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Best Game Openings?

Muramasa18Muramasa18 Registered User regular
edited July 2007 in Games and Technology
What game do you guys think has the best opening sequence? My vote goes to Star Ocean 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpEN3b9jdbY Sure, the game itself was nothing special, but I love that video, especially the music. Another of my favorites would be Deus Ex.

Muramasa18 on
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Posts

  • jimenexjimenex Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    I second Deus Ex (well...everything about Deus Ex is great anyway)

    The whole prologue to Max Payne 2 is also pretty fantastic

    jimenex on
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  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Are we talking cinematics or intro levels?


    Dawn of War or Half Life 2 (up to the point where you open the train station doors and see the citadel)

    The_Scarab on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Er, this thread's probably doomed to death in a page or less(unless some discussion can be saved), but Wild Arms and Chrono Cross deserve a mention each and every time.

    And despite it being my least favorite in the entire series, Final Fantasy VIII has the best opening of them all.

    cj iwakura on
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  • ZephyrZephyr Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Zephyr on
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  • Muramasa18Muramasa18 Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Cinematics or intro levels, either.

    Also, the tram ride in Half-Life.

    Muramasa18 on
  • GoombaGoomba __BANNED USERS regular
    edited June 2007
    best intro to poll thread

    Goomba on
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  • IShallRiseAgainIShallRiseAgain Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    The half-life 1 intro is awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x3wQ7Opltg

    IShallRiseAgain on
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  • DarlanDarlan Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    The space station/escape part of Metroid Prime/Metroid 3 was pretty cool.

    Darlan on
  • Muramasa18Muramasa18 Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Hmm...in that case let's discuss what makes a good opening.

    IMO, a good opening should get you pumped up and ready to play the game without being too long or revealing too much.

    Muramasa18 on
  • WotanAnubisWotanAnubis Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGUIDgWCj20

    The opening to Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. I love how it goes from calm and peaceful to fast-paced and violent. Of course, I also love how it's the introduction to Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.

    Honory mention to the ticking pendulum of Chrono Trigger. Don't know why, but I really liked it.

    WotanAnubis on
  • PotUPotU __BANNED USERS regular
    edited June 2007
    best intro sequence: Dawn of War, Mark of Chaos

    best beginning: Zelda TTP

    PotU on
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  • KoekjesKoekjes Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    I enjoyed the intro movie for Psychonauts and Titan Quest.

    Koekjes on
  • ScottyScotty Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Well, this one is obvious...so I'll just post it and get it out of the way.;-)

    Onimusha 3

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNNqHxiEuTQ

    Scotty on
  • MyCoCoMyCoCo Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Panzer Dragoon Saga, the whole opening sequence to brief interactive section to end of opening sequence.

    MyCoCo on
  • MasoniteMasonite Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    I was just thinking of this the other day: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7774948682966405894

    Masonite on
  • ToldoToldo But actually, WeegianRegistered User regular
    edited June 2007
    European Metroid Prime.

    Toldo on
  • Burning OrganBurning Organ Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Dawn of War is the best one I've ever seen.

    Burning Organ on
  • DarlanDarlan Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Toldo wrote: »
    European Metroid Prime.
    Is something different in the European version?

    Darlan on
  • SorensonSorenson Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    "This is HQ to any available units...

    Absolutly. Definitively. Classic.

    Sorenson on
  • WotanAnubisWotanAnubis Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Darlan wrote: »
    Toldo wrote: »
    European Metroid Prime.
    Is something different in the European version?
    There's an added voice-over, I think. Or a different voice-over. Or something.

    Personally, I think it's cheesy as hell and I would've much prefered it if Samus' gunship approached Orpheon quietly, but hey.

    WotanAnubis on
  • ToldoToldo But actually, WeegianRegistered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Darlan wrote: »
    Toldo wrote: »
    European Metroid Prime.
    Is something different in the European version?
    There's an added voice-over, I think. Or a different voice-over. Or something.

    Personally, I think it's cheesy as hell and I would've much prefered it Samus' gunship approached Orpheon quietly, but hey.

    Yeah, there's a voice-over, and while it might be cheesy, I thought it did a good job of setting the mood. A short thing, then Samus' ship appears and she leaps out. Camera swivels around, goes through the back of her helmet, and then you're in charge.

    Plus, the PAL version has the 'recorded to logbook' voice present in MP2:E.

    Toldo on
  • WotanAnubisWotanAnubis Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Toldo wrote: »
    Darlan wrote: »
    Toldo wrote: »
    European Metroid Prime.
    Is something different in the European version?
    There's an added voice-over, I think. Or a different voice-over. Or something.

