I was pleasantly surprised that you didn’t put SSH in the worst openings list. While it doesn’t immediately put you into the mystery, SSH tried to do its own thing where it builds up to the events of the crime, and I thought it did a good job at that. It makes sense to get to know the suspects before the crime is committed, and that alarm is one of the most thrilling parts of the game. Lol
DOG has always been my favorite game and I completely agree. I used to make my friends play it in a room that could’ve been called a closet. No windows and pitch dark when you turned off the lights 😅
Blackmoor was my first ND game at the naive age of 10. I still remember the chills I felt when I heard her name growled for the first time! Noped out of the game for a while until I convinced my older sister to play it with me
Blackmoor was a good opening, but it was a disappointment later to learn that you could never go outside and search the area that you saw in the opening for clues. There's not even any explanation for why you can't, even though it's the first thing Nancy would want to do.
There is an explanation though. In the first conversation you have with the first character you meet. The reasoning gave to Nancy from Mrs. Drake says no tracking mud around the house. So then, other than leaving through the gates to go home, Nancy will no longer see a reason to go outside because of that request.
I will say one other facet that can make or break a good beginning is whether it is a cinematic hype for a game vs. giving the player a good introduction to the game. Blackmoor strikes a good balance as the cinematic aspects help bridge the gap with the game's opening info and lore. By comparison, Kapu Cave's beginning is too good where it's highly cinematic and engaging. However, you can tell that it overhypes you as it doesn't really have anything to do with the game that comes after. It's a similar issue with Captive Curse. The game's opening is too exciting but also distanced from the main game which weakens the more down-to-earth nature of the game for most of it. Other games also suffer from this such as Silent Spy where the opening is too exciting to handle the more low energy aspects of the game. Not sure if that all makes sense, but it is a pattern I notice for those lower middle of the road starts.
These videos always make my Wednesday mornings great! I find it interesting how all of the worst openings are from the newer games. I remember at one point thinking that I really didn't feel excited starting some of the newer games but thought maybe it was because I was a jaded adult now instead of a kid haha. I love the blue moon canyon opening, the way it introduces all the characters and the kind of weird camera angles like someone is watching the group, very agatha christie. One beginning I really dislike is the silent spy, I feel like I don't know what is going on half the time in that game, and jumping from a phone call to suddenly someone steals my luggage?? Also the phone call in the middle of the night was done so much better in ghost of Thornton hall.
saved this as an "after baby and everyone else is in bed and I can curl up by myself with a snack before I go to bed" watch last night, and it was perfect.
Glad to see/hear I'm not the only one who mistakenly calls Pacific Run Pacific Rim sometimes (although I do also sometimes slip and call it Pacific Rum)... By the way, it'd be neat to see a ranking of teasers (like the post-credits teasers for the next game from back in the day).
Fab video WK, as usual! I like the start of TMB - it makes me can't wait to get into that tomb and explore! I absolutely thought CAP would be the worst - dreadful beginning that is such a silly cutscene it just makes me laugh! No surprises for number one, although I personally think HAU is better spooky beginning to a game than GTH. I just find Savannah's call a bit over the top myself.
Secrets Can Kill has its problems, but the original opening is much better than the remastered opening. SCKR's opening is positively cringe. "A guy who said he was a detective said he needed my help, and I was so flattered I believed everything he said, no questions asked!" (You're embarrassing us, Nancy.) The original SCK opening isn't bad, the scene in the school with the police questioning everyone plays well. I didn't mind the cartoony animation. There's lots of hustle and bustle. Wheeling the gurney away, Daryl's Carol Burnett ear tug (okay, maybe that wasn't so good), the chalk outline. It's not great, but definitely better than SCKR.
Curse of blackmoor manor white wolf of icicle creek Shadow at the water's edge Danger by design Legend of the crystal skull All have my favourite openings
Tomb of the lost queen was one of my favorite openings cause it reminded me of The Mummy movie with Brendan Frasier 😁 but it's totally not for everyone
I mostly liked Ghost Dogs. But I wasn't that wild about the whole idea that Nancy drives in, and immediately has the way out blocked behind her. Too reminiscent of a plot device that was vastly overused in early Dr. Who stories, to separate the Doctor from the Tardis. Why does Nancy have to be trapped there at all? We all know she wouldn't leave even if she could. Maybe so she'd be forced to use the boat to get supplies. But there ought to be a more artful way to accomplish that.
