It may be difficult for some players to remember a time before long, cinematic opening cutscenes in gaming. Nowadays, any game with a narrative-driven plot is practically guaranteed to contain an intro cutscene. They're often quite useful, of course, introducing players to the central characters and establishing stakes.

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With so many great video games on the market, it's difficult to nail down every single memorable sequence they've provided. However, most fans would agree certain intro scenes stand out from the rest. These pieces of cinematic exposition have stuck with fans for years, some even for decades. When it comes to an opening cutscene, these games knocked it out of the park.

10 Metal Gear Solid

Solid Snake From The Metal Gear Solid Intro

Released in 1998, Metal Gear Solid proved that video games could be just as captivating from a storytelling perspective as any film. There's very rarely ever a dull moment in Metal Gear Solid. What tends to make this title stand out, as with the rest of the franchise, is that the characters prove to be just as complex as the plot.

Longtime fans of the series aren't likely to forget the opening cinematic in this title. As Solid Snake clandestinely sneaks into Shadow Moses, players are informed of the substantial gravity of the situation. Terrorists have taken over the nuclear base and are holding the world for ransom. It's simple and yet highly engrossing, akin to any great spy film of its genre.

9 Batman: Arkham Asylum

Batman From The Arkham Asylum Intro

It's hard to overemphasize the popularity of the Batman: Arkham franchise. There had been Batman-related titles before Arkham Asylum, but none really came close to making the player actually feel like they were in Batman's boots. The game is a masterpiece, one that won't be forgotten by fans anytime soon.

The opening cutscene sets the tone for the rest of the game. It's dark, gothic, with a hint of dread lurking beneath the surface. As players watch Batman return the Joker to the asylum, the sense of foreboding is palpable. Something is about to go horribly wrong on this gloomy and rainy night.

8 Mass Effect 2

Commander Shepard From The Mass Effect 2 Intro

It's not uncommon for intro cutscenes to kick things off with a bang. In the case of Mass Effect 2, that idea is given a literal meaning. Many fans cite the opening sequence of Mass Effect 2 as the most memorable of the trilogy, and for good reason.

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Commander Shepard, the beloved protagonist of the series, is blown out of the Normandy in a fiery explosion. Fans who have never played the game before may be inclined to think that Shepard will be rescued — but Shepard does indeed perish. Mass Effect 2 kills off its own protagonist barely ten minutes into the game. Shepard is resurrected a bit later, but for a moment, the player is left stunned.

7 Red Dead Redemption

John Marston, Edgar Ross & Archer Fordham From The Red Dead Redemption Intro

Some intro sequences like to be bombastic, while others are a bit more subtle in their execution. The opening scene of the first Red Dead Redemption fits into the latter category. Players are fed, in a piecemeal fashion, the overarching conflict of the plot in this cutscene.

John Marston, the protagonist, is led on board a train by two official-looking persons. Although he's not a prisoner, players can glean that John is doing something against his will. Aboard the train, fans listen to some chatter between NPCs regarding the ongoing efforts to "civilize" the American frontier, one of the many themes of the game. It's a slow boil that proves to be satisfyingly effective.

6 Fallout: New Vegas

Benny From The Fallout New Vegas Intro

It's not a stretch to say that all Fallout intros are engrossing. Fans are no doubt familiar with the famous "War Never Changes" monologue that characterizes every intro sequence. The opening cutscene of Fallout: New Vegas, though, adds a memorable twist to the otherwise familiar intro.

After the monologue concludes, players are introduced to one of the principal antagonists of the game, Benny. He delivers a short speech and concludes by saying "the game was rigged from the start." Then, he shoots the player in the head while the screen cuts to black and the title of the game is displayed. It's a powerful clip that's compelling no matter how many times fans have seen it.

5 God Of War 3

Kratos From The God of War 3 Intro

As mentioned above, some intro sequences prefer to be bombastic. God of War 3 definitely fits the bill. Serving as the conclusion to the trilogy, God of War 3 witnesses Kratos embarking upon his final mission to eliminate the gods of Mount Olympus in bloody fashion.

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As appropriately epic music plays in the background, the credits start to roll. Players watch Kratos's past exploits dance across the screen as silhouettes. Then, the game cuts to the Titan assault on Mount Olympus with Kratos in tow. It's an exciting clip, one that gets fans ready for the visceral carnage that characterizes the game from that point forward.

4 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Nathan Drake Hanging From A Train Car From The Uncharted 2 Intro

The Uncharted series offers adventure gaming at its finest. Similar to Mass Effect 2, the beginning of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves throws players into the thick of the action. Right off the bat, players are fully aware that Nathan Drake is in a bit of a predicament.

The game starts in medias res, with Drake already wounded and in danger of falling off the side of a mountain in a wrecked train compartment. After extricating himself from the initial danger, the game goes on to tell how Drake ended up in such a precarious situation in the first place.

3 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Imperial City From The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Intro

Like the Fallout franchise, The Elder Scrolls series has its fair share of memorable intros. When a game aspires to be an epic saga, particularly for those in the fantasy genre, the fans need to be aware of the massive stakes in play. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion does a stellar job at establishing those stakes from the very beginning.

Players are treated to a short monologue from the Emperor of Tamriel, voiced by the acclaimed Patrick Stewart. He explains that his life is coming to an end and that a great evil is about to befall the land. Afterward, a beautiful panoramic view of the Imperial City is displayed while the unforgettable soundtrack starts up, imbuing players with a sense of wonder and expectation.

2 The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings

Letho Of Gulet From The Witcher 2 Intro

The Witcher franchise is yet another fantasy setting rich in both lore and characters. Although The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt may be the most impressive video game of the series, the second entry possesses a thrilling opening cutscene that's hard to beat.

Amidst the scene of a raucous party taking place on a ship, players watch as Letho of Gulet skilfully cuts a swathe of destruction through a cadre of royal bodyguards. In the end, Letho brutally executes King Demavend III and decapitates him. The cinematic doesn't lack excitement, that's for sure.

1 Half-Life 2

The G-Man From The Half Life 2 Intro

The opening cutscene of Half-Life 2 is undoubtedly one that longtime veterans of the series remember well. After the cliffhanger ending of the original, fans waited patiently for six years to see what became of Gordon Freeman after his encounter with the mysterious G-Man.

In fact, it's the enigmatic and creepy G-Man that starts things off with Half-Life 2. Players are greeted with the line, "Rise and shine Mr. Freeman. Rise and shine." It becomes clear that Freeman is being awoken from stasis to combat an even larger threat than before. It's a simple intro scene, one that doesn't waste much time before relinquishing control to the player.

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