12 Greatest Opening Video Game Sequences Since 2000

5. Halo 2

If you're one of those people who upon hearing the operatic Halo theme just crumbles into a big nostalgic fuzz-pile, even Bungie's riff-backed logo set up Halo 2 in the best way possible. Back when first-person shooters had just as much effort put into their single-player campaigns as their multiplayer - we're looking at you, Destiny and Titanfall - Halo 2's introductory scenes blend the explorative element of you walking around one of Earth's 'Defence Platform' ships alongside Sergeant Johnson, and some very progressive lore-focussed cutscenes. In a brilliant move we get to see that the Covenant aren't just a bunch of psychotic aliens; instead they actually follow their own religion. Your initial actions throughout the first Halo have actually condemned new twin-lead character The Arbiter into undergoing a bout of torture - all intercut with Master Chief's appraisal from the high council. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00bkLna8A88 The best bit comes when all the ceremonies are cut short and you're dropped back into approaching action. By dual-wielding weapons for the first time - itself a great moment - you take up position awaiting a door breach alongside a platoon of soldiers as the Covenant slowly attempt burn through - the eventual breaking in of which leads to dumping both mags of your submachine guns into a swathe of alien bodies. In short; completely genre-defining and one of the best introductory sequences of all time.