This generation of video games has brought gamers plenty of things to talk about. This year alone, we have seen developers reach new heights as they created unique situations that have had a lasting effect on gamers. As we approach a new generation with the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X right around the corner, now is a good time to reflect on some of the most breathtaking video game moments of this current generation.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, The Last of Us Part II, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Red Dead Redemption 2 – Braithwaite Manor

There are plenty of breathtaking moments within Red Dead Redemption 2 but this one, in particular, stands out. The intensity that brought forth this unfortunate situation made this moment even more special. There was a sense of urgency as Arthur and the rest of the gang approached the manor to save one of their own.

This specific screenshot is the peak of the excitement. As I took dozens of screenshots of this particular scene, I thought about how I was going to brutally take down each and every enemy that stood in between myself and Jack Marston. I still excited just thinking about it.

The Last of Us Part II – Ellie and Joel

Have you ever had a hangover from a game? I mean one of those moments that leave you feeling like you watched a super emotional movie? The final conversation between Ellie and Joel in The Last of Us Part II was one of those moments for me.

The plot for The Last of Us Part II was brilliant. The story was done in a way that it would conveniently unfold for the gamer as things played out and knowing what happened to Joel and Ellie during the events of this game brought forth a different kind of sadness. Knowing they had a slim chance to mend their torn relationship was the saddest part. This game will always be memorable because of moments like this one.

God of War – Kratos Gets The Blades Of Chaos

There’s just something about adding that sense of urgency to a game and putting the player in the shoes of someone trying to save a loved one. That sense of urgency was felt 10 fold as we watched Atreus fall ill and Kratos reluctantly “dig up his past” to save him. That feeling of “what would I do” was burning in the pit of my stomach as I watched a father face his dark past.

The amount of emotional strain Kratos had to go through as he pushed past his old demons and walked straight into the very thing he was running away from for years is a heroic situation that, I’m sure, many gamers could appreciate. For the die-hard God of War fans, this had to be a momentous scene, as Kratos stared at his old weapons, bringing about flashbacks at what he was capable of doing with them.

In the end, I was just excited to put away the ax for a while and slice through waves of enemies with hot metal.

Marvel’s Spider-Man – Peter V.S Octavius

We all knew this fight was going to happen, but it was still exciting watching it play out. Spider-Man had to take on the same man that he looked up to and worked for for years. What made this scene so special is the fact that Dr. Octavius knew that Peter Parker was Spider-Man the entire time.

Listening to Peter yell out, “You Knew?!?” only added to the emotion I felt as I could put myself in his shoes during his ultimate betrayal. Scenes like this are what made Marvel’s Spider-Man a critically acclaimed success. Reliving this scene has made me even more excited for Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

I can’t wait to see how Insomniac Games tells their next story.

The Witcher 3 – Attack On Kaer Morhen

There are a lot of things to like about this lengthy battle against the Wild Hunt while protecting Ciri. Everybody had a role to play in this chaotic situation and things escalated fairly quickly as the Wild Hunt came in full force.

Watching the crew go about their plans and improvising as needed had me at the edge of my seat. The cut scenes were action-packed, the emotion was high and we even got to see Ciri in action. Depending on how you played throughout the game, you might have had a slightly different scenario than others. This particular battle was done well by Cd Projekt Red, as you could never guess how things would play out.

There are plenty of other breathtaking video game moments that I haven’t mentioned and I’m sure I’ll be posting another addition to this list. For now, what are some of your favorite breathtaking video game moments?

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