Add declarative cutscene items for save checks and marker-based modals

CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK and CUTSCENE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS wrap the
existing device-lookup/slot-load calls and jump straight to a
success/failure marker, and CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_ONE/TWO do the same
for one/two-option modals, removing the need for a hand-written
goTo-only callback per use. Main menu's "Start Game" now runs a
cutscene (mirroring the initial scene's save-check flow) that loads all
slots before opening the load-game picker, retrying on error; the
initial scene's own device check is migrated onto the same items.
Backing out of the main menu now returns to the initial scene.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

assets/locale/en_US.po

@@ -38,6 +38,33 @@ msgstr "Quit Game"
 msgid "main_menu.quit_confirm"
 msgstr "Are you sure you want to quit?"
 
+msgid "main_menu.checking_save.title"
+msgstr "Checking for save data"
+
+msgid "main_menu.checking_save.message"
+msgstr "Please wait..."
+
+msgid "main_menu.no_device.title"
+msgstr "No Save Device Found"
+
+msgid "main_menu.no_device.message"
+msgstr "Could not find a save device, ensure it is connected and try again. You can continue, but progress will not be saved."
+
+msgid "main_menu.no_device.retry"
+msgstr "Try again"
+
+msgid "main_menu.no_device.continue"
+msgstr "Continue without saving"
+
+msgid "main_menu.save_load_error.title"
+msgstr "Error"
+
+msgid "main_menu.save_load_error.message"
+msgstr "Failed to load save data. Please try again."
+
+msgid "main_menu.save_load_error.retry"
+msgstr "Try Again"
+
 
 # Select Save Screen
 msgid "ui.select_save.title"

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h

@@ -120,6 +120,42 @@ typedef struct cutscene_s {
     } \
   }
 
+// Same as CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS, but fixed to exactly one option and
+// MARKER1 to jump straight to via cutsceneGoTo once it's selected (or
+// the dialog is backed out of) - no callback function to write. Does
+// not fall through to whatever follows this item, so MARKER1 must be
+// scripted elsewhere in the same cutscene.
+#define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_ONE(TITLE, MESSAGE, OPTION1, MARKER1) \
+  { \
+    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS, \
+    .modalOptionsMarkers = { \
+      .title = TITLE, .message = MESSAGE, \
+      .options = { OPTION1 }, \
+      .markers = { MARKER1 }, \
+      .optionCount = 1 \
+    } \
+  }
+
+// Same as CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS, but fixed to exactly two options,
+// jumping straight to OPTION1_MARKER or OPTION2_MARKER via cutsceneGoTo
+// once the corresponding option is selected - no callback function to
+// write. Backing out without selecting (UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE) is
+// treated the same as selecting option 2. Does not fall through to
+// whatever follows this item, so both markers must be scripted
+// elsewhere in the same cutscene.
+#define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_TWO( \
+  TITLE, MESSAGE, OPTION1, OPTION1_MARKER, OPTION2, OPTION2_MARKER \
+) \
+  { \
+    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS, \
+    .modalOptionsMarkers = { \
+      .title = TITLE, .message = MESSAGE, \
+      .options = { OPTION1, OPTION2 }, \
+      .markers = { OPTION1_MARKER, OPTION2_MARKER }, \
+      .optionCount = 2 \
+    } \
+  }
+
 // Closes the currently open modal (if any). Useful when a modal was
 // opened outside of a blocking CUTSCENE_MODAL item (e.g. directly via
 // uiModalOpen) and this cutscene just needs to dismiss it and continue
@@ -127,6 +163,34 @@ typedef struct cutscene_s {
 #define CUTSCENE_MODAL_CLOSE() \
   { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_CLOSE }
 
