Best game intros ever?

Enter the Story · 07-14-2007, 02:00 PM

Which games had the best opening title sequences? Which had you salivating from the moment the first screen appeared (even if they were later disappointing)

For example, the start of Zak McKracken was very simple but (for me) powerful. You see planet earth as seen from Mars - it sets the scene for aliens watching us with envy (as in War of the Worlds). Then the dream sequence introduces the main themes, conflicts, and goals. And of course Monkey Island, which starts with... an atmospheric island, and the immortal line "I want to be a pirate!"

What intros do you consider to be classics? Which left you eager for more? And which are so bad they made you close the game before it even started?

KamisoriX · 07-14-2007, 03:45 PM

WarCraft III. Simply some of the best CG Intros/cutscenes I've ever seen.
StarLancer and FreeLancer. I'm a sucka for Space opera.
WildArms, back then it was the best anime intro there was with exellent soundtrack.

there are some more but I guess those three are enough for today

I bought once a japanese render adventure for the Saturn. After a while i was done with the game only to realize that what I thought was the longest and lamest intro with the 2 or 3 clicks i made was actually the whole game.

Jeysie · 07-14-2007, 04:14 PM

Fallout, awesomest game intro evah, IMHO.

A kitschy pseudo-50s Vault advertisement segues into a disturbing "keeping the peace" news segment, then to retro-future commercials. We pan out to seeing we're watching this on a TV in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, all with the Ink Spots' "Maybe" playing in the background.

And then, Ron Perlman's classic "War. War never changes." narration history. I honestly can't think of any other game's intro that got me so deeply into the mood of a game before it had even begun.

But there's plenty of other good ones. Off the top of my head, I'd also like to give props to the Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis intro. Aside from being comical and having the "Indy" feel to it, the fact that it was playable was also entertaining.

I also liked the intro to I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Harlan Ellison makes for one psychotically creepy computer voice.

Peace & Luv, Liz

Spiwak · 07-14-2007, 07:55 PM

Jeysie beat me to the punch.
Fallout and Fallout 2 both had really memorable intros.
World of Warcraft's intro was stunning (Blizzard knows CG, that's for sure)
Half-Life 2 with G-Man talking to you in that creepy way he does and looking gorgeous
Final Fantasy VIII, that fight between Squall and Leon set to some operatic score; gave me chills when I was young.

MdaG · 07-14-2007, 10:26 PM

These really caught my attention:
Fallout 1 & 2
Still Life
Wing Commander 3 & 4
Myst 4
The Dig

Spiwak · 07-14-2007, 10:43 PM

BGII: SoA had a cool, creepy intro now that I think about it.

Davies · 07-15-2007, 02:49 AM

I thought The Dig intro was way too long, and long-winded. It included a lot of extraneous stuff, like the relationships between the characters, that should have been left to be worked into the story.

Yes, I agree with Monkey Island having one of the best intros. From a writer's point of view, it's all done perfectly -- introduces the island setting, gives some insight into the main character (not just his motivation, but his naivete), and gives a feel for the humour of the game, all in a few lines. And it not only gives a great big obvious "what to do next" instruction (go to the bar), but a more subtle hint of something you need to figure out later (return to this spot in order to reach other locations).

Starship Titanic is good, I think. You can mess around for a bit, getting the feel of the controls, and then WHUMP, an enormous spaceship lands on top of your house. Talk about getting dropped into the deep end.

To get away from adventure games, Cannon Fodder has probably my favourite intro of all time. Not just the song (which so many people never got the irony of) but the silly photo credits. How many credit sequences have you ever bothered to watch from beginning to end?

Dungeon Keeper's intro is perpetually amusing, too, and sets up the right feel for the gameplay to come.

Rizu · 07-15-2007, 07:46 AM

I'll echo Wild Arms and the Wing Commander games.

Other intros:
UFO: Enemy Unknown / X-Com: UFO Defense
Soul Edge
Sakura Taisen
Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere
Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
Ghost in the Shell
Eretzvaju
MechWarrior 2
System Shock

Lucien21 · 07-15-2007, 08:32 AM

Fallout 1 and Fallout 2

Day of the Tentacle

Shenmue

Farenheit

Aj_ · 07-15-2007, 08:49 AM

Shadow of the Templars with the crow flying over Paris.
Diablo II, with the old man dragging his huge sword into the inn.

I concur with Fallout, WarCraft III, and Half-Life 2.

LaCroix · 07-15-2007, 08:58 AM

Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War is pretty cool.
Also, there's Xcom1, FF8 and FF12 (Even though the rest of that game is crap).

samIamsad · 07-15-2007, 09:05 AM

The awesome thing about Fallout is that it is depicting the picture of the future of what 50s people thought or feared (Nuclear threat! The Red Scare! And Everything!) the future would look like. How cool an idea is that?

