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Top 10 Video Game Openings of 2009
A countdown of the most impressive video game openings of 2009. Is your favourite here?
Written by David Scammell, 13 January 2010
First impressions count for everything, right? Be it a 60-hour long RPG, a fast-paced action adventure title or a pick up and play fighter, a game's opening minutes simply have to grab you. And what better way than doing so than with some stunning CGI? So, better late than never, here's our countdown of 2009's top ten video game intros.
Opening introduction scene from The House of the Dead: Overkill10. THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: OVERKILL
Opening introduction scene from DJ HeroA pole dancer may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think of The House of the Dead, but it's the first thing you'll see when you boot up last year's reinvention of the franchise. That the game was just as kooky as the intro says it all - one of the most offensive and equally entertaining games we've ever played.
Opening introduction scene from Tekken 69. DJ HERO
Opening introduction scene from Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In TimeComing up with an idea with which to instantly engage a player within a rhythm action game, particularly one based around DJing, can't be the easiest of tasks. And so Activision surprised us all when they shipped DJ Hero with an intro so seemingly irrelevant yet utterly amusing. Words can't describe the epicness on show here, so just watch it.
Opening scene from The Saboteur8. TEKKEN 6
Opening scene from PrototypeWe've never cared for Tekken's storyline, and this three minute intro certainly won't convince us to change our ways. But being both beautifully shot and providing us with a background to all of Tekken's characters, Tekken 6's intro ranks as one of the one of the finest of the year, and almost certainly the prettiest.
Opening introduction scene from Killzone 27. RATCHET & CLANK: A CRACK IN TIME
Opening introduction scene from Halo WarsAre videogames really catching up with the outputs of CG gods Pixar? After watching A Crack In Time's beautiful opening, we were inclined to say yes. Capturing the game's cheeky sense of humour within the very first minute, this breathtaking sequence paved the way for one of the most gorgeous games we played last year.
Opening scene from The Beatles Rock Band6. THE SABOTEUR
Opening introduction scene from Left 4 Dead 2And there you were thinking that Overkill's intro would be the most flesh you'll see in this lineup. A picture says a thousand words, and when The Saboteur's opening shot of a lady's bosom fades into view, it sent our jaws crashing to the ground. Fun and risque, the attitude of Pandemic's World War II game with a difference shone through within the very opening second. If you're offended by nudey ladies, it's best you skip this one. And if you do like nudey ladies, look no further.
5. PROTOTYPE
The goriest intro in our top ten, Prototype's opening scene reeked of quality. Picturing a city torn to shreds by a virus, the gloom and doom atmosphere soon turns to one of excitement when hero Alex Mercer literally rips apart an unsuspecting group of squaddies. The perfect start for the flawed yet fantastic open-worlder.
4. KILLZONE 2
Opening with a speech by Helghast dictator Visari, Rico's not-so-subtle "listening to this shit wants me to break something" response set the tone perfectly for Guerrilla's gung-ho shooter. An impressive sequence set in outer space soon follows as we watch the battle unfold on Helghan. A truly powerful opening, helped considerably by Brian Cox's perfect line delivery.
3. HALO WARS
With Peter Jackson's Halo flick put on hold indefinitely, the opening to Halo Wars could very well be the closest we get to the Halo movie we all want to see. Encompassing everything we love about the series (bar the Chief, of course), Halo Wars' gritty depiction of a battle between the UNSC and the Covenant not only looked outstanding, but set the tone brilliantly. And that soundtrack, oh that soundtrack.
2. THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND
What better way to document the life of Britain's greatest band than capture its entirety in this stunning two minute blend of hand-drawn and CG animation? The Beatles: Rock Band may have been one of 2009's biggest flops, but it had one of the best opening cinematics we've ever seen. Simply stunning.
1. LEFT 4 DEAD 2
Almost a horror short in its own right, this epic three minute opener to Valve's latest zombie shooter was arguably more entertaining than the game itself. Humour, action and a kickass soundtrack, the intro captured every asset of Left 4 Dead in one little short that had us glued to our screens the first time we saw it. If the guys at Valve ever do get bored of creating games, going by this example of fantastic cinematography, they have our blessing to try and make it big in the movie business.
