The Best Opening Cinematics in Video Games

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Video game opening cinematics are practically an art form unto themeselves. They are tasked with the monumentally pivotal role of capturing a player, immersing them in a manufactured world, and never letting up for even an instant.

Some could argue that openings in video games are almost as equally important as the game itself. They are used to sell the idea of a game sometimes months before a player will ever get behind a controller. Some are intentionally misleading, selling players on a cinematic experience that may fall well short of the actual in-game experience.

A well crafted cinematic will succeed in total immersion of the player before the game itself even begins. Opting for either delicate subtleties of mood and mise-en-scene for tone and setting, or, the sheer overwhelming scope of explosive cinematography, these are The Best Opening Cinematics in Video Games.

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Ninja Gaiden

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Onimusha 3

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Final Fantasy VII

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Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

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Halo 4

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Witcher 2

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Fallout 3

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Red Dead Redemption

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God of War III

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Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

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Mass Effect 2

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Half-Life 2

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Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

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BioShock

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