Best Game Introduction Sequences

[Patryn]

After my notebook issues meant I wasn't going to be able to play Neverwinter Nights 2, I was still in the mood for a Western RPG. So I broke out KOTOR and beat it. Still not satisfied, I pulled out KOTOR 2 for the first time since I originally beat it.

You know what? That introductory sequence on Peragus (I'm not talking about the prologue with T3-M4) is probably one of the best introductory sequences ever. It does a great job slowly introducing you to the gameplay elements, introduces the characters and builds several mysteries. It's also great that it's just long enough that you really feel like your character is a lot tougher at the end of it then they were at the start. It's a shame that after Peragus the game slowly falls apart until the very end.

But playing that got me thinking about other sequences at the beginning of games. Things like the Midgar section of Final Fantasy VII, the escape from the dungeon that opens Baldur's Gate 2, the hero and Jowy's stint in the army at the beginning of Suikoden II, Eden Prime in Mass Effect, etc.

While these opening modules are predominant in RPGs, it seems, there are several notable ones in other games. Metal Gear Solid is fond of them, with the freighter section in MGS2 and the Virtuous mission in MGS3.

So my question to you: What's your favorite opening sequences? More importantly, why are they your favorites?

[Translucid]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

Bioshock is an obvious favorite. Andrew Ryan's voice is awesome.
"IS A MAN NOT ENTITLED TO THE SWEAT OF HIS BROW?"
And then of course you're just dropped into this insane underwater deco world. Out of any game I've ever played, Bioshock probably had the most unique setting.

I agree with FFVII, of course the game was my first with my new playstation and to see this when I had been playing a Genesis for years was haunting. Even still, in retrospect it still is a well crafted, exciting opening.

If you're talking intro videos, then Alundra's was pretty awesome. So was Azure Dreams.

[Red Dragon]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

Maybe this is just because I have been playing it a lot lately. It's also not really an introduction sequence, but... Whatever.

I say after the initial sewers run tutorial in Oblivion, just after you exit the gate was pretty great.

Sure, it's just exiting a sewers, but as you exit a dark, even boring, sewer run where everything is grey and ugly, rats and goblins coming out of each corner, you are hit with lush green rolling hillsides, trees going for miles. in the middle of a clear day showing you "This is the Oblivion".

I don't know, I think it just shows somone knew what they were doing.

[Riotsword]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

As far as opening FMVs, the one for Onimusha 3 was pretty epic.

The first 15 minutes of Half-Life is really awesome. You're a scientist, going to work, ho hum, then BOOM-- everything goes ****-house. You gotta get out! Oh ****, what the **** is that crab-bug thing? Run away! Ah, crowbar! Smash it before it eats your face! And on and on.

[marcus]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

The Darkness

You wake up, your buddy says you got knocked around by a bouncer and they're late for an assassination mission, suddenly you're embroiled in a huge police chase that ends at the bottom of a construction site full of armed Mafia types. It set the pacing and tone for the rest of the game (and this game had some really cool cinematic sequences).

[Lausen]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

Onimusha 3 Hell yes!!! That was a badass opening.

I really liked the opening for Final Fantasy 12. The battle scene was sweet. I still wish Rasler replaced Vaan.

This isn't really the opening, but in Resident Evil 4, when you get to the village and are swarmed by the villagers. It's there that the game actually starts to feel like a survival game.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

FFX, the whole first part where you get to see the heyday of Zanarkand and then watch it get destroyed. Then you wake up in the middle of vast dark flooded ruins with no idea where you are. And just when you think the game takes place in some dystopic waterworld full of backwards-talking weirdos you wash up on sunny pristine Besaid Beach and meet Wakka and the Aurochs playing ball.

Resident Evil 2. Because all through RE1 you wished you could get outside and fight zombies on the street. Finally at the beginning of RE2 you get to see them wreak havoc on the town and what's left of the citizens. Too bad it's not long before you head to the police station and pretty much stay indoors from then on.

Shadow of the Colossus & God of War 2's Colossus. Basically any time a game starts off with a large scale boss battle is pretty awesome. SotC gets the nod though because it only got bigger and better from there. GoW's difficulty and scale was up and down after that.

Best Opening FMVs
LoK Soul Reaver
MK Shaolin Monks

[DK]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

Yeah, Soul Reaver's intro is where it's at.

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

I was gonna say Final Fantasy XII, too, 'cause the tutorial, while standalone, is still part of the story. The same goes for Silent Bomber!

Super Mario RPG has a brilliant opening. It starts where every other Mario game ends - at Bowser's castle! Not to mention that the music is awesome.

[Kire]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

No More Heroes. I instantly loved Travis Touchdown right from the get go.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

I nominate MGS2 for worst intro sequence. Only because it gets your hopes all up and then pulls the bait and switch and makes you play that whiny jag-off for the rest of the game.

[Chad]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

I can't be the only one that doesn't think Raiden is whiny.

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

I nominate MSG2 for best intro sequence for all of the same reasons.

Also, the rainy beginning of A Link to the Past.

[John Mora]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

I can't believe no one mentioned Vagrant Story.

I'll second FFXII. The opening FMV has more story than some entire games do.

FFVIII including the attack on Dollet.

MGS3. SNAKE EATERRRRRRRRRRRR.

[marcus]

Re: Best Game Introduction Sequences

I can't be the only one that doesn't think Raiden is whiny.

You're not. Raiden never once whined and never complained about the mission because he was brainwashed to be incredibly loyal to the mission.

*** SPOILERS ***

The whole reason Pliskin was there (and never revealed himself as being SNAKE Snake) was because Raiden was brainwashed into worshipping Snake. The whole reason Snake was in disguise was to slowly give Raiden his humanity back since the guy was literally a blank slate with no personality until the last 10 minutes of the game.
*** END SPOILERS ***


Snake is infinitely more whiny than Raiden is (METAL GEAR!?!?! The only real heroes are dead or in jail. my country chewed me up and spat me out. i live in alaska to be alone stop bothering me. i'm not your lapdog anymore colonol. LIQUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID) but because Snake is badass and cool and has a beard no one cares. Metal Gear Solid 2 was a postmodern excersise in hero worship and how people (the game players) obsess over characters (Snake's ass actually had more pixels than every other character's bodies). Kojima basically set up the ultimate rick roll by letting you play as Snake then WHOOPS HERE'S THIS NASALLY WHITE KID.

Besides, Raiden completely mimicked the events of Shadow Moses x2, took down 20 something Rays, a vampire, a HARRIER, and killed Solidus in a swordfight. Snake has absolutely nothing that touches the guy and I think Raiden could take him especially with his new super suit in MGS4.

EDIT: man, see what you made me do? Whenever metal gear solid 2 is mentioned I go into "most misunderstood game ever" mode.