Inspired by the revival of the favourite intros thread, with E3 half-dead and there being doubt across the gaming spectrum as to whether there will be a traditional mid-year widescale promotion push, here's a selection of what are some of the greatest trailers ever produced to get the hypeball rolling.
Here are mine. What are yours?
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1) Metal Gear Solid 2
Probably the most significant trailer ever released. When the Dreamcast was enjoying it's golden spell and there seemed to be a large wave of apathy surrounding the PS2 in terms of its software appeal, up stepped MGS2 to completely rock the entire foundations of E3. There hasn't been a trailer since that has had its level of impact imo, and it still stands up well today.
2) Half-Life 2
In many ways, this was also another one of those few technical/artistic set of trailers which completely raised the bar for everyone else to follow. Valve's presentation at E3 was actually well over twenty minutes long, but these for me where the highlights. The focus on the character detail and the otherworld atmoshpere just seemed to scream how different Half-Life 2 was in terms of immersion to other fps at the time.
3) Halo 2
Although I think we'd acknowledge now that if Bungie had shipped Halo 2 with this level in its entirety it'd be linear and cutscene driven, the final rendition of New Mombasa didn't quite have the 'Earth is invaded, everyone is trying to get their **** together amongst the chaos' feel. It was the quality of this trailer which actually compelled me to go back and revisit Halo and subsequently re-evaluate my opinion on the series.
4) Killer7
Capcom at their most opulent. In terms of inducing a sheer 'wtf' response, these trailers were second to none. I remember when Grasshopper/Suda51 kept reeling them out and the continual baffled responses in the forum. The editing and production values in these set of trailers were superb - they were cutting, unpredictably paced and most of all, hugely intriguing.
5) Silent Hill 4
With the possible exception of Killer7, this is probably the game which has offered up one of the most unconventional trailers ever produced. It's incredibly uneven and different from the norm, and it's in my opinion, without doubt the best trailer not only produced for Silent Hill, but for any horror game on the market.
6) Metal Gear Solid 4
As Konami always do, they came to the rescue of Sony after what had been a fairly disasterous E3 2006 conference. I wouldn't say it was enough to patch up the concerns for the PS3 in the same way MGS2's initial trailer was, but it showed a cinematic team right at the top of their game in producing a unique and extremely polished look into one of the games everyone was hoping would deliver at the show.
7) Shenmue
Some of these trailers didn't appear at any tradeshow, but I personally remember booting the passport disc up for the first time when I imported the game and checking them out before diving in the game proper. This was a time (very early 2000) when the net wasn't as rife with game videos/promotion and on seeing what Shenmue was going to offer for the first time - I was stunned. It was such a leap from what I was used to on the PSone that it really did feel as though the next-gen had just arrived.
8) Final Fantasy VII
To my mind this is probably one of the most significant trailers Square have ever produced. On seeing it, I was completely compelled to track a game down I ordinarily wouldn't have had much interest in. One of the best decisions I ever made. The choice of music really suits the epic mood of the game well here.
9) Resident Evil 4
I recall the first screens of Resident Evil 4 and how I didn't believe they were in-game. It simply looked too far ahead of its own time to be possible on the Gamecube. Only when I saw the game in motion in the first trailers did I find my jaw shattered all over the floor. The lighting and the rain during the night sections were gobsmacking for the time, and have remarkably stood up superbly today.
10) Gears of War
MS have become more and more adept at producing polished trailers over the years since the launch of the Xbox, and these are two of their brightest highlights. They show off not only the engine of Gears well, but sell its world and reveal more plot than the final game itself probably does. :P
And...
Nintendo On
Not strictly a 'real' trailer, but it's telling that this was the highlight that saved E3 2005 from being a borefest. Probably the best fan trailer ever produced - it's arguable that it's more exciting than Nintendo's own Wii trailers.
Here are mine. What are yours?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Metal Gear Solid 2
Probably the most significant trailer ever released. When the Dreamcast was enjoying it's golden spell and there seemed to be a large wave of apathy surrounding the PS2 in terms of its software appeal, up stepped MGS2 to completely rock the entire foundations of E3. There hasn't been a trailer since that has had its level of impact imo, and it still stands up well today.
2) Half-Life 2
In many ways, this was also another one of those few technical/artistic set of trailers which completely raised the bar for everyone else to follow. Valve's presentation at E3 was actually well over twenty minutes long, but these for me where the highlights. The focus on the character detail and the otherworld atmoshpere just seemed to scream how different Half-Life 2 was in terms of immersion to other fps at the time.
3) Halo 2
Although I think we'd acknowledge now that if Bungie had shipped Halo 2 with this level in its entirety it'd be linear and cutscene driven, the final rendition of New Mombasa didn't quite have the 'Earth is invaded, everyone is trying to get their **** together amongst the chaos' feel. It was the quality of this trailer which actually compelled me to go back and revisit Halo and subsequently re-evaluate my opinion on the series.
4) Killer7
Capcom at their most opulent. In terms of inducing a sheer 'wtf' response, these trailers were second to none. I remember when Grasshopper/Suda51 kept reeling them out and the continual baffled responses in the forum. The editing and production values in these set of trailers were superb - they were cutting, unpredictably paced and most of all, hugely intriguing.
5) Silent Hill 4
With the possible exception of Killer7, this is probably the game which has offered up one of the most unconventional trailers ever produced. It's incredibly uneven and different from the norm, and it's in my opinion, without doubt the best trailer not only produced for Silent Hill, but for any horror game on the market.
6) Metal Gear Solid 4
As Konami always do, they came to the rescue of Sony after what had been a fairly disasterous E3 2006 conference. I wouldn't say it was enough to patch up the concerns for the PS3 in the same way MGS2's initial trailer was, but it showed a cinematic team right at the top of their game in producing a unique and extremely polished look into one of the games everyone was hoping would deliver at the show.
7) Shenmue
Some of these trailers didn't appear at any tradeshow, but I personally remember booting the passport disc up for the first time when I imported the game and checking them out before diving in the game proper. This was a time (very early 2000) when the net wasn't as rife with game videos/promotion and on seeing what Shenmue was going to offer for the first time - I was stunned. It was such a leap from what I was used to on the PSone that it really did feel as though the next-gen had just arrived.
8) Final Fantasy VII
To my mind this is probably one of the most significant trailers Square have ever produced. On seeing it, I was completely compelled to track a game down I ordinarily wouldn't have had much interest in. One of the best decisions I ever made. The choice of music really suits the epic mood of the game well here.
9) Resident Evil 4
I recall the first screens of Resident Evil 4 and how I didn't believe they were in-game. It simply looked too far ahead of its own time to be possible on the Gamecube. Only when I saw the game in motion in the first trailers did I find my jaw shattered all over the floor. The lighting and the rain during the night sections were gobsmacking for the time, and have remarkably stood up superbly today.
10) Gears of War
MS have become more and more adept at producing polished trailers over the years since the launch of the Xbox, and these are two of their brightest highlights. They show off not only the engine of Gears well, but sell its world and reveal more plot than the final game itself probably does. :P
And...
Nintendo On
Not strictly a 'real' trailer, but it's telling that this was the highlight that saved E3 2005 from being a borefest. Probably the best fan trailer ever produced - it's arguable that it's more exciting than Nintendo's own Wii trailers.
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