Tales of the Abyss

The Top 7... Rockin' intros

Seven hot games, tuned and ready to roll

Words: Christian Nutt, GamesRadar US

If there's one thing that can get you pumped to play a game, it's a rockin' intro. Even in this age of overblown cinematics and increasingly elaborate plots spiraling into gaming oblivion, there's something about a few guitar licks and a hint of action that get the gamer juices flowing. Ever since consoles started kicking out high quality music and graphics in the early 90s, we've been addicted to the art of the intro.

7. Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PlayStation 2, 2005)

When this game hit the PlayStation 2 in 2005, very few gamers actually took notice. The series' heyday - if ever it had one in the US - was way back when the idea of a game being released on a CD was a stunningly new and innovative idea.

Still, all these years later, the series has reawakened, and in 2005, Konami saw fit to release the then-latest edition here. Convinced that Final Fantasy-loving gamers wouldn't cop to its hard-rockin' music and anime-style graphics, the original intro was covered up with a janky 3D version. Fortunately, simply entering a cheat code restores the game - unveiling an intro too damn rockin' for the USA.

 
10 Comments
drprofessor - 29 days 14 minutes ago
I love the Silent Hill intro for life. It's always been a fav (hell they all pretty much rule.)
But what about the Sonic CD intro?
That was pretty boss.
Other than that great list.
PastItAll - 28 days 23 hours ago
No Onimusha 3 Intro? It should have been #1 by far. It is the best non MGS video to date. The ending video to Onimusha 1 was amazing too, but thats a different list.
Ravenbom - 28 days 18 hours ago
Maybe should have traded out the Silent Hill intro for Wild ARMs intro or FF8 intro and called it Top 7 Japanese Intros or Top 7 Anime Intros.
Damn it! Now I'm all pumped up from all those rawking intros! Now I'm going to be up all night and tuckered out all day tomorrow.
Yo2252 - 28 days 4 hours ago
the Kingdom Hearts intros were pretty boss to. # 2 in particular.
FancyRat - 27 days 6 hours ago
The music from the first one makes me want to kill the shit out of Dracula. And some Medusa Heads. Those mother fuckers.
GamesRadarMikelReparaz - 24 days 1 hour ago
Key word here is "Rockin'," guys. In the musical sense. Not necessarily the awesome sense. Yes, the Silent Hill and Onimusha 3 intros were badass, but were they set to bitchin' hair-metal riffs and wailing guitars? No, they were not. Therefore they failed to rock in the manner defined by this article.
sumi66 - 20 days 7 hours ago
ZOMGWTFBBQ AND MOAR LETTERS!!! That Tales of The Abyss intro was freaking EXTRA-MUSICIZICAL-RIFFIC! Man I need that game with a damn passion now. I am kind of dissapointed the Eternal Eyes intro was missing. But, i guess it doesn't quailify as "rockn'". Too bad.
Telekinesis - 16 days 19 hours ago
How about Karate Champ on the NES, that seriously kicked ass.
madadam - 14 days 22 hours ago
Command and Conquer: Red Alert had Hell March as the intro! HELL MARCH!!! I always used the C&C jukebox to play this song while tank rushing! It was the best.
handdestr - 12 days 4 hours ago
the sonic heroes was kinda cool. i think u at least shoulda put that in there
Related Games
TalkRadar 22 – quiz show!
360 Feature
Oct 10, 2008
Why games fail at storytelling
360 Feature
Oct 10, 2008
Guess the game from the sound effect
PS3 Feature
Oct 9, 2008
FIFA 09 sells whopping 1.2 mil in first week  N4G
PS2 News from N4G
Oct 10, 2008
Fifa 09 Has Record Breaking First Week N4G
PS2 News from N4G
Oct 8, 2008
5 new PopStar Guitar screens and Box arts N4G
PS2 News from N4G
Oct 7, 2008
2K Sports Announces NBA 2K9 Now Available in... N4G
PS2 News from N4G
Oct 7, 2008