In my mind, they just don’t make video game openings the way they used to. Since games seem to focus less on story in many instances, or more on tutorial levels, the classic opening intro to video gaming past is more like a relic than something that is constantly evolving and moving forward. That’s why, when one hits you right in the mouth and is awesome, you really remember it. Take Fallout 3, for instance, which has one of the best openings to a game I can remember in years.
Well, GamesRadar has put together a list of what they deem to be the greatest video game openings of all time. It’s a pretty interesting group of games, and one that I mostly agree with, though I would have liked to see Final Fantasy VI or Final Fantasy VII on there, I think. Nothing quite compares to those marching mechs in VI, or seeing Midgar for the first time in VII.
So what do you guys think? What is your favorite video game opening of all time?
Source- GamesRadar
While exiting one’s mother’s vagina is a cool start to Fallout 3, exiting Vault 101 is even cooler. The music, the blindingly white screen, and then the level up music. All so cool. Better yet, the game goes uphill from that.
Actually, they forgot the cinematic sequence. The Inkspots’ “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” really creates a fittingly unfitting mood, and it’s followed up by Ron Perlman’s sexy voice booming “War. War Never Changes.”
I think FO3 should have been higher, like 4 or 5, but at least it made it.
FO3, definitely, I loved the whole idea of controlling parts of your childhood, even if it had no real impact. Chrono Trigger I thought was kind of bland, actually. It just didn’t suck me in. Bioshock definitely deserved it, that opening riveted me to my computer and wouldn’t let me leave for hours. And Half Life needs no explanation. A pretty solid list, overall. I’m surprised that more JRPGs didn’t make it, though; they have a penchant for good openings.
FFVI is awesome because of that hanuting music while you see the 3 mechs marching towards Narshe on their way to investigate the frozen Esper, Tritoch.
See? Told you guys I know that game like the back of my hand…HEY! There’s a new spot on my hand….
Fallout 3 certainly had an amazing opening. Very well done. I have never enjoyed being flashbanged prior to that. my fave opening was Freedom Fighters. The whole timeline of the alternate past revealed to us to some good old Russian music! Then we see a chaotic invasion of America. Lovely. COD4 is another great one. almost plummeting to your doom, Price turns round by freak chance. BAD ASS braw, I love it! I still feel so helpless at the end =(
Interesting choices. I definitely agree with the inclusion of Half-Life…but personally I’d rank FFVI and VII near the top, certainly ahead of Chrono Trigger.
From my youth, I remember my favorite was this isometric RPG called Heimdall, where you start off by playing a bunch of mini-games to determine which characters you can build your party with. The best was the drunken axe toss, where your targets were the braids of a rather well-endowed barmaid. Hours of entertainment for my 12 year old self. Too bad the rest of the game was terrible.
Good list, I liked Halo 3’s as well.
Half-Life 1 and 2 for sure.
“Rise and shine….Miiister Freeman”
and
“Welcome to the Black Mesa Transit system”
are two phrases that have been etched in my brain since day one.
HOLLY S**T HALF LIFE WAS #1 🙂
Frontline is so deserving of being on there. Seriously, an epic game all around.
Arg! I need to play Half Life!!!
Hmm I cant really think of any openings really. Man this is a tough one. I forget most of the first level like things hehe. I personally think Ace Combat 6s first mission is really good for the game series. Hmm…Ill try and get back to this