The 50 Best Video Game Cut-Scenes

Here are 50 reasons to put your controller down.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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If a video game is going to make sure put you stop playing, it sure as hell better be for a good, entertaining reason. Here are 50 of them, ranging from scene-setting intros to the some little-known end credits.

A few things we learned: 1) We could revise this list 30 years from now and still find reason to include at least one awful live action full motion video, 2) Anime cutscenes are cliche as hell, but it’s still worthy of a couple spots on the list, 3) Hideo Kojima was never NOT crazy. Honorable mentions we had to omit include clips from the God of War series, Onimusha 3, Persona 4, Samurai Seven 20XX, and Shadow of the Colossus.

50. Ico (2001)

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49. Popful Mail (1994)

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48. R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998)

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47. Diablo II (2000)

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46. Kingdom Hearts (2002)

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45. Warcraft III (2002)

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44. Snatcher (1988)

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43. Wild Arms (1996)

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42. Wipeout 3 (1999)

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41. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

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40. Fox Hunt (1996)

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39. Valkyria Chronicles (2008)

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38. Metroid (1986)

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37. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)

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36. Road Avenger (1985)

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35. Gears of War 3 (2011)

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34. Final Fantasy XIII (2010)

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33. Neo Contra (2004)

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32. Persona 3 (2006)

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31. Space Channel 5: Part 2 (2002)

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30. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

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29. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011)

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28. Tekken 5 (2005)

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27. Resident Evil Code: Veronica (2000)

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26. Metal Gear Solid (1998)

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25. Uncharted 2 (2009)

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24. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

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23. Silent Hill 2 (2001)

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22. Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (1995)

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21. Bayonetta (2010)

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20. Night Trap (1992)

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19. Resident Evil (1996)

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18. The Curse of Monkey Island (1997)

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17. Katamary Damacy (2004)

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16. Bioshock (2007)

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15. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)

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14. Team Fortress 2 (2007)

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13. Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011)

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12. Conker's Bad Fur Day (2001)

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11. Final Fantasy VI (1994)

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10. Heavy Rain (2010)

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9. Phantasy Star II (1989)

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8. Halo: Reach (2010)

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7. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)

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6. Portal (2007)

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5. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)

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4. Deadly Premonition (2010)

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3. Final Fantasy VII (1997)

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2. Ninja Gaiden (1988)

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1. Vagrant Story (2000)

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