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This topic has moved here: Subject: Does anyone dislike where the story of the Halo series is going?
  • Subject: Does anyone dislike where the story of the Halo series is going?
Subject: Does anyone dislike where the story of the Halo series is going?
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I've been a fan of Halo ever since Combat Evolved came out and I've played through all subsequent releases but, whenever I hear about Halo 4 and fanboys screaming "THE CHIEF IS BACK!", I can't help but feel that the series, especially Master Chief's involvement, is past its prime. Yes, I am aware of the books and how in Glasslands, the sangheili find a reason to conspire against humanity and how Prometheans are the ancient evil etc etc. All lore and poor storytelling aside (The elites were our allies at the end of the war, NOW THEYRE BACK FOR VENGEANCE), is anyone else getting tired of the aging formula of using the Chief and putting him against immeasurable odds.

Personally, I feel that MC is getting old. He's cool and all but, we can't keep playing as him over and over again. If the series is going into an entire new trilogy, new heroes should take center stage, like the Spartan IVs.

However, I also feel that 343i pulled the Spartan IV stuff out of their asses just to keep Spartans relevant. I mean, I fail to see a significant reason as to create a new generation of super-soldiers if the the Human-Covenant War is over...

The inclusion of the Covenant also feels like something that 343i pulled out of nowhere. If anything, their true purpose is to serve as an element that keeps players familiar with the previous game. Merely a gameplay factor. 343i can explain their return any way they want, doesn't mean its a good idea. I mean, you spend an entire trilogy fighting Covenant and you're STILL fighting Covenant?

Perhaps when the game finally comes out, everything will make more sense but until then, I want to hear from others, particularly any longstanding fans that still roam the forums of Halo's true home (Bungie). Do you like where Halo's story is going?

  • 06.05.2012 5:47 PM PDT

1. Just like in the real world, we may have allies, but that doesn't mean ALL of them like us.

2. Prometheans are a Warrior-Servant caste of the Forerunners, they're not an "ancient evil", it's unclear on what is the real evil here, the Didact may be evil now, but it's unsure.

3. Spartans were not created to fight the Covenant, they were created to fight the Insurrectionists so they've always been relevant.

4. The new Covenant is comparable to a rogue faction of a military or a band of Space Pirates, they're no longer a major threat.

5. Things already make sense, you just haven't gone too much into the details is all.

  • 06.05.2012 5:58 PM PDT
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Oh Yes!

Posted by: TheStarkilla
However, I also feel that 343i pulled the Spartan IV stuff out of their asses just to keep Spartans relevant. I mean, I fail to see a significant reason as to create a new generation of super-soldiers if the the Human-Covenant War is over...


If you were such a Halo fan, you'd realize that Spartans weren't intended for the Covenant and existed before the Covenant came into the Humans sight.

I realize now that X Delata Xero X said the same thing.

Also, I don't see where the story is going considering I haven't played the game yet. So stop judging things.

[Edited on 06.05.2012 6:03 PM PDT]

  • 06.05.2012 6:00 PM PDT

I love the story.

  • 06.05.2012 6:55 PM PDT

"Find where the liar hides, so that I may place my boot between his gums!" - Rtas 'Vadum

Somewhat, yeah. The nonchalant re-establishment of the Covenant as enemies with the Elites at its head puts me off the most. It's frankly a cop out and an ass-pull all in one. Though I suppose it gives meaning to 343i's choices in both art direction and literature as of late. I just hope they don't over do the demonization to the point where they become generic space aliens with no personality.

  • 06.05.2012 7:13 PM PDT

As for the Covenant, many theories have been popping up regarding their hostility. They're pirates, they're rebels, or (the new one) they're stranded. Glasslands did say--or someone did anyway--that news of the war's end was going to spread very slowly, especially to where isolated planets under communication blackouts were concerned.

These Covenant may have found Requiem and somehow some way become cut off or won't leave--since Requiem to them is basically the gates of Heaven. Due to a theoretical communications failure (obviously an explanation is needed) they still worship the 'Runners and still hate the humans.

Can't say anything until we get answers of course.

  • 06.05.2012 7:27 PM PDT

To be completely honest, I was really salty about the fact that 343 was continuing the series, but after reading Glasslands and the Greg Bear Forerunner series, I'm actually quite interested to see where the series will go.

That said, I am not freaking out about it like I did about the original trilogy. It's more of just an interest now than a true following.

So I'd say no, I don't dislike where the story is going. I do however dislike where the art direction is going. I don't feel 343 has earned the right to change things as much as they have yet. I feel they have to win over the fans before they are able to do so. Just my opinion.

