Uncharted 2 – a classic beginning (pic: Sony)

A reader names his favourite video game intros, ranging from the opening sequence of Final Fantasy 7 on the PS1 to The Last Of Us.

Much like movies, a game’s opening can really set the tone for what’s about to come and give us a reason to want to invest the (often quite substantial) amount of time required to play them. Having thought a lot about what makes a good opening recently, I decided to compile a list of my all-time top 10, so here they are!

10. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The first Uncharted title was decent enough, but ultimately pretty forgettable. This sequel, however, would put developer Naughty Dog well and truly on the map, and it hits the ground running from the very start. Yes, it’s all very scripted, but from the gradual reveal that the train Drake is sitting on is dangling over a cliff to the terrifying climb to safety it’s all masterfully done.

9. Metal Gear Solid

A short (especially by Kojima’s standards!) cinematic cut scene neatly sets out the mission parameters before players find themselves in control of Solid Snake as he enters the captured military base of Shadow Moses. As with all the best openings it establishes the core gameplay mechanics in an efficient and entertaining fashion and having played the demo disc over and over I still know the layout of these expertly designed areas off by heart some 25 years later!

8. Final Fantasy 7

The transition from the 2D sprites of Final Fantasy 6 to the 3D of Final Fantasy 7 was gobsmacking back in 1997, and the opening bombing of the Mako Reactor is simply an iconic piece of video game history. Up to this point most role-playing games would slowly introduce you to the world and its characters, but Final Fantasy 7 throws you straight in without any exposition whatsoever, as you race to complete your mission whilst the brilliant soundtrack plays in the background. By the time you can finally stop and catch your breath most gamers will already be hooked.

7. Portal 2

Both Portal titles rank amongst my all-time favourite games, thanks to their combination of clever puzzles and dark sense of humour, and that humour is never more evident than during Portal 2’s first 20 minutes. Having awoken from some sort of stasis, the player is immediately introduced to the character of Wheatley (voiced brilliantly by Stephen Merchant) and guided through the tutorial and early stages of the game. Wheatley’s dialogue, and what appears to be the complete destruction of the facility in which you find yourself, make for arguably the funniest scene in video game history. It’s a testament to this game’s quality that the rest of it manages to live up this opening.

6. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The first time you lay eyes on the incredible sprawling landscape of Hyrule, as the music begins to swell is an amazing moment, but it’s the area known as the Great Plateau (In which you’ll be confined for the first hour or so) that helped confirm Breath Of The Wild’s place amongst my favourite video game openings. Much like another Nintendo game, which will appear later on in this list, it acts as the perfect tutorial that teaches the core mechanics by letting the player explore rather than bogging them down with endless instructions and it sets the tone for the whole game.

5. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Awakening on the back of a cart making its way through an icy forest, you soon learn that you’ve been captured by enemy troops, before your companions panicked voices gradually make it clear that your upcoming fate is not going to be pleasant. You watch as these people are beheaded in front of you and then it’s your turn. Your head is lowered to the block, the executioner’s axe draws back and then comes that iconic roar as a dragon flies into view just in time to save your life. Seeing your first dragon from the titled vantage point of someone about to lose their head is an amazing piece of cinematography and as you make your way through the fire to escape you already know you’re going to be in for a great gaming experience.

4. Super Mario Bros.

As well as introducing us to the most famous piece of music in gaming, World 1-1 of Super Mario Bros. also acts as the greatest tutorial of all time. In fact, it’s so good that most people won’t even realise it’s a tutorial! There are no button prompts or instructions, you simply make your way through the level seeing what you can do and by the time you reach the end you’ll have learned pretty much everything you need to know to play the rest of the game.

3. Bioshock

The setting of Rapture is a huge part of what makes BioShock such a success and the opening ensures that you quickly begin to understand its history and current state. Following a plane crash, the protagonist Jack swims to the apparent safety of a nearby lighthouse. Inside he is greeted by the sound of ballroom music and then an elevator that takes you into the heart of the city. The combination of visuals, Andrew Ryan’s ominous voiceover, and fitting music as you make your way through Rapture hooked me instantly, and try as they might the developers never quite managed to live up to this moment with either of the (pretty good) sequels.

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2. The Last Of Us

It all starts rather sedately with a young girl (Sarah) staying up late to wish her father (Joel) a happy birthday, but when she awakens in the middle of the night to answer a panicked call from her uncle the sense of dread begins to build immediately. The tension continues to rise as she wanders the house to hear a disturbing news report and sirens ringing before a nearby explosion rocks the house. Then Joel races back into the house, out of breath and clearly scared, he grabs Sarah and they head to their truck. All around them is chaos and panic, but somehow they make it through to the army checkpoint. What comes next is one of the most famous, and most heart wrenching, moments in all of gaming. No matter how many times you’ve seen this, it still hits hard…

1. Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 was so far ahead of its time, and in the 20 years since this game’s release I still don’t think there is a better opening 15 minutes than this. There are no cut scenes or characters spouting exposition and instead we learn everything we need to know about City 17 by walking its streets. Snippets of conversation from civilians, blood spattered interrogation rooms, and masked soldiers ominously blocking doorways all paint a picture of oppression and fear. Then suddenly, you find yourself being chased by these soldiers and a mad rooftop dash to safety ensues, before reaching safety and being introduced to the awesome Alyx Vance. Please Valve, give us Half-Life 3!

So, what are your favourite video game openings? Let me know in the comments below!

By reader drlowdon

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A reader names his favourite video game intros, ranging from the opening sequence of Final Fantasy 7 on the PS1 to The Last Of Us.