“You only get one chance to make a good first impression.”
An expression that is usually reserved for human interactions can also be labeled across the entertainment medium. This is why some of us still hum our favorite television theme songs or why the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark continues to be homagized in the media.
Today, we’re gonna take a look at some of the video game opening scenes/sequences that have stuck with us throughout the year. The list was culled by polling various Tweeps and folks over at the GameTavern forum. We’re gonna narrow this bad boy down to a Top 10 list to be posted next week.
(NOTE: Each person is allowed to pick up to 5 games for their vote! For some reason, the poll doesn’t tell you that and allows you to pick however many you want, but the vote won’t count!)
Without further ado, here are our nominees:
Metal Gear Solid
God of War 2
Uncharted 2
Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts 2
Resident Evil: Code Veronica
Resident Evil 4
Super Metroid
Metroid Prime
Bioshock
Mass Effect 2
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy X
Megaman 2
MegaMan X
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Mirror’s Edge
Super Mario Bros 3
Super Mario 64
Super Mario Galaxy
Half-Life
Half-Life 2
Shadow of the Colossus
Shenmue
Chrono Cross
Syndicate Wars
Dead Space
Sonic CD
Sonic Adventure
Devil May Cry 3
Fallout 3
Katamari Damacy
Far Cry Instincts
Starcraft
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Soul Blade
Dawn of War
Shogun Total War 2
Warcraft 3
Baten Kaitos
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Bioshock
If you want an iconic opening, you have to go with Half-Life…it’s one of (if not THE) first to introduce a user controlled opening in a FPS.
ahhh Half-Life, the great PC game ever. The nice calm tram ride to work….all before all hell on earth arrives.
How DARE you compile such a list of games and NOT INCLUDE ANY of the Legacy of Kain series!
LoK: Soul Reaver still has one of the best, iconic, and memorable intro sequences ever. To miss it off the list is a complete travesty. I am not impressed.
In my defense, I didn’t make the list. I just put together all the suggestions I got from Twitter and forums. There have been a few missed ones apparently.
Good lord that’s a lot of work you did rounding up all those videos! Glad I finally had time to get back here and vote!
BioShock and MGS!
Great list, Mega Man brings back some special memories, lol.
Here are the five I choose, though I’ll admit to not having played every game you have here:
- Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Bioshock
- Uncharted 2
- Super Metroid
Aside from the fact that all of them hold a special place for me, they’re all also fantastic openings, recognized to a great many people. They all deserve to be on the list, whether they’re in the top 5, 10, or whatever.