THIS Is How You Start Off a Game | Windbreaker Podcast

[@SoulterrorX]

I think everyone misremembers Doom 2016. It does start with a "ha ha who cares about the story of Doom" moment. But then there are a ton of times where it locks you in a room and you have to listen to someone ramble for 5 minutes.

[@sirhenrymf]

I did forget this in the lead up to Eternal, and was colossally disappointed with how much dumb lore bullshit cutscenes Eternal added on bc that was what my memory of 2016 was, made more sense when I revisited 2016 and was like “oh yeah no they do bore you with nonsense in this too”

[@BrokenNoseChris]

Happy birthday, JM8! You young, young man

[@hairyson94]

Nothing tops Bioshock for me, even tho it's not a particularly gameplay heavy intro compared to some other great openings the bombing run in both FF7 and FF7R is also super high up there for me

[@Texelion]

"Hey, you. You're finally awake". *cart flips over and horses fly into the sky* best.intro.ever

[@Ile333]

IT just works.

[@AlexLoveLizard]

Prototype had a brilliant opening. Flashforward, you have all the powers and the world has gone mad, you fight your way up Times Square which is a chaotic war zone. Then when it drops back and starts the story it feels comfortable and interesting rather than just waiting for the action to start

[@FortressWolf97]

Ori And The Blind Forest had a great opening. It starts off with a glowing leaf falling off a tree, it lands, and then it becomes the little forest sprite we all know in love. It's brilliant at introducing how strange the ecosystem of this game is in small doses and it continuously unravels from there as you progress. Also, spoiler warning: the ending of Will Of The Wisps is literally the opening of Blind Forest, giving this poetic sense that one story ends and another begins.

[@chamini2]

jm8 talking about no reusing of any models in Indiana Jones and I just watched videogamedunkey's video where there are 2 of the same picture like 10 meters apart

[@scottneil1187]

Mirrors Edge has a great opening. Kinda breathtaking still, played it recently to finish the trophies. Needs a re-release, it'd be stunning with some spit and polish.

[@lVlatman]

at the time Borderlands 1+2 opening credits were a good hype

[@flummox3d]

The intro of Prey. Both Preys actually. Such great ways to send the player out on an adventure.

[@Conrad_Verner]

Shadow Complex stands out for me, taking control of a super soldier whos gone rogue, taking everyone out but eventually having his power armour shut down, givibg yoy a dynamic sneek peek as to what the final gameplay loop will be like.

[@FortressWolf97]

I think game intro's don't always need to establish all the information with its intro, especially if that intro is meant to serve as a facade of the player's expectations. For example, going back to Bioshock with its intro, it makes the player think that the plane crash was an accident and that you ending up in Rapture was pure happenstance, but it's later revealed that everything you've experienced for the duration of the game has been one elaborate set up that you've had absolutely no real control over. Sometimes all a game intro has to do is just establish a first impression that the player can carry with them throughout the whole game, whether it's to teach the player or to subvert their expectations.

[@aeloswindrunner]

Saints row 2 and 4 both had solid openings, though for different reasons. 2 is a great unfolding slow build, while 4 is a great statement of intent with the tone

[@Texelion]

What counts as the intro of SR4 exactly ? The one where we destroy the rocket ? The one at the white house ? The one where we're in the 50's simulation ?

[@aeloswindrunner]

@Texelion I was thinking of the mission to destroy the rocket, but it's all good imo

[@bkgrila]

@@Texelion Yes (But seriously, having three different bonkers intros pretty much sets the tone for SR4)

[@mph8200]

Charlie Croaker was Michael Caine in The Italian Job. Top one Nice one

[@elone3997]

Re Arkham A. - Off the topic of the opening but discovering that you could basically stalk/hunt/mess with the minds of the gangs instead of straight up going in all guns blazing was amazing. Still a great landmark game and still pretty to look at too. I'm due another playtnrough before too long..

[@rooklordofmagic]

1:11:25 I did not want to stop playing Roxas. Especially after playing 358

[@Rhyno012345]

No mention of Ori? The blind forest opening is an emotional gut punch

[@Rubymagicalgirl88]

While a lot of the other openings are great. I feel it's worth mentioning final fantasy iv,vi, vii ix snd and ten sre all a lot of fun to start.

[@internetcarson]

did they talk about Celeste, Animal Well, Hades, Hollow Knight or Gris?

[@essneyallen6777]

Do those games have remarkable openings? They all have incredible art and a very functional structure, but is the opening per se notable as game design goes? (Sincere question, only seen playthroughs of the first 3 and memory of them is fuzzy)

[@Deshrake]

@@essneyallen6777 Maybe he means that those games throw you straight into gameplay, which they discussed for quite a bit.

[@ranthalling]

My favorite ever intro was 'Bioshock', but I also enjoyed 'Final Fantasy VII' - the original PS1 game. Another that really got me into the game was the SMT 'Nocturne' game. 'Bioshock' was the most awesome though - and the reveal of the underwater city of Rapture just enthralled me.

[@sasuke11457]

i dont replay games so a game having a slow open doesnt bother me. If anything i like persona 4 open more than 5 as seeing what is going to happen later in the game just isnt interesting to me. I guess it works in 5 since the mc is talking about the past.

[@christianbethel]

God of War 2005.

[@davidjameswales]

Mafia

[@garethmitchell9140]

Never got past the opening of Kingdom Hearts 2 and therefore did not play any of the series beyond that point. Arguably the worst introduction in any game I have played. (And at my age that must be well over 1000.)

[@ClimbinInYoWindows97]

How dare you say this about best boy Roxas. No but in all seriousness the intro to KH2 was confusing as hell for me as a child, I just kinda went with it and it ended up making sense. KH2 is still imo the best 3rd person action game on the PS2, I still go back and play it. Story is weird but the gameplay is so smooth

[@erik_arman]

KH2 is the best action combat system ever made bundled with the worst story ever told. Play on Critical Mode (the highest difficulty) and skip all the cutscenes, or at least fiddle on your phone during them. Any fan of third person combat owe it to themselves to play it.