History Main / StartScreen

In true arcade games, "Press Start" will be replaced by "Insert Coin" (or credit or quarter). Start screens for games for older consoles, such as the UsefulNotes/Atari2600, won't always have "press start" stated outright - but even they usually have a start screen.

If you don't see this screen, when you first load the game, then that's AutomaticNewGame.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Beating older Amuro's final mission in ''Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2'' gets you a new graphic of the earth being surrounded by sparklies, possibly a mix of space dust, psychic energy, and the viscera of dead pilots you just sent to their unholy demise.
* The start screen in ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' gives you a mode-7 overview of the eponymous landmass, and actually shows your progress through the game since your last save.
* The first Sega Genesis ''X-Men'' gave does not begin with a start screen-instead, you are prompted to pick a X-Man and travel through a short level, and then the screen proper appears. Its sequel does the same thing, only your character is random. ''VideoGame/XMen2CloneWars'' for the Sega Genesis goes even further with it, as seen in the Angry Video Game Nerd's [[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/angry-video-screwattack/48906 review]]; you start playing the instant the console is turned on.
* ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has the famous screen in which you can stretch Mario's face.
* ''VideoGame/MarioParty1'': The game is notable in that it changes the title screen each time a character beats 1 player mode, with a personal background for each character that won last.
* Averted from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto III'' and onwards. The game automatically loads your latest save (or starts a new game) when you boot it up.

* ''{{VideoGame/Scribblenauts}}'' has a start screen that acts like a sandbox mode.

* The ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' series tends to have start screens with some degree of interactivity.

* Much like the ''Franchise/XMen'' examples above, in ''Vice: Project Doom'', the title screen doesn't appear until after you beat the first stage. The "Push Start Button" screen appears after the intro.

[[folder: Other Media ]]

Pretty much any video game will have these. This is a static screen, or else an AttractMode, which usually contains the title and a pulsating "PRESS START" prompt. In olden days, if a game had cheat codes, this is where you entered them. Many start screens change depending on your progress in the game.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' had the famous screen in which you could stretch Mario's face.
* ''VideoGame/MarioParty'' changed its screen each time a character beat 1 player mode, with a personal background for each character that won last.

PC games have this screen as a shibboleth to differentiate console ports from native PC games -- if a game asks you to "PRESS ENTER" or "PRESS ANY KEY", chances are it was initially born on consoles. Smartphone games usually render this as "TOUCH SCREEN TO START".

PC games have this screen as a shibboleth to differentiate console ports from native PC games -- if a game asks you to "PRESS ENTER" or "PRESS ANY KEY", chances are it was initially born on consoles.

!!{{SubTrope}}s:

!!SubTropes:

In true arcade games, "Press Start" will be replaced by "Insert Coin" (or credit or quarter). Start screens for games for older consoles, such as the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}}, won't always have "press start" stated outright - but even they usually have a start screen.

SuperTrope of EvolvingTitleScreen, for when this screen changes as you progress through the game.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonStadium 1 and 2'' changed their Start screens as you progressed through the games.

* ''VideoGame/{{Braid}}'': The game loaded directly into the gameplay, with Tim standing in shadow on a bridge underneath the emblazoned title. It's interesting to speculate how many players sat there for a good long while before realizing that A) there wasn't going to be a Press Start prompt or menu, and B) they could move.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' [[http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/psychonauts/screenshots/gameShotId,114350/ it's actually a level in itself]], though a more generic in game menu is available as well.

* If you beat most ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' games with every character, you are awarded with a fancier title screen. Different characters will also announce the title.
** Some racing games and other such titles do the same. ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' comes to mind.

* Valve games (on PC anyway) have a 'load your game or access the options' screen that changes depending on where you saved last.
** Oddly enough, almost all Source-based multiplayer [[FirstPersonShooter FPS's]] have near-identical title screens (the exception to this being VideoGame/TeamFortress2). The only thing that varies is the image in the background and the font of the menu text. The escape-key menu is this same menu with a few extra options and your current view in-game instead of a background image. ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' both seem to be the only games close to an exception so far, but even then they're still somewhat similar.

* ''VideoGame/{{Braid}}'''s StartScreen was curious in that the game loaded directly into the gameplay, with Tim standing in shadow on a bridge underneath the emblazoned title. It's interesting to speculate how many players sat there for a good long while before realizing that A) there wasn't going to be a Press Start prompt or menu, and B) they could move.

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:Other Media]]

* Some racing games and other such titles do the same. [[VideoGame/MarioKart Double Dash]] comes to mind.

* [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The last]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess three 3D]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Zelda games]], which all run on similar engines, have start screens rendered as in-engine cutscenes. If you use a [[GoodBadBug glitch]] called Back In Time (done by soft resetting during a transition period such as resetting after falling into a pit) you'll be able to play in the title screen; although it doesn't have that much use in ''Wind Waker'', it can be used for some awesome SequenceBreaking in ''Twilight Princess'' (start the game with the Master Sword and Hylian Shield) and ''Skyward Sword'' (using a [[SavePoint Bird Statue]] in the title screen can warp you around the game world or out of bounds depending on where you are).

* Averted in ''VideoGame/WiiFit'', which boots directly into the Wii Fit Plaza (where the players' Miis can be selected). If the game is booted for the first time, you instead get the Wii Balance Board introducing itself, followed by the usual proceedure for adding a new player.

* ''[[SuperMarioBros Super Mario 64]]'' had the famous screen in which you could stretch Mario's face.
* ''{{Pokemon}} Stadium'' 1 and 2 changed their Start screens as you progressed through the games.