Pre-E3 06: Halo 3 first look

Before people could even start foaming at the mouth and overturning cars in excitement after Microsoft's press conference today, the first trailer of Halo 3 emerged on Bungie's website. And now you can see it for yourself.

You won't know this by watching, but the scene takes place in the African desert, about a third of the way through the game. The three-mile-wide structure that opens up is actually a weapon built by the Forerunners - the race that constructs the Halos. It's now poised to annihilate the Earth. Amidst this grisly image, Master Chief appears, as the voice of digital-vixen Cortana lays out this happy message:

"I define gods and devils. I am your shield. I am your sword. I know you - your past, your future. This is the way the world ends."

Halo 3 will finish the ongoing story that began in 2001 on the original Xbox. As it's dealing with the end of civilization, this game will pack more despair and darkness than the previous titles.

Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE.