Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Halo: Reach. The emotional effect
  • Subject: Halo: Reach. The emotional effect
Subject: Halo: Reach. The emotional effect

“If I had more skill in what I'm attempting, I wouldn't need so much courage”

Lets face it, we all love Halo and have become part of something greater than really has ever been conceived. Superman, James Bond, these 2 iconic story lines have become embedded in most 25+ year olds heads. What they hold is something that lies within our minds, its the idea of 1 man can make a difference, 1 man can do great things. However, in the Halo universe, we are for the first time really immersed in a reality that displays how a team is formed and forged in battle. The Master Chief, is for all time inexplicably etched in our dreams and fantasies, the team of Spartans, now has a firm grip on the idea of the team. Without the support of Marines and other support personnel, the Master Chief, would not be where he is. What this means is, we all know the Master Chief, now we get to meet his brothers and sisters.

What is the emotional effect that this new story line will have on us? I believe that it will only bring us closer to knowing who the Spartans are. What goes on inside their heads when not in battle, what they think of when a comrade is lost by their side. We have read the books and know that Master Chief holds Sam close to his heart and the death of his friend has laid heavily on his mind. The faceless Master Chief, has effectively allowed each and every player globally to lend their own personality to the Chief character in the game, we know is voice, but the relevance of not seeing his face, brings us closer to really feeling and knowing what is going on inside a Spartan.

This new chapter, will in my opinion, not only intrigue and boost our morale, but bring a whole new level of emotional connection to the characters and game.

Discuss your thoughts.

  • 06.26.2009 3:16 PM PDT

what morale? were killing virtual people. No need to have emotions that -blam!- -blam!-.

  • 06.26.2009 3:18 PM PDT

Thats a bit sappy. You a chick? jk. I think you might be right but who knows?

  • 06.26.2009 3:20 PM PDT

“If I had more skill in what I'm attempting, I wouldn't need so much courage”

Not quite the thought I was expecting, but ok. Its not the value of killing virtual people, its the value that each and every person has in the back of their head. Its the life the people lead as fantasy, not reality. Its called "daydreaming".

  • 06.26.2009 3:21 PM PDT

“If I had more skill in what I'm attempting, I wouldn't need so much courage”

No, I am not a chick. Also, I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn last night. I have just read numerous postings here and for the most part all rotate around the thoughts of the Spartans. It just seems that this new chapter is going to mouths salivate, dreams and ideas run rampant. All these things have emotional content to them. I am just saying that this new chapter will be INSANE! I am having a custom made bib made for me out of the skins of king charles spaniel puppies just for this event! JK

[Edited on 06.26.2009 3:25 PM PDT]

  • 06.26.2009 3:24 PM PDT

Doc: "i'm a pacifist"
Caboose: "your a thing that babies suck on?"
Tucker: "no dude, that's a pedephile"
Church: "tucker, i think he means a pacifier"

Personally I think that Halo3 had the most dramatic story out of the games, really pushing the relationship between Cortana and MC. As a huge fan of the Halo universe I enjoy any aspect of the story, and it was pretty sad in after it's all said and done. It hasn't really effected me personally, but it is definately a great story that can hit home.

Personally i've found that the books do a much better job at this, the end of Ghosts of Onyx (involving Kurt) was one of the sadest moments in the established storyline. Personally I hope that Reach pushes to tell a more grown-up story, and that it tells it in depth. There is so much more to explore in the Halo universe that "shoot the other guy". CyberFreak had a good post about this awhile back.

  • 06.26.2009 3:31 PM PDT

“If I had more skill in what I'm attempting, I wouldn't need so much courage”

Posted by: SweetTRIX
Personally I think that Halo3 had the most dramatic story out of the games, really pushing the relationship between Cortana and MC. As a huge fan of the Halo universe I enjoy any aspect of the story, and it was pretty sad in after it's all said and done. It hasn't really effected me personally, but it is definately a great story that can hit home.

Personally i've found that the books do a much better job at this, the end of Ghosts of Onyx (involving Kurt) was one of the sadest moments in the established storyline. Personally I hope that Reach pushes to tell a more grown-up story, and that it tells it in depth. There is so much more to explore in the Halo universe that "shoot the other guy". CyberFreak had a good post about this awhile back.


Sweet - I completly agree with you on the emotional effect that the books have compared to the actual game. I was reading what Cyber had to say in a few posts, but what you have said, "more grown-up story", is exactly the response that I was looking for. I hope it plays true.

