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

8) The Arbiter – Halo 2

By the sixth mission of Halo 2, you’re snugly assuming that you’ll be in the shoes of Master Chief for the entire ride. After all, Halo: Combat Evolved was played utterly from Chief’s perspective and the early going of its sequel suggests the same.

And then Bungie flips the script. Suddenly, you’re stepping out onto the planet Threshold in the body Arbiter Thel ‘Vadamee, a Covenant Elite seeking to disrupt heretic forces led by Sesa ‘Refumee. Armed with an awesome energy blade, the Arbiter and his Covenant allies must take care of the heretics and reach ‘Refumee. But getting there is no easy task, and the level mixes stealth and combat for a challenging yet enjoyable ride, including a whiplash dash in a Banshee.

Most of all, getting to play as a character other than Chief for the first time is a notable departure from the norm, and a fork in the tale achieved with aplomb.