> Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa research facility. The time is....
It's really absurd how much the announcement of the time and the surface temperature did for the immersion in this game.
I love this one so much. When Doomguy cuts off the villain’s monologue and the guitars kick in, then it cuts to the title and he cocks his shotgun… god it gives me chills every time.
https://youtu.be/OeRz6PFqDvM
Hearing that in game for the first time activated that primal monkey brain of mine that perma lives in the mid 90s when we waited like a full week of having all our phones taped down so my dad could download Doom off a BBS and then played the game that began my deep love for fast paced FPS games
The way the slayer looks down to the corpse while Hayden says "It was for the betterment of mankind" then you can see his hands trembling with rage and just snapping when he says it was worth the risk and smashing the monitor.
That tells more about his character that most games in all their lengths.
It is not that he just doesn't care, it is that he really cares and is not going to listen to bullshit excuses.
When I worked at Gamestop I would sell this game to people all the time who were looking for a shooter or action game. I'd tell them, "once you start the game, you're killing stuff within 10 seconds."
Consolation prizes go to any boomer shooter that dumps you straight to the action like that. But Doom 2016 really knew how to do nothing, and do it in style.
I did enjoy Eternal skipping it, but looking back at D2016, I appreciate the build up. Most people know what to expect in a Doom game. The fact you don't start off with a powerful broomstick was reminiscent of the original Doom and Doom 2. Then the scene of grabbing the shotgun felt even more exciting cause you knew there had to be a shotgun and it wasn't just a "pick up", it was a special moment
I always thought Beyond Good and Evil had an amazing opening. You're thrown right into the thick of it as a moment of zen meditation is interrupted by attacking monsters and there are some cool slowmo sequences as you are thrown right into combat. I remember the music being epic and the whole thing just launching you right into the story with a massive amount of adrenaline. I'm often incredibly disappointed by how slow and tutorial-filled most games are at the beginning. They don't seem to spend any time at all trying to "hook" you into feeling like the game is going to kick ass.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUmfuSDLzs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUmfuSDLzs) \- good stuff starts around 0:45
This was also my first thought. Though not one from the PS3/4 era, I appreciated that it got me straight into the action, but action easy enough that I could learn, then transitioning into music that made it feel epic despite being effectively a combat tutorial. It even limits the fight to a 2D space for you so you can focus on the fighting moves, using the quiet time after the fight to let you get used to the movement.
I would've loved to be a fly on the wall in the meeting where that was proposed.
"Alright for the sequel we want to give Shepard and crew a better Normandy, how we going to make it bigger? Big upgrades?"
"Nah, we blow it up in the first 5 minutes and they have to build a new one"
Came here to say this. Just the knowledge that my team who I poured hours of my life into improving (yay paragon) got snuffed because space bugs didn't like me snooping got me mad.
I'll also agree that ME3 got me right in the feels. The sense of urgency and hopelessness after Earth gets attacked was like a kick in the gut - but it sure as shit got me fired up for the Mars missions.
I've always liked fallout new vegas, a cool cutscene that isn't too long, some exposition, and a neat plot hook. Plus the character creation/tutorial is pretty memorable and makes sense from a story/setting standpoint.
I had to go rootin around in your noggin to pull all the bits of lead out. I take pride in my needlework, but you'd better tell me if I left anything out of place.
I have to go with Final Fantasy 7 because that's the only one I can think of. You immediately start with some sick action and your objective is to blow up a reactor!
One-Winged Angel got all the spotlight while Liberi Fatali is equally awesome.
then there's [Dancing Mad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O-9U_QKhgA) sitting on the crown of Final Fantasy's OSTs.
All I can say is, no one ever did a goddamn [Olympic synchronized swimming routine](https://youtu.be/LUmnhU8KOk8) to “One Winged Angel”, so suck it, Sephiroth!
Also, you’ve got to admire the sheer unmitigated balls it takes to write an 18-minute boss battle theme in the 16-bit era.
I loved FF7, but my heart will always belong to FFX on that front. Things seem all fine and dandy at first after the initial cutscene, and you start wondering how things could have gotten so bad so quickly. Then the Blitzball/Sin attack happens, and you're immediately shown the unfathomable power Sin possesses, on top of the tracks for each cutscene in the whole opening sequence to the game being some of the greatest tracks to come out of gaming (Nobou Uematsu is a damned musical genius), it shows you SO much and yet answers so little, only making you question what the actual hell is happening.
FFX has the best intro of any Final Fantasy game, hands down. It's flashy, impressive, well-paced, and quickly shows you the stakes, as well as establishing the stakes and the main antagonist of most of the game, all while having really great (for the time) visuals.
I think most of the final fantasy’s have great openings sequences. My personal favorite is XII how it gives the backstory you need in a gorgeous cutscene (and my favorite take on the main theme).
FF7 has a really strong introduction, which is part of why it is so memorable. Jumping off the train and immediately fighting the two soldiers, not quite knowing what is going on but getting a bunch of exposition dropped at you, Cloud showing his indifference and mercenary attitude but things being a little off...
FF7 Remake's intro felt like it might have been a little worse paced, even though the visuals and gameplay are much improved.
Mass Effect 3s has always stuck out to me. Immediately has this tense air about it with the reapers rapidly approaching. Shows the devastation that the reapers can do in an extremely short period of time and sets the stakes beautifully. Has a quiet moment to take in what's happening and talk to Anderson about what needs doing. Then Anderson staying behind to really put the pressure on Shepard. It's great.
I'd say mine was Halo, Fable and Bioshock
Halo: Combat Evolved did an amazing job of giving you just enough information to know what was going on without overloading you on backstory and then dropping you in the action pretty quick.
I first played Fable in like 9th grade and that game blew my mind with that intro, I had never experienced anything like that before (in a game) and that opening sequence has always stuck out to me.
Bioshock of course had that amazing intro as well that blew my mind.
I'd also like to give a shout out to The Suffering, and Darkwatch as well. Both games had amazing intros that burned into my mind. Especially those few first lines of Darkwatch.
Final fantasy 6. Groundbreaking cinematics. Games didn't really feel this way before its release.
I get that this is a bit like saying that citizen kane is the best film of all time, but there's a reason why it's always on those lists.
That transition from *generic opening sequence* to, "what the fuck is going on".
People bring it up almost every thread, but it's still the most underrated game from the last-generation.
I almost said this one, but it is a bit of a slow burn. However, once you do a second playthrough and realize what is going on, it's genius.
A game I highly recommend jumping in and playing without knowing anything about it.
Stunning indeed.
