It features one of the most intense beachhead assaults in the series, that included many vehicles but especially the Hornet. The game developers really went all in on this one. The Covenant is by and large the best Halo mission in the series, containing within it multiple groundbreaking firefights, intense plot development, and top tier vehicular combat. It’s mind boggling that Bungie was able to fit in so many epic moments into a single chapter of Halo 3. The player is lured into a false sense of safety as they see the evac Pelican within view, and just before they escape, there is an ambush of three invisible elites lying in wait. A frantic duel ensues with a victory that is narrowly snatched. The final crescendo pushes Master Chief back up toward the surface, the energy reaching an absolute climax when he turns a corner and comes face to face with the Zealot. Master Chief goes deeper into the mysterious underground structure, the music haunting and further illustrating the fact that there is an Elite Zealot somewhere in this facility with a sizzling energy sword and a thirst for blood. The Halo theme thunders triumphantly as Master Chief and a squadron of UNSC soldiers storm the beach head, framing the feeling of victoriousness for the player.Īs the player descends into the Halo facility however, the mood darkens into one of anxiousness and dread. It’s hard to understate the perfection between the Halo soundtrack and level design on this one. The Silent Cartographer is a close second for the best Halo mission in the series, but the way in which it distinguishes itself from other missions is largely underrated when compared to other memorable moments in the game.