Summary
TheCall of Dutygames may be most well-known for their fast-paced multiplayer modes, but that doesn’t mean they lack outstanding campaigns. While many of theCODcampaigns will be packed full of intense action sequences and sudden plot twists, before jumping into the action, players will always be treated to an intro cutscene, alongside an opening line to set the stage for what’s to come.
There have been plenty of memorable bits of opening dialogue across this franchise which give players a glimpse at the state of the story and its characters, psyching them up for the battles ahead. However, in terms of memorability and impact, these are among the very best opening lines that will always be remembered fondly by longtime fans of this immensely popular series.
Anyone who has played the campaign of the originalModern Warfarewill know all too well that the world is in a pretty miserable state of chaos once the story kicks off. Not only is there a chaotic civil war breaking out in Russia, but there are also nukes on the loose, and a handful of dangerous individuals who are hell-bent on obtaining power. As a result, this line, said bythe iconic Gaz, is meant to sound as sarcastic as possible.
This single line also gives players a subtle insight into Task Force 141, and how cheeky this collective group of soldiers can be, even when the stakes are so high. It also does a good job of getting players straight into the action, leaving out all the fluff and instead letting them know exactly what they’re getting themselves into.
The very first cutscene ofBlack Ops 3is dedicated to showing players just how messed up the world has become, mentioning the plethora of natural disasters and constant wars, but this specific piece of dialogue provides the first indication as to how bad things have really gotten. This line is so eerie that it almost sounds like something ripped straight out of aResident Evilgame, and while bio-augmentation itself may not sound too scary on its own, the idea of it being “Widespread” definitely raises some concerns.
Then again, it’s these augmentations that allow players to cruise around the maps at such lightning speeds, which helps to differentiateBlack Opsfrom the games that came before it. With that in mind, this line feeds into the unique gameplay mechanics ofBlack Ops 3, while also just acting as a haunting reminder of what the future could look like.
The firstBlack Opsputs players in the shoes of Alex Mason, a man tied to a chair who spends much of the game being interrogated by a shady figure who demands to know the meaning of the “Numbers.” Upon first waking up, the first thing Mason hears is the interrogator, with a frustrated tone in his voice, saying “Wake up” without giving any extra details.
Opening the game up this way adds an aura of mystery right from the get-go as players wonder what exactly this guy is talking about, and why the protagonist would be knocked out in the first place. It makes the story feel intense and chaotic in the very first few seconds of a playthrough, which is a testament to just how effective it is as an introductory piece to the weirdest campaign in the series.
Narrated by the incredibly talentedTroy Baker, this quote says a lot aboutAdvanced Warfare’s narrative, even providing some subtle foreshadowing of the events that would transpire later on in the narrative. Mitchell’s opening quote here refers to the idea that humans will “blindly” follow anyone who they deem to be an honest and reliable leader, even if, behind the surface, they aren’t as trustworthy as they may initially seem.
Considering the sheer amount of betrayals that occur in this series, this is also a clever reference to the many suspicious individuals who always seem to be heroes of their respective games, only to turn on their allies later in their respective games, including in this one.
ThoughGhostswould go on to become one of the worst-received games in the series, there was at least a pretty compelling rollout for the game, especially the emphasis on the “Ghosts” themselves. As a result, the opening line of this game invites players into a cutscene that reveals who the ghosts are and the unorthodox tactics they use to ambush their enemies.
Like a lot of opening quotes in theCall of Dutygames, this is a line that seems like it should be in the middle of a conversation, but this only works to make players more intrigued as to what the story is, and who this “Enemy” is exactly.Ghosts’campaign may have been hit or miss, but it’s hard to deny that this line alone still does an excellent job at drawing players in from the moment they boot up the story.
This isn’t a line that the developers themselves came up with, since it’s taken from a quote by US President Ronald Reagan, but it’s certainly still a very relevant line to use considering the context of the game.Call of Duty: Cold Warhones in on the period of history where the threat of nuclear war was always lingering in people’s minds, but as Reagan says here, despite how powerful these weapons may be, none can be as strong as the human will and spirit.
Using Reagan’s voice as the opening line transports players straight back to the 1980s, establishing the tone and setting for the game’s narrative, especially when paired with the visual of a TV flashing between different events from that decade.
Modern Warfare 3kicks off with a pretty unique intro where players take the role of a wounded Soap as he is carried away after the injuries he received at the end of the second game. During this sequence, the cinematic fades in and out of previous events to catch players up with the story, but not before Price lets out this question, which almost seems directed toward the player.
The events ofModern Warfare 2would change the world forever, plunging the globe intoa third World War, which is witnessed through much of the third game. As a result, Price reminds players at the beginning of the game how much everything has changed, and even asks the question of how far someone is willing to go, and what they would sacrifice, to go back to the way things were.
Undoubtedly one of the most quotable and memorable lines in the entire series is this quote uttered by the infamous General Shepherd at the beginning ofModern Warfare 2.It’s an eerie invitation to the game which sees Shepherd reflecting on the nature of war, and how, although the major players, ideologies, and events may shift around drastically, much of the bloody warfare still plays out more or less identically.
It was also a clever decision from Infinity Ward to have Shepherd deliver the very first line, letting players know right off the bat that he would be a central figure within the plot. It also foreshadows howmysterious of a characterhe is, always talking in riddles and hiding his true intentions, as proven by this thought-provoking quote.