Duck and cover.

TiAgUh · 07-15-2007, 11:19 AM

The most memorable to me are:

Final Fantasy 6 (snes version) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDMWp1oLoA0 - a classic imo.
ProEvolution Soccer 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-syEH1bviY - The best song and intro off all of the PES games.
Zone Of The Enders: 2nd Runner - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASrKhpvU8c - LOVE the music, kinda long but really cool ..Oh man! Jehuty, Vic Viper, Anubis... i miss this game

Enter the Story · 07-15-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiAgUh

The most memorable to me are:

Final Fantasy 6 (snes version) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDMWp1oLoA0 - a classic imo.
ProEvolution Soccer 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-syEH1bviY - The best song and intro off all of the PES games.
Zone Of The Enders: 2nd Runner - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASrKhpvU8c - LOVE the music, kinda long but really cool ..Oh man! Jehuty, Vic Viper, Anubis... i miss this game

Thanks - the YouTube clips are great! I really appreciate that.

Oh, and I agree with you about Enders. Never played it, and I've never been interested in fighting games, but watching that intro I can see why they're so popular!

Terramax · 07-15-2007, 02:32 PM

Final Fantasy VIII - possibly the best intro of any medium. My arm hairs still flick when I watch it (I purposely don't watch often) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pZ2ibvZb2Q

Broken Sword: Knights Templer - Stobbarts first lines pretty much promise everything that the word 'adventure' stands for. The music, oh the music!

Resident Evil 2 - Back when it was first released, no-one had seen anything like it. Like straight out of a big, no, the biggest action-horror movie budget. This FMV doesn't show the bit with the truck blowing up though

- http://youtube.com/watch?v=L6BmnJ3Utts

Phantasy Star Online - for those who played it on the Dreamcast, the music just set my friends and I in awe. A ship preparing to land, a mysterious, invisible monster creates an explosion the size of America, every living human (and other) mysteriously disappearing - http://youtube.com/watch?v=vGYecfdEh2w

Omega Boost - More games should use live actors. The FMVs in this game must have cost twice the rest of the production. The UK version with Dreamer by Cast is the superior by a mile. - http://youtube.com/watch?v=iHNSKhjLJ5k

Gonchi · 07-15-2007, 03:00 PM

I agree with Jeysie, Spiwak, and half the posters in this thread, Fallout's intro is the best, hands down.

Discworld Noir's intro is excellent as well.

*stepurhan* · 07-16-2007, 01:42 AM

Full Throttle. (subtitled in Spanish but English vocals and a good recording) Ben's gritty opening monologue. A little bit of an opening exposition scene in the limo then you hear the rock intro starting to get louder and see the biker gang coming up from behind in the back window. Then THUD! Ben's riding across the roof, hits the hideous cherub on the front perfectly in time with the music.

As well as the rocking opening number (I liked the soundtrack of this game so much I bought the album containing most of it Bone to Pick by The Gone Jackals) you also get a feel of motion with the moving reflections on the chrome and Ben's hair and jacket moving in the wind.

TiAgUh · 07-16-2007, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tolworthy

Thanks - the YouTube clips are great! I really appreciate that.

Oh, and I agree with you about Enders. Never played it, and I've never been interested in fighting games, but watching that intro I can see why they're so popular!

Your welcome

. I also never been interested in fighting games but this one is diferent, dont know why... but i really liked it (the story could be much better). A ZOE 3 for PS3 would be great

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terramax

Resident Evil 2 - Back when it was first released, no-one had seen anything like it. Like straight out of a big, no, the biggest action-horror movie budget. This FMV doesn't show the bit with the truck blowing up though

That's true

back then this was the best.
____

I think Final Fantasy X has the best intro of all FF's (and ive also seen FF VIII intro when i was a kid, before it was released) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ_52...elated&search=
Streets of Rage - Nice and Simple

i miss that - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hikFC...elated&search=

Bobske · 07-16-2007, 06:40 AM

These are my favorite intros:

Megarace
Syndicate
Under A Killing Moon
Diablo 2 (I actually love all Blizzard intros and cutscenes)
Gabriel Knight I
Wing Commander III, IV, V
Curse of Monkey Island

JemyM · 07-16-2007, 07:41 AM

My vote go to fallout as well...

