Favorite opening level?

[J T]

What's your favorite opening gameplay to a game or your favorite stage 1?

I just replayed the beginning of Bioshock. I love your first arrival to Rapture. It's so surreal the way it begins with a plane crash, and introduction to Andrew Ryan, and then a ride in a bathysphere only to find the fallen utopia of Rapture and the crazed splicers ready to rip you apart.

I also really like the oppressive feeling of City 17 in the opening of Half Life 2. It does a great job of setting the stage for the rest of the game and quickly gives you a sense for what the revolution you are fighting for should change.

From an old school perspective, I would also add that Super Mario Bros classic World 1-1 is an exquisite example of game design that teaches you how to play the game without any obvious tutorial reading, plus it's fun and unforgettably memorable.

What are some of your favorite beginnings?

[Jmenglan]

The first level in Halo. Everything just meshed so well together especially when the game first came out. Great graphics, decent AI, all set in the chaos of an alien invasion. After such a great set up everything that followed it was just a disappointment.

[Weekend_Warrior]

Medal of Honor: Frontline rings a bell.

[BRIK]

I always liked how you were introduced in Far Cry 2. Being from the that foreigners perspective going into an African country that had torn it's self apart with civil war. Quite an interesting perspective that I will most probably never experience in real life.

[jay_red]

The first level in both Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 are ones that really stand out to me. Running along the beach, down the pier, chased by a whale, all while being wowed by some amazing graphics (the first time I saw this level I was stunned).

Sonic Adventure 2 I loved the music and the pace of the first level, I dont know, it just has a good feeling.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Sly 2 had a really memorable beginning.

[mobiusclimber]

First level of Brave Fencer Musashi, bitches! Shame the rest of the game didn't live up to that. That thing was practically wall to wall action.

[J T]

I was thinking of storming the beaches at Normandy in Medal of Honor, but I couldn't remember the full title. Yeah, that's a great opening. Similar, so is the opening to Company of Heroes, but I think I liked MoH's better.

Also, I forgot about the intro to Far Cry 2. That's all I played of it actually, but it was impressive.

[Nintendork666]

^ This level introduced me to gaming. It wins by default.







Runner-ups: Sonic 3, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario 64

[Xeogred]

Deus Ex - Liberty Island

I seem to be a very rare fan of the Liberty Island portion of the game. It hooked me in instantly the first time I played the game, and now whenever I "dab" into it for a replay, well I'm won over by the start of the game and the ride begins.

HL2 is one I feel a little slow and tedious after awhile, haha. I love HL1's tram ride though, awesome atmosphere.