Will any of us ever forget the first time we saw The Matrix?
It was '99, and like any irresponsible parent, my dad took me to see the year's most thrilling action film. An hour and a half after entering the cinema, my life changed. The Matrix completely transformed my rubric of quality action. For the next decade, people compared everything to the lobby scene.
Some cinematic moments possess such unquestionable quality that they overshadow their antecedent films. The fact that I can mention Star Wars' Battle on Hoth or Psycho's shower scene — and you know what I mean — speaks volumes.
But movies aren't alone in this respect: If the emotional crescendo is just right, a talented designer can hit players with feelings of simultaneous self-esteem and self-doubt. Unfortunately, these stirring moments usually go unmentioned.
Entire games — not individual scenes — receive all the acclaim. In that vein, I've decided to take a moment to celebrate the medium's most memorable sequences. From last-ditch battlefield offensives to heedless rescue missions, these moments will leave your mouth ajar and your mind running.
The list is in no particular order, and your opinions are more than welcome.
Halo: Combat Evolved — Reveille
Taking a cue from Star Wars: A New Hope, Bungie spared the exposition and thrust players onto the deck of a plummeting, blazing starship. The opening scenes of Halo: Combat Evolved were truly genius. Bungie forced us to piece together the plot while simultaneously managing a wealth of unfamiliar, unfriendly aliens.
Enthusiasts know the Halo series for non-stop action, but the narrative pacing of the game is what truly sets it apart. Its frantic "no time to explain" momentum makes Halo's introductory scene among the most notable in the industry.
[embed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQK9d7N9Ynw ]
You really have to applaud Marty O'Donnell for that musical score!
Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos — Battle of Mount Hyjal
As Reign of Chaos began, the fictional world of Azeroth was in a predictable state of chaos. But hope still existed in the form of Jaina Proudmoore and Thrall: two heroes intent on defusing the hostilities between their respective races — Humans and Orcs. While the final mission of Reign of Chaos was memorable in its own right, the preceding five-hour campaign can't be ignored.
The final level, which charged players with the protection of the World Tree, represented the fortissimo in Blizzard's operatic real-time strategy game. The 45-minute time limit and the endless waves of ghouls are what make the Battle of Hyjal worth revisiting.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty — Arsenal Gear
Let's get the obvious out of the way: Raiden doesn't measure up to Solid Snake as a protagonist. Does that fact alone make Sons of Liberty the weakest entry in the series? Probably. But one sequence in particular seems to redeem Hideo Kojima's poor design choice: the Arsenal Gear battle scene.
After being captured and imprisoned within the depths of Arsenal Gear, Raiden found himself without clothes or dignity. Fortunately, Solid Snake rescued his amateur partner, and after hatching a quick getaway scheme, the two were off. What followed was 20 minutes of unadulterated action. Armed with a katana and an M16, players sliced and shot their way through hordes of mindless, Russian cannon fodder.
Ultimately, it was Kojima's patented technique of breaking the fourth wall that committed this scene to my memory. As Colonel Campbell ranted about video games and their corrupting influence, I couldn't help but smile.
[embed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td-XnROy2UU ]
Skip to 2:20 in order to avoid the melodramatic dialogue!
Call of Duty — Burnsville
The night is devoid of sound as you dive from a speeding glider and land on the wet grass. After equipping your M1A1 rifle, you crawl behind an unsuspecting Wermacht soldier and beat him into submission with the butt of your rifle. You're playing Call of Duty, and you're having fun.
[embed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Um_ni9uVT8 ]
Infinity Ward's freshman title started with a bang as buildings erupted in flames, dive bombers made strafing runs, and riflemen threw grenades all around you.
The first level of Call of Duty represented a radical change from Medal of Honor's traditional philosophy. Instead of a lone wolf, assassinating high profile Nazi generals and sabotaging weapon depots behind enemy lines, you were a regular soldier just trying to stay alive. Burnsville proved that wars are big…really big. For that, it certainly deserves a spot on this list.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion — Dagon Shrine
Many of you won't remember this particular mission, but long-time fans of the Elder Scrolls franchise certainly will. After bribing, intimidating, or charming most of Cyrodil, players found four volumes of the Commentaries Xarxes — a collection of works regarding the infamous cult, Mythic Dawn.
After reading the century-old text, players headed off to the Dagon Shrine, the headquarters of the Mythic Dawn and had two options. You could either infiltrate the shrine by pretending to join the cult, or you could slaughter everyone. Although they vary in difficulty, both methods are extremely gratifying.
It was this specific mission that appropriately demonstrated Oblivion's breadth. The game allowed players to brazenly hack and slash their way through difficult scenarios or sneak past them. Each problem players were faced with could be approached from a number of angles. In essence, the Dagon Shrine proved that Oblivion catered to almost every type of role player, which is why it's worthy of commemoration.
[embed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsaaChZU1jM ]
This is just too creepy…
This is my top five — if you disagree, I'd love to hear yours!