  • 06.26.2009 3:34 PM PDT
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I think the story should have a huge emotional effect on the player. It's not very often a game can achieve that, first you need to get the player attached to certain characters, then you have to put those characters through hell, physically or mentally. This way it makes the player feel sad for the characters. Of course there are other ways of getting that emotional effect I was just giving an example there.

[Edited on 06.26.2009 3:51 PM PDT]

  • 06.26.2009 3:50 PM PDT

I agree... when Johnson died, I was sad. I also have always felt really bad for the Chief... if you read the books, you can see that he is just wiped out from all that fighting. I mean, over the course of every game we have known, he has gotten like 2 days of sleep over something like 3 months (not exact numbers, I am probably exaggerating, but you get my point.) I think that with the oncoming "team" scenarios like in ODST and now possibly in Reach, you are going to feel a lot more, mainly due to the fact that you are going to be/ be fighting with these characters.

  • 06.26.2009 4:23 PM PDT

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I think the emotional aspect will be quite non-existent unless were viewing portions of the story from Dr. Halseys point of view. The reason i say this is because the SPARTANs have no emotions. They were trained to become superior to normal soldiers. By doing this they had to remove any possible interference in combat, one of which is emotions.

  • 06.26.2009 4:29 PM PDT

Posted by: Spartan 90210
I think the emotional aspect will be quite non-existent unless were viewing portions of the story from Dr. Halseys point of view. The reason i say this is because the SPARTANs have no emotions. They were trained to become superior to normal soldiers. By doing this they had to remove any possible interference in combat, one of which is emotions.

Huh... Kurt seemed pretty sad when all of his Spartan-IIIs were dying. And the rest of Blue Team seemed pretty happy to see Kurt. Plus there is the gesture that symbolizes smiling... but maybe I am mistaken...

  • 06.26.2009 4:39 PM PDT

I don't join any group that spams me in PM so don't try it.
SPAM applies to anything that is copy and pasted, it is very obvious when you do so don't say you wrote it. Also if you argue with me on the nature of things contained in this signature, you will be blocked and never removed. If you send to me in XBox live you will be Avoided, Blocked, and a complaint will be filed for harassment.

No, I play a game to shoot things. Halo: Combat Evolved was interesting but in reality the only game that actually emotionally impacted me was Brothers in Arms. Awesome game to be sure.

  • 06.26.2009 4:49 PM PDT
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Your friendly and eccentric Sangheili forum-poster. :)

Posted by: Justice One Duo
Posted by: Spartan 90210
I think the emotional aspect will be quite non-existent unless were viewing portions of the story from Dr. Halseys point of view. The reason i say this is because the SPARTANs have no emotions. They were trained to become superior to normal soldiers. By doing this they had to remove any possible interference in combat, one of which is emotions.

Huh... Kurt seemed pretty sad when all of his Spartan-IIIs were dying. And the rest of Blue Team seemed pretty happy to see Kurt. Plus there is the gesture that symbolizes smiling... but maybe I am mistaken...

No you're right. Even Spartans feel emotions, I'm sure that's mentioned in one of the books, they're just tougher to break than normal humans.

  • 06.26.2009 5:18 PM PDT

Doc: "i'm a pacifist"
Caboose: "your a thing that babies suck on?"
Tucker: "no dude, that's a pedephile"
Church: "tucker, i think he means a pacifier"

Posted by: Honourable Elite
Posted by: Justice One Duo
Posted by: Spartan 90210
I think the emotional aspect will be quite non-existent unless were viewing portions of the story from Dr. Halseys point of view. The reason i say this is because the SPARTANs have no emotions. They were trained to become superior to normal soldiers. By doing this they had to remove any possible interference in combat, one of which is emotions.

Huh... Kurt seemed pretty sad when all of his Spartan-IIIs were dying. And the rest of Blue Team seemed pretty happy to see Kurt. Plus there is the gesture that symbolizes smiling... but maybe I am mistaken...

No you're right. Even Spartans feel emotions, I'm sure that's mentioned in one of the books, they're just tougher to break than normal humans.


Mentioned in several instances actually, MC often has lingering thoughts of doubt and regret about his squad-mates and the orders he must give. Kelly has come very close to acting on emotion a couple times (the incident with Sam being a big one). Kurt was visably upsetted by what was happening with his troops.

Spartans are simply fortified, mentally and emotionally, they are not robots. They feel, and were they forced into a life without war i'm sure they would eventually adapt to a "normal" way of life.

  • 06.26.2009 5:58 PM PDT

I never felt like Halo games were emotionally involving. They're more like describing themes, etc.