+// (Re)requests an available save device and jumps straight to
+// SUCCESS_MARKER or FAILURE_MARKER once it resolves, same as a
+// CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS callback - it does not fall through to
+// whatever follows this item, so both markers must be scripted
+// elsewhere in the same cutscene.
+#define CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK(SUCCESS_MARKER, FAILURE_MARKER) \
+  { \
+    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK, \
+    .saveDeviceCheck = { \
+      .successMarker = SUCCESS_MARKER, \
+      .failureMarker = FAILURE_MARKER \
+    } \
+  }
+
+// (Re)loads every save slot via saveLoadAllSlots() and jumps straight to
+// SUCCESS_MARKER or FAILURE_MARKER once it resolves, same shape as
+// CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK - it does not fall through to whatever
+// follows this item, so both markers must be scripted elsewhere in the
+// same cutscene.
+#define CUTSCENE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS(SUCCESS_MARKER, FAILURE_MARKER) \
+  { \
+    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS, \
+    .saveLoadAllSlots = { \
+      .successMarker = SUCCESS_MARKER, \
+      .failureMarker = FAILURE_MARKER \
+    } \
+  }
+
 #define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_WALK_TO(ENTITY_INDEX, X, Y, Z) \
   { \
     .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_WALK_TO, \

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -16,3 +16,4 @@ add_subdirectory(item)
 add_subdirectory(maparea)
 add_subdirectory(ui)
 add_subdirectory(battle)
+add_subdirectory(save)

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c

@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@ cutsceneitemcallbacks_t CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS[CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_COUNT] = {
     .update = cutsceneModalUpdate
   },
 
+  [CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS] = {
+    .init = cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersStart,
+    .update = cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersUpdate
+  },
+
   [CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_CLOSE] = {
     .init = cutsceneModalCloseStart,
     .update = cutsceneModalCloseUpdate
@@ -157,6 +162,16 @@ cutsceneitemcallbacks_t CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS[CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_COUNT] = {
   [CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SCENE] = {
     .init = cutsceneSceneStart,
     .update = cutsceneSceneUpdate
+  },
+
+  [CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK] = {
+    .init = cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckStart,
+    .update = cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckUpdate
+  },
+
+  [CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS] = {
+    .init = cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsStart,
+    .update = cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsUpdate
   }
 };
 

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "ui/cutsceneemoji.h"
 #include "ui/cutsceneshake.h"
 #include "ui/cutscenemodal.h"
+#include "ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h"
 #include "item/cutsceneitemgive.h"
 #include "maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.h"
 #include "maparea/cutscenemaparearemove.h"
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@
 #include "battle/cutscenestartbattle.h"
 #include "battle/cutscenebattlewaitstate.h"
 #include "battle/cutscenebattleforceaction.h"
+#include "save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.h"
+#include "save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.h"
 
 typedef struct cutscene_s cutscene_t;
 
@@ -65,11 +68,14 @@ typedef enum {
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_WAIT_STATE,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_FORCE_ACTION,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL,
+  CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_CLOSE,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_PRINT,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MARKER,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_RESTART,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SCENE,
+  CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK,
+  CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS,
 
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_COUNT
 } cutsceneitemtype_t;
@@ -103,9 +109,12 @@ struct cutsceneitem_s {
     cutscenebattlewaitstate_t battleWaitState;
     cutscenebattleforceaction_t battleForceAction;
     cutscenemodal_t modal;
+    cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers_t modalOptionsMarkers;
     cutsceneprint_t print;
     cutscenemarker_t marker;
     cutscenescene_t sceneChange;
+    cutscenesavedevicecheck_t saveDeviceCheck;
+    cutscenesaveloadallslots_t saveLoadAllSlots;
   };
 };
 

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+#
+# This software is released under the MIT License.
+# https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
+  PUBLIC
+    cutscenesavedevicecheck.c
+    cutscenesaveloadallslots.c
+)

