15 Best Opening Levels In Gaming History

By Jack Pooley /

4. The Tram - Half-Life

One of the most iconic and undeniably ground-breaking video game openings ever is that of revolutionary PC FPS Half-Life, which begins as protagonist Gordon Freeman is catching the train into the Black Mesa research facility. This 5-minute literally on-rails train ride gives us a chance to soak in the environment we'll be spending most of the game, and was at the time of the game's release one of the most visually ambitious scenes ever depicted in a video game. The vaguely creepy robotic voice-over and shady images (namely a very brief glimpse of G-Man) help to create a sinister tone from the outset before anything even goes wrong. From the second we stepped foot off the tram, we knew we were in the hands of masters. Still, for many, this inventive opening sequence wound up being the most praise-worthy aspect of the game.