Nerds with Words: Most Iconic/Memorable Video Game Opening

“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

[youtube]8n7C_TJx000[/youtube]

God of War 2

[youtube]Elq5RE5CCLk[/youtube]

Uncharted 2

[youtube]pa1fi1gxxUw[/youtube]

Kingdom Hearts

[youtube]CnfmKI6xh1s[/youtube]

Kingdom Hearts 2

[youtube]apBnrA_z87Y[/youtube]

Resident Evil: Code Veronica

[youtube]R7FAthREQqo[/youtube]

Resident Evil 4

[youtube]G0OzNDrPbqE[/youtube]

Super Metroid

[youtube]uR7ZqCYNXYQ[/youtube]

Metroid Prime

[youtube]aRHw4YaiLgA[/youtube]

Bioshock

[youtube]JeNtHY8Igf0[/youtube]

Mass Effect 2

[youtube]gGD4OBSHBKc[/youtube]

Batman: Arkham Asylum

[youtube]vvCLqEhZP3U[/youtube]

Final Fantasy 7

[youtube]u5Y6Sza8Nt0[/youtube]

Final Fantasy 8

[youtube]_pZ2ibvZb2Q[/youtube]

Final Fantasy 9

[youtube]5obT8ePiGFU[/youtube]

Final Fantasy X

[youtube]5Mf69uFOefg[/youtube]

Megaman 2

[youtube]N8Ao63nmzuE[/youtube]

MegaMan X

[youtube]bY4lrJsj1Xs[/youtube]

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

[youtube]qqjREVGHOkc[/youtube]

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

[youtube]EMN0wRP0ZN4[/youtube]

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

[youtube]-GJZ8dAIn24[/youtube]

Mirror’s Edge

[youtube]xM1lT-tUf5c[/youtube]

Super Mario Bros 3

[youtube]bsqEnxM8Owc[/youtube]

Super Mario 64

[youtube]KN7o97fwCNg[/youtube]

Super Mario Galaxy

[youtube]bRyFL_Zfeuw[/youtube]

Half-Life

[youtube]qUDNiyOf92o[/youtube]

Half-Life 2

[youtube]1q2CNLDJcd8[/youtube]

Shadow of the Colossus

[youtube]y4UvBI9vADc[/youtube]

Shenmue

[youtube]MvCO-VEbqpw[/youtube]

Chrono Cross

[youtube]923fVDDwaHo[/youtube]

Syndicate Wars

[youtube]CrruSboN1bQ[/youtube]

Dead Space

[youtube]ahkX-86wzLI[/youtube]

Sonic CD

[youtube]JPC8W672mXc[/youtube]

Sonic Adventure

[youtube]E71YqXXQoUU[/youtube]

Devil May Cry 3

[youtube]6DK-0Ig85gI[/youtube]

Fallout 3

[youtube]nLnES01mWT8[/youtube]

Katamari Damacy

[youtube]kgrnIBlxZCk[/youtube]

Far Cry Instincts

[youtube]I9ep7bRzt0E[/youtube]

Starcraft

[youtube]9eflKzcEbLk[/youtube]

Conker’s Bad Fur Day

[youtube]eDQzJfqSUKQ[/youtube]

Soul Blade

[youtube]Yxrpyv8SNS4[/youtube]

Dawn of War

[youtube]SFkFo5SBx-g[/youtube]

Shogun Total War 2

[youtube]MGxwQdYDmRI[/youtube]

Warcraft 3

[youtube]IcACccMsY_8[/youtube]

Baten Kaitos

[youtube]6HMczCElPaI[/youtube]

 

Earl Rufus

The owner of this little chunk of the internet. Enjoys having a good time and being rather snarky!

9 Responses

  1. Michael says:

    Bioshock

  2. Brian says:

    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.

  3. jbnet211 says:

    ahhh Half-Life, the great PC game ever. The nice calm tram ride to work….all before all hell on earth arrives.

  4. NattyB00MBatty says:

    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.

    • Penguin says:

      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.

  5. ShawnS says:

    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!

  6. batmanboy11 says:

    BioShock and MGS!

  7. Adam says:

    Great list, Mega Man brings back some special memories, lol.

  8. Nathan says:

    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.

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