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.c

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+#include "save/save.h"
+
+void cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckCallback(savedevice_t *device, void *user) {
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item = cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
+  cutsceneGoTo(
+    device != NULL ?
+      item->saveDeviceCheck.successMarker :
+      item->saveDeviceCheck.failureMarker
+  );
+}
+
+void cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  saveFindAvailableDevice(cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckCallback, NULL);
+}
+
+bool_t cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  return false;
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.h

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct cutsceneitem_s cutsceneitem_t;
+typedef union cutsceneitemdata_u cutsceneitemdata_t;
+
+typedef struct {
+  const char_t *successMarker;
+  const char_t *failureMarker;
+} cutscenesavedevicecheck_t;
+
+/**
+ * Starts a save-device-check item: (re)requests an available save
+ * device via saveFindAvailableDevice. Never completes on its own - see
+ * cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckUpdate.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ */
+void cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates a save-device-check item. Like a CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS item,
+ * this never completes on its own - once saveFindAvailableDevice's
+ * callback fires, it jumps straight to the item's successMarker or
+ * failureMarker via cutsceneGoTo.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ * @returns false always.
+ */
+bool_t cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.c

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+#include "save/save.h"
+
+void cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  errorret_t result = saveLoadAllSlots();
+  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
+    errorCatch(errorPrint(result));
+    cutsceneGoTo(item->saveLoadAllSlots.failureMarker);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  cutsceneGoTo(item->saveLoadAllSlots.successMarker);
+}
+
+bool_t cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  return false;
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.h

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct cutsceneitem_s cutsceneitem_t;
+typedef union cutsceneitemdata_u cutsceneitemdata_t;
+
+typedef struct {
+  const char_t *successMarker;
+  const char_t *failureMarker;
+} cutscenesaveloadallslots_t;
+
+/**
+ * Starts a save-load-all-slots item: calls saveLoadAllSlots() and jumps
+ * straight to the item's successMarker or failureMarker via
+ * cutsceneGoTo, depending on the result.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ */
+void cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates a save-load-all-slots item. Never completes on its own -
+ * Start already jumps to whichever marker applies before this would
+ * ever run.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ * @returns false always.
+ */
+bool_t cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -12,4 +12,5 @@ target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
     cutsceneemoji.c
     cutsceneshake.c
     cutscenemodal.c
+    cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
 )

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+#include "ui/widget/uimodal.h"
+
+void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersCallback(
+  const uint8_t optionIndex,
+  void *userData
+) {
+  const cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers_t *options =
+    &cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem()->modalOptionsMarkers;
+
+  // A backed-out-of dialog (UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE) falls back to the
+  // last option's marker, same as a hand-written two-option callback
+  // (e.g. sceneInitialSaveDeviceRetryCallback) treating "backed out" as
+  // the safe/continue choice rather than the destructive one.
+  const uint8_t index =
+    optionIndex < options->optionCount ? optionIndex : options->optionCount - 1;
+  cutsceneGoTo(options->markers[index]);
+}
+
+void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  const cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers_t *options = &item->modalOptionsMarkers;
+
+  uiModalOpen(
+    options->title,
+    options->message,
+    options->options,
+    options->optionCount,
+    cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersCallback,
+    NULL,
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.userData
+  );
+}
+
+bool_t cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  return false;
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct cutsceneitem_s cutsceneitem_t;
+typedef union cutsceneitemdata_u cutsceneitemdata_t;
+
+// Backs CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_ONE and CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_TWO, so two
+// is the most either macro ever needs.
+#define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS_MAX 2
+
+typedef struct {
+  // Display text, or a locale message ID to translate - see
+  // uiModalLocalize.
+  char_t title[CUTSCENE_MODAL_TITLE_MAX_CHARS];
+  char_t message[CUTSCENE_MODAL_MESSAGE_MAX_CHARS];
+
+  // Each option's display text/locale message ID, and the marker to
+  // cutsceneGoTo when that option is selected.
+  const char_t *options[CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS_MAX];
+  const char_t *markers[CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS_MAX];
+  uint8_t optionCount;
+} cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers_t;
+
+/**
+ * Starts a modal-options-markers item (shows the modal dialog with the
+ * item's title, message, and options).
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ */
+void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates a modal-options-markers item. Never completes on its own -
+ * the cutscene blocks here indefinitely. Once an option is selected (or
+ * the dialog is backed out of, which is treated as selecting the last
+ * option), it jumps straight to that option's marker via cutsceneGoTo.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ * @returns false always.
+ */
+bool_t cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);

