Most of the best video games grab your attention right from the start. They show you something amazing, or mysterious, or beautiful, and pull you in.
Yesterday, Gone Home developer Steve Gaynor made the bold proclamation that the intro to Fallout was the greatest video game intro of all time:
quick reminder of the greatest video game intro sequence of all time https://t.co/w2mCjBRN98
— Steve Gaynor (@fullbright) August 5, 2014
It’s a strong entry, to be sure, but I’m not sure I’d say it’s the BEST. That made me realise that I could ask you all what you think.
So, have at it: Which game has the best intro sequence? Post them below, with video embeds whenever possible. For our intents, let’s be liberal with what an “intro sequence” is. Basically, it’s how the game opens. It can be a cutscene or an interactive sequence – basically whatever happens when you first start the game.
If you see someone else has already entered your game, star it instead of making your own entry. Then, we’ll count the stars and see who comes out on top.
Comments
82 responses to “Which Game Has The Best Intro Sequence?”
Onimusha 3, followed by Onimusha 1
Oh sweet baby jesus yes.
That was quite awesome
The Assassins creed II intro was pretty touching. Especially after you’ve played the ezio trilogy.
Yup, it’s not even close to my favourite game but it’s by far my favourite opening.
Uncharted 2. Oh man, was I excited for that game, though… perhaps that’s influenced it.
Half Life’s was pretty special, too. Obvious choice, but needs to be said.
I’m adding Resident Evil 2. I was blown away the first time I saw that.
Do the character introductions in Borderlands 1 and 2 count? I really liked them
Well that’s pretty easy now isn’t it.
Hahaha yes! >_
Jo-seph!
The remake too
http://youtu.be/WH4wAD6k4M4
Mass effect 2
I prefer the intros to 1 and 3. 1 because of the pure space opera goodness, and 3 because of ‘Leaving Earth’.
Back in the day the “intro sequence” was the movie played before hitting the main menu screen.
Anyways, classic examples are FF7 and Metal Gear Solid.
I’m going to say Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 (collectively).
I can’t go past that beautiful music and styling.
A close second would be Final Fantasy X.
I’d put KHII’s just the tiniest bit above KH’s, but they’re definitely my favourite.
Little King’s Story (Wii). Nothing else has affected me quite like first seeing that.
Honourable mentions to Meteos.
Man, Meteos is such a underlooked game. Hope Sakurai makes a 3DS one after he finishes with Smash Bros.
Metriod Prime
This could turn into a very long list…..
My contribution, lets go way back…..Syndicate wars. Or Crusader no Remorse.
RAGE!
The FF games always had amazing starts but I’d go with the 2nd part of Infinite’s Burial at Sea DLC. The way the music was used was brilliant.
The first five minutes of Mass Effect 2 really jump out as one of the best introduction sequences of all time.
Honourable mention must go to Bioshock with it’s introduction to Rapture, Skyrim with a town under siege by a Dragon and Batman: Arkham Asylum, for immediately making Joker such a compelling villian, and giving us a little look at other villians like Killer Croc while escorting him through the Asylum.
I remember at the time the intro of MGS2 was the first one to make me feel like I was in some kinda Hollywood movie…
FF7 or MGS 3
Ninja Gaiden 1 on the NES. Blew my mind back in the day
YES.
The Last of Us intro/prologue is my pick. Way to build foreboding, tension and immersion all in the space of 15 odd minutes.
Fighting tears on the first chapter… I knew it’s an emotional game but nothing prepared me for that rollercoaster
*points*
I thought God Of War 3’s opening gameplay was pretty awesome. Straight into the action!
My vote goes to Full Throttle
SHIT YES.
Half-Life. It really hit home that you’re just an every day schmo, working 9 to 5, while also introducing you to the range of environments that you’ll soon be running/crawling/leaping/avoiding around shortly.
+1
“Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System. This automated train is provided for the security and convenience of the Black Mesa Research Facility personnel. The time is eight-forty seven A.M… Current topside temperature is ninety three degrees with an estimated high of one hundred and five. The Black Mesa compound is maintained at a pleasant sixty-eight degrees at all times”
I can still remember pretty much the entire spiel from that train ride
It gives me goose bumps. I was 18. It cost me $60. I loved it sooo much. For the next 8 years at least it was my favourite game of all time.
+1
All those years ago HL set the bar and the stage for what an intro could be. The fact that you we’re kind of ‘playing it’ (albiet very passively) was genius. GG Valve. I hear HL3 intro is a LARP.
I will always remember Tenchu: Return from Darkness https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zEjhEPIYl3M
I used to turn it on and let that intro run all day while i was busy with other things.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Still gives me chills.
