Your Favorite Blizzard cinematics?

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

In terms of the pre-rendered cinematics, I'm a big fan of Wrath and Cataclysm's. I'm also very fond of the in-game ones they did for the Wrathgate and the alliance story end in Shadowmoon Valley for WoD where Velen goes out like a boss.

Of the many problems I had with Warlords of Draenor, the presentation wasn't one of them. I agree that the Shadowmoon cinematic was pretty good. I like that it largely tries to tell its story visually, relying on the characters expressions and music to set the scene rather than one character blandly telling another "You get to be leader now cuz I'ma go sacrifice myself to save everyone, bye!" which is in essence the story the cinematic tells, only, you know, with a bit more nuance than that... which is impressive since Blizzard are usually the complete opposite of subtle. Nice showcase of the new character models too.


Mind you in terms of cinematic, the best thing to come out of WoD was by far the Lords of War mini-series:


Great music and fantastic painterly visuals. No complaints from me... You know, except that he later dies pointlessly depriving the Alliance of one of its few noteworthy Draenei characters, but the cinematic is still cool though.

Literally the only issue I have with the cinematic is that the music isn't available on the CD soundtrack. I find that infuriating.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

-Diablo I: Cinematic intro. Not my favorite, but still foreboding. Sets the atmosphere well.

No comment on the Ending Cinematic for Diablo 1?


Go to 04:10

I dislike the MOP cinematic for how cartoonish it was. And I like MOP as an expansion.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

In terms of the pre-rendered cinematics, I'm a big fan of Wrath and Cataclysm's. I'm also very fond of the in-game ones they did for the Wrathgate and the alliance story end in Shadowmoon Valley for WoD where Velen goes out like a boss.

Of the many problems I had with Warlords of Draenor, the presentation wasn't one of them. I agree that the Shadowmoon cinematic was pretty good. I like that it largely tries to tell its story visually, relying on the characters expressions and music to set the scene rather than one character blandly telling another "You get to be leader now cuz I'ma go sacrifice myself to save everyone, bye!" which is in essence the story the cinematic tells, only, you know, with a bit more nuance than that... which is impressive since Blizzard are usually the complete opposite of subtle. Nice showcase of the new character models too.


Mind you in terms of cinematic, the best thing to come out of WoD was by far the Lords of War mini-series:


Great music and fantastic painterly visuals. No complaints from me... You know, except that he later dies pointlessly depriving the Alliance of one of its few noteworthy Draenei characters, but the cinematic is still cool though.

Literally the only issue I have with the cinematic is that the music isn't available on the CD soundtrack. I find that infuriating.

Regarding the Lords of War videos my favorite of all is Kil'rogg's

 

[Groxnax]

The MOP cinematic.

That Panda really freaked out that Human and Ork so bad.

 

[DoPo]

And this is the only cinematic I like from Diablo 3:

Spoiler: Tyrael's sacrifice

I agree - this really was an amazing cinematic. I loved it.

I hated the Azmodan one because Azmodan looks like a rejected concept for a Demon of Warcraft's Burning Legion

And I hated him because he was dumb. Really dumb. On par with a cartoon villain dumb.

"Ha ha ha! You shall never catch my secret army which is about the breaching your armoury!"
"Oh, you defeated them...well, you shall never prevent the next phase of my plan which is to do this other thing"

On top of that he fucking appeared as a giant floating head to personally deliver his gloating. I couldn't take him seriously with that - there was a show called Third Rock from the Sun about a group of aliens who pretended to be a human family and their shenanigans. The alien leader was called "Big Giant Head" (I think this was his title?) and whenever they got a message from him, it started with "Big Giant Head speaking". Any time I saw Azmodan, all I could think of was that. Azmodan was only very vaguely more threatening that the BGH from the show.

Not sure why, but I've always been a sucker for the Orc ending cinematic of Warcraft III

Spoiler: Orc ending cinematic

I absolutely loved that, as well. I even have a story about it:

When I first played the campaign and got to that cutscene, for some reason there was no video. The screen was black but the audio was playing. I still sat through it because even without picture, it was still impactful.

OK, it isn't a really epic or that interesting of a story, but I still remember that cutscene fondly because I remember that.

 

[happyninja42]

Not sure why, but I've always been a sucker for the Orc ending cinematic of Warcraft III

Hell yeah, same here. That ending chokes me up every time I see it. The Orc campaign, and the ending of it, is the single reason I started playing WoW back when it first released. I actually didn't even play the Night Elf campaign after the Orc one, because fuck those elves. There was no way they were going to have a campaign as awesome and badass as the Orc one, and Grom's sacrifice.

Second place for me would be the Iron Legion trailer for Warlords of Draenor....I might have a love for Grom Hellscream.

 

[Glongpre]

My favourite is probably the Mephisto cinematic from D2.

Spoiler: Meph

Although I like all of the D2 cinematics because they create such a great atmosphere and really tell you a lot about the world. Baal attacking the gates of Secheron is a great one as well. Baal is such a creepy mofo.

Spoiler: Baa-aaal!

Warcraft 3 is gold. All of Arthas' cinematics are amazing. Illidan has that great naga one. Archimonde at the world tree. Orcs vs Mannoroth.

 

[Hawki]

No comment on the Ending Cinematic for Diablo 1?

Not really. It does its job, just not as effectively. It doesn't help that it ends with a monologue. Not that ending a game with a monologue is bad (see Warcraft III, Brood War, etc.), but, yeah.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

No comment on the Ending Cinematic for Diablo 1?

Not really. It does its job, just not as effectively. It doesn't help that it ends with a monologue. Not that ending a game with a monologue is bad (see Warcraft III, Brood War, etc.), but, yeah.

But its amazing how seamlessly connected Diablo 1 lead up to Diablo 2.

 

[Hawki]

No comment on the Ending Cinematic for Diablo 1?

Not really. It does its job, just not as effectively. It doesn't help that it ends with a monologue. Not that ending a game with a monologue is bad (see Warcraft III, Brood War, etc.), but, yeah.

But its amazing how seamlessly connected Diablo 1 lead up to Diablo 2.

Maybe. In actual fact, a fair amount of time passes between D1 & D2 as Aidan stays in Tristram for awhile before leaving. But, yeah. It connects them, but it doesn't inspire that much in me. Blizzard's cinematics, Diablo or otherwise, would get a lot better very quickly with StarCraft.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

No comment on the Ending Cinematic for Diablo 1?

Not really. It does its job, just not as effectively. It doesn't help that it ends with a monologue. Not that ending a game with a monologue is bad (see Warcraft III, Brood War, etc.), but, yeah.

But its amazing how seamlessly connected Diablo 1 lead up to Diablo 2.

Maybe. In actual fact, a fair amount of time passes between D1 & D2 as Aidan stays in Tristram for awhile before leaving. But, yeah. It connects them, but it doesn't inspire that much in me. Blizzard's cinematics, Diablo or otherwise, would get a lot better very quickly with StarCraft.

Yes Starcraft very much so.

This Cinematic for instance oh man the VOICE ACTING!!!

 

[Bad Jim]

Thank God for cold fusion

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Of their more recent works I've gotta give it to the Wrath of the Lich King Cinematic:


Again I just love the ambiance and the slow, foreboding pacing.

I still get a little chill down my spine every time "O Thanagor" begins.

In the same vein: You've gotta love the intro cinematic for Mists of Pandaria.


The part where they're both panting for breath as the Human hands the Orc his improvised spear had me rolling.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

Spoilers ahead, for very old games
Starcraft 1:

Spoiler

The death of Praetor Fenix always got a laugh out of me for some reason:

Warcraft 3:

Spoiler

"What are you doing?"
"Succeeding you, father"

Also Warcraft 3:

Spoiler

Orc ending, death of Hellscream

Never really played any Blizzard games after that...wasn't willing to commit to WoW, stopped playing RTS after Command & Conquer 3, and never gave Diablo 3 a chance because of the micros and always online.