Almost twenty years ago, I was introduced to the sport of hockey after my father received a copy of NHL 98 as a gift. We installed it on our PC and were presented with the classic EA SPORTS slogan as the game booted up.

Suddenly, the opening video kicked into gear. As a low-pitched voice-over engulfed the speakers, questioning whether I was “afraid of the masked man”, the sport of hockey launched into my life with a two-minute long compilation of some of the preceding years' NHL season highlights. The heavy soundtrack and skillfully edited video imprinted itself on my mind instantly. A similar thing happened with numerous EA SPORTS titles from that time period. Since then, I've had a particular appreciation for these introductory packages.

As the years went on, the intro videos kept on coming. John Madden himself introduced us to Madden NFL 99 via another well-crafted highlight package. NBA Live 2000 merged clips of Kevin Garnett playing outdoor basketball together with the usual compilation fare. The late David Bowie's Heroes even featured in NHL 99's (stunning) opening presentation which continues to send chills down my spine to this day.

However, things started to change just after the turn of the millennium. The NHL series started placing less emphasis on its introductions, and many early 00's Madden & NBA Live titles did away with real-life footage in favor of showcasing in-game material. These new videos didn't have the same captivating effect as their predecessors did for the most part. As the years rolled by, so did the uninspired intros. The Madden and FIFA series were notable exceptions, producing memorable openings on occasion.

Does It Even Matter?

Nowadays, the intro video manifests itself in a different form. You can find it in FIFA 16 and NHL 16 if you wait long enough in the menu screens, but it doesn't appear in those games' boot-up sequences. Madden NFL 16 has one, but it's weaved into a gameplay segment celebrating Super Bowl 50. It's a similar case for NBA Live 16 and Rory McIlroy PGA Tour.

The question is: do we need them? In reality, it would appear that most people skipped the intros after their initial viewing. You have to question whether it's worth spending time and resources putting them together if history shows we're just not that bothered.

Personally, I think they're great. I'd like to see a return to a real-life compilation structure. In-game footage is fine, but we see enough of it already. I want to be presented with real-life examples of amazing plays, vicious hits and silky-smooth tricks to the backing of an energetic soundtrack.

Let's be realistic about this. The amount of sales and positive reviews won't be affected by the lack of an intro video. It's a minor feature, but when executed effectively, it has the ability to induce an additional level of excitement and nostalgia. NHL 98 introduced me to a new sport; literally changing my life. The game itself was the biggest draw, but the opening video enhanced my experience, making it even more memorable in the long run. If an intro video can affect someone in that way, I'd say it's worth implementing.

What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite EA SPORTS intro video? Let us know.