- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Bungie faces a unique problem with aerial combat in Halo 2. Obviously the fan base would love another flying craft, more than likely from human origin. And with what we know about "Assault" game mode and the fact that human teams can be pitted against alien teams, it would seem likely (although unconfirmed) that the humans would have their own flying craft. But right now the Banshee is an extremely comfortable vehicle, made so because it was the only one from the original game of its kind. This makes them creating another vehicle either a redundancy of the Banshee or an uncomfortable-controlling craft. And we as fans don't want either.
Another problem is that there needs to be a balance without making them too similar in control and style. The Banshee is very easy vehicle to use, so they need to make it different in some form, but they still would want people to still want to use it despite the other new vehicle. So, they can't make the new vehicle easier and with better weapons. There has to be a balance.
The vehicle I thought of is a two man craft, the bulk of it an elongated shaft similar to the ones used in the fighter planes of the first half of last century (about one and a half the size of the Banshee). The top of the shaft would be open and have two seats, one pointing forward (the driver) and the other pointing toward the rear with a turret similar to the Warthog's mounted in back. The wings could actually slant diagonally towards the ground and forward (the inverse of how they are on modern planes), making it an aesthetically original look.
Now the way this would work is that there would be a pilot, he would board into the front seat and would handle the control machinations as well as the missile launcher. It would have a timer similar to the one on the Scorpion Tank (delaying fire appropriately during reloading). The vehicle would control using a similar technology to the Pelicans, and would accelerate around the same speed as a Banshee. The rear gunner would carry the main assault support, firing 12.7 x 99mm rounds in a full 180 degree direction (meaning that it would only cover the rear of the craft, and to the left and right). This basically means that the driver would have control over the missles and the rear gunner would control fire fights to the rear of the craft, forcing the driver and the gunner to be in constant communication with each other one where other crafts are in their vacinity.
This would do several things. Apart from being an interesting build and using the same technology and weapons scheme of the other human vehicles (making it seem realistic within the Halo universe), it allows the Banshee to remain a "wanted item" instead of pushing it to the side completely with a bigger, better vehicle. People will still want to fly by themselves and have full control over the weapons, making the Banshee worthwhile. However, it also adds a new dynamic (or at least a new take on the old), forcing the pilot to use his skills at controlling the craft, and getting his gunner into position (much like we had to take out the opposition in the air and on the ground. It would require more teamwork and co-ordination than with a Warthog because you're dealing with multiple levels and planes, as well as opposition fire from in the air and on the ground below. With Xbox Live it would be perfect.
[Edited on 4/26/2004 3:01:33 PM]