I think the idea is to close off the area so Nancy doesn't have to broaden her search. Plus, it can help keep that feeling of isolation since her friends can't come and join her in the mystery. That or she can go get a gun to protect herself since PA would allow her to fire warning shots at the dogs. And/or Nancy could figure out who the culprit is by leaving the area since adopting 4 dogs like the culprit did would be easily recorded, identified, and caught in a few hours. Granted the culprit for some bizarre reason went all the way to Harrisburg when Allentown or Scranton are significantly closer and thus easier to go to for supplies (I think that's a HER error). However, I can think of several problems HER might want to nip in the bud to keep the game's plot more consistent.
Captive Curse is weak in the same sort of way that Tomb of the Lost Queen is. You feel very detached. What are we seeing? Who's the girl? Why do we never learn anything about her? Is she an actual person, or is this just a generic dramatization of the legend? I'd rather have had a completely different open, and let Nancy learn about the legend (possibly with the exact same flashback scene) from someone in the game, probably Renate.
I was pleasantly surprised that you didn’t put SSH in the worst openings list. While it doesn’t immediately put you into the mystery, SSH tried to do its own thing where it builds up to the events of the crime, and I thought it did a good job at that. It makes sense to get to know the suspects before the crime is committed, and that alarm is one of the most thrilling parts of the game. Lol
Yeah, I think I count it as close to the best because it had a fun opening conversation! It helps build suspense!
My favorite has to be Ghost Dogs due to how much it scared me when I was very young playing it in the dark.
DOG has always been my favorite game and I completely agree. I used to make my friends play it in a room that could’ve been called a closet. No windows and pitch dark when you turned off the lights 😅
An absolutely amazing beginning!! It terrified me as a kid too!
Blackmoor was my first ND game at the naive age of 10. I still remember the chills I felt when I heard her name growled for the first time! Noped out of the game for a while until I convinced my older sister to play it with me
Yesss!! So terrifying!!
The one beginning I think we need to discuss is Phantom of Venice. That was the most wild beginning to experience when I was growing up!
Blackmoor was a good opening, but it was a disappointment later to learn that you could never go outside and search the area that you saw in the opening for clues. There's not even any explanation for why you can't, even though it's the first thing Nancy would want to do.
There is an explanation though. In the first conversation you have with the first character you meet.
The reasoning gave to Nancy from Mrs. Drake says no tracking mud around the house. So then, other than leaving through the gates to go home, Nancy will no longer see a reason to go outside because of that request.
I will say one other facet that can make or break a good beginning is whether it is a cinematic hype for a game vs. giving the player a good introduction to the game. Blackmoor strikes a good balance as the cinematic aspects help bridge the gap with the game's opening info and lore. By comparison, Kapu Cave's beginning is too good where it's highly cinematic and engaging. However, you can tell that it overhypes you as it doesn't really have anything to do with the game that comes after. It's a similar issue with Captive Curse. The game's opening is too exciting but also distanced from the main game which weakens the more down-to-earth nature of the game for most of it. Other games also suffer from this such as Silent Spy where the opening is too exciting to handle the more low energy aspects of the game. Not sure if that all makes sense, but it is a pattern I notice for those lower middle of the road starts.
These videos always make my Wednesday mornings great! I find it interesting how all of the worst openings are from the newer games. I remember at one point thinking that I really didn't feel excited starting some of the newer games but thought maybe it was because I was a jaded adult now instead of a kid haha. I love the blue moon canyon opening, the way it introduces all the characters and the kind of weird camera angles like someone is watching the group, very agatha christie.
One beginning I really dislike is the silent spy, I feel like I don't know what is going on half the time in that game, and jumping from a phone call to suddenly someone steals my luggage?? Also the phone call in the middle of the night was done so much better in ghost of Thornton hall.
