It has been said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This applies not just to life, but to video games as well. Consumer response is everything, and with so many games on the market, a slow start to a game can cause fickle gamers to dismiss a title immediately.
With this in mind, we present the Top Ten Game Openings of this Generation. Whether it be a cutscene of epic proportions or a gameplay sequence that keeps you on the edge of your seat, these games pull you into their world like a screaming vortex. Enjoy.
Tomb Raider
One of the newest games to nail the opening formula, Tomb Raider takes off at a sprint and never really stops. Lara Croft’s origin story takes her from naive college grad to capable survivor, but it all starts with the opening cutscene setting the tone perfectly.
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 starts out like a spring break montage; with young, physically fit, and thoroughly inebriated daredevils having a blast on a tropical island. However, the tone quickly changes and we are introduced Vaas; one of the most memorable villains in recent memory.
Saints Row: The Third
This is how you start a game. Insane humor tempered with ridiculous over-the-top action makes Saints Row: The Third’s opening one of the best. It doesn’t stop there, of course; the game spirals further into madness as it progresses, but we aren’t complaining.
Borderlands 2
The opening cutscene for Borderlands 2 has it all. A head-butting midget psycho, a battle on a magnetic speed train, and enough destruction to make any shooter fan happy. Set to awesome music, the game wastes no time introducing the main playable characters and their abilities.
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 shows us a post-apocalyptic future where people fled to underground vaults to escape the horrors of nuclear war. Not everyone made it underground, though, and the result is the wasteland you explore in the world of fallout. The opening is narrated by Ron Pearlman and the 1940’s music lends an eerie tone to the game’s wasteland ambience.
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3 is the culmination of an expertly crafted game series. The Reapers have come to Earth and it seems there is little humanity can do to stop them. While the entire opening sequence for Mass Effect 3 is amazing, the last few minutes before the title screen really convey Shepherd’s anger, and the pitch perfect music completes the package.
Left 4 Dead
Zombies, comedy, guns, explosions, and more zombies; what more could you ask for in an intro? Left 4 Dead shows us the dangers of crossing the street in the zombie apocalypse, and in a way that has rarely been seen since.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The Uncharted series has no shortage of amazing moments, and the opening of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the best. Waking up on a train with no idea how you got there is one thing, but that train hanging from a cliff is another thing entirely. Best tutorial level ever.
God of War III
Kratos has decided to assault Olympus with the Titans, making for an opening of the grandest scale. And Kratos has had some pretty grand moments. During this opening you start out on the back of Gaia, hitching a ride to the top of the mountain, fighting along the way.
BioShock
Even though BioShock: Infinite has an excellent opening sequence, the original BioShock still has the best opening in the series. Elements of the original BioShock opening are replicated with Infinite, but the original set a gold standard for how to begin a game. The originality of Rapture, its immense scale, and a puzzling story all do their part to transplant you into the world of BioShock completely.