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  • Subject: Allegorical elements in Halo Reach
Subject: Allegorical elements in Halo Reach

I'm a fan of good storytelling. As a writer, I try to notice how other successful writers tell their stories. I am also a fan of the Halo franchise, but I am not a "hardcore" fan, so please enjoy this post for what it is and take it with a grain of salt. I am much more of a fan of Bungie as they are a machine capable of producing remarkably well told stories and distributing those stories to a massive market.

There is no doubt that Bungie crafts incredible stories, remarkable universes filled with depth and grandeur. Some have speculated that the Halo franchise is a biblical allegory. There's no denying that biblical themes are very present in the Halo narrative. However, it seems that with Halo Reach, Bungie intended to steer clear of more blatantly biblical themes. While the story of Reach is not a full allegory, it is still filled with depth. With this post I hope to bring to light a few of Halo Reach's subtle allegorical elements, and generate discussion about the story in general.



Halo: Combat Evolved


Halo Reach is a sort of allegorical homage to Halo: Combat Evolved.


The Halo Reach campaign consists of ten levels (not including the opening cutscene) just like the original Halo. Several of these levels are clearly in homage to the Combat Evolved campaign: most notably the mission Nightfall which is similar to the level Truth and Reconciliation in both visuals and gameplay. The Reach level Winter Contingency is also noticeably similar to the level Halo.


The Reach level Exodus is the sixth level in the campaign; this coincides with the level 343 Guilty Spark in Combat Evolved. As the level which introduces the Flood 343 Guilty Spark was certainly one of the most frightening levels in the Combat Evolved campaign. Up until this point in Reach, the player has not fought against Brutes. The level Exodus begins showing the player a courtyard filled with dead civilians. Then the player fights through dark halls crawling with suicidal covenant. When the player climbs out of the dark halls, brutes arrive attacking and killing more civilians. Finally at the end of Exodus, the Covenant destroy a transport filled with civilian passengers. It seems that the Brutes are meant to fill the "fear factor" role of the Flood in Halo Reach. Brutes are only seen in Exodus and the following levels, just like the Flood in Combat Evolved.

The level immediately following 343 Guilty Spark is The Library. In Reach the level following Exodus is New Alexandria. The city of Alexandria, named after Alexander the Great, was famous for its library, so the name New Alexandria is a clever reference to the seventh level of Combat Evolved.


The level The Pillar of Autumn in Halo Reach, is visually similar to the desert environment in which the level The Maw in Combat Evolved takes place. The Pillar of Autumn rests at the edge of a canyon at the end of Halo Reach, just as it does at the end of Combat Evolved.


Other references to Combat Evolved include Kat's "Latchkey" discovery which bears similarity to the Combat Evolved Index, and the levels Oni Sword Base and The Package. Both the "Latchkey" and the "Index" unlock Forerunner secrets. Oni Sword Base resembles the Halo control room both visually, and in the fact that it is visited twice in the campaign, just as the control room is visited twice in Combat Evolved. It is also interesting to note that the Oni architecture fills the role of the Forerunner architecture in past Halo games in its grey, sleek, and highly modernized aesthetic.



[Edited on 02.09.2012 6:22 PM PST]

  • 01.21.2012 9:04 AM PDT


"Bungie's Alternate Canon"

To the chagrin of much of Halo's fanbase, Bungie broke canon with Halo Reach. Most of these canon breaks are subtle and do not greatly affect the 343i canon, but some of the subtle canon breaks could have a huge impact on the story.
If the books are ignored completely, and only the Bungie games treated as canon, the Halo saga would be very different from the 343i Halo. With Halo Reach, Bungie subtly implied an alternate canon which allows the Bungie created games to remain separate and standalone from 343i's.



Cortana as a Forerunner A.I.?


The vagueness surrounding Cortana's portrayal in Halo Reach lead many players to believe that she was an A.I. of Forerunner origin. This was certainly implied heavily through dialogue, however there is not enough evidence in the game to prove it true. There is also not enough evidence to deny it except for the 343i canon, in which Cortana was created by Catherine Halsey. If only the Bungie games are canon, then Cortana could certainly be a Forerunner A.I. If that were true, it would add a whole new layer of mystery surrounding the relationship between John and Cortana, and it would add a lot of depth to the story in general.