Yeah, SPY almost made it to the worst but narrowly escaped because of the Kate flashback. I'm not a huge fan either though!
saved this as an "after baby and everyone else is in bed and I can curl up by myself with a snack before I go to bed" watch last night, and it was perfect.
Glad to see/hear I'm not the only one who mistakenly calls Pacific Run Pacific Rim sometimes (although I do also sometimes slip and call it Pacific Rum)...
By the way, it'd be neat to see a ranking of teasers (like the post-credits teasers for the next game from back in the day).
Bahaha, woops!! 😅 I love the idea of ranking the teasers and the trailers!
I remember the trailer for Water's Edge. Sitting there thinking "well, where's the mystery" and the immediate switching to WHAT THE H*** IS THAT!!!
Fab video WK, as usual! I like the start of TMB - it makes me can't wait to get into that tomb and explore! I absolutely thought CAP would be the worst - dreadful beginning that is such a silly cutscene it just makes me laugh! No surprises for number one, although I personally think HAU is better spooky beginning to a game than GTH. I just find Savannah's call a bit over the top myself.
I would love to see the best and worst endings and the ending letters as well!
Secrets Can Kill has its problems, but the original opening is much better than the remastered opening. SCKR's opening is positively cringe. "A guy who said he was a detective said he needed my help, and I was so flattered I believed everything he said, no questions asked!" (You're embarrassing us, Nancy.)
The original SCK opening isn't bad, the scene in the school with the police questioning everyone plays well. I didn't mind the cartoony animation. There's lots of hustle and bustle. Wheeling the gurney away, Daryl's Carol Burnett ear tug (okay, maybe that wasn't so good), the chalk outline. It's not great, but definitely better than SCKR.
Dr. Whatsername 🤣
Curse of blackmoor manor
white wolf of icicle creek
Shadow at the water's edge
Danger by design
Legend of the crystal skull
All have my favourite openings
My tea break is gonna be just awesome with your video❤️
Aw yay!! Cheers! 🫖
So glad I found this channel! I love to see new Nancy Drew youtubers. :)
Good video. I do think the beginning of CRY is better than DOG, but obviously that’s just personal opinion.
Just wanted to say I love your videos! That is all. Have a GREAT day!!
Aww thank you so much!!
Yay! I always enjoy your ranking videos! 😄
Tomb of the lost queen was one of my favorite openings cause it reminded me of The Mummy movie with Brendan Frasier 😁 but it's totally not for everyone
I mostly liked Ghost Dogs. But I wasn't that wild about the whole idea that Nancy drives in, and immediately has the way out blocked behind her. Too reminiscent of a plot device that was vastly overused in early Dr. Who stories, to separate the Doctor from the Tardis.
Why does Nancy have to be trapped there at all? We all know she wouldn't leave even if she could. Maybe so she'd be forced to use the boat to get supplies. But there ought to be a more artful way to accomplish that.
I think the idea is to close off the area so Nancy doesn't have to broaden her search. Plus, it can help keep that feeling of isolation since her friends can't come and join her in the mystery. That or she can go get a gun to protect herself since PA would allow her to fire warning shots at the dogs. And/or Nancy could figure out who the culprit is by leaving the area since adopting 4 dogs like the culprit did would be easily recorded, identified, and caught in a few hours. Granted the culprit for some bizarre reason went all the way to Harrisburg when Allentown or Scranton are significantly closer and thus easier to go to for supplies (I think that's a HER error). However, I can think of several problems HER might want to nip in the bud to keep the game's plot more consistent.
Captive Curse is weak in the same sort of way that Tomb of the Lost Queen is. You feel very detached. What are we seeing? Who's the girl? Why do we never learn anything about her? Is she an actual person, or is this just a generic dramatization of the legend? I'd rather have had a completely different open, and let Nancy learn about the legend (possibly with the exact same flashback scene) from someone in the game, probably Renate.
Could you do a ranking of the game trailers we used to get at the end of each game between game 6 (advertising Gjost Dogs) to SEA (advertising MID)?
I have that on my list of videos to make!! Hopefully soon!