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[nkarafo]

I was looking at Sonic 1 and once again remembered how amazing Green Hill looks:

The overall visual design, the color choices, the pattern, the parallax scrolling, the weird plants with their silly animations, everything. I think it's the most iconic looking introduction to a video game. And despite later Sonic games having better graphics, i think this particular level is still the best looking in the series. Later levels don't look that good and it's almost as if the developers spent most of the time making sure the game will grab your attention from the first moment.

Even the 3D/modern versions look great:

And concept art ot it always looks good:

Post other games that have the best looking or most iconic introduction levels you can think of.

 

[RoadHazard]

God of War 3 had an incredibly impressive opening back in the day.

 

[Eliciel]

God of War 3 had an incredibly impressive opening back in the day.

God of war 3, 100%
This is something I quote to this day to all of my friends who didn't live through that on release....it was unreal and I even remember people calling it unreal after watching the insider presentaiton (Geoff said that or sth like that) and this actually lived up to the word selection. It was absolutely unreal.

Actually no gameplay so far has sparked the same excitment in me as did this situation back in that day.

 

[Bergoglio]

 

[Tschumi]

MOHAA. Damn all you philistines.

 

[Yoshichan]

FFVII. Always, and always FFVII.

Introduces character arcs, also develops character personalities. Shows the basics of the combat (including a boss fight). Includes potential future story development (Cloud flashbacks). Also; the damn music lets the player know s/he’s up for one helluva ride.

 

[royox]

Cannot compete

 

[DonJorginho]

Death Stranding, say what you want about the game but those first steps in that lavish environment were breathtaking for me personally.

 

[cormack12]

God of War 3 had an incredibly impressive opening back in the day.

This is the answer. Graphics, scale, scope, action - had it all.

 

[rofif]

oh god I drooled over this. gow trilogy is absolutely amazing.

I will go with something else though. The Darkness 1 intro in 2007 blew my mind with these graphics:


edit: Half-Life ALyx might be up there too. I stood on that balcony for good 30 minutes in absolute awe

 

[Eimran]

Uncharted 2 did it for me

 

[captainraincoat]

This always stuck out for me as a point where you realised 3d games were here to stay
For its time it was amazing for a home console

 

[Aceofspades]

Reveal of GoW with the orchestra at Sony's E3 , it was magical

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

Metal Gear Solid 2, Snake walking on the bridge in the rain, smoking a cig, the cool music, the bungee dive onto the ship and the whole ship level.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Bayonetta 2

 

[Guardian's Light]

Mgs2 tanker: the thread

One of the best ever, and probably my most played first section ever

Awesome

 

[JimmyRustler]

How was Resident Evil 4 not the first answer in this thread? Best first level in videogame history.

 

[JawaSaysUtinni]

I know it’s going back a bit here but Tomb Raider 1 with the wolves in the cave. Loved it.

 

[Romulus]

I loved the Forest and Tree Dungeon in Ocarina of Time. The music and visuals were magical.

 

[DelireMan7]

Metal Gear Solid 2, Snake walking on the bridge in the rain, smoking a cig, the cool music, the bungee dive onto the ship and the whole ship level.

Mgs2 tanker: the thread

One of the best ever, and probably my most played first section ever

Awesome

"The Hudson River, 2 years ago..."

Masterpiece !

 

[ZehDon]

And nothing was ever the same afterwards...

 

[DelireMan7]

And nothing was ever the same afterwards...

Except all the following 3D Mario games...

 

[Type_Raver]

While not exactly the first thing you see, but the first temple you experience in Zelda OoT - Inside the Deku Tree; I loved that!
The ambience, music and sound plus the perfect balance of puzzles and navigation, and of course the boss battle - Gohma.
Setting you up for whats to come.

 

[Starfield]

Bioshock

 

[ConanTheKing]

I always enjoy games where you go through a normal day at the start or some quiet moment before stuff hits the fan.