Reach and the Legendary Planet

Bungie's tag line for Halo Reach was "From the beginning, you know the end." If only Bungie's games are treated as canon, then this video (which recieved many dislikes because it's assertion of non 343i canon) has some plausibility. The legendary planet and Reach are similar visually. If it is the case that John 117 landed on Reach, then it would bring Bungie's Halo saga to a nice close. "From the beginning (Reach) you know the end (Reach)."





[Edited on 02.07.2012 9:47 PM PST]

  • 01.21.2012 9:05 AM PDT



Fun Flukes and Anomalies


In the level Long Night of Solace Jorge speaks in an unknown language - it is possible that he says something of significance to the story

In the level Nightfall a group of colonists says that they refused to evacuate their colony because they didn't feel like leaving it up to someone else to defend their home. In Exodus a female marine says that they (the marines) had orders to evacuate, but that they stayed behind because they "didn't like leaving a job unfinished". The repetition of this theme suggests that Bungie is trying to say something. Perhaps those bits of dialogue are in reference to members of the Bungie team who formed 343i; they "stayed behind" to finish the Halo saga (even though it has already been brought to a nice close in the alternate canon).

It seems that the enigmatic character Jun, in Halo Reach was meant to resemble the Master Chief. He is clearly not, but they bear undeniable similarities in name, armour color, and armour style (John wears Mark V and Jun wears the visually similar "Scout" helmet). Jun is also the only surviving member of Noble Team, which lead many players to believe that he was in fact the Master Chief. While this is clearly not the case, the similarities are notable. Jun will remain an enigma, but it is possible that Jun was meant by Bungie to be a metaphorical representation of John 117 simply for the sake of entertaining storytelling.


At the end of the level Winter Contingency Noble Six is stabbed by a Zealot elite. This mirrors the end of the level Lone Wolf in which Six is killed in a similar manner. This is nice touch of foreshadowing.


The Lego action figure series Bionicle features six elemental heroes. Each has a distinctive look, their own unique color and personality, and in almost every iteration of Bionicle the blue Bionicle hero is a female. There are brown, black, blue, green, white, and red Bionicles who's aesthetics seem to match up with Jorge, Emile, Kat, Jun, Carter, and Noble Six. Now I'm not saying that it is an exact match, but take into consideration that Bionicle and Halo: Combat Evolved both came out in 2001. Kids who played with the origional Bionicles are now in Bungie's target demographic. Its plausible that Bungie based the Noble Team characters on the Bionicles in order to give Reach more appeal to that generation. Something to think about.


This poem seems to be the inspiration for the Noble Six character.


In Combat Evolved captain Keyes has a Marathon logo next to his medals. The Marathon logo was also present on the Pillar of Autumn, but they were removed in Reach. The logo on Keyes chest is now a "septagon" and the logo on the side of the ship is replaced with a circular node.


Well, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Bungie creates incredible stories and I'm excited to see where they will take us next. If I missed any allegorical elements, references in Reach to past Halo or Bungie games, narrative easter eggs, and the like, please feel free to fill in the gaps.






[Edited on 02.09.2012 5:20 PM PST]

  • 01.21.2012 9:13 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

I find it almost insuing, to be honest. Like so many prequels, Reach relies on the imagery of the original and convolutes it to an unforgivable point. Can they not do something new? Why did Bungie have to conform to using the nostlgia factor to try to make their game look good? It clearly hasn't worked, every other Halo game did something new and clever but Reach just relied on the basis of Halo CE.

With Halo Reach, Bungie created an alternate canon which allows the Bungie created games to remain separate from 343i's.

You make this sound like it's a good thing. Halo isn't about having these 2 companies with Bungie slapping their name on a box that contradicts a series of books that they commissioned and called canonical. The story as a whole should slot together, and whilst the book had its problems because of typos it's almost insignificant compared to the drivel in the game.

