution is partially to thank for that.

Also, go Jade Falcon!

 

[BearShark]

Both of the Left 4 Dead games have great cinematic openings. I'd love to see a full length movie about the Survivors.

 

[Cabisco]

I'm surprised I'm the first one (checks again to make sure) to mention the intro cinematic for Dawn Of War. That was incredibly well made and made my fully believe a warhammer movie could work.

 

[wintercoat]

Final Fantasy 8:

D:< Dirty stinking ninjas, stealing people's posts!

I find that I don't watch many opening cinematics anymore. I used to always wait to watch them, but over the years, I've just stopped doing it. I still do, from time to time, but it's become a rarity. Hmm...give me a few while I flick through my library...

The opening to Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is pretty good, especially the end of it, with the Demifiend standing surrounded by demons, all peering out from the darkness. Plus, there's just something about that music that I love.

Spoiler

 

[The Wykydtron]

I freaking love this opening. Both the visuals and the music are fantastic, hell Noel actually looks competent and emotionally stable, that's new. I only wish Mu-12 had more than a half second of screen time but eh, she's the end boss so it's to be expected.

I guess the start of Vampire: The Masquerade counts if only because of how adorably clunky the whole thing is since everything is running on the in-game engine, awkward animations and all. Get sex'd into a vampire, hours later vampiric SWAT team bursts through a door and "kills" both of you. This raid happens in the space of around 3-4 seconds with no sound effects or voices so it's rather comedic looking.

Then you get to listen to LaCroix loving the sound of his own voice for a few minutes, get almost executed for being illegal, someone explains the whole "vampire" idea then you eat a homeless man in an alley.

Or you ignore/insult the homeless man and instead drag a respectable businessman into the alley to nom on if you're playing Tremere. Elitism ftw.