ðɪ ˈoʊpənɪŋ ˌænɪmˈeɪʃən ɪz ɐ θɹˈiː dˈiː ɹˈɛndɚɹɪŋ ʌvðə plˈeɪɚz ʃˈɪp tˈeɪkɪŋ ɔnðə fˈɜːst stˈeɪdʒ bˈɔs fɹʌm ɹˈeɪdən ɹˌoʊmən tˈuː.
The opening animation is a 3D rendering of the player's ship taking on the first stage boss from Raiden II.