  • 06.05.2012 7:41 PM PDT
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No. I understand a lot about the background story behind Halo 4 and I can say that the direction being taken is quite great.

  • 06.05.2012 7:51 PM PDT

I was initially on the fence about Halo-4 until I saw the new preview from E3, but their are a couple of things that are bugging the crap out of me. The Promethean Sentinels; they look, move and seem just plain weird and out of place. Compared to the enemies we've seen so far in the series they seem overly cartoon-ish; twig legs and arms, big old hunched backs, a flaming skull inside their helmets. There is a bit of a disconnect between what we've seen from the Forerunner combat sentinels on the rings and the ark.Sentinels almost always had full body shields, looked sleek and almost elegant, their weapons were powerful, but not enough to completely vaporize anything. I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of something like this. http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Combat_Skin

  • 06.05.2012 8:07 PM PDT

I know it sounds silly, but if the Promethean Sentinels are the main enemy it could be a deal breaker for me.

  • 06.05.2012 8:09 PM PDT

If you've read the novels, you would know that the Forerunners had a faction of their Military called Prometheans . And these Prometheans are skilled and ruthless . The Promethean enemies we see in the preview are Constructs (basically like drones) for the Prometheans which we may at least see one live one further in-game . It is well possible that these enemies perform differently than the Sentinels you have come to know. The Halo Sentinels are designed for maintenance and protection. But the ones you see in the Halo 4 Preview are particularly programmed to kill.

  • 06.05.2012 8:18 PM PDT

I still think they look silly.

[Edited on 06.05.2012 8:20 PM PDT]

  • 06.05.2012 8:20 PM PDT


Posted by: Old Salty27
I was initially on the fence about Halo-4 until I saw the new preview from E3, but their are a couple of things that are bugging the crap out of me. The Promethean Sentinels; they look, move and seem just plain weird and out of place. Compared to the enemies we've seen so far in the series they seem overly cartoon-ish; twig legs and arms, big old hunched backs, a flaming skull inside their helmets. There is a bit of a disconnect between what we've seen from the Forerunner combat sentinels on the rings and the ark.Sentinels almost always had full body shields, looked sleek and almost elegant, their weapons were powerful, but not enough to completely vaporize anything. I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of something like this. http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Combat_Skin
All Forerunner tech we've seen so far is belonging to the Builder caste, Promethean Forerunner technology is unknown, each caste of the Forerunners seems to be so drastically separated it's almost like they're entirely different species.

  • 06.05.2012 8:20 PM PDT

You have glaring omissions mate...

Infinity and Spartan Ops are introducing new characters plus there is a whole new class of Forerunner enemies and we still haven't even touched on Precursors yet either.

Seriously the masses, me included, want Chief back. He's one of the main reasons we love Halo.

By the way Spartan Ops is as big as the campaign and includes a new recruit that the Chief inspired to join the UNSC. In short 343i are already light years ahead of you and we're getting the best of Chief and new characters.

What's not to love?

  • 06.05.2012 8:41 PM PDT


Posted by: Isai16
Posted by: TheStarkilla
However, I also feel that 343i pulled the Spartan IV stuff out of their asses just to keep Spartans relevant. I mean, I fail to see a significant reason as to create a new generation of super-soldiers if the the Human-Covenant War is over...


If you were such a Halo fan, you'd realize that Spartans weren't intended for the Covenant and existed before the Covenant came into the Humans sight.


What point does that have to the fact the human-covenant war is over, thus there isn't a dire need to have new Spartans?

To OP, yeah. So much for the Covenant being destroyed and the war over. Them being involved just doesn't feel right :/. I mean, end of halo 3 really felt like "Yes... finally the Covenant threat is destroyed." And now they have an entire fleet in halo 4?

Edit: Agree with somebody else. halo 4 looks and sounds great, we'll see where the story goes. However, disliking some art/detail aspects. Like Chief's armor. And all the preview/box art stuff shows Forward Unto Dawn looking massively different, yet in the e3 stuff they show a Paris class frigate looking like the paris class frigates have always.

[Edited on 06.06.2012 12:53 AM PDT]

  • 06.06.2012 12:51 AM PDT


Posted by: Cmdr DaeFaron

Posted by: Isai16
Posted by: TheStarkilla
However, I also feel that 343i pulled the Spartan IV stuff out of their asses just to keep Spartans relevant. I mean, I fail to see a significant reason as to create a new generation of super-soldiers if the the Human-Covenant War is over...


If you were such a Halo fan, you'd realize that Spartans weren't intended for the Covenant and existed before the Covenant came into the Humans sight.


What point does that have to the fact the human-covenant war is over, thus there isn't a dire need to have new Spartans?