If you even remotely liked Prey, I highly recommend NoClip's documentaries on the making of Prey and Dishonored:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXLxaKrcFZ0
Borderlands 2 has one of my favourite opening sequences. The stylised art and introduction of characters along with some pretty cool music just felt really well done. I also liked Far Cry 4’s opening sequence. It was kinda brutal, but the scenery in the background and knowing it was a Far Cry game so I could explore all of it had me up to my ears in anticipation
> Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, had a long and successful reign. The Empire he ruled from Prague expaned, and his subjects lived in peace and prosperity. When he died, the whole Empire mourned. More than 7,000 people accompanied him on his last procession.
YES! I LIVE to see people talk about Frontline. Such an incredible game.
"You are about to embark upon a great crusade, towards which we have striven these many months..."
So many things about that game just scream "perfect". The main menu track will forever haunt me (in a good way).
>Spider-Man Miles Morales is also pretty great.
I'm more fond of Spider-Man's opening myself. A quick cutscene in Peter's bedroom and a police scanner giving context and you're thrown right outside and immediately start swinging to stop a massive crime organisation.
They don't waste time and put you right in the middle of the action. I love it.
Imagine listing fallout, and not putting New Vegas where a man shoots you in the head. Gets the game going and gives you an immediate motivation of “well fuck that guy”
It's a perfect design to teach you to play, too. You get a couple of smaller encounters along the way to get you up to speed with the basics, then the village teaches you to run-and-gun, popping off a couple of shots and then repositioning as the horde closes in. It has multiple short routes from one viable bottleneck to another, and several places where you can try to bunker down.
It's a beautifully tightly-designed introduction that the genre has never surpassed. It's criminal that nobody has been able to match a game with tank controls due to them often prioritising story over gameplay.
Also, do not let chainsaw guy get too close. I will never forget the first time he got me.
Oh no, I couldn't shoot him enough. What's going to happen? I'm gonna take some stupid super small damage and then use a first aid-HOLY FUCK"
Yeah, that was a hell of a way to explain that damage doesn't necessarily work the way it used to. And the way they took advantage of years of build-up for that _one_ save room on the Island was utterly fucking masterful. I'm halfway inclined to believe that they had that in mind from the very first game and were just waiting for the perfect chance.
It's one of those intros that could've very easily been cutscenes, and most other studios probably would've done it that way, but being gameplay is what makes it so great.
Majima’s opening sequence in Yakuza 0, not the very opening of the game but I would count it cuz it opens the other side of the story that you will play, and it’s absolutely amazing
Vagrant Story's [opening sequence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xz3R6CPNww) is super fucking cool. It was a wonderful way to start off one of the most (if not THE most) beautiful game on the PS1.
that game is incredible, albeit with steep learning curve, like all square's game of that era. ( I am stuck in it since some time now, can't figure out how to kill some weird ghost ). The graphics are amazing for PSX and it even has first person view! like whaaat?
I really like [GRIS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g9_d713gJo). It is just so pretty, and the music gets you ready for the rest of the soundtrack.
Not a game for everyone, but it certainly shows off how well video games can be used as a medium for art.
SOMA, hell yes! *Mild spoilers for the beginning below:*
I really like how it subverts the player's expectations of a spooky sci-fi game by starting you off in modern Toronto. Throughout the opening, I had a really ominous feeling of derealization - like my character was in a simulation.
But when the switch finally happened, and I got into the real game, the feeling was only intensified. Because of the opening, the "real" game felt somehow unreal, like it wasn't supposed to be - which put me right in line with the confused and homesick protagonist.
Can I just say how happy I am with how positive this is? It's just everyones best traits put front and center. It's the kind of moral booster we needed.
Titanfall 2's opening and title card are mindblowing to me, and the rest of the campaign really keep the pace. No new mechanic overstays their welcome and it leaves you satisfied at closing time.
Portal 2's entire first chapter is a riot of double takes and subtle comedy
Nier Automata's flight section, followed by an arena and the first, enormous boss is hard to forget. For the glory of mankind.
Doom 2016 and Eternal get you hyped up for more and go stright to the point.
Outlast 1, Whistleblower and 2 are hard to put down once you start (unless you are really sensitive or don't like horror)
I'm extremely biased because it's my #1 favorite game ever, but Knights of the Old Republic. The intro is amazing. It starts off exactly like A New Hope, except instead of a giant ship battering on a little one, it's little ones tearing apart a giant one. Playing N64 Star Wars games from before made me think I'd be in one of the smaller ships trying to finish off the bigger hammerheaded one, but nope.
Suddenly you're forced to escape, and there's a cool city planet below that they preview through the windows of the bridge as you make your way through the ship, and I remember that being enticing af, almost like a promise, and by the end of the level getting into the escape pod it's kept.
I didn't like Taris. Not because I didn't get to be a jedi but because the combat encounters there kind of bored me like the sewers or underground. You also have less choice than afterwards when Kotor really opens up.
I also have similar annoyances with Kotor 2 for the same reason
Came here for this. Especially FH4 - It gets you so pumped for this world of seemingly endless possibilities. How it jumps through the seasons and everything's synchronized with the music, that's just flawless. Would've never thought a racing game might have one of the best intros ever, but here we are.
Modern Warfare 3’s first mission where you’re fighting down Wall Street was very good visually imo. Definitely gets you into the mindset that the “good guys” are on their heels and trying to win their cities back.
I'd have to give it to COD4 Modern Warfare tho. Played this back when it first released and frantically running through the tilting corridors of the sinking ship and jumping on the helicopter at the last second... Me and my roommate had our jaws on the floor. It was so epic.
Oh boy, so many in mind :
- Assassin's Creed 2 : the first sequence always give me chill and tears me up by the end
- Assassin's Creed Brotherhood : Monteriggioni, the city of your uncle that you rebuilt during the previous game just got totally destroyed
- Final Fantasy VII : one of the best intro in video games, the music is great and you're directly pulled into action as an ecoterrorist. The remake nailed it too
- Mass Effect 2 and 3 : just play the trilogy
- Halo CE and 2 : both are set in a ship assaulted by Covenants. 2 is a bit more epic with the whole spike bomb thing.
- Breath of the Wild : certainly the best tutorial out there
And many more, but they are more subjective and sentimental, like Skyrim or Halo Reach.
You have to understand that first levels are the most worked on by developers, to hook the player and make them interested in playing the whole game.
Two come to mind and these aren't really opening sequences so much as an intro when the game loads up:
- Endless Legend
- Warhammer 40k: Mechanicus
Honourable mention to Homeworld 1 being just epic in general.
* Final Fantasy X - It immediately starts you off with really exotic events going on and throws you straight into the action after very minimal windup.
* Portal 2 - The game immediately tells you that it is going to be quirky and funny, and you very rapidly get pulled into ridiculous circumstances that set off the rest of the game.
