How many times have you been told that a game everyone seems to love getsreallygood after 30 hours? That might be fine for some, I need a game to grab me from its opening moments to stay interested. Games that do that well don’t just keep my attention for the rest of a playthrough, but make me remember them forever.
2018’s God Of Waropening with a boss fight is an example that immediately springs to mind. Known only as The Stranger at that point (spoiler alert, it’s Baldur), your introduction to this new Nordic world encapsulates everything great about the game. How it feels to be Kratos, the gorgeous cinematics and scenery, and the brutal enemies you’ll face throughout.
The Last Of Usis another game whose opening pulled me all the way in and will stay with me forever. The moment Sarah dies is one of the most heart-wrenching in video game history.
Despite the best efforts ofNaughty Dog, Santa Monica, and so many others, there is still one opening mission that stands above them all -Final Fantasy 7’s. One of the most iconic games ever, last week marked 27 years since Final Fantasy 7 was released in North America. The game not only shaped my own love of video games, but continues to influence the industry as a whole. Its birthday also gives me an excuse to gush about that opening Bombing Mission.
Final Fantasy 7’s Opening Mission Introduced Me To A New Era Of Video Games
I had never played anything like Final Fantasy 7 when I fired it up for the first time in 1997. In fact, I had never even heard of it. My gaming life up until that point had been spent playing colorful platformers likeSonicandCrash Bandicoot. I was unaware of the wider world thePS1would open up to me at that early stage of the console’s run, and my dad randomly deciding to pick up a copy of Final Fantasy 7 changed everything.
Even though I had no idea what it was, I was an eight-year-old being handed a newPlayStationgame, so I was all in. One of the best parts of Final Fantasy 7’s opening mission, which was lost on me at the time, is how it introduces you to its world, characters, and story without slowing you down. Shinra is bad and you’re on your way to blow up one of its reactors, that’s all you really need to know right now.
That goal isn’t put on hold so you’re able to get better acquainted with Barrett, or to teach you how the game’s turn-based combat works. It’s all seamlessly incorporated along the way, building your knowledge as you head deeper into the reactor. The soundtrack plays a huge role in that. Final Fantasy 7 was far from the first game with an epic score and tracks blending into one another, but up until that point in my life, I was used to one song fading out when leaving a level and a new one starting in the next. Final Fantasy 7 goes beyond that and its music hits so hard that I still catch myself humming it to this day.
Once The Bomb Has Been Planted, The Real Fun Begins
That’s all well and good, but the main reason Final Fantasy 7 can still boast the best opening in gaming is the mission itself. More specifically, what happens once your objective is complete. When Cloud and Barrett make it inside the reactor, it’s time for you to plant the bomb. I can still remember the first time I ran down that walkway, blissfully unaware of the panicked state I’d be in moments later.
Once the bomb is set, all hell breaks loose. You’ve got less than ten minutes to escape with a countdown clock in the corner constantly reminding you of your impending doom as you frantically try to escape the reactor before it explodes. I had no idea if that was enough time at eight years old, and so whenever I got pulled into a fight along the way, my heart rate shot up.
Once you’re out and safe, provided the clock hasn’t hit zero, the camera pulls away to show the reactor exploding. Only one mission down, and not only did I know I had just played through something special, but I knew I’d be thinking about this game for a very long time.
I hope there are people out there who played that mission for the first time throughFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeand experienced the same feelings I did in 1997. I hope they’re at least 13 instead of eight though due to its T for Teen rating. My dad really should have known better.
