4. Finishing The Last Level Of Halo 3 4 Player Co-Op - Halo 3
BungieThe Halo franchise is universal at this point. Familiar to everyone with access to the internet and even a passing glance towards a gaming section in the supermarket. To pick a single moment as worthy of entry to this list is difficult then. This moment comes from a time when the franchise was less homogenised. When it had purpose, and a message. Still it needs a push to reach this level. Four friends, four controllers, four Warthogs. The ending of each Halo game is a vehicle based level, a race against time to escape the titular Halo. The ending of Halo 3 was a spectacular round up of what was expected to be the final entry to the series. Bungie, the company responsible, went all out. Four player co-op, you and three friends, each in a all terrain jeep racing across a half constructed alien world-machine to the thumping guitar and drums of Marty O'Donnell's soundtrack, punctuated by explosions that breach the sky and send slabs of metal the size of cities flying across your path, racing for your escape ship hovering just far enough away that this is going to be seat of your pants close! Then, there she is. The ship hovers in the distance, her engines flared as she prepares to break for orbit. You and your friends' reactions are simultaneous. You floor it. Distance flees beneath your treads as you barrel down the ramp, launching your two tonne vehicles into the ponderous chasm that separates you from the open hangar bay doors. Your friends drop their controllers, breathing becomes a thing of the past as time crawls to a stop. This is it. You make it, vehicles tumbling across one another as the game ends. The tensions still rides high, but your role is over and a cutscene begins. With four friends, this elated victory is almost the greatest moment of victory in any game. It is the culmination of almost ten years of Halo, and the very first time you experience it - especially with three of your friends - is a moment that you carry with you. Everyone should live this moment.