Halo 3: ODST Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: What do you think of the silent hero motif?
  • Subject: What do you think of the silent hero motif?
Subject: What do you think of the silent hero motif?
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

So apparently the player is controlling the rookie ODST member, a character who "doesn't say much."

Ok, it was cute and funny when NPCs made reference to Gordon Freeman's complete silence. I didn't think the fact that the Master Chief was relatively inexpressive really added to the experience of Halo, but it is on record that such was a very intentional narrative device to allow the player to conjure his/her own thoughts and emotions as they played. However, this belief that the protagonist needs to be a blank slate has got to go. Maybe the main character of ODST will in fact prove to have some personality, but so far ODST is not being promoted as such.

Having the main character be completely uninteresting and unmotivated is not a narrative device; indeed, it is the complete opposite. Bungie, you've got to cut this crap out.

But what do you guys think?

  • 08.13.2009 3:50 PM PDT

7.8.9

This thread is stupid.

  • 08.13.2009 3:52 PM PDT

Forum Rules for those who care to know what they are.

"Bs: Blame stosh for all of your BS!"

The reason why the Chief was quiet and faceless was because of player syncing. It could allow the player to make themselves what was behind the mask. Because chief was spartan and MC, he had dialogue though. The Rookie is very human as far as we know and not having a voice nor face totally makes it syncable for any player.

[Edited on 08.13.2009 3:53 PM PDT]

  • 08.13.2009 3:52 PM PDT

▀▄Halo 2 Strategy- complete, Halo 3 Strategy- in progress...▄▀
▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀MJOLNIR BATTLE TACTICS▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀


Join the community that’s taking H3 fan submissions seriously.
-------------------------------> Popular Fusion <-------------------------------

I like where Bungie's going with this. I hate to control players who are pompous or talk a lot. It's annoying, I don't want to shoot a grunt and hear my player say something stupid like "boom headshot" or anything to that effect. That's what the other A.I controlled players are for.

  • 08.13.2009 3:53 PM PDT

"Momma didn't raise no fool."

Maybe the Rookie's personality is whoever is controlling him.

  • 08.13.2009 3:55 PM PDT

Check out my youtube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/ultratog1028

that way it makes players feel more like they are controlling thier players. the easiest way to match everyone's personality is to match noones. hence complete silence.

  • 08.13.2009 3:57 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I'm not suggesting that you should put in stupid dialogue in there at all. In fact, I hate such when NPCs do it as well. I understand their logic behind this notion of a "syncable" character, but I don't think it actually is necessary, and it certainly wasn't used to interesting affect in Halo 3. Not only did Master Chief not have personality, but no one really talked about his motives or anything. At least in the first game, the action made me feel like a hero to some degree, but having no personality for the main character makes everything feel like "business as usual" in Halo 3. In Halo 2, we had the Arbiter for our sense of purposefulness, but Halo 3 had nothing like that.

  • 08.13.2009 4:03 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

And besides, playing the role of a character with whom you may not fully empathize is kind of the point; you are taking on the role of something that you are not, something new and interesting. Giving the player a blank slate does not a good FPS make. Part of what makes Bioshock so interesting is that the playable character's motivations change drastically from the beginning of the story to the end. You're character is what sells you on what you're doing; without personality, you are really just part of the scenery.

To be honest, I can hardly believe anyone is defending Bungie on this point. I agree that a blank slate is the easiest route, and that is what makes it so sloppy.



[Edited on 08.13.2009 4:17 PM PDT]

  • 08.13.2009 4:15 PM PDT

Mythical Group

There is no greater catharsis than arguing on the Flood.

Posted by: Master Cheif4490
I like where Bungie's going with this. I hate to control players who are pompous or talk a lot. It's annoying, I don't want to shoot a grunt and hear my player say something stupid like "boom headshot" or anything to that effect. That's what the other A.I controlled players are for.

*Thinks about CoD: WaW zombies game*

  • 08.13.2009 4:18 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

the faceless hero is what makes halo unique. In most games, you play as a character with a face, voice, and personality. In these games, it is more like controlling the character rather than being the hero. in halo, you dont control the hero, you are the hero.

[Edited on 08.13.2009 4:22 PM PDT]

  • 08.13.2009 4:21 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

The rookie is awesome because of what he will go through to reunite with his squad, who he hardly knows, and that says a lot about him.

  • 08.13.2009 4:29 PM PDT

_______ ____(˜˜˜||˜˜˜˜||˜˜˜˜˜)_∏______
--------____.`=====.-.~:________\___|================[oo
|_|||___/___/_/~```|_|_|_|``(o)----------<)

maybe the rookie's a mute. Has anyone thought of that O_o

On a serious note, he really isn't gonna have much of a chance to talk, most of the cutscenes in this game are probably gonna be during another squadmates flashback and stuff. If he does have any cutscenes, then itll be during the last two BIG BADASS FINALE missions

  • 08.13.2009 4:34 PM PDT

oh gawd

The silence allows the player install his or her character own personality in the character giving the player a more emotional attachment to the game. I personally like the quite main characters but it doesn't work all the time though.

  • 08.13.2009 4:35 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Dorn2012
the faceless hero is what makes halo unique. In most games, you play as a character with a face, voice, and personality. In these games, it is more like controlling the character rather than being the hero. in halo, you dont control the hero, you are the hero.


Actually, the first Half-Life came out three years before Halo. Gordon Freeman has no dialogue and is never seen in the game. So... unique? Not really. Story is what puts you in the role of hero, not killing enemies. Making a distinction between "controlling the hero" and "being the hero" is dubious as regards playing a video game.

  • 08.13.2009 4:35 PM PDT

▀▄Halo 2 Strategy- complete, Halo 3 Strategy- in progress...▄▀
▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀MJOLNIR BATTLE TACTICS▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀


Join the community that’s taking H3 fan submissions seriously.
-------------------------------> Popular Fusion <-------------------------------

I personally love the way the Master Chief is. He's that way in the books as well. Mysterious and doesn't talk all the time. I really think that would ruin the game if he talked a lot. And like others are saying, synchable characters work best.

  • 08.13.2009 4:56 PM PDT