However, the most spectacular game intro I have seen for its time were for the old amiga game "Superfrog", that had an animated cartoon on an entire disc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJvXlrUB3fA

07-14-2007, 02:00 PM	#1
Enter the Story I turn novels into games Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 307	Best game intros ever? Which games had the best opening title sequences? Which had you salivating from the moment the first screen appeared (even if they were later disappointing) For example, the start of Zak McKracken was very simple but (for me) powerful. You see planet earth as seen from Mars - it sets the scene for aliens watching us with envy (as in War of the Worlds). Then the dream sequence introduces the main themes, conflicts, and goals. And of course Monkey Island, which starts with... an atmospheric island, and the immortal line "I want to be a pirate!" What intros do you consider to be classics? Which left you eager for more? And which are so bad they made you close the game before it even started? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Enter The Story: Classic novels as games

07-14-2007, 03:45 PM	#2
KamisoriX Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 145	WarCraft III. Simply some of the best CG Intros/cutscenes I've ever seen. StarLancer and FreeLancer. I'm a sucka for Space opera. WildArms, back then it was the best anime intro there was with exellent soundtrack. there are some more but I guess those three are enough for today I bought once a japanese render adventure for the Saturn. After a while i was done with the game only to realize that what I thought was the longest and lamest intro with the 2 or 3 clicks i made was actually the whole game. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ If the earth would be a sphere and not a disc, I wouldn't be so afraid to fall of the edge...... Remember: "You can pick your Friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friends nose."

07-14-2007, 04:14 PM	#3
Jeysie Diva of Death Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,402	Fallout, awesomest game intro evah, IMHO. A kitschy pseudo-50s Vault advertisement segues into a disturbing "keeping the peace" news segment, then to retro-future commercials. We pan out to seeing we're watching this on a TV in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, all with the Ink Spots' "Maybe" playing in the background. And then, Ron Perlman's classic "War. War never changes." narration history. I honestly can't think of any other game's intro that got me so deeply into the mood of a game before it had even begun. But there's plenty of other good ones. Off the top of my head, I'd also like to give props to the Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis intro. Aside from being comical and having the "Indy" feel to it, the fact that it was playable was also entertaining. I also liked the intro to I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Harlan Ellison makes for one psychotically creepy computer voice. Peace & Luv, Liz Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals."

07-14-2007, 07:55 PM	#4
Spiwak is not wierd Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,148	Jeysie beat me to the punch. Fallout and Fallout 2 both had really memorable intros. World of Warcraft's intro was stunning (Blizzard knows CG, that's for sure) Half-Life 2 with G-Man talking to you in that creepy way he does and looking gorgeous Final Fantasy VIII, that fight between Squall and Leon set to some operatic score; gave me chills when I was young. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Spiwak! It's Kawips spelled backwards!

07-14-2007, 10:26 PM	#5
MdaG Master of time and space Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sverige Posts: 1,480	These really caught my attention: Fallout 1 & 2 Still Life Wing Commander 3 & 4 Myst 4 The Dig Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ ...

07-14-2007, 10:43 PM	#6
Spiwak is not wierd Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,148	BGII: SoA had a cool, creepy intro now that I think about it. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Spiwak! It's Kawips spelled backwards!

07-15-2007, 02:49 AM	#7
Davies Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Somewhere in England Posts: 403	I thought The Dig intro was way too long, and long-winded. It included a lot of extraneous stuff, like the relationships between the characters, that should have been left to be worked into the story. Yes, I agree with Monkey Island having one of the best intros. From a writer's point of view, it's all done perfectly -- introduces the island setting, gives some insight into the main character (not just his motivation, but his naivete), and gives a feel for the humour of the game, all in a few lines. And it not only gives a great big obvious "what to do next" instruction (go to the bar), but a more subtle hint of something you need to figure out later (return to this spot in order to reach other locations). Starship Titanic is good, I think. You can mess around for a bit, getting the feel of the controls, and then WHUMP, an enormous spaceship lands on top of your house. Talk about getting dropped into the deep end. To get away from adventure games, Cannon Fodder has probably my favourite intro of all time. Not just the song (which so many people never got the irony of) but the silly photo credits. How many credit sequences have you ever bothered to watch from beginning to end? Dungeon Keeper's intro is perpetually amusing, too, and sets up the right feel for the gameplay to come. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "You are amusing, in a 'what the hell is wrong with you' sort of way." --Jaheira, Baldur's Gate

07-15-2007, 07:46 AM	#8
Rizu Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 26	I'll echo Wild Arms and the Wing Commander games. Other intros: UFO: Enemy Unknown / X-Com: UFO Defense Soul Edge Sakura Taisen Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec Ghost in the Shell Eretzvaju MechWarrior 2 System Shock Share Share this post on Twitter

07-15-2007, 08:32 AM	#9
Lucien21 Psychonaut Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5,114	Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 Day of the Tentacle Shenmue Farenheit Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

07-15-2007, 08:49 AM	#10
Aj_ Beyond Belief Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Blighty Posts: 2,186	Shadow of the Templars with the crow flying over Paris. Diablo II, with the old man dragging his huge sword into the inn. I concur with Fallout, WarCraft III, and Half-Life 2. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Richard Dawkins :: AAI 07 :: NOVA ID on Trial :: Skeptic's Guide :: Beyond Belief :: Out Campaign :: NeuroLogica :: Skepticality Last edited by Aj_; 07-16-2007 at 07:54 AM.

