Combat Evolved: The 10 Most Memorable Moments From The Halo Franchise

9) Legendary Ending – Halo 4

The Master Chief’s space helmet is something quite special: familiar yet distinctive, functional yet sleek and a far cry from the bulbous helmets worn in real space. And since the dawn of Halo, fans have wondered what MCPON J0hn-117 – AKA Master Chief – is hiding behind that mask.

That question is answered in a special Halo 4 ending, unlocked when you beat the game on “Legendary” difficulty. Mourning the death of his beloved AI companion Cortana, Chief makes the slow walk back to the Infinity space ship. He begins to uncouple from the suit, armor peeled away by mechanical arms, leaving the mask to be prized from his face last.

On normal difficulty, Halo 4 ends here. But on Legendary, the scene plays for a split second longer, revealing a pair of hooded, sunken eyes staring out from the abyss beyond. As news of the reveal spread, many fans questioned whether it was fair of 343 to decide what Chief looked like. But I would argue that reveal is subtle enough not to step on any toes, and offers a sweet reward for beating the game at its toughest.

Plus, why should Chief stay hidden forever?