2. Half-Life 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HBwxbWVb-M Half-Life 2 begins with the sinister voice of the G-Man, which should be enough on its own merit to get you excited. His slithery, sharp tongue casts an ominous shadow over the opening cinematic of Half-Life 2, speaking over fleeting images from the first game and the resonant cascade of events that started this whole thing, creating a very direct connection to Gordon Freeman's first adventure. Kelly Bailey's dissonant musical score gives an intimidating edge to the whole scene as the G-Man lures you in closer. There's a constant sense of movement as you get closer and closer to your destination. Half-Life 1 ended with Gordon being put into stasis, where he'd be called on again when his employers needed him. His awakening by the G-Man is almost poetic, yet certainly scary. The opening to Half-Life 2 is short and sweet, giving you a very discreet path into the actual game itself. It creates a sense of familiarity for experienced players, yet loads of questions for the new kids in town. As you find yourself floating towards your inevitable stop, the anticipation Valve creates in this short introduction is a textbook example of how to get players ready for the experience of a lifetime.