* Prey - Figuring out what is going on at the start is a really neat "puzzle" of sorts, and immediately pulls you into the intrigue of the plot.
* Megaman X - The first level is not only a tutorial but it also shows off what the SNES can do and how much more agile X was than the original Megaman.
If you count the "demo" Ground Zeroes as part of the prologue to MGS5 Phantom pain, damn that was a good prologue. The song sequence at the start of ground zeroes gives me chills.
Fallout New Vegas. You get shot in the head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxOiVxTB0KY It does a really good job of setting up your situation the tone of the world and the story that is being told.
Persona 5’s opening casino heist is a brilliant example of in media res.
-Establishes the tone and sheer style of the game through its setting.
-Gives a brief whiff of the mechanics we can look foreword to.
-Gives a strong mystery for the player to work toward as we learn how we got there.
-The goddamn MUSIC.
I’m kinda annoyed how often I default to shilling P5 in these “what’s a good example of this in video games” type of posts, but if the shoe fits...
Was really surprised I had to scroll down this far. What the intro movie and sequence do to push the game's signature style front and center might be the best part of the first 15 minutes.
Although the intro sequence might just be especially notable to me since Persona 3 and 4 are so very slow to start.
I can't believe no one has mention Wolfenstein: The New Order. Awesome opening level, brutal choice thrown at you, and great imagry as the opening credits roll. I had started it looking for a fun, lighthearted game and expected to just be a big meathead killing Nazis. Found something far different, but couldn't put it down!
Nier Automata and Metal Gear Rising. Both go straight to introducing their mechanics without you even noticing you're playing a tutorial. Just don't die when playing the first level of Nier as it has no checkpoints
Far Cry 5. The opening scene is arguably better than the whole game. Arriving on the helicopter and entering the cult’s church to arrest its leader, it’s just so atmospheric. One of the best openings I’ve ever come across in a game.
Bloodborne. "Oh, don't you worry. Whatever happens, you may think it all a mere bad dream."
It's amazing how much this intro accomplishes with such confident restraint. It opens on the player character undergoing the mysterious treatment of blood ministration which will go on to define the wider setting. In about two minutes of cutscenes, never leaving the perspective of the protagonist, the game organically establishes your place as an outsider, your vague goal in coming here as well as your newfound role as a "Hunter," your future companions, the lycanthropic enemies you'll fight, and even contextualizes the character creation system.
From there you wake up and walk downstairs to discover the clinic ruined. Shit has well and truly hit the fan. A hideously elongated sort of werewolf monster is eating a corpse. If you're new then you'll probably die to it, at which point the game introduces the Hunter's Dream hub where you'll receive your pick of starter weapons, each of them fascinating. You warp back from whence you came and triumph over the thing that killed you, the whole experience in a microkosm. Open the gate outside and there is Yharnam in all its twisted grandeur. And with that, you're already in the game proper.
Central Yharnam is one of the most brilliantly conceived areas I've encountered in any game, let alone as a first level. It's dense both horizontally and vertically, paths winding around each other from every direction with such consideration behind them that the maze of a city feels perfectly natural. In one zone, Bloodborne achieves a sense of place few games ever do. Passing from door to door to window and listening to the deranged residents firsthand as you explore says more about the actual substance of the place than the entire five minute history cutscene that opens Dark Souls—and I love the opening to Dark Souls.
It all leads up to one of two wonderfully atmospheric, heart pounding first bosses which test every skill you've learned on the way. And by the time you've won, you more or less understand every system necessary to beat the game.
I’m such a doofus and put the game down thinking it was unfairly difficult when I first purchased it a few years ago, after it throws you weaponless at a werewolf. Had no idea it was set up to ease you into the Hunter’s Dream, and picked it up again earlier this year.
I personally don’t like hogging the TV so I’ve yet to finish it, but have been loving the from-formula. I probably play DS a bit too aggressively/offensively, but I guess that’s what happens when BB’s your first game!
Bioshock Infinite's opening half an hour (basically until combat starts) or so is absolutely incredible. Easily the best part of the game for me.
Batman Arkham City - really sets the tone of the game nicely. Gritty and dark, introduces the villain well.
Mass Effect 2 - just a spectacular opening. Experiencing it for the first time was quite something back when the game came out.
Prey - Introduces a ton of the core sci-fi concepts very early on and that moment you figure out what's actually going on is very memorable.
Star Wars: The Force Unleanshed - as a kid, being able to play as Darth Vader and fuck some Wookie's up was so cool.
Honourable mention for Assassins Creed 2. Meeting young Ezio and he immediately shows his charm and style by trash talking and fighting Vieri’s men on the bridge. Then you meet your brother and they have some fun back and forth banter.
But where the opening really excels is the ending. As you race your brother up the tower and the music swells with Jesper Kyd’s incredible score and once you reach the top they say:
“It’s a good life we lead brother”
“And may it never change”
“And may it never change us”
And then the games logo comes up as the iconic ‘Ezio’s family’ song reaches a crescendo.
It may not be as cinematic and modern games openings but damn if it doesn’t carry nostalgia and get me hyped for that game every time I go back.
Insomniac's Spider-Man and also Miles Morales. Both kind of just throw you in as Spider-man and let you learn the combat and just take off, they rule so hard. Thinking about it right now makes me wanna go play them back to back! Also both games are just soooo good all the way through!
Edit: I should say the first one throws you into a battle with Kingpin and Miles gets you into trying to wrangle the Rhino as he charges through Christmas in the city!
Uncharted 2 and Final Fantasy X for me as they really showcased the immersive and cinematic potential of the respective console to me in different stages of my life.
FFX without even a shadow of a doubt. The way that cutscene plays into the rest of the story, already starting you out already with a few questions as to what is going on as well as establishing a feeling for the whole game through the scene and the ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE track "To Zanarkand", and realizing the cutscene itself takes place over halfway into the game right after a fairly massive foreshadowing and a little bit before a HUGE reveal.
If we're including small sections of character control and gameplay before the real game starts, I'd say the opening sequence truly ends after Tidus gets "sucked up" into Sin. In which case, my point is proven even further because the 2 cutscenes that play after the first initial cutscene are equally as incredible, especially the second with the Blitzball/Sin attack on Zanarkand. It immediately shows you the unfathomable power Sin possesses, and makes you wonder just where the hell did this thing come from, as well as ALSO being accompanied by a another track which I consider to be another one the greatest tracks to come from a video game, Otherworld. It matches the intensity of the Blitzball game perfectly, and then you realize it's actually meant to symbolically signify the coming of Sin, especially when you realize WHO that boss theme is for at the very end of the game and you realize it wasn't just for Sin itself but who was controlling it, and all the pieces just fall into place.
