NOTICE: This post contains SPOILERS from various video games.
The Latin expression “in extrema res” (“at the end of the matter”) is used to refer to the narrative technique of start a narrative at the end of the story or at a point near the end rather than the beginning. It shows the characters in the final stretch of their fight or adventure without reaching the outcome. The grace of history is knowing how did it get there and find out what ends up happening.
Books, comics, movies, series and even video games use this technique to tell their stories with more or less success. Below I show you up to nine video games that do this at the beginning of their stories.
Metro 2033
The first videogame in the Metro saga has a fairly hectic start and with the protagonist, Artyom, counting that his trip will soon end. We have an assault rifle and we are accompanied by a soldier. We don’t know what is happening. The only thing we are clear about is that our objective is a large tower that we can barely see with the storm that is raging in a post-apocalyptic Russia.
The mission could not end well, otherwise the game would last less than an intro by Hideo Kojima. We are ambushed by a huge group of mutants, including a large flying beast. The camera fades to black just as we are about to receive a beast attack. History goes backwards and we have to advance to that point and then continue until you see the possible outcomes.
Uncharted 2: Kingdom of Thieves
The second installment of the Uncharted saga also has a fairly hectic beginning, but not as close to the end as it happens in Metro 2033. The story begins with Nathan Drake waking up in a train car hanging in the air in some snowy mountains. With no more respite than a small cinematic, we must climb the train as it falls apart until we reach the mountain.
This opening is ideal for doing the classic scene from (introduces standard music)”Hi, I’m Nathan Drake and I’m sure you’re wondering how I got here.“… It doesn’t happen, but it would have been a hoot. The story goes back to a warmer place to explain the reasons for the adventure.
Resident Evil 6
If the progression of the remakes of Resident Evil runs its course, we’ll likely end up seeing Resident Evil 5 and 6, among others. And precisely Resident Evil 6 is another video game that begins with Leon in the middle of a zombie apocalypse with explosions, fire and a helicopter that uses his machine guns on everything that moves.
As if the beginning wasn’t confusing enough, Leon (and us by extension) tries to save a woman named Helena Harper. This chaotic section serves as a tutorial to learn the basics of combat, herb blending, and more. Leon has time to crash a helicopter and run for his life from a plane crashing on a highway. Opinions about the game aside, you cannot deny that he is a crazy start.
Max Payne 3
Here you have a 3×1 because the three Max Payne video games meet the requirements to be on this list. They’re all excellent, but I’ve decided to stick with my favourite: Max Payne 3. The opening cinematic sees Max looking battered, tired and injured as he approaches a mutilated man who is crawling away from him.
It’s Max Payne, I’m sure he’s done something very nasty to him to get to this situation. The question is: what the hell happened? History goes back to tell you a search and revenge plot adorned with many of the most epic and brutal shootouts the gaming industry has ever seen. And no one gets me off this ship.
Final Fantasy XV
The fifteenth installment of Final Fantasy could be classified as “special” in many ways, it depends on how much you like or dislike the video game. In any case, Final Fantasy XV presents a beginning that could be classified as a baptism of fire… literally.
The introduction puts us in the shoes of Noctis and introduces us to our allies as we fight against Ifrit, a recurring fire element summon from the saga. Although it’s not as long a start as that of Resident Evil 6We have already seen part of the movement that is coming our way.
Life is Strange
If there is a video game that does starting at the end especially well, it is Life is Strange. We take control of Maxine Caulfield for the first time during a storm caused by a tornado that threatens to wipe out a city. Moments later, the lighthouse next to Max collapses, fading to black.
Max wakes up in his school classroom, implying that it was a dream, but… Was it really? The temporary transition It’s great and the excuse of being a dream adds mystery to the plot. We are talking about a video game that is about manipulating time and making decisions, so knowing how we got to the starting point becomes a great adventure.
God of War
Kratos hasn’t always been the cunning, cautious, and strategic warrior that he is now. The Spartan has a very passionate past based on revenge. And just the beginning of God of Warthe first game in the franchise, shows the protagonist throwing himself off a cliff in sadness and despair after 10 years of servitude.
Just before hitting the rocks and the sea, we see a fade to black and a message with blue letters that sends us three weeks before to the Aegean Sea. The Kratos we see is very different: arrogant, full of anger… a killing machine. We already know that things didn’t end as badly as the intro showed and that dying doesn’t go much with him.
Spec Ops: The Line
This forgotten gem of the third-person shooter genre has the same case as Uncharted 2: It doesn’t start exactly during the denouement, but it does start soon. The beginning is as hectic as the most: we begin by shooting a machine gun in a black hawk helicopter, shooting down other helicopters and flying between buildings. Things get out of hand and a helicopter explodes too close and an intro cinematic appears.
The game leaves us at the entrances of Dubai with our squad with a mission: “Go to Dubai.” And once again, the question of Max Payne 3: what the hell happened?
Persona 5
I couldn’t close this list without the acclaimed Persona 5. The game begins with a group of vigilantes, led by the main character (us), who is cornered by the police after attacking a casino. We are captured after trying to escape and taken to an interrogation room. The fiscal Sae Nijima he begins the interrogation and we begin to tell him the whole story.
The game unfolds as the protagonist is telling the story to the prosecutor This structure has been used in many police movies and series. The story that leads our character to that situation is just great.
These are nine games whose stories begin at the end or at least at an advanced point in the adventure. Surely you know others, so I encourage you to tell us what they are and what happens. I read you in comments!
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