10 EXACT Moments That Made Great Video Games Even Better

When Gears Of War landed on the scene back in 2006, the cover-based shooter became best known for its excessively muscled cast of characters killing the invading locusts in excessively violent ways. The original game was a visceral action blockbuster; however, it would take for the sequel for the franchise to reach its full potential by expanding on its emotional storytelling.

While the suicide of a broken and tortured Tai was an unexpectedly shocking moment, it was Maria’s death that demonstrated that the Gears franchise was capable of being as heartfelt as it is gory.

Whilst exploring the mountains, Dom learns that his wife Maria was taken to a nearby labour camp after being captured by the locust horde. He and protagonist Marcus therefore make it part of their mission to find her, which they eventually do.

The couple share a tender embrace, but in a heart-wrenching twist it’s revealed that her ordeal has left her a husk of her former self. With nothing he can do to help her, Dom’s only option was to end her suffering after a final tearful goodbye.

With that single exchange, the developer effectively humanised the terrors of war.