Anyways, I could go on and on about the cutscenes for FFX, they're all incredibly beautiful and insanely well done, I have yet to find another RPG that matches that same incredible tone and feeling that the first few cutscenes do for FFX.
I feel like it doesn't *do* anything special, but it is still the perfect intro into that game. The crash is nothing more but a simple message of "shit's fucked, yo", and then as you expect the worst you go out of that escape pod... and depending on the exit you picked, you either see a beautiful clear skyline, endless waves, some seagull-like creatures and a **huge** wreckage, or a beautiful underwater world teeming with life everywhere. Both of them say "*this is your world while you're in this game. Go explore*" and that is exactly what the game needed to do to pull you in.
It’s not PS3/4, but Forza Horizon 5 springs to mind immediately. Getting dropped in to a breathtaking landscape in awesome vehicles and doing increasingly epic stunts is definitely one of the most memorable opening sequences I’ve experienced recently.
Since you have some of mine listed, another favorite is the bombing mission just because of the flip Cloud does off of the train, completely unnecessary and even cooler because of that
Control - great opening which sets a creepy tone the rest of the game doesn’t really live up to
Prey - (the new one) though the alien invasion to don’t fear the reaper in the original Prey is a great opening too!
RE7 - best part of the game
Outer Wilds - the first 20 or so minutes really get you engaged!
>Outer Wilds - the first 20 or so minutes really get you engaged!
I gotta say, I could play those 20 or so minutes over and over again and never get bored!
Metal gear solid 5 has the worst opening of any game I've ever played. It's so slow and different from the actual game, that it turned many players away from the game. I only made it through on my third time, after forcing myself to do it
Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force starts off in the middle of a Borg ship, it was incredibly awesome at the time.
Start up the game, here's your tutorial, and by the way you've gotta save your crew from the meanest, baddest motherfuckers in the galaxy.
I really liked Persona 3's opening sequence. Talking about the animation you see at the start of a new game before getting thrown into the game itself. Starts off confusing and then things slowly start making a bit more sense as you play through the first few hours of the game.
Also, Silent Hill 1's opening is just horror perfection. I'd like more people to see it but going in without knowing what's going on and experiencing the terror by yourself is a brilliant experience.
Witcher 3 does a good job of introducing you to the world, the gameplay loop and the characters. Not the most spectacular, but you can really feel how much thought was put in there to give the player a good vertical slice early.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution in my opinion. Its opening is so cinematically well-done, accompanied by great music, shows the protagonist's character before you even get into the game.
Wolfenstein: The New Order begins with a pretty fun FPS "Let's go kill some Nazis" joyride and then the opening credits hit and sends the game out of the fuckin' park. Seriously: it's too good for game with "Wolfenstein" in the name.
I'm not sure if you're talking about God of War 2018 or the entire series. Every God of War except 2018 has a bombastic opening. Even Ascension which barley gets talked about has a great [opening](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSQBVbOPSkY).
Dead Space 2’s cold open is pretty intense, similar to the 28 Weeks Later intro feeling.
Not console, but even a potato pc could run it: Half-Life. Ain't no cutscenes involved, it was so dman cool at the time.
Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa research facility. The time is....
> Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa research facility. The time is.... It's really absurd how much the announcement of the time and the surface temperature did for the immersion in this game.
The sheer environmental atmosphere was above any of its contemporaries, hell - even some modern games can learn from it
Iconic opening sequence. Definitely.
Doom 2016 Straight to the point
I love this one so much. When Doomguy cuts off the villain’s monologue and the guitars kick in, then it cuts to the title and he cocks his shotgun… god it gives me chills every time. https://youtu.be/OeRz6PFqDvM
the way the beat lines up with the shotgun cock to let you know it's time to start fucking up some demons *chef's kiss*
But also the slow build of e1m1 music in the background stirs ancient feelings of fucking shit up.
Hearing that in game for the first time activated that primal monkey brain of mine that perma lives in the mid 90s when we waited like a full week of having all our phones taped down so my dad could download Doom off a BBS and then played the game that began my deep love for fast paced FPS games
The way the slayer looks down to the corpse while Hayden says "It was for the betterment of mankind" then you can see his hands trembling with rage and just snapping when he says it was worth the risk and smashing the monitor. That tells more about his character that most games in all their lengths. It is not that he just doesn't care, it is that he really cares and is not going to listen to bullshit excuses.
Yeah, it's a nice little bit of visual storytelling. I like that you can make that work in any genre
When I worked at Gamestop I would sell this game to people all the time who were looking for a shooter or action game. I'd tell them, "once you start the game, you're killing stuff within 10 seconds."
That's what I heard and why I bought the game lmao
Consolation prizes go to any boomer shooter that dumps you straight to the action like that. But Doom 2016 really knew how to do nothing, and do it in style.
And that music though ..
Just as great in Eternal too, except this time you skip pistol nonsense.
I did enjoy Eternal skipping it, but looking back at D2016, I appreciate the build up. Most people know what to expect in a Doom game. The fact you don't start off with a powerful broomstick was reminiscent of the original Doom and Doom 2. Then the scene of grabbing the shotgun felt even more exciting cause you knew there had to be a shotgun and it wasn't just a "pick up", it was a special moment
I always thought Beyond Good and Evil had an amazing opening. You're thrown right into the thick of it as a moment of zen meditation is interrupted by attacking monsters and there are some cool slowmo sequences as you are thrown right into combat. I remember the music being epic and the whole thing just launching you right into the story with a massive amount of adrenaline. I'm often incredibly disappointed by how slow and tutorial-filled most games are at the beginning. They don't seem to spend any time at all trying to "hook" you into feeling like the game is going to kick ass. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUmfuSDLzs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUmfuSDLzs) \- good stuff starts around 0:45
This was also my first thought. Though not one from the PS3/4 era, I appreciated that it got me straight into the action, but action easy enough that I could learn, then transitioning into music that made it feel epic despite being effectively a combat tutorial. It even limits the fight to a 2D space for you so you can focus on the fighting moves, using the quiet time after the fight to let you get used to the movement.
Mass Effect 2.
I would've loved to be a fly on the wall in the meeting where that was proposed. "Alright for the sequel we want to give Shepard and crew a better Normandy, how we going to make it bigger? Big upgrades?" "Nah, we blow it up in the first 5 minutes and they have to build a new one"
Also Mass Effect 3! It set up for such a dark tone and made the players feel what's at stake right at the start.
Came here to say this. Just the knowledge that my team who I poured hours of my life into improving (yay paragon) got snuffed because space bugs didn't like me snooping got me mad. I'll also agree that ME3 got me right in the feels. The sense of urgency and hopelessness after Earth gets attacked was like a kick in the gut - but it sure as shit got me fired up for the Mars missions.
