You too? I'm currently replaying both PS:T and MotB (plus Boodlines, though these two titles stole the spotlight from it and Arcanum)
For me hook PS:T came BEFORE the game started. You might've read my rant on game cinematics. I came off as somewhat too harsh compared to my real stand, but even if I was as angry towards game cutscenes as that post showcases I would've loved PS:T's opening as much as I now do
It is BRILLIANT in every meaning of word. There's all these kinds of small things in it (camera doing quick focus on the rat in the ceiling, the sudden change of the mood with woman's disappearance, way it was cut etc.) that elevates it to higher planes than any other CRPG cutscene (apart from Fallout openings, heh).
That alone hooked me. The change from melancholy to horror alone took me by surprise but what then followed - TNO's transformation to his ugly self and that last glimpse of this ghostly figure... my jaw dropped. I NEED TO KNOW MORE.
And of course when the game starts what else would happen than frickin' skull floating towards me and starting to chat? then came the whole bit about not hurting female zombies plus the talk with scribe... and then came the Deionarra.
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MotB similarly hooked me from the beginning too. The dancing runes in the walls, awesome narrator... wow
As for Myrkul... well, it's one of my all time favourite moments in games.
Here I was after making leap to the unknown. The incredible, beautiful music and atmosphere. I had character camera on and I kept watching the massive rocks floating around, wondering how I'd get there... Then I noticed there was this huge skeleton just next to me, but I thought nothing of it, thinking it was remains of some dragon. Then I bumped into death knights. Idea hit me and I slowly brought camera angle up and OH GOD, there was this gigantic, freaky skull staring at me with blazing eyes.
The way my character had to run up Myrkul's spine in front of his face... wow
And then rolled in the fantastic conversation that was one of the best I had ever witnessed. I had Kaelyn AND high WIS which made it all the richer.
True kodak moment that was.