Video game cutscenes can exist to serve a number of purposes. These cutscenes are not just being a convenient way of progressing the story, particularly impressive cutscenes can immerse them further into the atmosphere of the game. Powerful scenes that take our breath away or make our jaws drop are rare. While cutscenes have traditionally been pre-rendered, animated or live action, advances in graphics technology means that many modern video game cutscenes are rendered entirely in-game. Typically, a cutscene completely removes control from the player, although a select few grant a certain amount of interactivity. These cutscenes add a dose of shock and awe to bring interest back into a story.In the 90’s era, cutscenes were rage and many games tried to employ them in any ways they could. But the next generation brought us closer to the characters than ever with better technology. Fast forward to today, we can almost see the pores in faces as cutscenes and cinematics blur the line between movies and games. The graphics have become so realistic. It is really hard to comb through all the games and list out which has the best cutscenes among them, surely many games would have been overlooked. But from incredible technical achievements to heartbreakingly emotional sequences, this list takes a look at the thirteen best gaming cutscenes ever.
#13 Mafia II - Chapter 7
After being arrested by police forillegally distributing ration stamps and sentenced to ten years in prison, our hero Vito Scaletta, isreleased in 1951. LeoGalante, consigliere for mob boss Frank Vinci is able to take nearly four years off of Vito's sentence due to his allegiance with Vito inside prison. When Vito comes out from prison.
It is 1951, and the Empire bay is transformed from what he experiencedin the 1940s. This brilliant cutscene shows us the 1950s American dream with a superb background music. It was a whole new world for Vito.
#12 Need for Speed Most Wanted - Introduction
This introduction cutscene from the game is one of the best in the Need for Speed series. The player is in pursuit by cop cars while racing, and he tries to evade them and win the race, but the other racer is busted by the police. After this intro scene, the game takes to the fictional Rockport city, where the player proves his driving prowess as he is pursued by a veteran police officer named Sergeant Cross, who vows to take down the player and end street racing in Rockport.
In this game, all characters are either voiced or played by a live-action actor.
#11 Mass effect 2 - Omega 4 Relay Sequence
The decisions you make along the game shapes the game of Mass Effect 2. That being said,Normandy has gone through manybattles and been destroyed once, but in order to fight back against the Collectors in Mass Effect 2, you and your team had to go through a Mass Relay that thousands of ships have gone through and never returned.
It is highlyrecommended that you upgrade the Normandys shielding and weapons systems. Doing both or leavingone or doingnone, would change this cutscene depending onyour decisions. You directly influence how this cutscene carries out and that is really cool.
#10 Spec Ops the Line - Ending
Awaken afterfalling unconscious in gunfire,Walker enters the tower to face Konrad, at first, Konrad appears to be the paranoid, charismatic force behind the atrocities that Walker was hoping for, until he finds his decaying corpse on the penthouse deck. Walker was suffereing from dissociative disorderto rationalize the actions he has witnessed and carried out.
The real Konrad committed suicide beofre the game begun, while the KonradWalker has been in contact with during the game is actually atraumatichallucination. This cutscene reveals all the four possible endings of the game.
#9 God of War III - Opening
This opening cutscene from God of War III shows usthe ascent of the Titans and Zeus answer to their blasphemy. As the trilogy story begins its final tale, were given an extremely beautiful look of the Titans and Mount Olympus.Kratoslong journey against the gods of Olympus culminated in an amazing trek up the legendary mountain alongside the mighty Titans. With Zeus and his brethren ready for war, the murderous Kratos rages on in his war.
#8 Diablo III - Act II
Blizzard are known for their talents in creating incredible cutscenes, and Diablo III was no exception.This introduction video cutsceneto Act II of the action RPG game features an amazing encounter between the angels Tyrael and Imperius.AfterAct I, the story ofDiablo IIItakes the player across theTwin Seasto theBorderlandsand then on toCaldeum, the capital city of theEmpire of Kehjistan.
#7 Halo 2 - Return to Sender
An epic scene thats sure to send a shiver of excitement down any Halo fans spine, the Return to Sender cutscene features a huge quantity of quotable dialogue in a short amount of time. This video shows theMaster Chief literally riding a bomb into an enemy ship, uses it to propel himself to a different human ship to be taken down to the surface to fight in the war.Halo 2 game's story is great and is full of best cutscenes, but this scene is sure to send a shiver of excitement down any Halo fan's spine.
#6 Onimusha 3 Introduction
Still one of the most technically and artistically accomplished video game cutscenes ever, the introduction of Onimusha 3: Demon Siege is the definition of epic. This video featuresprotagnoist Samonosuke squaring off against a colossal Genma army inJapan 1582. This game was released in 2004 for PlayStation 2 and in 2005 for Microsoft Windows.
#5 Bioshock Opening Video
This is the video that set the starting of 2K Games famous Bioshock series. Jack is the sole survivor of the plane crash accident in Atlantic Ocean, andmakes his way to a nearby lighthouse that houses abathysphereterminal that takes him to Rapture, the underworld city built by Andrew Ryan. Thehistory of the city is told through audio recordings the player can collect during the game.
After Bioshock 2 and Bioshock Infinite, the game developers released a two episodic Burial at Sea game. These two episodes are the prequel to the first Bioshock game and shows the events before Jacks comes into the Rapture.
#4 Final Fantasy VII Introduction of Aerith
Those who didnt play Final Fantasy VII on release might not understand why this cutscene is so brilliant,the introduction of Aerith.The swoop out from the bustling city, and the zoom back in on the train station was unlike anything gamers had ever seen before in the year 1997. This game is the first in the series to use 3D computer graphics and it was the introduction to Square's most popular RPG games.
#3 Fallout - War Never Changes
War. War never changes. ,the incredible voice of Ron Perlmanestablished gamers with the bittersweet world of the Fallout franchise. This video was the perfect introduction to the series, starting from Fallout 1 to the recent Fallout :New Vegas.The game has apost-apocalypticandretro-futuristicsetting, in the aftermath of a globalnuclear warin analternate historytimeline mid-22nd century.
#2 Metal Gear Solid 4 - Raiden vs Vamp
Second on the list is, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots cutscene where Raiden and Vamp fight against each other amidst the robots.This epic cutscene maybe long for 8 minutes, but is worth every second. This jaw dropping fighting cutscene raised everyoneseyebrows and is surely among the best cutscenes in the Metal Gear series.
Check out this video at 2:25 and at 4:18, to see some of the best actions from Raiden.
#1 The Last of Us - Sarah\'s Death Scene
Thosewho have played the Naughty Dogsaction adventure epic The Last of Us, will never forget this cutscene, Joels little girl Sarahs death. Even though this cutscene takes place early in the game, the twelve year old little girl dying in the hands of her father was a heartbreaking and tear-jerking moment for every fan. The voice-acting, graphics, background music just makes us believe that we are indeed watching a movie and not a game cutscene.
This cutscene easily tops off any list of the best gaming cutscenes.