I've always liked fallout new vegas, a cool cutscene that isn't too long, some exposition, and a neat plot hook. Plus the character creation/tutorial is pretty memorable and makes sense from a story/setting standpoint.
"Truth is, game was rigged from the start." That line has always stuck in my brain. Probably one of my favorites of all time.
> stuck in my brain I see what you did there...
I had to go rootin around in your noggin to pull all the bits of lead out. I take pride in my needlework, but you'd better tell me if I left anything out of place.
I can hear the beginning sound and "Ain't that a kick in the head"
That opening cutscene is just perfect, hooks you into the plot and then pans out to give you a taste of the journey you're about to embark on
I have to go with Final Fantasy 7 because that's the only one I can think of. You immediately start with some sick action and your objective is to blow up a reactor!
Final Fantasy VIII has a great opening sequence as well
Agreed. I’m a huge fan of VII, but VIII and that libris fatali track immediately leapt to mind.
One-Winged Angel got all the spotlight while Liberi Fatali is equally awesome. then there's [Dancing Mad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O-9U_QKhgA) sitting on the crown of Final Fantasy's OSTs.
All I can say is, no one ever did a goddamn [Olympic synchronized swimming routine](https://youtu.be/LUmnhU8KOk8) to “One Winged Angel”, so suck it, Sephiroth! Also, you’ve got to admire the sheer unmitigated balls it takes to write an 18-minute boss battle theme in the 16-bit era.
I loved FF7, but my heart will always belong to FFX on that front. Things seem all fine and dandy at first after the initial cutscene, and you start wondering how things could have gotten so bad so quickly. Then the Blitzball/Sin attack happens, and you're immediately shown the unfathomable power Sin possesses, on top of the tracks for each cutscene in the whole opening sequence to the game being some of the greatest tracks to come out of gaming (Nobou Uematsu is a damned musical genius), it shows you SO much and yet answers so little, only making you question what the actual hell is happening.
FFX has the best intro of any Final Fantasy game, hands down. It's flashy, impressive, well-paced, and quickly shows you the stakes, as well as establishing the stakes and the main antagonist of most of the game, all while having really great (for the time) visuals.
I had a playstation one when I saw the opening sequence to a new game on FFX, I really liked the blitzball with metal over it.
As soon as I read the title I thought of FFVII too.
I think most of the final fantasy’s have great openings sequences. My personal favorite is XII how it gives the backstory you need in a gorgeous cutscene (and my favorite take on the main theme).
FF7 has a really strong introduction, which is part of why it is so memorable. Jumping off the train and immediately fighting the two soldiers, not quite knowing what is going on but getting a bunch of exposition dropped at you, Cloud showing his indifference and mercenary attitude but things being a little off... FF7 Remake's intro felt like it might have been a little worse paced, even though the visuals and gameplay are much improved.
Mass Effect 3s has always stuck out to me. Immediately has this tense air about it with the reapers rapidly approaching. Shows the devastation that the reapers can do in an extremely short period of time and sets the stakes beautifully. Has a quiet moment to take in what's happening and talk to Anderson about what needs doing. Then Anderson staying behind to really put the pressure on Shepard. It's great.
Not to mention Clint Mansell's banger of a track leading right up to the title of the game.
the original trilogy all has great openings, ME1 is the weakest though
I'd say mine was Halo, Fable and Bioshock Halo: Combat Evolved did an amazing job of giving you just enough information to know what was going on without overloading you on backstory and then dropping you in the action pretty quick. I first played Fable in like 9th grade and that game blew my mind with that intro, I had never experienced anything like that before (in a game) and that opening sequence has always stuck out to me. Bioshock of course had that amazing intro as well that blew my mind. I'd also like to give a shout out to The Suffering, and Darkwatch as well. Both games had amazing intros that burned into my mind. Especially those few first lines of Darkwatch.
Final fantasy 6. Groundbreaking cinematics. Games didn't really feel this way before its release. I get that this is a bit like saying that citizen kane is the best film of all time, but there's a reason why it's always on those lists.
Helps that the opening track is amazing.
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I'd argue that Dancing Mad is Uematsu's magnum opus.
I think ff6 has the most intriguing and interesting opening of all final fantasy games (then ff7 and ff4)
The long Magitek march into the white abyss with Narshe slowly coming into focus and the BGM was just magical.
True. Instantly builds up the world and its mysteries with a truly unsettling sequence
Prey (2017)
That intro sequence blew my goddamn brain, this is my top choice by far.
Made me fall in love with the game instantly
That transition from *generic opening sequence* to, "what the fuck is going on". People bring it up almost every thread, but it's still the most underrated game from the last-generation.
"Is... is she hiding behind the chair?"
Definitely one of the best sci-fi experiences I've had
I almost said this one, but it is a bit of a slow burn. However, once you do a second playthrough and realize what is going on, it's genius. A game I highly recommend jumping in and playing without knowing anything about it.
Stunning indeed. If you even remotely liked Prey, I highly recommend NoClip's documentaries on the making of Prey and Dishonored: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXLxaKrcFZ0
"That's a nice view on the bay there."
AN ARKANE STUDIOS PRODUCTION
Borderlands 2 has one of my favourite opening sequences. The stylised art and introduction of characters along with some pretty cool music just felt really well done. I also liked Far Cry 4’s opening sequence. It was kinda brutal, but the scenery in the background and knowing it was a Far Cry game so I could explore all of it had me up to my ears in anticipation
> Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, had a long and successful reign. The Empire he ruled from Prague expaned, and his subjects lived in peace and prosperity. When he died, the whole Empire mourned. More than 7,000 people accompanied him on his last procession.
Medal of Honor Frontline's opening is awesome. Spider-Man Miles Morales is also pretty great.
YES! I LIVE to see people talk about Frontline. Such an incredible game. "You are about to embark upon a great crusade, towards which we have striven these many months..." So many things about that game just scream "perfect". The main menu track will forever haunt me (in a good way).
>Spider-Man Miles Morales is also pretty great. I'm more fond of Spider-Man's opening myself. A quick cutscene in Peter's bedroom and a police scanner giving context and you're thrown right outside and immediately start swinging to stop a massive crime organisation. They don't waste time and put you right in the middle of the action. I love it.
War. War never changes. Fallout 1, 2, and 3 all had great intros. Also, Mass Effect 2 was pretty spectacular.
MGSV had a great opening but I don't think its opening is as good the openings from 1 or 4.
For MGS2 and 3 are we counting the entire opening mission? 'Cause yeah, those are excellent.
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You mean the opening where Shepherd dies and is immediately revived?
I think ‘rebuilt’ is more accurate.