Some examples would include:

- Half Life 1 and 2
- Silent Hill 1, 2 and 3
- System Shock 2
- Final Fantasy X


I like it because it shows you what the world is like outside of your characters objective. I guess it's world building and it usually creates a strong atmosphere.

 

[cudiye]

God of war 3 hands down. Ghost of tsushima as honorary mention. Dem title intro

 

[ConanTheKing]

I always enjoy games where you go through a normal day at the start or some quiet moment before stuff hits the fan.

Some examples would include:

- Half Life 1 and 2
- Silent Hill 1, 2 and 3
- System Shock 2
- Final Fantasy X


I like it because it shows you what the world is like outside of your characters objective. I guess it's world building and it usually creates a strong atmosphere.

Half Life gets a special mention because at the time the only FPS games I was familiar with were games like DOOM or Duke Nukem 3D where from the beginning you're just shooting everything you see.

Half Life was trying to tell a story. You're a gifted scientist commuting to work, you greet your colleagues, hear their corny jokes, say hi to the security guard and then prepare to do yet another experiment in a long line of experiments. People these days often say Half Life 2 was innovative for its use of physics but I think the original was innovative for its set pieces and world building in order to tell a story which isn't unique today but most certainly was rare back then.

 

[truth411]

GOD OF WAR 3!!!
/Thread.

 

[Nankatsu]

This right here, was top notch this generation.

The whole sequence, until the moment you jump out of window and exactly experience the number one thing you wanted to see most and see how amazingly well they nailed that feeling.

Man, it's difficult to top this.

Of course, until you decide to murder the main character's face on the PS5 remaster, that is.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Metal Gear Rising

You chop a Rex in half in the prologue mission.

 

[INC]

gow 3

 

[Black_Stride]

Ori and The Will of the Wisps.

The opening Prologue is The Last of Us levels of good.

Once you get to Howl im genuinely impressed and thinking why wasnt this game praised more for its graphics.

 

[MilkyJoe]

This always stuck out for me as a point where you realised 3d games were here to stay
For its time it was amazing for a home console

First level of Goldeneye was amazing at the time, all time favourite game

 

[Kenpachii]

Crysis 3
Myst

 

[CrysisFreak]

I love how many people just immediately think of God of War III. And rightfully so.
Jesus, what a spectacle.
When I first played it my jaw was on the floor. Power of the cell processor btw.

 

[HurtPotato]

 

[Night.Ninja]

Opening of prey

 

[TintoConCasera]

Opening of prey

Yeah! Underrated gem over here.

 

[Barnabot]

Metal Gear Rising

You chop a Rex in half in the prologue mission.

You forgot to mention that Rules of Nature song playing while you're fighting that Rex just to make one's pee pee hard.

 

[BlackTron]

I think OP nailed it. Sonic 1, dear god what a Nintendo killer that game was.

 

[iorek21]

Undead Asylum/Undead Burg in Dark Souls 1

One of the best introductions/tutorials there is

 

[Cockles & Whelks]

 

[Hustler]

Calling out one that hasn't been mentioned. Absolutely loved Ratchet and Clank PS4 first level and the Pixar like quality of graphics and I never played the original so this was all new to me.

 

[Blood Borne]

Ninja Gaiden Black - Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Other chapters were a bit meh.

The Revenge of Shinobi and Streets of Rage 2. Great opening to both games, especially their soundtrack.

 

[angelgs90]

Metroid Prime

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

Bayonetta 2

Came here to reply Bayo 2 as well

 

[gamerguywashere]

shipwreck shore in tropical freeze...i know it's the second level, but it's the best intro to the meat of the game in time trials

getting gold in 1-2 was like 'ok, time to sit up and set the bong aside, shits going to get real'


i still don't have that game finished finished

 

[ExKing]

Mario 64.
There is no other answer possible.

 

[Desudzer10]

For me, Dragon Quest 8 when you finish the little tutorial then do the cinematic/orchestral walk to the first town. Always makes me happy.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

God of War 3 had an incredibly impressive opening back in the day.

came ot post this

sonics first levels are so iconic too.