- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
The old sword looked like it was made of plasma held in place by an electromagnetic field, the same kind of tech all the rest of the Covenant weapons except the Needler use.
The patterns within the new sword suggest that it is partially composed of particulate matter - the stuff that forms the cutting edge. Other evidence of this is that the player seems to swipe the energy sword handle forward as the shield charges. This "molecular dust" would be held in place by what looks like the same type of energy as the kind that is projected by stationary Covenant shields on the ground. Also, there appear to be sparks arcing along the blade in the E3 2K4 preview, suggesting that this shielding energy is charged with electricity.
So, the old sword would incur damage by simple vaporizing anything that got in its way, while the new sword reshapes itself and forms a cutting edge that is sharpened down to the atmoic level, kind of like the Dragon Tooth sword from Deus Ex does.
The new sword wins for coolness, but the old one looks like it would be more effective against vehicles.
[Edited on 5/12/2004 2:34:08 PM]