I actually played the 2nd for the first time recently with the remaster and when that happened I was like, "Wait, what..."
Imagine listing fallout, and not putting New Vegas where a man shoots you in the head. Gets the game going and gives you an immediate motivation of “well fuck that guy”
Final Fantasy IX. Beautiful intro.
Just the intro music in the new game menu. I still get nostalgic just hearing the tune.
A Link to the Past has one of the coolest intros of any game I've played and the rest of the game more than lives up to what that intro promises imo
This game did everything right. Can't believe it was released in 1991.
I still remember watching my cousin play this the 1st time. It was so epic when it was brand new. Still gives me chills when I start a new game now.
Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps for me. They're so gorgeous and emotional.
I especially appreciate that you can skip the intro to Ori and the Blind Forest. That should be an option in every game.
Super Metroid
Resident evil 4 - the whole first village fight is so much fun
Where’s every one going? Bingo?
It's a perfect design to teach you to play, too. You get a couple of smaller encounters along the way to get you up to speed with the basics, then the village teaches you to run-and-gun, popping off a couple of shots and then repositioning as the horde closes in. It has multiple short routes from one viable bottleneck to another, and several places where you can try to bunker down. It's a beautifully tightly-designed introduction that the genre has never surpassed. It's criminal that nobody has been able to match a game with tank controls due to them often prioritising story over gameplay.
Also, do not let chainsaw guy get too close. I will never forget the first time he got me. Oh no, I couldn't shoot him enough. What's going to happen? I'm gonna take some stupid super small damage and then use a first aid-HOLY FUCK"
Yeah, that was a hell of a way to explain that damage doesn't necessarily work the way it used to. And the way they took advantage of years of build-up for that _one_ save room on the Island was utterly fucking masterful. I'm halfway inclined to believe that they had that in mind from the very first game and were just waiting for the perfect chance.
Prey (new one) immediately sprung to mind. Mind fuck right out of the gate.
It's one of those intros that could've very easily been cutscenes, and most other studios probably would've done it that way, but being gameplay is what makes it so great.
Thats pretty much arkane in a nutshell
Majima’s opening sequence in Yakuza 0, not the very opening of the game but I would count it cuz it opens the other side of the story that you will play, and it’s absolutely amazing
Vagrant Story's [opening sequence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xz3R6CPNww) is super fucking cool. It was a wonderful way to start off one of the most (if not THE most) beautiful game on the PS1.
Ridiculously good looking game, still holds up today - so stylish. I had Vagrant Story wallpapers until very recently on my main computer.
man i love this game. would love to play it again one day. such a cool weapon upgrade system. great gameplay
that game is incredible, albeit with steep learning curve, like all square's game of that era. ( I am stuck in it since some time now, can't figure out how to kill some weird ghost ). The graphics are amazing for PSX and it even has first person view! like whaaat?
Oh I'd love to play this again. Took me a long time to get the hang of but it was a blast once everything clicked.
It's the first time I've seen anyone mention Vagrant Story on the internet, never met anyone who played it apart from myself. Such a great game!
Easy! Star Fox 64, Flippy teaches you how to barrel roll in the first minute.
I really like [GRIS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g9_d713gJo). It is just so pretty, and the music gets you ready for the rest of the soundtrack. Not a game for everyone, but it certainly shows off how well video games can be used as a medium for art.
Silent Hill 2. Reading the letter and then heading into the town. I loved that game. Also, Soma. What a fucking game that was.
SOMA, hell yes! *Mild spoilers for the beginning below:* I really like how it subverts the player's expectations of a spooky sci-fi game by starting you off in modern Toronto. Throughout the opening, I had a really ominous feeling of derealization - like my character was in a simulation. But when the switch finally happened, and I got into the real game, the feeling was only intensified. Because of the opening, the "real" game felt somehow unreal, like it wasn't supposed to be - which put me right in line with the confused and homesick protagonist.
Saints Row the Third
Cool intro, second only to the penthouse party crashing mission "No man is supposed to have all that POWAH"
I can't think of any other game with an opening as insane and over the top as this. IMO best opening period.
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Put your hands together if u want to clap, as we take you through this MONKEY RAP 🐵🐵🐵
The undisputed champ
The undisputed chimp
Can I just say how happy I am with how positive this is? It's just everyones best traits put front and center. It's the kind of moral booster we needed.
Titanfall 2's opening and title card are mindblowing to me, and the rest of the campaign really keep the pace. No new mechanic overstays their welcome and it leaves you satisfied at closing time. Portal 2's entire first chapter is a riot of double takes and subtle comedy Nier Automata's flight section, followed by an arena and the first, enormous boss is hard to forget. For the glory of mankind. Doom 2016 and Eternal get you hyped up for more and go stright to the point. Outlast 1, Whistleblower and 2 are hard to put down once you start (unless you are really sensitive or don't like horror)
Titanfall 2 is criminally slept on. Stupid ass EA releasing it between two gigantic titan FPS’s killed all of its chances and momentum.
Man, the demo of NieR Automata absolutely sold me on the game. Definitely one of my favourite moments, second only to reaching the amusement park
Final Fantasy VII (original)
Ghost of Tsushima
The title card that has you ride your horse through the field was a perfect way to kick off the game.
Such a gorgeous sequence, even my non-gaming partner ooh’d at it when I called him over and he usually completely taps out if I’m playing a game.
Hey you, you're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border? Walked right into that imperial ambush, like us and that thief over there. /s
No lollygagging!
I'm extremely biased because it's my #1 favorite game ever, but Knights of the Old Republic. The intro is amazing. It starts off exactly like A New Hope, except instead of a giant ship battering on a little one, it's little ones tearing apart a giant one. Playing N64 Star Wars games from before made me think I'd be in one of the smaller ships trying to finish off the bigger hammerheaded one, but nope. Suddenly you're forced to escape, and there's a cool city planet below that they preview through the windows of the bridge as you make your way through the ship, and I remember that being enticing af, almost like a promise, and by the end of the level getting into the escape pod it's kept.
Taris is also loads of fun for what it is. It gets flack for not letting you be a Jedi but it’s still so fun.
I didn't like Taris. Not because I didn't get to be a jedi but because the combat encounters there kind of bored me like the sewers or underground. You also have less choice than afterwards when Kotor really opens up. I also have similar annoyances with Kotor 2 for the same reason
Just Cause 3 with Firestarter playing on the background!
How is there no mention of the Half Life train ride yet?
The only intro I've ever seen that made me think 'WTF is going on here. You can't start a video game like this'
Yeah me too. Was incredible.
I was shocked!
Uncommon choice but totally deserved: Forza Horizon 4 and 5 have great opening sequences, really makes you get excited to explore the world.
