Ever since video games eclipsed or at least matched Hollywood films as the most lucrative entertainment industry in the world, there's been an increasing demand for game developers to hype their products accordingly. Video game trailers have since become standard fare to plug a game at the latest E3, or online where they can generate significant buzz prior to release.
Not all game trailers are created equal, but as an art form unto themselves, many developers have gone all out in an effort to dazzle audiences and make them scream. Some are straightforward and direct in their approach, while others take wholly unorthodox and unconventional roads to make a huge impact on gamers.
Final Fantasy VII Remake 2015 E3 Reveal Trailer
Final Fantasy fans had been clamoring for a remake of the game ever since they saw a proof of concept trailer featuring the opening sequence rendered in beautifully updated 3D. For years, Square Enix insisted that no such plans for a game were in development, but it seems the pressure ended up getting to them.
During the 2015 installment of the popular E3 event, Sony dropped a massive surprise on gamers with the big reveal trailer of the full-fledged Final Fantasy VII remake. Those in attendance lost their minds, and the energy level rose to a fever pitch. It would take a further five years for the game's first chapter to see a release, but it was magic, nonetheless.
World Of Warcraft
The World of Warcraft series is well known for its incredible cinematic trailers, but the original is still the one that stands as the most iconic. Up until that time, Warcraft fans were immersed firmly in the strategy trilogy that came out on PCs, as well as add-on source material that delved deep into the franchise's mythical lore.
The announcement of a Warcraft MMO was met with great enthusiasm, and the debut trailer was nothing short of magnificent. Tongues were wagging in anticipation of being able to dive into this fully realized game world, with its massive scale and innumerable adventures. World of Warcraft ended up becoming a cultural icon unto itself.
DOOM 2016
After the divisive release of DOOM 3 in 2004, Id Software knew it had to get back to the drawing board. Though that game did receive solid reviews and a nice fan base, the traditional DOOM gamers were anxious for the series to get back its high-octane, shoot-any-thing-that-moves roots. Enter the trailer for DOOM 2016.
This gameplay trailer went all out with one express goal in mind - to show everyone that DOOM was back, and in a big way. The action was intense, the speed blistering, and the gore so over-the-top that it was impossible not to holler in excitement. It worked, and DOOM became the talk of the gaming world leading up to its release.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It has been ten years (already) since the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released, but back in the day, even a five-year wait was too much. Elder Scrolls fans were gnawing at the knuckles in anticipation that another game was coming, and Bethesda knew it had to deliver.
The Skyrim reveal trailer came out shortly before the game's launch, demonstrating the massive changes in engine quality, graphics, and overall approach. High fantasy adventure was back and in a big way. The trailer was so successful that it generated enough buzz to make Skyrim a best-seller on day one. The rest is history.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
The original Deus Ex served up a double dose of intelligent cyberpunk, conspiracy theories, and first-person action RPG gameplay that made it an immediate hit. The second in the series tried to capitalize on that formula but was met with lackluster success. It's not hard to imagine how big an impact the Human Revolution trailer was on fans.
This trailer introduced gamers to an entirely new protagonist in the form of Adam Jensen, a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier operating decades before the original Deus Ex took place. It looked far edgier and grittier than its predecessor, and the switch from biomods to cybernetics was an interesting and welcome one. Deus Ex had returned, and gamers were ready.
Cyberpunk 2077
Fan anticipation for Cyberpunk 2077 stretches back years at this point, ever since CD Projekt Red started dropping hints shortly after the release of The Witcher III. The company was hard at work piecing together conceptual designs for what would eventually become the Cyberpunk 2077 formula.
The big reveal trailer was a cinematic triumph that gave players a glimpse into the kind of seedy future world they'd be exploring, and it was enough to sell tons of preorders leading up to release. CD Projekt Red has since caught considerable flak for the game's disastrous launch and seemingly incomplete roap and has spent the last several months in damage control mode. It's a shame, given the hype the beautiful trailer generated.
Overwatch
Blizzard knows how to make a fantastic trailer, and they've been one-upping their peers for years. Naturally, they brought their amazing talents to an entirely Overwatch, which was since gone on to become a cult classic. To match the game's bright and blistering gameplay, they knew they'd to present something good to get fans excited.
The Overwatch trailer can best be described as a more mature Pixar cartoon, and that's not a bad thing. The bountiful colors and sharp, vibrant visuals are married to a smartly written script that introduces the key characters of the Overwatch universe, as well as the backstory. It's still a blast to watch, years later.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Few video game trailers made as big a splash on gamers as The Old Republic. The developers knew their fan base, and they weren't about to disappoint those who had grown up playing the Knights of the Old Republic games and understood the deep lore. The tie-in was both necessary and beneficial for the franchise as a whole.
The trailer begins with Darth Malgus arriving at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, where he proceeds to launch a surprise attack. The sheer scope of the moment is unbelievable, with amazing lightsaber battles, huge explosions, and one of the wildest cliffhangers ever seen in a video game trailer. It's hard to top this beauty.
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Red Dead series set out to eclipse competing games like Gun for the western shooter crown, and it had years to build up that reputation. When it was time to unveil Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar was locked, loaded, and ready, with both barrels drawn.
This particular trailer can best be described as a digital movie with extremely high production values and a gripping narrative. It bears all the highlights of the traditional Italian and American western films of old, mixed with Rockstar's signature approach to open-world gameplay and storytelling. It was breathtaking, and even those previously uninterested in the Red Dead series sat up and took notice.
Gears Of War
Few video game trailers have managed to do so much with so little. Gears of War is one of them. Though the series is well known for its brutal wartime action mechanics, gritty atmosphere, and sheer violence and brutality, the trailer for the game took an entirely different approach.
The trailer was little more than a montage of the carnage and mayhem taking place in the game, accompanied with a soft and serene cover of Tears For Fears' "Mad World," covered by Gary Jules. Those who caught sight of the trailer were frozen in place with eyes riveted to the screen at the juxtaposition.