The vagueness surrounding Cortana's portrayal in Halo Reach lead many players to believe that she was an A.I. of Forerunner origin. This was certainly implied heavily through dialogue, however there is not enough evidence in the game to prove it true. There is also not enough evidence to deny it except for the 343i canon, in which Cortana was created by Catherine Halsey. If only the Bungie games are canon, then Cortana could certainly be a Forerunner A.I.

Are you actually joking? There was NEVER any evidence to even suggest that Cortana was a Forerunner AI. So because she was with Halsey at this "latchkey" artefact this somehow contradicts every other game and makes her a Forerunner AI? Then explain how in Halo CE she knew absolutely nothing about Halo and had very limited knowledge of the Forerunners, and how 343 GS didn't recognise her as a Forerunner construct.

Not to mention the fact that Halsey and Cortana are exactly the same in appearance and voice. Are you going to suggest that Halsey is a 100,000 year old Forerunner now? No, Halsey's journal (MADE BY BUNGIE) states that Cortana was created in 2549 by flash cloning her brain. There is nothing remotely special connecting her to the Forerunners.

Reach and the Legendary Planet

Stopped reading here. No. Never was this ever implied. In Halo 3, the final Terminal states that Mendicant Bias is sending John to the Forerunners as proof of his atonement. Why would John go to Reach? It has absolutely no significance.

Also, why do you assume that the crashed ship at the end is the Dawn? Did you skip the opening of Reach or something? You can see it right there behind the helmet when the planet is glassed.

Reach was the biggest naval engagement between the UNSC and the Covenant, there's like a 100% chance that one of the UNSC ships would have crashed and landed in Aszod - a SHIP-BREAKING YARD. You would have to be an utter moron to think that the Legendary Planet was Reach and the crashed ship behind Six's helmet was the Dawn.

You've done nothing but spout rubbish in the latter parts of your posts.

[Edited on 01.21.2012 9:24 AM PST]

  • 01.21.2012 9:22 AM PDT

I haven't read Halsey Journal and I'm sure it adds a lot to the Halo Lore.

In the end though, Halo is just a very well done game. The canon isn't perfect, but I don't think its worth getting worked up about.


The latter parts of my post are opinion and I don't mean for you to take them as absolute 'fact'. It is plausible though, that Bungie intended to create an alternate canon with Reach, seperate from 343i's. Bungie is great at telling stories, and while Reach certainly wasn't the best story they have told, I believe it is their best told story.


Sorry if I offended you.


[Edited on 01.21.2012 9:44 AM PST]

  • 01.21.2012 9:34 AM PDT

Expressing my strong liberal views without shame. Favorite quotes below:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"One starts to live when he can live outside himself."

- Albert Einstein

My problem with your post OP is your distinction of different "types" of canon.

There is no 343i canon, or Bungie canon, there is one canon of the Halo Universe, with different sources taking different priorities. Bungie did not intend to imply, at least I think, that Cortana was a Forerunner AI, especially since they shipped Halsey's Journal with the legendary edition which contradicts your inference.

Furthermore, I think you extrapolate too far when you say that Bungie's tagline to Reach extends to every game they made. The tagline was so prevalent because Reach was the turning point of the Covenant-Human war, and its destruction set in motion the events of the original trilogy, regardless of which version (novel or game) you consider.

  • 01.21.2012 10:03 AM PDT

You may be right about my assertions concerning the tagline, but I have seen other artist apply double meanings in their marketing before. Bungie's storytelling method is becoming not unlike Stanley Kubrick's (which is to say 'extremely nuanced').

The evidence for an 'alternate canon' is there (the fact that they chose to break canon at all is highly suggestive), but in any case, the existence of 'alternate canon' probably won't be proven or disproved without Bungie's word.


[Edited on 01.21.2012 10:26 AM PST]

  • 01.21.2012 10:25 AM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.

Cortana is not, and has never been a Forerunner AI. End of story. Reach is not the legendary planet. This was obvious before and even more obvious now that we have seen the planet up close. The Alexandria/Library connection is interesting though.