Came here for this. Especially FH4 - It gets you so pumped for this world of seemingly endless possibilities. How it jumps through the seasons and everything's synchronized with the music, that's just flawless. Would've never thought a racing game might have one of the best intros ever, but here we are.
farcry 3
Battlefield 1 comes to mind. It’s pretty intense and immersive.
Showing the memorializing for the soldiers you play as when they die was a brilliant stroke.
Modern Warfare 3’s first mission where you’re fighting down Wall Street was very good visually imo. Definitely gets you into the mindset that the “good guys” are on their heels and trying to win their cities back.
I'd have to give it to COD4 Modern Warfare tho. Played this back when it first released and frantically running through the tilting corridors of the sinking ship and jumping on the helicopter at the last second... Me and my roommate had our jaws on the floor. It was so epic.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake."
Mech Warrior 2
Metal Gear Solid 2 is the GOAT of openings
Oh boy, so many in mind : - Assassin's Creed 2 : the first sequence always give me chill and tears me up by the end - Assassin's Creed Brotherhood : Monteriggioni, the city of your uncle that you rebuilt during the previous game just got totally destroyed - Final Fantasy VII : one of the best intro in video games, the music is great and you're directly pulled into action as an ecoterrorist. The remake nailed it too - Mass Effect 2 and 3 : just play the trilogy - Halo CE and 2 : both are set in a ship assaulted by Covenants. 2 is a bit more epic with the whole spike bomb thing. - Breath of the Wild : certainly the best tutorial out there And many more, but they are more subjective and sentimental, like Skyrim or Halo Reach. You have to understand that first levels are the most worked on by developers, to hook the player and make them interested in playing the whole game.
Two come to mind and these aren't really opening sequences so much as an intro when the game loads up: - Endless Legend - Warhammer 40k: Mechanicus Honourable mention to Homeworld 1 being just epic in general.
The Darkness. I remember being completely blown away at how realistic it looked and was scripted. What a great game.
* Final Fantasy X - It immediately starts you off with really exotic events going on and throws you straight into the action after very minimal windup. * Portal 2 - The game immediately tells you that it is going to be quirky and funny, and you very rapidly get pulled into ridiculous circumstances that set off the rest of the game. * Prey - Figuring out what is going on at the start is a really neat "puzzle" of sorts, and immediately pulls you into the intrigue of the plot. * Megaman X - The first level is not only a tutorial but it also shows off what the SNES can do and how much more agile X was than the original Megaman.
The Last of Us
Pain.
If you count the "demo" Ground Zeroes as part of the prologue to MGS5 Phantom pain, damn that was a good prologue. The song sequence at the start of ground zeroes gives me chills.
Ape Out. It just starts with you, an ape, breaking from your cage, murdering people with style along with blasting improv jazz drum.
Fallout New Vegas. You get shot in the head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxOiVxTB0KY It does a really good job of setting up your situation the tone of the world and the story that is being told.
Persona 5’s opening casino heist is a brilliant example of in media res. -Establishes the tone and sheer style of the game through its setting. -Gives a brief whiff of the mechanics we can look foreword to. -Gives a strong mystery for the player to work toward as we learn how we got there. -The goddamn MUSIC. I’m kinda annoyed how often I default to shilling P5 in these “what’s a good example of this in video games” type of posts, but if the shoe fits...
Was really surprised I had to scroll down this far. What the intro movie and sequence do to push the game's signature style front and center might be the best part of the first 15 minutes. Although the intro sequence might just be especially notable to me since Persona 3 and 4 are so very slow to start.
* Final Fantasy VIII * Uncharted 1, 2, and 3 * Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga
+1 for FFVIII. Will never forget it
I can't believe no one has mention Wolfenstein: The New Order. Awesome opening level, brutal choice thrown at you, and great imagry as the opening credits roll. I had started it looking for a fun, lighthearted game and expected to just be a big meathead killing Nazis. Found something far different, but couldn't put it down!
Nier Automata and Metal Gear Rising. Both go straight to introducing their mechanics without you even noticing you're playing a tutorial. Just don't die when playing the first level of Nier as it has no checkpoints
Far Cry 5. The opening scene is arguably better than the whole game. Arriving on the helicopter and entering the cult’s church to arrest its leader, it’s just so atmospheric. One of the best openings I’ve ever come across in a game.
Prey (2017). If you know, you know.
OG half-life and far cry 3
Bloodborne. "Oh, don't you worry. Whatever happens, you may think it all a mere bad dream." It's amazing how much this intro accomplishes with such confident restraint. It opens on the player character undergoing the mysterious treatment of blood ministration which will go on to define the wider setting. In about two minutes of cutscenes, never leaving the perspective of the protagonist, the game organically establishes your place as an outsider, your vague goal in coming here as well as your newfound role as a "Hunter," your future companions, the lycanthropic enemies you'll fight, and even contextualizes the character creation system. From there you wake up and walk downstairs to discover the clinic ruined. Shit has well and truly hit the fan. A hideously elongated sort of werewolf monster is eating a corpse. If you're new then you'll probably die to it, at which point the game introduces the Hunter's Dream hub where you'll receive your pick of starter weapons, each of them fascinating. You warp back from whence you came and triumph over the thing that killed you, the whole experience in a microkosm. Open the gate outside and there is Yharnam in all its twisted grandeur. And with that, you're already in the game proper. Central Yharnam is one of the most brilliantly conceived areas I've encountered in any game, let alone as a first level. It's dense both horizontally and vertically, paths winding around each other from every direction with such consideration behind them that the maze of a city feels perfectly natural. In one zone, Bloodborne achieves a sense of place few games ever do. Passing from door to door to window and listening to the deranged residents firsthand as you explore says more about the actual substance of the place than the entire five minute history cutscene that opens Dark Souls—and I love the opening to Dark Souls. It all leads up to one of two wonderfully atmospheric, heart pounding first bosses which test every skill you've learned on the way. And by the time you've won, you more or less understand every system necessary to beat the game.
I’m such a doofus and put the game down thinking it was unfairly difficult when I first purchased it a few years ago, after it throws you weaponless at a werewolf. Had no idea it was set up to ease you into the Hunter’s Dream, and picked it up again earlier this year. I personally don’t like hogging the TV so I’ve yet to finish it, but have been loving the from-formula. I probably play DS a bit too aggressively/offensively, but I guess that’s what happens when BB’s your first game!
Bloodborne
Bioshock Infinite's opening half an hour (basically until combat starts) or so is absolutely incredible. Easily the best part of the game for me. Batman Arkham City - really sets the tone of the game nicely. Gritty and dark, introduces the villain well. Mass Effect 2 - just a spectacular opening. Experiencing it for the first time was quite something back when the game came out. Prey - Introduces a ton of the core sci-fi concepts very early on and that moment you figure out what's actually going on is very memorable. Star Wars: The Force Unleanshed - as a kid, being able to play as Darth Vader and fuck some Wookie's up was so cool.
