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[FunkMiller]

The opening of The Last Of Us is the single best set up for a game ever created. It establishes the themes, setting and tone of the entire game, and has one of the most emotionally resonant moments in video games history.

 

[Birdo]

Corneria in Star Fox blew me away back in the day. A great introduction to the game.

 

[TintoConCasera]

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

Hell yeah! The OST of that game was glorious.

We need a sequel, or prequel or spin off or whatever.

 

[DanEON]

Super Mario 64

Duuuude, that was EPIC!!!!!

 

[Fbh]

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

Yeah I remember this one time when the Ps4 had just come out walking past some Ps3 and Ps4 demo stations with some friends who are only casually into games. The Ps4 station had some random Killzone Shadow Fall level and the Ps3 ones had the GOW 3 intro and they were all like "wait...why does the Ps3 look kinda better?".

While Killzone was the more technically advanced one, the sheer spectacle of the GOW3 into is on another level:

 

[Shizumapower]

MGS1

Felt so wondrously complex.

 

[GymWolf]

The intro and dock part in mgs1 was cinematographic as fuck for the times.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Super Mario 64
Star Fox 64
Twisted Metal Black
Metal Gear Solid
Silent Hill 2
Resident Evil
Half-Life

 

[Games of Today]

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.

I cant wait to force my self to replay it with the new face, have the new face ruin my experience, get pissed off, shut off the game and never play it again. Which is sad because I've played through the game and the Black Cat DLC twice. The second time with Raimi suit. And it was one of my favorite games of this generation. No in my opinion, it's ruined.

It's literally if Uncharted 5 comes out and Nate looks like Tom Holland. The same exact thing.

 

[lock2k]

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.

Great example.

I remember going to a Japanese friend house in the early 90's and coming from the Master System when I saw real Mega Drive Sonic 1 running and you could go pass behind the tree I was fucking amazed at the effects and everything.

For a little context, in Brazil (especially the southeast) we have the second biggest population of Japanese people in the world and everyone had that Japanese friend who had the new stuff from Japan and we were always amazed with their gadgets, consoles and chewing gums lol

 

[wvnative]

at the time, the metropolis city level on planet kerwan in Ratchet and clank future tools of destruction was an insane demonstration of the PS3

 

[Lokaum D+]

Uncharted 2 did it for me

now i have to replay uc2 thanks

 

[MagnesG]

BOTW's intro plateu

 

[Hakiroto]

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.

Exactly this. Well said.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Ocarina of Time, what a great moment in the Kokiri forest, duku tree, solid enemies, puzzles, and boss. First level is great and the game only gets better.

 

[Lethal01]

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.

So glad they replaced this guys ugly mug in the remaster. Will be great to actually be able to enjoy the story since I'm no longer playing as a goblin.

 

[Bartski]

 

[MDSLKTR]

The cinematic intro to L4D is a tutorial that explains the game mechanics:



Valve chose it over a training mode and it was so effective.

 

[jaysius]

I really hate a solid opening level when the rest of the game looks nothing like it, it's like they spent all their time on something that everyone will play and then the rest of the game is mediocre or below because they know few will play it, OR they "ran out of time". It makes the experience lopsided, more often than not, late game content NEVER matches the quality of a solid first level.

A solid opening level followed by trash is huge letdown in gaming.

 

[Estocolmo]

Actually I’m going to say Halo 4...

 

[NinjaBoiX]

Metroid Prime

No no no...

Its a fantastic game, one of the all time greats, but the intro is shite

 

[RedVIper]

Not sure what you mean by "best looking", but Prey 2017 had one of the best intros in any game I've played.

 

[regawdless]

God of War 3.

But I'll also throw in Killzone Shadow Fall. Mediocre game, but man that opening looked great.

 

[Hawking Radiation]

God of War 3
Gears of War 2
KIllzone 2'

Thank fuck we're back to talking about Games.

More threads like this please.

 

[Diddy X]

Hype was through the roof those days, the sequel to freakin GoW, bigger, better and more badass

 

[Knitted Knight]

Uncharted 2 did it for me

Feels good just remembering playing it. Sooo gooood.

 

[nkarafo]

Here's another oldie but also iconic:

This is Shadow of the Beast for the Amiga. Now, the game isn't very good. In fact i would say it's pretty bad even for the time. But that first level made everyone lose their minds with the graphics in 1989. It's pretty detailed and has a crazy parallax scrolling effect, coupled with a fine music piece. It was like a demonstration of what the Amiga could do. Heck, the rest of the game doesn't look nearly as good (although, the good looking scene is shown more times later on).

 

[Ceadeus]

I can think of Super castlevania 4, Castlevania SOTN prélude, ninja garde Xbox, Super contra 3 lien wars , bayonetta 2,

 

[Fbh]

God of War 3.

But I'll also throw in Killzone Shadow Fall. Mediocre game, but man that opening looked great.

True.
Not everything about the game holds up visually but the initial city view holds up extremely well:

 

[intbal]

Dishonored

 

[Cert.in.Death]

I could list many, but I will go out of my way to list FFIX. Superb.

 

[Punished Miku]

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Axelay.

Couldn't believe how awesome that Mode 7 effect looked. Ya I know scales in a weird way not like real life, but it was sweet.

 

[MP!]

Wonderful 101 and Astral chain had incredible intros

 

[Manus]

 

[diffusionx]

The GOTG thread reminded me - the first level of Metal Gear Solid V, in the hospital, is one of the most batshit insane and incredible things I've ever played.

 

[Cockles & Whelks]

Axelay.

Couldn't believe how awesome that Mode 7 effect looked. Ya I know scales in a weird way not like real life, but it was sweet.

And the music. Oh my, the music!

 

[Oida di Figgiano]

When it orignally came out, this was everything and more.

 

[junguler]

ac black flag for me was perfect, something about a criminal assuming the role of a hero makes me excited, also loved the show banshee for the same exact reason.

 

[El Sueño]

https://youtu.be/yWieyWie8zyD1cc

The research facililty, the arrival to Zebes, the rain, the storm and the amazing OST. Perfection, mates.

 

[CircleOfFire]

True.
Not everything about the game holds up visually but the initial city view holds up extremely well:

Oh man, when that explosion goes off and everything goes to hell. I forgot how mind blowing I found this.

 

[SpiceRacz]

.

 

[BusierDonkey]

The intro to the Forza Horizon games are always well done. Sets up the festival, gives you a quick tutorial that's not too intrusive, and gives a you a feel for the maps and gameplay before setting you loose. Even the DLC expansions had their own intros.

 

[Vtecomega]

Killzone 2

 

[chasimus]

Chrono Trigger in my opinion has one of the best aesthetics and themes to the start of a game. It's what roped me in immediately to that gem.

 

[Halo is Back]

The beginning of Dead Space and Alien Isolation still give me goosebumps

 

[Dragon_Rocks]

God of War 3
Darksiders 1

 

[Kumomeme]

first area of Bloodborne Central Yharnam



it nailed first tone impression of whole game especially the first boss. it get better when you unlock all the shortcut later that can reconect these area.

 

[aries_71]

Destiny 2.

The game never maintained the quality of the first level.

 

[MafiaMurderBag]

I really hate a solid opening level when the rest of the game looks nothing like it, it's like they spent all their time on something that everyone will play and then the rest of the game is mediocre or below because they know few will play it, OR they "ran out of time". It makes the experience lopsided, more often than not, late game content NEVER matches the quality of a solid first level.

A solid opening level followed by trash is huge letdown in gaming.

Yeah, MGSV is guilty as charged for this.