  • 01.21.2012 11:22 AM PDT

Cortana is not, and has never been a Forerunner AI. End of story. Reach is not the legendary planet. This was obvious before and even more obvious now that we have seen the planet up close. The Alexandria/Library connection is interesting though.

I don't think Cortana's origins are ever explicitly stated in the games, and it's my understanding that independent authors wrote the Halo books. Eric Nylund wrote Halsey's Journal. The fact that Bungie broke canon with Reach makes the 'alternate canon' hypothesis considerable.


On the Alexandria/Library reference; Glad you thought so. Bungie is great at telling stories, and the subtle Halo CE allegory is certainly evidence of that. Their style of storytelling is certainly maturing, and I'm eager to see what they do next with Destiny.


[Edited on 01.21.2012 12:40 PM PST]

  • 01.21.2012 12:39 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: SolidHNTR
Cortana is not, and has never been a Forerunner AI. End of story. Reach is not the legendary planet. This was obvious before and even more obvious now that we have seen the planet up close. The Alexandria/Library connection is interesting though.

I don't think Cortana's origins are ever explicitly stated in the games, and it's my understanding that independent authors wrote the Halo books. Eric Nylund wrote Halsey's Journal. The fact that Bungie broke canon with Reach makes the 'alternate canon' hypothesis considerable.


Nor are the origins of the Spartan-IIIs, which were also created by Nylund. There is no 'alternate canon' hypothesis with Reach, just a 'broken canon' actuality.

  • 01.21.2012 12:55 PM PDT
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Cortana was created from Dr. Halsey's cloned brain.

  • 01.21.2012 1:07 PM PDT
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(To discuss Halo 4.)

Yes, OP there are many similarities between CE and Reach.

However, there is one canon, and aside from a few inconsistencies, it works and it remains entirely plausible in its own sense, regardless of the implications.

  • 01.21.2012 1:13 PM PDT


Posted by: Quantam
Yes, OP there are many similarities between CE and Reach.

However, there is one canon, and aside from a few inconsistencies, it works and it remains entirely plausible in its own sense, regardless of the implications.


But the implications are there nonetheless. I never said the canon does not work in its own right. However with subtle implications, Bungie has given rise to the possibility of two totally separate canons.





Are you actually joking? There was NEVER any evidence to even suggest that Cortana was a Forerunner AI. So because she was with Halsey at this "latchkey" artefact this somehow contradicts every other game and makes her a Forerunner AI? Then explain how in Halo CE she knew absolutely nothing about Halo and had very limited knowledge of the Forerunners, and how 343 GS didn't recognise her as a Forerunner construct.

In order to further support my entirely plausible hypothesis, here is the definition of the word custodian.

"A person entrusted with the custody or care of something or someone; a caretaker or keeper" - from Google web definitions

In Reach Dr. Halsey refers to Cortana as the custodian of the Forerunner data. This line of dialouge implies that Cortana is a Forerunner A.I. tasked with the caring and keeping of Forerunner data.

Cortana would not recognize Halo or Guilty Spark because of the "compartmentalization" referenced in this cutscene.

Cortana being a Forerunner A.I. would also fail to "contradict every other game" because her origins are not discussed in Bungie's Halo games.

[Edited on 02.09.2012 5:23 PM PST]

  • 02.07.2012 9:16 PM PDT

About me: I am a vicious wolf of a man.

But really am sweet at heart. =)

Well, all I know is that Reach's story was pathetic in pretty much every way and every character was unlikeable and moronic.


So yeah, I suppose it does have some allegorical components.

One example being, some of the campaign reminded me of when I had food poisoning.

  • 02.07.2012 9:33 PM PDT

Gottalovec4

Well, all I know is that Reach's story was pathetic in pretty much every way and every character was unlikeable and moronic.


So yeah, I suppose it does have some allegorical components.

One example being, some of the campaign reminded me of when I had food poisoning.



Your negativity is not appreciated. Art is always controversial but it is never worth it to be derogatory towards art or artists.

It is imperative that you keep an open mind about this stuff.

