What's the best opening level to a videogame you have ever seen?

In this weeks bombcast Jeff mentions EarthWorm Jim as having one of the best opening levels of all time. I'm really happy for him, and i'm going to let him finish, but... 
  

I was wondering what other games would be on that list.

In the first Call of Duty when you start the Soviet Campaign you get to re-enact the beginning of Enemy at the Gates, so that was fairly neat.
 
Oh and the start of System Shock 2. Having a lady yelling at you to move your ass while everything around you is exploding really hits the spot.

cod4's was pretty awesome, the level of the ship. 

Bioshock`s opening was pretty awesome

The only one I really remember is The Force Unleashed. Vader, just walking along, throwing wookies around. That felt pretty epic.

Dam level in Goldeneye. Probably one of the greatest opening levels of all time. On that note, Goldeneye 007 had NO crap levels in general.

Bioshock, from the plane crash until you set foot in Rapture. Glorious sequence.

Obligatory Super Mario Bros. post.
 
My personal opinion is the beginning of Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.

Contra: Hard Corps was awesome.  just this crazy intense action, several tough bosses, all to a sweet soundtrack... good times.
 
As far as newer games, God of War III's intro was obviously epic, Halo 1 was pretty amazing the first time i played it, and i played the first level to Tenchu: Stealth Assassins dozens and dozens of times (partially just to hear the music).

The ME2 opening was pretty beast.

The first section of Dino Crisis, bumping into the raptor for the first time.

First level of R-Type has my heart.

Mass Effect 2

" The ME2 opening was pretty beast. "

I'm not sure what the best is, but Castlevania: SoT is pretty sweet.  Fighting Dracula off the bat.

Bioshock for me.
 
The guided intro to Rapture was really well-done. I was so scared to leave the bathysphere after poor Johnny got gutted right in front of me, and the sound design did a really good job of letting you know whatever killed him was still around. Oh, and then a goddamned plane crashed through the glass.

Bioshock. CoD4, ME2, RE5 was pretty good, Kingdom Hearts 2.

" Bioshock, from the plane crash until you set foot in Rapture. Glorious sequence. "

The first one that came to mind is Pillar of Autumn.

Man, really good thread; but I've gotta say...who can deny that Mass Effect 2 had the best opening scene ever in a video game? That was just incredible.

Bioshock or Mass Effect 2.

You guys played Bayonetta?  The opening scene in that game is you fighting angels on the face of a church as it falls from a mountain.

I remember Metal gear solid on the PS1, the first bit before you go up the lift.. I played that on Demo disk so many times because I'd never seen anything else like it and practised killing those guards soo many different ways.

Super Mario 64 opening outside the castle: "Welcome to 3D"

It was not by my hand that I was once again given flesh

God of War 3 had a pretty great opening.

Man, all of the games mentioned so far are top-notch picks! I'm struggling to think of any outside of those.
 
The first Sonic game had a great opening: iconic, smooth, easy to play and let you know exactly what it was all about. I don't think it's the best, though.

Bayonetta, Mass Effect 2 and The World Ends With You.

" The ME2 opening was pretty beast. "

" Man, really good thread; but I've gotta say...who can deny that Mass Effect 2 had the best opening scene ever in a video game? That was just incredible. "

" It was not by my hand that I was once again given flesh "

God of War 3. I didn't love the game, actually it was VERY disappointing in my opinion, but the first 30 minutes to an hour was pretty amazing.

" Bioshock`s opening was pretty awesome "

It might be Bioshock for me too, but Super Metroid's opening scene in the space colony is brilliant.

Goldeneye was the first that came to mind

The opening movie sequences for Mass Effect 1 and 2, were excellent, as was the opening level for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed where you get to play as Darth Vader.  It really gives you the thrilling experience of being a very powerful Sith Lord. 
 
Those are the best openings for games that I can think of.

I'd have to say Mass Effect 2, hehe.

Fuck you, Sweep!  Frontlines was MY answer!!! 
 
What else?  Hrmm...umm... 
 
Here's a small list:

• Half-Life - Coming into Black Mesa is still one of the most memorable openings for anyone who played the game, but it's the carnage that shortly follows which really keeps those memories fresh.
• Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy - It was pretty typical in some ways, as Nick Scryer had no memory and then gets busted out of a cell.  However, when Sara busts him out and basically gives him his powers back, well...that first moment you use telekinesis was probably one of the most exciting in games at the time.
• Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - Laharl's dad, who is the LORD OF THE NETHERWORLD, chokes on a ham sandwich and dies.  'Nuff said, I believe.
• Resident Evil 4 - Coming into that Eastern European village and facing off against a swarm of enemies was one thing.  The moment you heard that chainsaw rev up was where it became thoroughly memorable.
• Alien Hominid - The level itself is pretty memorable, but more memorable is the sense of "holy fuck i'm never going to beat this game what have i gotten myself into" after you finally beat it.
• Need for Speed: Most Wanted- Dood, it's got a high-speed race, sabotage, cops, Josie Maran and Razor fucking Callahan!  What else do you want?!

Defiantly medal of honor frontline for me to, the D-day sequence was done really well. 

Uncharted 2's hanging train was pretty fantastic. 
 
When you compare the opening level of Brutal Legend to the rest of the game the opening level seems pretty fantastic. Shame the rest of the game is such trash. 
 
Killzone 2 when you wake up on the frigate and look in the mirror, then walk around the ship and meet everyone before getting in the shuttle to storm the beaches of Helghan. Then when everybody's shuttles are exploding around you as you crash land on the beaches and have to face a rocket launching enemy and mounted gunner right away. It's a lot like the first level of MoH Frontline, except it's in space and invading a planet instead of a land/sea battle in europe.

" I remember Metal gear solid on the PS1, the first bit before you go up the lift.. I played that on Demo disk so many times because I'd never seen anything else like it and practised killing those guards soo many different ways. "

" You guys played Bayonetta?  The opening scene in that game is you fighting angels on the face of a church as it falls from a mountain. "

" I remember Metal gear solid on the PS1, the first bit before you go up the lift.. I played that on Demo disk so many times because I'd never seen anything else like it and practised killing those guards soo many different ways. "

i really liked how chronicles of riddick started, but the way that game is structured i guess it doesn't qualify as the first level

Bioshock or the first Resident Evil =]

Bayonetta > Everything else.
 
Special mention for Ninja Gaiden 2's CIA stripper @ a Japanese bar.

mgs4-epic
bioshock
gow3

Mass Effect 2, seeing the Normandy get blown up and then Shepard dying...I cried.
 
Also Borderlands, I loved the intro and first bit, you get put into that crazy universe so gently and smoothly, before you know it the hours flew by and you're still questing!

" In the first Call of Duty when you start the Soviet Campaign you get to re-enact the beginning of Enemy at the Gates, so that was fairly neat.  Oh and the start of System Shock 2. Having a lady yelling at you to move your ass while everything around you is exploding really hits the spot. "