Title Screens can tell a person a lot about the game they're about to play. They can set a specific tone, establish the genre, and tell the player more about the world that they're about to jump into. Here's a list of the top five title screens in gaming that immerse me as they prompt me to play start.

5. 'Skullmonkeys'

"Skullmonkeys" was a collaboration between the now-defunct Dreamworks Interactive and The Neverhood, Inc; a company made up of former members of Shiny interactive. Doug TenNapel, Mike Deitz, and Ed Schofield's previous works include the first two Earthworm Jim games and It shows.

"Skullmonkeys" boast superb animation, sardonic humor, and a widely diverse soundtrack. The lively and energetic title screen that showcases the quirky characters and visual gags almost outshines the actual game that, when divorced of its unique visuals and humor, is an otherwise completely by the numbers platform game.

4. 'Brutal Legend'

Tim Schafer's heavy metal adventure starts out with a live action intro featuring Jack Black as he addresses the player directly, telling them to keep what he's about to show them a secret. The camera then pans into the interior of a music store as Jack frantically searches for an album that he hesitated to buy out of a belief that it was too important for one person to possess.

Just when he despairs at the possibility that someone already bought it, he finally finds the album and presents it to the player, prompting them to "open it - if you dare." It's both humorous and somewhat earnest in its promise to deliver a rock and roll adventure.

3. 'Portal'

Valve's quirky first person puzzle game features a title screen that changes depending on how far you've gotten in the game.

For a game that features a tone that switches from dark to comedic and then to darkly comedic, the different title screens do a good job of setting the proper mood for when players pick up where they left off. After finishing the game and seeing one of the most famous endings in gaming history, the title screen that greets players is perfect for players to reflect on the unforgettable adventure that they've partaken.

2. 'MegaMan 2'

Often subjected to parody and homage, the opening to "MegaMan 2" is one of the most iconic in gaming. Players are shown a lit city during the night as the camera dramatically pans up a building to reveal MegaMan standing heroically and ready to protect the city from the evil of Dr. Wily. The music, the visuals, and mes en scene do their part in putting players in the mood to go through colorful worlds to battle creative robots. Back in the days of the NES, it was very rare to see something as cinematic as this.

1. 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'

When "Ocarina of time" first came out in 1998, it was widely praised for its then vast open world. So what better way to get players in the adventuring mood then to showcase that world complete with its real time day to night cycle as soon as players boot the game?

Right after the Nintendo 64 logo, gamers are treated to an opening where Link rides horseback through Hyrule Fields to Koji Kondo's tranquil score. As the morning sun rises, the title screen fades into view over the sweeping landscape that shows all the wonderful locations that the player can explore to. It's a whimsical and majestic opening to the epic that is "Ocarina of Time."
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