Bungie has mastered the art of the subtle and that is part of what has made them so successful.

It is entirely possible that Bungie meant to imply an alternate canon.

[Edited on 02.07.2012 9:40 PM PST]

  • 02.07.2012 9:35 PM PDT

"What's up baby, how are you doin'? I hate the sound of my own voice and I been invited here to distract my self from the fact that I wrote all of this garbage."

Wow, universe forum is serious business. Some of you are maaaaad.

[Edited on 02.08.2012 4:32 PM PST]

  • 02.08.2012 4:32 PM PDT


Posted by: SolidHNTR

"Bungie's Alternate Canon"

To the chagrin of much of Halo's fanbase, Bungie broke canon with Halo Reach. Most of these canon breaks are subtle and do not greatly affect the 343i canon, but some of the subtle canon breaks could have a huge impact on the story.
If the books are ignored completely, and only the Bungie games treated as canon, the Halo saga would be very different from the 343i Halo. With Halo Reach, Bungie subtly implied an alternate canon which allows the Bungie created games to remain separate and standalone from 343i's.

Wait, what? Bungie didn't break the canon, 343i did. Halo: The Fall of Reach was written with the assistance of Bungie. Nearly everything in Halo: Reach, which I feel was mostly made by 343i, broke canon.


Posted by: SolidHNTR
Cortana as a Forerunner A.I.?


The vagueness surrounding Cortana's portrayal in Halo Reach lead many players to believe that she was an A.I. of Forerunner origin. This was certainly implied heavily through dialogue, however there is not enough evidence in the game to prove it true. There is also not enough evidence to deny it except for the 343i canon, in which Cortana was created by Catherine Halsey. If only the Bungie games are canon, then Cortana could certainly be a Forerunner A.I. If that were true, it would add a whole new layer of mystery surrounding the relationship between John and Cortana, and it would add a lot of depth to the story in general.

This is wrong. Besides referring to the actual canon as 343i canon and the broken as Bungie, Cortana was created by Halsey before the fall of Reach to aid Master Chief, therefore she couldn't have been there on Reach at that time.

  • 02.08.2012 5:14 PM PDT


Posted by: King Cepheus

Posted by: SolidHNTR

"Bungie's Alternate Canon"

To the chagrin of much of Halo's fanbase, Bungie broke canon with Halo Reach. Most of these canon breaks are subtle and do not greatly affect the 343i canon, but some of the subtle canon breaks could have a huge impact on the story.
If the books are ignored completely, and only the Bungie games treated as canon, the Halo saga would be very different from the 343i Halo. With Halo Reach, Bungie subtly implied an alternate canon which allows the Bungie created games to remain separate and standalone from 343i's.

Wait, what? Bungie didn't break the canon, 343i did. Halo: The Fall of Reach was written with the assistance of Bungie. Nearly everything in Halo: Reach, which I feel was mostly made by 343i, broke canon.


Posted by: SolidHNTR
Cortana as a Forerunner A.I.?


The vagueness surrounding Cortana's portrayal in Halo Reach lead many players to believe that she was an A.I. of Forerunner origin. This was certainly implied heavily through dialogue, however there is not enough evidence in the game to prove it true. There is also not enough evidence to deny it except for the 343i canon, in which Cortana was created by Catherine Halsey. If only the Bungie games are canon, then Cortana could certainly be a Forerunner A.I. If that were true, it would add a whole new layer of mystery surrounding the relationship between John and Cortana, and it would add a lot of depth to the story in general.

This is wrong. Besides referring to the actual canon as 343i canon and the broken as Bungie, Cortana was created by Halsey before the fall of Reach to aid Master Chief, therefore she couldn't have been there on Reach at that time.



If you disagree with my ideas, just say so, but don't post poorly constructed arguments.

Cortana being a forerunner A.I. is part of my hypothesis that Bungie created an "alternate canon" through subtle implication. It is not established canon.

I was also under the impression that Bungie made Halo Reach.



