What game do you believe has the most graphically impressive intro sequence?

[matteus]

Hi All,
If you had to name a intro sequence on the Genesis/Megadrive (This doesn't include Mega CD games) that really made you go WOW thats impressive... which would it be?

[MrMatthews]

Cool question!

I was actually very impressed by the Lemmings intro.

[Kollision]

Thunder Force IV
El Viento

[NeoVamp]

Jungle Strike

[bluelloydpugh]

last game i played where i thought that was puyo puyo tsu, looks like a playstation/saturn game intro.

Luv the thunderforce IV intro too ;)

[tomaitheous]

Definitely Valis III (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBY44wPJVRE), Target Earth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ4yMKKHjfc) and Gaiares (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kahhe8xjJtg). No coincidence that they are in my all time top 10 Genesis list.

[Megadragon15]

Red Zone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZErWZXRh0

[Ghaleon]

Red Zone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZErWZXRh0

Wow, that is impressive for Genesis/MD.

[Melf]

Yeah, Red Zone's intro is amazing. Vixen 357 is a close second though.

[Ghaleon]

Yeah, Red Zone's intro is amazing. Vixen 357 is a close second though.

Just watched it. Looks like anime-style art on the Gen/MD can make good use of the limited color palette available and come away looking pretty spiffy when done right, though there wasn't a lot in the way of actual animation there. Still, nice proof-of-concept that other game developers might have done well to put to further and better use.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Ranger-X

[Christuserloeser]

Red Zone is okay and certainly interesting from a technical point of view, but what really got me impressed were the intros to Thunder Force 4 and GleyLancer. Those were technically interesting but also really good in the art department.

Some other interesting games with great intros:

- Streets of Rage 2
- Quackshot / World of Illusion / Castle of Illusion
- Revenge of Shinobi
- Phantasy Star 4
- Story of Thor aka Beyond Oasis
- Mega Turrican

..and yes, Ranger-X

[j_factor]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Flashback. Shame on you all.

[bohokii]

syndicate

[TmEE]

Panorama Cotton has nice humorous intro despite me not understanding anything :P

[matteus]

Definitely Valis III (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBY44wPJVRE), Target Earth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ4yMKKHjfc) and Gaiares (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kahhe8xjJtg). No coincidence that they are in my all time top 10 Genesis list.

Haha Tomaitheous you've picked out the three I was watching on youtube yesterday!

I think Flashback hasn't been mentioned mainly due to it being a PC game port...

And to recap here are the games we've had mentioned so far:

Lemmings
Thunder Force IV
El Viento
Jungle Strike
Puyo Puyo Tsu
Valis III
Target Earth
Gaiares
Red Zone
Vixen 357
Ranger-X
Streets of Rage 2
Quackshot / World of Illusion / Castle of Illusion
Revenge of Shinobi
Phantasy Star 4
Story of Thor aka Beyond Oasis
Mega Turrican
Flashback
Syndicate
Panorama Cotton

[Zebbe]

Musha Aleste - another STG with borderline anime intro.

[Tanegashima]

I'm sorry, but Sonic 3D blast's intro is amazing! I still can't believe they got that into the Genesis.

I also nominate:

Vectorman
Red Zone
Sub Terrania
Comix Zone
Out of this World

[matteus]

I'm sorry, but Sonic 3D blast's intro is amazing!

Yeee gods the quality of that video was awful...

[Anthall]

Sonic 3D's intro was the most impressive graphically, because it is run off a stock Genesis.

Honourable mentions go to:
Red Zone - Again, FMV on a Stock Genesis.
Wacky Races - Same as above, even though it was not released AFAIK.

[Joe Redifer]

The Lemmings intro has some tr00 scaling and showed that the Genesis could best the SNES' wimpy mode 7. Neo Geo, watch out! Sooooooooo smooth.

[Megadragon15]

This may not be impressive, but this hidden screen in Battle Mania impresses me with how funny it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgVz8dDHzzk&feature=related

[Christuserloeser]

Ristar is sweet too.

