I consider the story the main reason I love Halo.
I remember when I first played Halo. I did not have a xbox original, but It released for the pc, I didn't buy it, but my mom pirated it for me (I know pirating is bad) I finished it in one sitting, I was 12 years old and only played games such as unreal and counter strike.
I fell in love with the universe, the Masterchief became a hero in my eyes and I never let go.
Halo 2 came out, but I did not have a xbox original and even when it was released for pc I could not play it since I had no Vista OS.
But a few years later the xbox 360 was released and of course Halo 3 was announced. I worked all summer long to be able to buy a 360, I had a meager pay of 2,20 an hour and only worked 5 hours or even less a day. I saved up all my money, didn't spend a dime of it.
And just before my before my birthday I bought my 360, with the elder scrolls IV: Oblivion. I was so incredibly proud of myself.
Then Halo 3 was released, I played 2 already (PC ugrade and such) I finished the game so fast, I played it on one of those old TV's and could barely make out the subtitles, but I loved it. When I first finished it I did not see the post credits scene and presumed that the chief was dead and so one of my childhood heroes and I teared up, I could not believe it. The next day at school a friend of mine told me to see the after credits scene.
I went home, booted my game and went trough the whole last campaign mission, all the while thinking: Could it be, is he still alive?
I cheered loudly when it turned out he was, but sadly the chief was lost in space.
ODST came and Reach as well, but I kept on wondering, what about chief, what about Cortana.
Well now you probably understand that when Halo 4 was announced, I jumped up, I shouted yes, I cheered.
After many months, it reseleased and when Cortana died, once again I teared up.
The reason I love Halo is not because of the multiplayer or the mechanics or the vehicles, it is the story, the lore to me is important, Halo shaped a big part of my childhood and it's a big part of who I am and what I like.
But it also gave me great advice: "Never make a girl a promise you can't keep."
Regardless of gender I live by this advice, a man's word is his worth.