[Edited on 02.09.2012 5:10 PM PST]

  • 02.09.2012 5:06 PM PDT


Posted by: SolidHNTR

Posted by: King Cepheus

Posted by: SolidHNTR

"Bungie's Alternate Canon"

To the chagrin of much of Halo's fanbase, Bungie broke canon with Halo Reach. Most of these canon breaks are subtle and do not greatly affect the 343i canon, but some of the subtle canon breaks could have a huge impact on the story.
If the books are ignored completely, and only the Bungie games treated as canon, the Halo saga would be very different from the 343i Halo. With Halo Reach, Bungie subtly implied an alternate canon which allows the Bungie created games to remain separate and standalone from 343i's.

Wait, what? Bungie didn't break the canon, 343i did. Halo: The Fall of Reach was written with the assistance of Bungie. Nearly everything in Halo: Reach, which I feel was mostly made by 343i, broke canon.


Posted by: SolidHNTR
Cortana as a Forerunner A.I.?


The vagueness surrounding Cortana's portrayal in Halo Reach lead many players to believe that she was an A.I. of Forerunner origin. This was certainly implied heavily through dialogue, however there is not enough evidence in the game to prove it true. There is also not enough evidence to deny it except for the 343i canon, in which Cortana was created by Catherine Halsey. If only the Bungie games are canon, then Cortana could certainly be a Forerunner A.I. If that were true, it would add a whole new layer of mystery surrounding the relationship between John and Cortana, and it would add a lot of depth to the story in general.

This is wrong. Besides referring to the actual canon as 343i canon and the broken as Bungie, Cortana was created by Halsey before the fall of Reach to aid Master Chief, therefore she couldn't have been there on Reach at that time.



If you disagree with my ideas, just say so, but don't post poorly constructed arguments.

Cortana being a forerunner A.I. is part of my hypothesis that Bungie created an "alternate canon" through subtle implication. It is not established canon.

I was also under the impression that Bungie made Halo Reach.



They aren't poorly constructed arguments, they are facts. The Fall of Reach was written a long time before Halo: Reach and explains the "true" version, as this book was written with the aid of Bungie. Halo: Reach ignored the book almost completely, as 343i said they would do if it made a better game.

  • 02.09.2012 5:29 PM PDT


Posted by: ajw34307

There is no 'alternate canon' hypothesis with Reach, just a 'broken canon' actuality.



My personal "Alternate Canon" hypothesis is based on the fact that Bungie choose to break canon. It is odd that such an established group of storytellers would choose to create a game that contradicted the story they had established through books and external media. I think it is worth considering.

[Edited on 02.09.2012 5:40 PM PST]

  • 02.09.2012 5:31 PM PDT

@ King Cepheus;

"The Fall of Reach was written a long time before Halo: Reach and explains the "true" version, as this book was written with the aid of Bungie." Indeed. That is why the fact that Bungie breaking the established canon is so interesting.

"Halo: Reach ignored the book almost completely, as 343i said they would do if it made a better game." Is there an interview I could read or watch? I'm interested to see where you are getting this information. It would shatter my hypothesis, so I'm interested to see it.

[Edited on 02.09.2012 6:00 PM PST]

  • 02.09.2012 5:35 PM PDT


Posted by: SolidHNTR
@ King Cepheus;

"The Fall of Reach was written a long time before Halo: Reach and explains the "true" version, as this book was written with the aid of Bungie." Indeed. That is why the fact that Bungie breaking the established canon is so interesting.

"Halo: Reach ignored the book almost completely, as 343i said they would do if it made a better game." Is there an interview I could read or watch? I'm interested to see where you are getting this information. It would shatter my hypothesis, so I'm interested to see it.


As to your first point, it seems I had misunderstood what you had originally meant, and your idea seems much more valid. As to your second, I cannot, but I remember it being an official source.

  • 02.09.2012 5:52 PM PDT

@ King Cepheus;

Thank you for clarifying.

If you happen to come across evidence proving that 343i broke the canon when they made Halo Reach because they thought it would make a better game, please post it in this thread.


At any rate, I hope you enjoyed the read.

[Edited on 02.09.2012 6:24 PM PST]

  • 02.09.2012 5:54 PM PDT