1. Big Boss Salutes The Boss' Grave - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Image: Big Boss saluting the grave of The Boss, who it turns out had not been a Soviet defector, but was instead working undercover in order to recover the Philosopher's Legacy and prove America's innocence in Volgin's nuclear attack during the Virtuous Mission. Why It's Powerful: As if finding this out wasn't enough of a kick in the gonads for players, seeing Big Boss moved to tears at The Boss' anonymous grave and saluting her is the icing on a very depressing, but superbly realised cake. For all of the absurdity in the Metal Gear Solid series, Hideo Kojima's greatest moment was an incredibly simple one: a tender show of respect between two opposed soldiers who, in actual fact, weren't really opposed at all. Even as a standalone image, it's an awesome reminder of the solemnity of war, and how even the hardiest soldier suffers. Did we miss any supremely powerful gaming images? Let us know in the comments!
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