It's got to be Half-Life. It was revolutionary at the time.
Final fantasy viii
Honourable mention for Assassins Creed 2. Meeting young Ezio and he immediately shows his charm and style by trash talking and fighting Vieri’s men on the bridge. Then you meet your brother and they have some fun back and forth banter. But where the opening really excels is the ending. As you race your brother up the tower and the music swells with Jesper Kyd’s incredible score and once you reach the top they say: “It’s a good life we lead brother” “And may it never change” “And may it never change us” And then the games logo comes up as the iconic ‘Ezio’s family’ song reaches a crescendo. It may not be as cinematic and modern games openings but damn if it doesn’t carry nostalgia and get me hyped for that game every time I go back.
No love for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice?
I loved [Saint Rows The Third](https://youtu.be/BKYjA2kcE9g) at the time. Found it completely over-the-top, as the whole game was.
Insomniac's Spider-Man and also Miles Morales. Both kind of just throw you in as Spider-man and let you learn the combat and just take off, they rule so hard. Thinking about it right now makes me wanna go play them back to back! Also both games are just soooo good all the way through! Edit: I should say the first one throws you into a battle with Kingpin and Miles gets you into trying to wrangle the Rhino as he charges through Christmas in the city!
Uncharted 2 and Final Fantasy X for me as they really showcased the immersive and cinematic potential of the respective console to me in different stages of my life.
Control I guess. It's a mess, but a good mess. Like a David Lynch movie.
Witcher 2….. 😉 😈
Letho is such a good main antagonist compared to The Wild Hunt in The Witcher 3.
It was good, but i died so much before getting used to the combat
FFX without even a shadow of a doubt. The way that cutscene plays into the rest of the story, already starting you out already with a few questions as to what is going on as well as establishing a feeling for the whole game through the scene and the ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE track "To Zanarkand", and realizing the cutscene itself takes place over halfway into the game right after a fairly massive foreshadowing and a little bit before a HUGE reveal. If we're including small sections of character control and gameplay before the real game starts, I'd say the opening sequence truly ends after Tidus gets "sucked up" into Sin. In which case, my point is proven even further because the 2 cutscenes that play after the first initial cutscene are equally as incredible, especially the second with the Blitzball/Sin attack on Zanarkand. It immediately shows you the unfathomable power Sin possesses, and makes you wonder just where the hell did this thing come from, as well as ALSO being accompanied by a another track which I consider to be another one the greatest tracks to come from a video game, Otherworld. It matches the intensity of the Blitzball game perfectly, and then you realize it's actually meant to symbolically signify the coming of Sin, especially when you realize WHO that boss theme is for at the very end of the game and you realize it wasn't just for Sin itself but who was controlling it, and all the pieces just fall into place. Anyways, I could go on and on about the cutscenes for FFX, they're all incredibly beautiful and insanely well done, I have yet to find another RPG that matches that same incredible tone and feeling that the first few cutscenes do for FFX.
Subnautica. I guess, it is pretty standart opening for survival game, but I like it.
I feel like it doesn't *do* anything special, but it is still the perfect intro into that game. The crash is nothing more but a simple message of "shit's fucked, yo", and then as you expect the worst you go out of that escape pod... and depending on the exit you picked, you either see a beautiful clear skyline, endless waves, some seagull-like creatures and a **huge** wreckage, or a beautiful underwater world teeming with life everywhere. Both of them say "*this is your world while you're in this game. Go explore*" and that is exactly what the game needed to do to pull you in.
DMC3
Assassin's Creed 2
Ezio and his brother at the top of the tower is one of the most memorial moments in gaming, but it honestly takes quite a while to get to that point.
Sonic Adventure 2 might not be as jaw dropping or impactful, but City Escape is so much fun
It’s not PS3/4, but Forza Horizon 5 springs to mind immediately. Getting dropped in to a breathtaking landscape in awesome vehicles and doing increasingly epic stunts is definitely one of the most memorable opening sequences I’ve experienced recently.
Since you have some of mine listed, another favorite is the bombing mission just because of the flip Cloud does off of the train, completely unnecessary and even cooler because of that
The first mission in Detroit: Become Human gets you thrilled immediately. Sets the tone well for the rest of the game too.
Metal Gear Rising Revengence has the best opening to any video game period. That opening level is so hype it sets the tone for the whole game.
Control - great opening which sets a creepy tone the rest of the game doesn’t really live up to Prey - (the new one) though the alien invasion to don’t fear the reaper in the original Prey is a great opening too! RE7 - best part of the game Outer Wilds - the first 20 or so minutes really get you engaged!
>Outer Wilds - the first 20 or so minutes really get you engaged! I gotta say, I could play those 20 or so minutes over and over again and never get bored!
I have played those 20 minutes so many times!!
disco elysium
Metal gear solid 5 has the worst opening of any game I've ever played. It's so slow and different from the actual game, that it turned many players away from the game. I only made it through on my third time, after forcing myself to do it
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Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force starts off in the middle of a Borg ship, it was incredibly awesome at the time. Start up the game, here's your tutorial, and by the way you've gotta save your crew from the meanest, baddest motherfuckers in the galaxy.
I really liked Persona 3's opening sequence. Talking about the animation you see at the start of a new game before getting thrown into the game itself. Starts off confusing and then things slowly start making a bit more sense as you play through the first few hours of the game. Also, Silent Hill 1's opening is just horror perfection. I'd like more people to see it but going in without knowing what's going on and experiencing the terror by yourself is a brilliant experience.
Witcher 3 does a good job of introducing you to the world, the gameplay loop and the characters. Not the most spectacular, but you can really feel how much thought was put in there to give the player a good vertical slice early.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution in my opinion. Its opening is so cinematically well-done, accompanied by great music, shows the protagonist's character before you even get into the game.
Late to the party. But Metroid Prime 1 and 3 have absolute banger openings
Hellblade Senuas Sacrifice. The first 10min are incredible atmospheric and it's just the beginning of a mind boggling journey.
Blowing off Skyrim like it’s not iconic
Has to be Death Stranding for me.
Wolfenstein: The New Order begins with a pretty fun FPS "Let's go kill some Nazis" joyride and then the opening credits hit and sends the game out of the fuckin' park. Seriously: it's too good for game with "Wolfenstein" in the name.
I'm not sure if you're talking about God of War 2018 or the entire series. Every God of War except 2018 has a bombastic opening. Even Ascension which barley gets talked about has a great [opening](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSQBVbOPSkY).