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This topic has moved here: Subject: Master Chief's past, as a child...
  • Subject: Master Chief's past, as a child...
Subject: Master Chief's past, as a child...

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.

I rarely actually create topics here, but this forum is slow and I thought it could use some half-decent discussion. So, Halo 4 is on the horizon and I would like to know if you would like to see some insight on Master Chief's past as a child specifically before being indoctrinated into the Spartan Program.

They have already stated that they're taking a more human approach to the Chief. There is actually a human being behind the armor. A person with feelings, baggage, etc. I think having a look at his past before the indoctrination or even during would be a good way to flesh out his character. I personally think they'll explore this through his relationship with Cortana and her rampancy, but I digress.

Bottom line, would you like to see small flashbacks into Chief's past? Would it be smart to do so? Or would it just take up time where the story at hand needs to be told?

  • 04.11.2012 6:51 AM PDT

"I may not be perfect, but always been true."

Well, before he was a Spartan is quite difficult to be honest, I think that by the Fall of Reach (in the book) it is mentioned that he barely remembers anything from his civilian life, so he only has his military life as a remainder of what he is...I suppose.

  • 04.11.2012 10:09 AM PDT

@accordingto343

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I wouldn't care for it. The books have touched on it plenty in my opinion and 343 should focus on humanizing his character in the present.

  • 04.11.2012 10:12 AM PDT

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Posted by: DecepticonCobra
I wouldn't care for it. The books have touched on it plenty in my opinion and 343 should focus on humanizing his character in the present.

Basically this, but I don't see why the would humanize him now, after everything he put up with in the original trilogy. If anything, he seemed almost like a robot in Halo 3 because of his rare emotion.

  • 04.11.2012 10:54 AM PDT
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I assumed a long time ago that there would be some sort of flashbacks.

  • 04.11.2012 11:22 AM PDT
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To a certain extent, that does sound interesting in theory, but I do not believe 343i could wedge that into the story line with ease.

  • 04.11.2012 11:50 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.

I want Chief to have characterization as much as the next guy but I don't think his early years should be a part of that. We have already seen it in the Fall of Reach.

  • 04.11.2012 1:00 PM PDT


Posted by: EpicOfTheEpicz

Posted by: DecepticonCobra
I wouldn't care for it. The books have touched on it plenty in my opinion and 343 should focus on humanizing his character in the present.

Basically this, but I don't see why the would humanize him now, after everything he put up with in the original trilogy. If anything, he seemed almost like a robot in Halo 3 because of his rare emotion.
I also think they should humanize him now. I think now is a good time because it's after the Human Covenant War. Time to reflect on what's been done. There was no time to do that in the middle of the war.

  • 04.11.2012 1:11 PM PDT
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Don't do anything you wouldn't want to have to explain to paramedics. Trust me, I'm a pilot.

I like how 343 is going to give the Chief some more depth as a character, but, quite frankly, he was six years old at the time he was indoctrinated into the Spartan program. Personally, I don't see much value in having flashbacks from such a young age, as he wouldn't have had many experiences prior to his indoctrination into the Spartan program, simply because he was so young.

  • 04.11.2012 1:35 PM PDT

Randy. C

Drop it. Continue Halo 4. Be happy, as long as it doesnt play like garbage.

  • 04.11.2012 1:48 PM PDT

Posted by: ElementalRunner

Posted by: Commander Stroll
Still using a pump-action shotgun over 500 years in the future I see.

omg not realistic stop game production plz

They should mix between training flashbacks and his current feelings.

For me, Chief should be portrayed as being pushed to his limit of endurance.

  • 04.11.2012 1:54 PM PDT

Go ahead, I'm okay with it. I see that some on this topic are stressing that while there would be no value in flashbacks, there is a little to think upon in the part of his life where Halsey takes him in and trains him.

  • 04.11.2012 1:59 PM PDT

Straight from the wandering mind of Watson 203


Posted by: Dounut520
... there is a little to think upon in the part of his life where Halsey takes him in and trains him.


For me, pretty much this.
Also, other than the Fall of Reach, Palace Hotel from Halo Evolutions Volume II also humanises him a bit, but not much as it's only a short story.

[Edited on 04.11.2012 2:15 PM PDT]

  • 04.11.2012 2:13 PM PDT
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"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." - James T Kirk


Posted by: Watson 203

Posted by: Dounut520
... there is a little to think upon in the part of his life where Halsey takes him in and trains him.


For me, pretty much this.
Also, other than the Fall of Reach, Palace Hotel from Halo Evolutions Volume II also humanises him a bit, but not much as it's only a short story.


Is John still keeping his promise to Parisa?

  • 04.11.2012 2:26 PM PDT

Straight from the wandering mind of Watson 203


Posted by: Onomatopoeia

Posted by: Watson 203

Posted by: Dounut520
... there is a little to think upon in the part of his life where Halsey takes him in and trains him.


For me, pretty much this.
Also, other than the Fall of Reach, Palace Hotel from Halo Evolutions Volume II also humanises him a bit, but not much as it's only a short story.


Is John still keeping his promise to Parisa?


I doubt it, in the story he didn't tell her, although that could have compromised her state, i.e. make her emotional in the middle of a hostile situation. I doubt he would if they met again either, unless it was under different circumstances.
I don't think John really has a social side to him because he's been a soldier and a Spartan for so long now, he even say's he's forgotten lots of things from his childhood. If he wasn't out fighting or doing something based around his military life he'd be in cryo on a ship somewhere. The UNSC and ONI were just saving him for when they need him, like a super soldier you can turn on and off.
So he's now 40 something years old and thanks to all the time spent in cryo (and obviously the augementations too) he's still as a cabable as anybody else but consequently has never done anything outside of his military career.

[Edited on 04.11.2012 3:47 PM PDT]

  • 04.11.2012 3:41 PM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.


Posted by: CoolCJ24
They should mix between training flashbacks and his current feelings.

For me, Chief should be portrayed as being pushed to his limit of endurance.

I'd like that.

  • 04.11.2012 3:44 PM PDT

There's to be a detailed prologue sequence before Halo 4 starts, so it's possible.

  • 04.11.2012 4:33 PM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.


Posted by: ROBERTO jh
There's to be a detailed prologue sequence before Halo 4 starts, so it's possible.

Ah, yes, I've heard about that. I was thinking more along the lines of flashbacks throughout the campaign. Telling another story similar to how they incorporated Sadie's Story in ODST.

  • 04.11.2012 4:45 PM PDT
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His childhood? No. No reason, nothing significant happens during the single digits that would be interesting.

Despite their training and indoctrination the Spartans were social, with each other only. Left alone with themselves and they talk and joke and act...normalish.

If they want to humanize him, they need to focus on his coping with a lifetime of war. Of seeing so many die, spending so much time in combat and always being the one to survive.

And now stranded away from everyone, only him and Cortana. I think that would be nice.

  • 04.12.2012 12:33 PM PDT

Well, as long as they make a game with a good story, plays extremely well, and is as fun to play as Halo 2 or Reach, I really don't care.

  • 04.12.2012 4:17 PM PDT

all i know is that he liked to win... he had brown hair, freckles, and he was tall

  • 04.14.2012 6:54 AM PDT

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I think it would be interesting to know more about what the Master Chief as a character thinks throughout the story.

  • 04.14.2012 7:00 AM PDT