In many ways, a game’s first level is its most important. Not only is the first level responsible for teaching players the fundamental gameplay mechanics, but it also needs to set the tone of what’s to come. Moreover, opening levels are especially significant today as value-for-money services like Game Pass make it easy for players to swiftly uninstall a title and play something else if its opening fails to grab them.
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The upcoming ten games are all prime examples of how to successfully kick off a game, with an opening act that engrosses players into its world and sets the stage for what’s to follow. Although peaking at the first level/quest/sequence may suggest that the rest of the game drops in quality, it’s certainly not the case with most of the titles on this list, as many of them areclassic releases.
10The Last of Us
The Last of Usexemplifies the previous point about how a game peaking at its opening doesn’t mean it takes a significant drop in quality afterward.
A game branded as a post-apocalyptic adventure was never likely to open with wholesome,fun for all the familysequence, though few expected the beginning ofThe Last of Usto be so devastating. Part of the game’s opening puts players in control of a child named Sarah, which is particularly effective for two reasons: firstly, the player shares her confusion as to what is happening, and secondly, it makes the introduction’s end all the more shocking.
9Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
From one Naughty Dog game to another,Uncharted 2: Among Thievessomehow manages to take even less time thanThe Last of Usin getting straight to the action.
Similar toThe Last of Us,Uncharted 2begins with players in control of a character who is just as confused as to what is happening as they are. TheIndiana Jones-inspired Nathan Drake is trying to work out where he is and what has happened before he suddenly needs to fight for his life, as the broken train that he’s on begins to literally fall off a cliff.
8Sonic The Hedgehog
TheSonicThe Hedgehogfranchise is fairly divisive today, with debates between fans and skeptics raging as to thequality of the series' games. However, one thing that is hard to disagree with is that Green Hill Zone is one of the most iconic opening stages of all time.
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Granted, Green Hill Zone isn’t the most complex level in the series or even in the first game. However, the level earnsSonic the Hedgehoga mention for being one of the few that can rivalMario’s World 1-1 in terms of its legendary status.
7Resident Evil 4
Following criticisms thatResident Evil Zerohad failed to evolve the franchise, Capcom didn’t rest on its laurels and decided to change its beloved franchise’s core gameplay completely. The risk paid off, asResident Evil 4became one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, exemplified by its whopping96 Metascore.
The game’s opening eases players into the new over-the-shoulder perspective and mechanics before chucking them into the center of a village where they must fight a horde of enemies. Players can gain shelter at a small house, though their sense of security will soon crumble when they hearthe revving of a chainsaw.
6Far Cry 5
TheFar Cryseries is no stranger to a memorable opening, with the beginning ofFar Cry 3kicking off in an impressive fashion as it smartly teaching players the basic controls and gameplay mechanics by making them escape imprisonment. In stark contrast,Far Cry 5begins with the playable character being the one who needs to imprison someone else.
Arresting the cult leader never looked like it was going to be a walk in the park, though not many would have predicted how dramatic the opening sequence was going to be.
5Crash Twinsanity
Following criticisms thatCrash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortexwas too similar to its predecessorCrash Bandicoot: Warped, Traveller’s Tales decided to completely reinvent the series with the next main series title,Crash Twinsantiy.
The game’s beginning certainly looked like it was going to be the breath of fresh air that the series needed, as the open-level that kicks off theTwinsanityis well-designed both visually and gameplay-wide. Sadly,Crash Twinsanityis one of many games that fell victim to a rushed development cycle, causing a noticeable drop in quality as the game progressed.
4Sonic Adventure 2
The secondSonicgame to appear on this list, Sonic Team impressively managed to create a level that was almost as iconic as Green Hill Zone with City Escape. The level implements everything that players love about theSonicfranchise, with its fast-paced and over-the-top platforming gameplay.
Just when players think the level can’t get any more action-pact, it ends with a dramatic chase sequence as the blue hedgehog is chased by a large, imposing truck. The level gets the player’s adrenaline pumping right off the bat, setting a high standard for the stages that follow.
3BioShock
The opening toBioShockhas a strong claim to be the best introduction to a game ever. Much like the aforementionedUncharted 2,BioShockwastes very little time getting started. In fact, the game’s opening is so abrupt that many people end up drowning as they don’t realize they’re in control of their character.
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Once realizing that they’re in control, players must swim to a lighthouse that is nearby. They will then be taking on a short tour around Rapture, which wonderfully sets the scene before things suddenly turn sour as a Splicer brutally kills someone right in front of the player, just a few seconds prior to them entering the underwater city.
2James Bond 007: Nightfire
There are many artists, franchises, and series that are victims of the success of their earlier work. TheJames Bondvideo game franchisecertainly falls into this category, as each game post-1997 is compared to the classicGoldenEye 007.Rare’s iconic N64 game revolutionizedmultiplayer gameplay on consolesand also offered a memorable campaign, making it one of its generation’s best FPS titles.
Of all the games that have tried to emulateGoldenEye 007’s success,Nightfirehas arguably come the closest. The game’s first full campaign mission, The Exchange, soon became recognized as one of the franchise’s best, largely thanks to the vast number of ways that the mission could be completed, encouraging players to think like a true 00 agent.
1Shadow of the Colossus
Although there’s a debate to be had as to which fight is the best, it’s hard to deny that the first time taking down a colossus is the greatest experience thatShadow of the Colossushas to offer. Taking down the first colossus displays everything that the game has to offer: exploring the open map to find the giant creature, working out what its weaknesses are, and engaging in the difficult battle before landing the satisfying final blow.
This is the same process that players have to follow for the rest of the game, which the developers managed to keep interesting. However, the feeling of conquering the first colossus isn’t matched through the rest of the game.