Shining Force is nothing too special but I really like it and prefer it over something like Landstalker.

The giant Ryu in Super Street Fighter II was pretty impressive. Same for Axel in the Bare Knuckle III intro.

Golden Axe III is nice, seems to be inspired by Thunder Force 4.


The title sequence of Sword of Vermilion. The opening credits of Alisia Dragoon, the introduction of Arcus Odyssey, Elemental Master, the few intro screens of Pulseman...

[knicksfan89]

put el viento and valis 3 as definites, and also maybe the original valis although the game itself is dissapointing

[Alianger]

I don't think Langrisser 2 or Arcus Odyssey were mentioned yet. Nice anime style cutscenes with some minor animation and scrolling text.

Also Puggsy was pretty neat but very short, iirc.

[john8248]

Virtua Racing has the coolest "Sega" intro screen.

I love the intro sequence to Battle Mania 2 (aka Trouble Shooter Vintage aka Battlemania Daiginjo).

[Ace]

Virtua Racing has the coolest "Sega" intro screen.

Damn right.

And here's another vote for Thunder Force IV. Love its intro sequence.

[tomaitheous]

Haha Tomaitheous you've picked out the three I was watching on youtube yesterday!


Haha. I swear, I wasn't following you around though :D

[Mr Smith]

Special mention goes to Ecco II: Tides of TIme in which the warbling music really sets the scene for the forthcoming awesome.

Edit: I have just re-read the thread title which wants discussion on graphics not sound. I fail at this thread.

[jesus.arnold]

Dunno about graphically impressive but Chakan's intro is pretty cool, beating the crap outta' death and all.

[knicksfan89]

and also 1 more point about renovation games, apart from valis they really gear you up for the game ahead, and musically renovation games and especially intros are a tour de force, I mean the first time I played el viento I was literally blown away by its opening and the game as a whole

[jesus.arnold]

and also 1 more point about renovation games, apart from valis they really gear you up for the game ahead, and musically renovation games and especially intros are a tour de force, I mean the first time I played el viento I was literally blown away by its opening and the game as a wholeReally? you should've sued them for that :D

[Joe Redifer]

Mystic Defender has perhaps the most intense intro in all of history. One man. Alone, against the world. All he has is a glowing ball of light. And he (get this) shoots it directly at you in a mighty display of Genesis graphic power!!! After you pick yourself up off of the floor, you can press start at the title screen.

[oldmanwinters]

Believe it or not, Jurassic Park's intro really left an impression on me. That T-Rex "SEGA!" roar followed up by an intense animation of Grant's Ford Explorer getting torn up was epic for a kid in the early 90s!

[cj iwakura]

M.U.S.H.A. .

It blew me away the first time I saw it.

[Suppafly]

My vote goes for Gaiares...

[TmEE]

Did anyone mention Zero Wing ? Despite the creative use of English, the intro itself is not bad at all

[Kollision]

Did anyone mention Zero Wing ? Despite the creative use of English, the intro itself is not bad at allWhat you say!

[NeoVamp]

Believe it or not, Jurassic Park's intro really left an impression on me. That T-Rex "SEGA!" roar followed up by an intense animation of Grant's Ford Explorer getting torn up was epic for a kid in the early 90s!

I agree, sometimes I'd turn on the game just to watch the intro.

Especially the little detail when the T-Rex head would appear in front of the car,
and you'd see Grant's eyes go O_O in the rear view mirror.

Very good intro.

A lot of people seem to dislike Jurassic Park, but as a kid I couldn't find any flaws.
And these days the game still appeals to me.

[Pulstar]

The roaring T-Rex at bootup in Jurassic Park was indeed impressive. And the intro to Jungle Strike also impressed some grown-ups who weren't into gaming at all.
Other impressive intros: Sonic's 3D hoop jump in Sonic 3 (and the similar intro in S&K) and the jumping Joe Musashi in Shinobi 3.

And Another World/Flashback were quite impressive feats on Megadrive hardware!