    Personally, I think it's cheesy as hell and I would've much prefered it Samus' gunship approached Orpheon quietly, but hey.

    Yeah, there's a voice-over, and while it might be cheesy, I thought it did a good job of setting the mood. A short thing, then Samus' ship appears and she leaps out. Camera swivels around, goes through the back of her helmet, and then you're in charge.
    I thought the voice-over tried to inject a needless sense of epic. Prime isn't epic. It's about Samus mopping up a bunch of fleeing Space Pirates and accidentally coming across a pretty big threat to the universe before it really has the chance to become a pretty big threat to the universe.

    It's kick-ass, but it's not epic the way that voice-over insists that it is.

    In my opinion.

    WotanAnubis on
  • FreddyDFreddyD Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    cj iwakura wrote: »
    Er, this thread's probably doomed to death in a page or less(unless some discussion can be saved), but Wild Arms and Chrono Cross deserve a mention each and every time.

    And despite it being my least favorite in the entire series, Final Fantasy VIII has the best opening of them all.
    No, as long as people give links I think that will be enough content.

    Skygunner has an amazing intro that I watch everytime I play the game. Same for Soul Calibur II. It is the music that makes them memorable. Also, Interstate 76. That game did more with flat shaded polygons than most CG intros can do with ray tracing and render farms.

    FreddyD on
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2007
    FyreWulff on
  • DichotomyDichotomy Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    War... war never changes.

    Dichotomy on
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  • CherrnCherrn Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Hello Suikoden 2.

    Cherrn on
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  • SirsonSirson Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    World of Warcraft, and the Expansion had pretty kickass opening cinematics. Hell Warcraft 3's cinematics were pretty awesome for the time as well. So yea Blizzard... stuff

    Sirson on
  • skeldareskeldare Gresham, ORRegistered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Resident Evil Code: Veronica

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  • SorensonSorenson Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Romancing SaGa 3 also had a pretty nice opening theme (much better than the video - I'd record and upload it myself in better quality if I knew what to use). Obscenely synth, sure, but still damn epic and awesome.

    And holy crap, someone did a NES soundboard version of Four Noble Devils 1 and 2!

    Sorenson on
  • theclamtheclam Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    theclam on
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  • YodaTunaYodaTuna Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    DMC3.

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  • jabrams007jabrams007 Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver had an amazing opening cinematic. If anyone could post a link to a video of it, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

    jabrams007 on
  • bruinbruin Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    bruin on
  • APZonerunnerAPZonerunner Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Final Fantasy 8. Sadly, it's also the biggest disappointment in terms of a game vs intro ratio for me.

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  • HylianbunnyHylianbunny Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Well, what are we looking for as far as qualities in a "best" opening cinematic?

    Hylianbunny on
  • subediisubedii Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    These threads seem to pop up every few months.

    Not that I'll complain about an excuse to link awesome :mrgreen: :

    "War... War never changes" (Fallout 1)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBNKa2KXZE

    Fallout 2 (Weirdly split, but I couldn't find a clean, full intro)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3PXiV95kwA&mode=related&search=
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AihKA_AgMok

    "Whenever I smell asphalt, I think of Maureen" (Full Throttle)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PktBJ6HpNJQ

    "I can feel them following me!" (Freespace 1)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ-xcgBL1mY

    "... and they hurled themselves into the void of space, with no fear" (Freespace 2)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khIWdolT9xY

    Planescape: Torment
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRLHPF6poHc

    Oh, and another vote for Dawn of War. Of course really you miss out on a lot of the effect of these intros watching them on youtube.

    subedii on
  • emnmnmeemnmnme Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    I'm gonna say World of Warcraft and Soul Calibur 2 had great, eye catching openings.

    emnmnme on
  • GrimReaperGrimReaper Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Here's an oldie for you kids.

    It Came From The Desert.

    In its day that was classed as cutting edge, actual recorded voice audio.. mad man.

    Plus, the b-movie style of the game was pure awesome.

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  • SpeakeasySpeakeasy Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Silent Hill
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlcTS4f6Gvw

    Silent Hill 2 (best one in my opinion)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tysvNGGFN3M

    Silent Hill 4
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV21MirTN44

    Ecco the Dolphin CD
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl9o4H_hsLE

    As much as I liked WW, I don't see why it's the best intro to some of you. TP does a better job (not the title screen, the movie that plays after it).

    Speakeasy on
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  • subediisubedii Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    Forgot this one: Diablo II

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kPXdtz_c4

    Blizzard always does amazing cutscenes.

    subedii on
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