  • 06.26.2009 6:28 PM PDT

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>>>WARNING<<< YOUR SESSION HAS BEEN LOGGED. SECURITY HAS BEEN DISPATCHED TO YOUR POSITION. CLOSE FILES IMMEDIATELY.

Posted by: SweetTRIX
Posted by: Honourable Elite
Posted by: Justice One Duo
Huh... Kurt seemed pretty sad when all of his Spartan-IIIs were dying. And the rest of Blue Team seemed pretty happy to see Kurt. Plus there is the gesture that symbolizes smiling... but maybe I am mistaken...

No you're right. Even Spartans feel emotions, I'm sure that's mentioned in one of the books, they're just tougher to break than normal humans.


Mentioned in several instances actually, MC often has lingering thoughts of doubt and regret about his squad-mates and the orders he must give. Kelly has come very close to acting on emotion a couple times (the incident with Sam being a big one). Kurt was visably upsetted by what was happening with his troops.

Spartans are simply fortified, mentally and emotionally, they are not robots. They feel, and were they forced into a life without war i'm sure they would eventually adapt to a "normal" way of life.
I should have been clearer i apologize. I was trying to say that they never show any sign of emotions. It doesn't matter if they have them, if they aren't showing them you the player can't experience those emotions. Unless of course bungie has one of those weird first person thought things.

  • 06.26.2009 6:33 PM PDT

I agree with the emotional aspect of the games, plus Marty O Donnell does a great job at using the music to achieve the desired emotion.

  • 06.26.2009 6:33 PM PDT
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Just call me Najar.

Posted by: xlRainlx
I agree with the emotional aspect of the games, plus Marty O Donnell does a great job at using the music to achieve the desired emotion.


yeah, marty does an excelent job with the music, and even if the spartans have been trained to have less emotional feellings, they still have them, as they are humans.

[Edited on 06.26.2009 8:10 PM PDT]

  • 06.26.2009 8:08 PM PDT
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Yea i understand about what he meens by he wouldnt be where he was if it were not for his Fellow Spartans and Marine Teachers and it was when he became a leader he started to have his full potential because at first all he cared about was himself and winning...But after they were all gone he went back to his Lone Wolf personality because he couldnt count on anyone the same as he could a Spartan and once they were gone he lost his Leadership qualities

  • 06.26.2009 8:14 PM PDT

I think they could probably have some kind of sqaud radio thing, so it could be like your fellow Spartan is being attacked and you frantically rush to save him. That would make me happy.

  • 06.26.2009 8:22 PM PDT
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This is a good idea. Spartans show emotions to each other aswell. When they regroup they always put the finger up to where the mouth would be to express feelings of joy that there comrades are together. I hope Bungie can show John feelings somehow from most of his comrades dieing. The only game thats gotten good emotion from me was Gears of War 2 when Maria died. I actually wanted to kick some Locust ass.

  • 06.26.2009 9:17 PM PDT

Doc: "i'm a pacifist"
Caboose: "your a thing that babies suck on?"
Tucker: "no dude, that's a pedephile"
Church: "tucker, i think he means a pacifier"

Posted by: Spartan 90210
Posted by: SweetTRIX
Posted by: Honourable Elite
Posted by: Justice One Duo
Huh... Kurt seemed pretty sad when all of his Spartan-IIIs were dying. And the rest of Blue Team seemed pretty happy to see Kurt. Plus there is the gesture that symbolizes smiling... but maybe I am mistaken...

No you're right. Even Spartans feel emotions, I'm sure that's mentioned in one of the books, they're just tougher to break than normal humans.


Mentioned in several instances actually, MC often has lingering thoughts of doubt and regret about his squad-mates and the orders he must give. Kelly has come very close to acting on emotion a couple times (the incident with Sam being a big one). Kurt was visably upsetted by what was happening with his troops.

Spartans are simply fortified, mentally and emotionally, they are not robots. They feel, and were they forced into a life without war i'm sure they would eventually adapt to a "normal" way of life.
I should have been clearer i apologize. I was trying to say that they never show any sign of emotions. It doesn't matter if they have them, if they aren't showing them you the player can't experience those emotions. Unless of course bungie has one of those weird first person thought things.


I guess it depends on how you read emotion, I thought MC's response to Lord Hood after viewing Cortana's message (Halo 3) was quite emotional. Not being able to see a persons face can certainly hurt the ability to convey emotion, but it doesn't remove it. It certainly is not obvious however, especially in the games, MC is treated like a damn robot in the games.

  • 06.28.2009 1:14 AM PDT