Shadow Warrior. Nothing can beat “The Touch”
The Armored Core games all have really good intros…and any of the MechWarrior games namely 2, GBL, and 3.
Final Fantasy 8.
The game is a bit crap and broken, but the intro was epic and still amazing. Edea’s clevage wins the internet.
MGS3 or Shenmue 1
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992)
The only intro that I almost never skipped.
Especially the heavy troopers got me thrilled every time… but than again, I was ten ^^
For your viewing pleasure:
Wake up mr freeman and smell the ash
Quake 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJVyfDuc_g
Definitely. Quake 2 was a massive cut above anything else at the time and lifted the bar mightily.
My two favourite intros for my two favourite games:
@hotdamn The Last of Us: brilliant.
Red Dead Redemption: yes, it’s long and I can see why people would find it tedious but I loved the way it was so understated for what becomes (I think) one of the most well written and fantastic games ever made.
Yeah man, I’m inclined to agree with you regarding Red Dead too. A very cool slo-burn intro.
There can only be one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxrpyv8SNS4
Final Fantasy 8 and The Last of Us rank pretty highly for me but my crown goes to
Ocarina of Time, Navi flying through Kokiri Forest was basically a big “THIS IS GOING TO BE EPIC” moment for a lot of 90’s kids and, at least for the time, the game looked graphically superior to all other games available at the time.
Hellgate: London
I want them to take that opening cinematic sequence and make it into a movie!
Remember the dead! But fight for the living!
* Super Metroid
* Final Fantasy VII and VIII
Is there a distinction between intro and intro sequence?
I think my nominations would be Resident Evil(mentioned above), Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3:
http://youtu.be/MCxjuXre3Dw
http://youtu.be/pW1ayeBT33E
DC Universe Online:
http://youtu.be/yR4s15hlA2U
World of Warcraft:
http://youtu.be/dYK_Gqyf48Y
The game sucks but Demigod by Stardock had an incredible intro, short, sweet and absolutely full of intense epic drama all told in the voice of an unknown power and read off ancient wall carvings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRRfiA9xLVs
I’d say Stardock did well with the original Sins of a Solar Empire intro too. Can’t find a proper vid of the original version, everyone seems to be showing the Rebellion intro which wasn’t as good imo.
Oh crap I didn’t realise the link provided in the article goes to the Fallout intro, those games have great intros too, no need to look further.
It has to be The Witcher.
Can’t think of anything else
Half-Life.
Hands down.
I see no N64 love, so here is it’s crowning achievement of intros.
Mechwarrior 3 for the visuals. Total Annihilation for the narration.
Mechwarrior 2
The main intro video and the two clan intro movies. One of the earliest titles of my gaming life.
Too many to choose from…
Skyrim, Fallout 3, Infamous, the entire first ‘level’ of MGS3 right up to that song, FF8’s intro is one of my all time favourites, FF12 has a fantastic opening level and FFT War of the Lions is gorgeous, God of War up to the Hydra fight, Demon’s Souls, Valkyria Chronicles… basically most of my favourite games of all time have great openings.
Best intro would have to be Decent Freespace
Diablo 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t05EqeGqq-0
Prey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oObkBX6DSmk
Brilliant use of “Don’t Fear The Reaper”
I still think Borderlands and FF7 had the most Iconic – and therefor the best intros.
Can we just say “Anything that Blizzard has done in the past 10 years” and leave it at that?
Company of Heroes. Amazing cinematic and first level
This still gives me chills. Dat music
Mechwarrior 2 for me. I read the novels and everything, and then came that 1995 intro… that blew my mind.
Kids, please. I got this one.
Best music ever
The Last of Us. Game. Set. Match.
You’re all bads. The original Red Alert intro wins. “Hitler is…….out of ze vay” (cue Hell March yeeeeeeeeeah)
You young’uns might not remember these…
It Came from The Desert – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5v1lzprKn0 short, but what a game.
Outlaws – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCMh-88a2DI – My fave.
As far as fighting games go, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks had an awesome intro. Too bad the game was crap 😛
Fallout 3, with a nod to Bioshock 🙂
Fallout 3, with a nod to Bioshock 🙂
Also love Smash Bros Brawl’s epic intro!
Contenders-
Fallout 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RIfDYdzNIk
Theme Hospital – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wguJKz2md3Y
MechCommander – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MQPWE_M_EM
Always and forever, MGS2 intro – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KUX-JDchmE
Lost Odyssey for the epic-as-hell intro battle, and seamless transition to gameplay: