- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Here you go Fetor. I created this a while back... but luckily I had it in an email I sent to another fan so I still have it. A full description of what the overhead Icons are like in Halo2.
Frankie, our Bungie Insider, talked about it but wouldn't give us any details but I've been going over that 19 second in game video from e3. He spoke of a revolutionary new means of tracking your comrades in battle. He promised that we would never again be searching desperately for that ally of yours that is calling for help. All you had in Halo1 to guide you was a green arrow indicator over your head. One that was identical to every other member on your team. Which was your beleaguered comrade?
First comes the synopsis of what I think has been done (the interesting stuff) followed by my observations in the very end. (for people to evaluate)
Now. All of your team members possess an icon over their heads. I am fairly certain that this Icon is the very same symbol you select for your "customizable" armour and uniquely identifies you from your other team-mates. Thus, when your friend "Flaming Ninja" asks for your help all you need do is swivel about and look for his Icon.
What is interesting to note is that the icon is surrounded by a border that forms an arrow pointing down at the combatant. This borders changes colours throughout the match.
Blue Border: Neutral State. Nothing's happening to your ally.
Yellow Border: Your ally is firing his Weapon
Red Border: Your ally is taking Hits
The Big Red X: You ally has died.
In this way, you can quickly evaluate the battle around you. Where the hot firefights are. Where which of your allies is, and in the case of an elaborate battle plan, if people are where they are supposed to be. (This also allows you to set up reserve forces and a slew of other awesome strategies for hardcore clan warfare.)
In this I think Bungie has scored tremendous points. Frankie was correct. This is an amazing feature that I'm very excited about.
Observations taken from the 19 second vid of in game multi-play: Not all of your friends possess the same Icons. Two of them for example are uniquely different. The rocket firing Spartan in the first few seconds has a circular yellow filled Icon. The one in the warthog in the last few seconds has a more open has something of a blue and green bio-hazard looking symbol.
Watch in the first few seconds when the Spartan fires the rocket. His border flashes to yellow from blue at the moment he fires the rocket and then back again, supporting my "firing" theory. Also... at the very end... while the warthog is racing away, the Spartan's border flashes red as he's getting hit!!
Finally, in the last few seconds you see the fabled "X" Icon that shows one of your allies has died. Thank you Stosh and Fragzor for identifying it.
Now Stosh, Fragzor... how about those Fusion Cores?