10 Recent Video Game Openings NOBODY Saw Coming
9. Final Fantasy XVI
Even though Final Fantasy has never been afraid to push mature themes, the sixteenth instalment really cranked it up a notch or two (or ten).
Final Fantasy XVI centres around the firstborn son of a royal, Clive, who's tasked with protecting his younger brother, Joshua. While taking the boy to a ceremony, the siblings are ambushed by a warring faction. The invaders abruptly impale Joshua's Chocobo, drenching the cobblestone below in blood. Chocobos are among the most beloved creatures in Final Fantasy, so it was jaw-dropping to see this adorable critter suffer a grisly fate. (Seriously, it's like something you'd expect to see in Game of Thrones.)
But it doesn't stop there. When the hostile soldiers slay the Duke, it awakens a destructive power within Joshua, turning him into the Phoenix, a classic Summon in the franchise. Moments after, another fan-fav, Ifrit, appears and destroys the Phoenix, seemingly killing Joshua.
This wasn't just a cinematic and visceral prelude, but perfectly set up Clive's character and motivation. Most importantly, this intro warned players Final Fantasy XVI would be walking a much darker path than what had come before.