src/dusk/scene/initial/sceneinitial.c

@@ -11,29 +11,24 @@
 #include "error/error.h"
 #include "display/screen/screen.h"
 #include "console/console.h"
-#include "save/save.h"
 #include "ui/widget/uimodal.h"
 #include "rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h"
 #include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
 
-void sceneInitialAvailableDeviceCallback(savedevice_t *device, void *user);
-void sceneInitialFindDevices(void *userData);
-void sceneInitialSaveDeviceRetryCallback(const uint8_t opt, void *u);
-
 CUTSCENE(INITIAL, 0, DEFAULT,
   CUTSCENE_MODAL(
     "initial.checking_save.title", "initial.checking_save.message"
   ),
   CUTSCENE_WAIT(1.0f),
-  CUTSCENE_CALLBACK(sceneInitialFindDevices),
+  CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK("CONTINUE", "NO_DEVICE"),
 
   CUTSCENE_MARKER("NO_DEVICE"),
   CUTSCENE_MODAL_CLOSE(),
-  CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS(
+  CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_TWO(
     "initial.no_device.title",
     "initial.no_device.message",
-    sceneInitialSaveDeviceRetryCallback,
+    "initial.no_device.retry", "RETRY",
-    "initial.no_device.retry", "initial.no_device.continue"
+    "initial.no_device.continue", "CONTINUE"
   ),
 
   CUTSCENE_MARKER("RETRY"),
@@ -45,18 +40,6 @@ CUTSCENE(INITIAL, 0, DEFAULT,
   CUTSCENE_SCENE(SCENE_TYPE_MAIN_MENU)
 );
 
-void sceneInitialAvailableDeviceCallback(savedevice_t *device, void *user) {
-  cutsceneGoTo(device == NULL ? "NO_DEVICE" : "CONTINUE");
-}
-
-void sceneInitialFindDevices(void *userData) {
-  saveFindAvailableDevice(sceneInitialAvailableDeviceCallback, NULL);
-}
-
-void sceneInitialSaveDeviceRetryCallback(const uint8_t opt, void *u) {
-  cutsceneGoTo(opt == 0 ? "RETRY" : "CONTINUE");
-}
-
 errorret_t sceneInitialInit(scenedata_t *sceneData) {
   assertNotNull(sceneData, "Scene data cannot be null");
   memoryZero(&sceneData->initial, sizeof(sceneinitial_t));

src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c

@@ -17,13 +17,57 @@
 #include "asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.h"
 #include "ui/dialog/uiconfirm.h"
 #include "ui/dialog/save/uiselectsave.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
 #include "scene/scene.h"
-#include "save/save.h"
 
 #define UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_START_GAME 0
 #define UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_OPTIONS 1
 #define UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_QUIT 2
 