07-15-2007, 08:58 AM	#11
LaCroix Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 11	Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War is pretty cool. Also, there's Xcom1, FF8 and FF12 (Even though the rest of that game is crap). Share Share this post on Twitter

07-15-2007, 09:05 AM	#12
samIamsad capsized. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,534	The awesome thing about Fallout is that it is depicting the picture of the future of what 50s people thought or feared (Nuclear threat! The Red Scare! And Everything!) the future would look like. How cool an idea is that? Duck and cover. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Look, Mr. Bubbles...! Last edited by samIamsad; 07-15-2007 at 09:13 AM.

07-15-2007, 11:19 AM	#13
TiAgUh handsome Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portugal Posts: 1,135	The most memorable to me are: Final Fantasy 6 (snes version) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDMWp1oLoA0 - a classic imo. ProEvolution Soccer 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-syEH1bviY - The best song and intro off all of the PES games. Zone Of The Enders: 2nd Runner - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASrKhpvU8c - LOVE the music, kinda long but really cool ..Oh man! Jehuty, Vic Viper, Anubis... i miss this game Share Share this post on Twitter

07-15-2007, 02:32 PM	#15
Terramax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,595	Final Fantasy VIII - possibly the best intro of any medium. My arm hairs still flick when I watch it (I purposely don't watch often) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pZ2ibvZb2Q Broken Sword: Knights Templer - Stobbarts first lines pretty much promise everything that the word 'adventure' stands for. The music, oh the music! Resident Evil 2 - Back when it was first released, no-one had seen anything like it. Like straight out of a big, no, the biggest action-horror movie budget. This FMV doesn't show the bit with the truck blowing up though - http://youtube.com/watch?v=L6BmnJ3Utts Phantasy Star Online - for those who played it on the Dreamcast, the music just set my friends and I in awe. A ship preparing to land, a mysterious, invisible monster creates an explosion the size of America, every living human (and other) mysteriously disappearing - http://youtube.com/watch?v=vGYecfdEh2w Omega Boost - More games should use live actors. The FMVs in this game must have cost twice the rest of the production. The UK version with Dreamer by Cast is the superior by a mile. - http://youtube.com/watch?v=iHNSKhjLJ5k Share Share this post on Twitter

07-15-2007, 03:00 PM	#16
Gonchi Adventure Game Elitist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Uruguay Posts: 831	I agree with Jeysie, Spiwak, and half the posters in this thread, Fallout's intro is the best, hands down. Discworld Noir's intro is excellent as well. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Currently Playing: Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade Currently Reading: Guards! Guards! "El tiempo me enseñó que la miseria es culpa de los hombres miserables; que la justicia tarda y nunca llega pero es la pesadilla del culpable." - Lo Que El Tiempo Me Enseñó

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07-16-2007, 01:42 AM	#17
stepurhan Freeware Co-ordinator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South East England. Posts: 7,309	Full Throttle. (subtitled in Spanish but English vocals and a good recording) Ben's gritty opening monologue. A little bit of an opening exposition scene in the limo then you hear the rock intro starting to get louder and see the biker gang coming up from behind in the back window. Then THUD! Ben's riding across the roof, hits the hideous cherub on the front perfectly in time with the music. As well as the rocking opening number (I liked the soundtrack of this game so much I bought the album containing most of it Bone to Pick by The Gone Jackals) you also get a feel of motion with the moving reflections on the chrome and Ben's hair and jacket moving in the wind. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ No Nonsense Nonsonnets #43 Cold Topic A thread most controversial, that’s what I want to start Full of impassioned arguments, of posting from the heart And for this stimulation all will be thankful to me On come on everybody it won’t work if you agree

07-16-2007, 06:40 AM	#19
Bobske Biomechanoid Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 543	These are my favorite intros: Megarace Syndicate Under A Killing Moon Diablo 2 (I actually love all Blizzard intros and cutscenes) Gabriel Knight I Wing Commander III, IV, V Curse of Monkey Island Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX.

07-16-2007, 07:41 AM	#20
JemyM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 713	My vote go to fallout as well... However, the most spectacular game intro I have seen for its time were for the old amiga game "Superfrog", that had an animated cartoon on an entire disc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJvXlrUB3fA Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by JemyM; 07-16-2007 at 07:56 AM.