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The introduction to a game is a window into the rest of the expierence. It should encapsulate the feeling and grab the player's attention to set the tone for the full game engrossing the player. A good intro is almost invisible to the player acting as a transition into gameplay. Nik picks out his top 10 gaming intros. What are yours?

A lone military woman looking out of a space ship’s window while her superiors quietly decide she is the only one who can protect the galaxy. A black screen with scrolling text. The woman walks to the bridge as the pilot maneuvers the ship to a massive device that propels them across the galaxy. It doesn’t seem like much, but these are the elements of the intro to Mass Effect that sums up the ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’ philosophy.

What makes it great? The graphics? The score? Or just how damn cool they make the Mass Effect logo seem when they fade it into the horizon of a planet? Whatever it is, the epic feel of space and interstellar travel is tied almost perfectly with Commander Shepherd and many of the crew that will become mainstays of the game’s spectacular story.

2) Fallout

Nothing like upbeat 40s era music and black and white footage to make scenes of violence, horror, and devastation seem about twice as terrible. The good people at Black Isle used that fact to great effect in this beautifully done intro where the romantic song “Maybe” by the Ink Spots is played to black and white footage of cheerful advertisements and a brutal summary execution. Eventually, the camera slowly zooms out to show the wreckage unleashed by nuclear war. Add to the fact that we get the rather memorable line: “War. War never changes,” this intro easily lands itself in the greatest of all time.

3) Call of Duty 4

You’re dragged out into the hot dusty street the bright light blinding you. Shoved unceremoniously into a car you hear your arch enemy rallying a crowd denouncing you as a traitor as you are driven down dusty war torn streets. Finally, after being dragged out and beaten into unconsciousness. When you come to you see your enemy handed a pistol and turn to you. Time slows down. Your heart beats like crazy. Will you be saved by a timely missile strike? A bold Marine raid? A friendly traitor?

Nope. Instead you’re shot in the face.

This rather shocking scene is not just a perfect intro to Call of Duty 4, which boasts nasty war torn urban landscapes and intense large scale fire fights, but perhaps the beginning of games in tune to a post-9/11 world. Kudos to Infinity Ward for having the guts to pull this off.

Comments (1)

Darke said:

	Agree 100%. Great feature, it seems the best intros are First-person semi-interactive ones. Just saying.
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June 22, 2009
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