+void uiMainMenuOpenSelectSave(void *userData);
+
+// Loads every save slot before opening the load-game picker, same
+// checking/retry-on-error shape as the initial scene's device lookup
+// (see scene/initial/sceneinitial.c) - the error branch loops back via
+// CUTSCENE_RESTART.
+CUTSCENE(MAIN_MENU_START_GAME, 0, DEFAULT,
+  CUTSCENE_MODAL(
+    "main_menu.checking_save.title",
+    "main_menu.checking_save.message"
+  ),
+  CUTSCENE_WAIT(1.0f),
+  CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK("CONTINUE", "NO_DEVICE"),
+
+  CUTSCENE_MARKER("NO_DEVICE"),
+  CUTSCENE_MODAL_CLOSE(),
+  CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_TWO(
+    "main_menu.no_device.title",
+    "main_menu.no_device.message",
+    "main_menu.no_device.retry", "RETRY",
+    "main_menu.no_device.continue", "CONTINUE"
+  ),
+
+  CUTSCENE_MARKER("RETRY"),
+  CUTSCENE_MODAL_CLOSE(),
+  CUTSCENE_RESTART(),
+
+  CUTSCENE_MARKER("CONTINUE"),
+  CUTSCENE_MODAL_CLOSE(),
+  CUTSCENE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS("LOADED", "LOAD_ERROR"),
+
+  CUTSCENE_MARKER("LOAD_ERROR"),
+  CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_ONE(
+    "main_menu.save_load_error.title",
+    "main_menu.save_load_error.message",
+    "main_menu.save_load_error.retry",
+    "RETRY"
+  ),
+
+  CUTSCENE_MARKER("LOADED"),
+  CUTSCENE_CALLBACK(uiMainMenuOpenSelectSave)
+);
+
 uimainmenu_t UI_MAIN_MENU;
 
 void uiMainMenuQuitConfirmed(const bool_t result, void *user) {
@@ -40,6 +84,21 @@ void uiMainMenuSelectSaveResult(const uint8_t slotIndex, void *user) {
   sceneSet(SCENE_TYPE_OVERWORLD);
 }
 
+void uiMainMenuOpenSelectSave(void *userData) {
+  uiSelectSaveOpen(
+    UI_SELECT_SAVE_TYPE_LOAD, uiMainMenuSelectSaveResult, NULL
+  );
+}
+
+void uiMainMenuClosed(const uimenu_t *menu) {
+  if(UI_MAIN_MENU.suppressClosedSceneChange) {
+    UI_MAIN_MENU.suppressClosedSceneChange = false;
+    return;
+  }
+
+  sceneSet(SCENE_TYPE_INITIAL);
+}
+
 void uiMainMenuSelected(
   const uimenu_t *menu,
   const uint8_t index,
@@ -48,13 +107,9 @@ void uiMainMenuSelected(
 
   switch(index) {
     case UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_START_GAME:
+      UI_MAIN_MENU.suppressClosedSceneChange = true;
       uiMenuClose(&UI_MAIN_MENU.menu);
-
+      cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(&CUTSCENE_MAIN_MENU_START_GAME);
-      errorCatch(errorPrint(saveLoadAllSlots()));
-
-      uiSelectSaveOpen(
-        UI_SELECT_SAVE_TYPE_LOAD, uiMainMenuSelectSaveResult, NULL
-      );
       break;
 
     case UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_OPTIONS:
@@ -96,7 +151,8 @@ errorret_t uiMainMenuInit(void) {
   ));
 
   MENU_BEGIN(
-    &UI_MAIN_MENU.menu, UI_MAIN_MENU.items, uiMainMenuSelected, NULL, NULL
+    &UI_MAIN_MENU.menu, UI_MAIN_MENU.items, uiMainMenuSelected,
+    uiMainMenuClosed, NULL
   );
   MENU_BUTTON(UI_MAIN_MENU.startGameLabel);
   MENU_BUTTON(UI_MAIN_MENU.optionsLabel);

src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.h

@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ typedef struct {
   char_t startGameLabel[UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX];
   char_t optionsLabel[UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX];
   char_t quitLabel[UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX];
+
+  // Set right before a uiMenuClose() call that hands off to something
+  // else (e.g. starting the start-game cutscene) rather than backing
+  // all the way out, so the menu's closed handler knows to skip
+  // returning to the initial scene for that one close.
+  bool_t suppressClosedSceneChange;
 } uimainmenu_t;
 
 extern uimainmenu_t UI_MAIN_MENU;