10 Most Awesome Video Game Openings

8. Dead Space

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv67FStr0jk Both Dead Space games to date haven't messed around as far as opening sequences go, hurling us pretty much straght into the action and not being too fussed about boring preambles - we can only hope that the third follows suit. The opening to the first Dead Space has Isaac Clarke arriving at the USG Ishimura - the ship on which the majority of the game's events take place - after a distress call was let out. Clarke's vessel makes a crash landing, and the whole set-up is eerily reminiscent of the plot to Alien, which can only be considered a good thing in retrospect. Dead Space doesn't deal in the same slow-burning tension as Ridley Scott's film, though, and pretty much as soon as you board the ship, you're forced to go on a frantic, weaponless run as the Necromorphs attempt to claw you limb from limb. Even when the terrifying section ends and you make it to the lift, they still try to get in, providing one additional jump-scare to keep you on your toes. It's a fantastic opening section because it lets us get used to the game's brilliantly minimalist HUD, while also setting the tone throughout perfectly.