To OP, yeah. So much for the Covenant being destroyed and the war over. Them being involved just doesn't feel right :/. I mean, end of halo 3 really felt like "Yes... finally the Covenant threat is destroyed." And now they have an entire fleet in halo 4?

Edit: Agree with somebody else. halo 4 looks and sounds great, we'll see where the story goes. However, disliking some art/detail aspects. Like Chief's armor. And all the preview/box art stuff shows Forward Unto Dawn looking massively different, yet in the e3 stuff they show a Paris class frigate looking like the paris class frigates have always.
The Covenant forces have a massive fleet? Where's this info?

And Spartans were meant for the Insurrectionists, humans are still at war with humans even after the Covenant War.

  • 06.06.2012 1:05 AM PDT

心の中に弱い風が吹いています。

I think 343i is doing a fine job of extending the lore and universe of Halo. And really everything introduced so far has made sense. Just because we allied with the Sangheili doesn't mean that we're suddenly going to be best pals. Karen Traviss did a wonderful job of showing the aftermath of war. Where both sides still have a grudge against each other because of the bloody past they share.

And honestly I'm glad that the Chief is back. The Halo 3 ending was more a cliffhanger than an ending. And I like that the Chief is being recognized as a hero and going to be returning. That opens up a lot of interaction between him and those that know how much he sacrificed.

And really even if he is getting old it's not like he feels there's anywhere else he'd rather be. All of the Spartans thus far have war in their blood. It's something they grew up with and had drilled into their very being.

Also the very idea of the Spartan IVs makes sense when you look at things politically. To not have a force ready just in case things were to start up again and fighting were to resume is just stupid. Those at ONI see that and understand the risk if they aren't ready to fight or defend themselves just in case.

  • 06.06.2012 1:07 AM PDT


Posted by: Bryanesie
Where both sides still have a grudge against each other because of the bloody past they share.


Basically similar to the case between the English and the French right?

  • 06.06.2012 1:24 AM PDT

@Cmdr DaeFaron:

To see the requirement for new Spartans, post-war, you need to look back at the Cold War. Though the US and allies were not at war with the Soviet Union there was still a requirement for significant military increases in a variety of fields. And ONI has taken the same stance.

Take the live action trailer as an example: in one part we have the commissioning of the UNSC Infinity, and the attending officer stating that it's not a ship for war but for the expansion of the human race, etc. Which, for those that have read Halo: Glasslands, is a load of bollocks. (I suspect the speech is just to galvanize the crew). ONI funded the project, using every scrap of Forerunner technology that they could understand and utilise.

ONI still see the remnants of the Covenant as a threat, just one that isn't overtly active. So what do you do when you expect possible future hostilities with said remnants? You prepare, of course. The Spartan IV programme is an extensionof this build-up/paranoia -- call it what you will.

The Covenant are still around and still pose a threat. Though not all of them will be hostile, there are elements that are. I doubt they'll have too much of a presence in the new trilogy. But I'm glad they're there actually. It provides transition for new players and provides an aspect of the Halo universe that I doubt is just going to go away. They were at war humanity for 27 years. They're simply not going to just shut up shop and call it a day.

And as for the armour -- I really didn't like it at first. I thought the chest piece was terrible. But it has changed slightly since I first laid eyes on it. I can see the direction they've gone for -- functionality. If you tried to operate using the Halo 3 or Reach armour in reality, you wouldn't be able to move without sections catching and scraping on each other. But the new armour has been modified to avoid this (real life applications perhaps? Movie? Series?). But I'll admit, it won't be to everyone's taste, and I'm still getting used to certain aspects of the new armour, even now.

  • 06.06.2012 1:28 AM PDT

心の中に弱い風が吹いています。


Posted by: RangyPro1337

Posted by: Bryanesie
Where both sides still have a grudge against each other because of the bloody past they share.


Basically similar to the case between the English and the French right?
Pretty much. That's a good real world example of the relationship between humanity and the Sangheili.

And now that it's been 4 years since the end of the war anything could have taken place to spark another conflict or at least hostilities between both races.

  • 06.06.2012 1:32 AM PDT


Posted by: Bryanesie

Posted by: RangyPro1337

Posted by: Bryanesie
Where both sides still have a grudge against each other because of the bloody past they share.


Basically similar to the case between the English and the French right?
Pretty much. That's a good real world example of the relationship between humanity and the Sangheili.

And now that it's been 4 years since the end of the war anything could have taken place to spark another conflict or at least hostilities between both races.


Glasslands explained that ONI was deliberately trying to provoke the Sangheili but the content of the novel was rather blurry and I had trouble following the story so that's as far as I can go.

  • 06.06.2012 1:40 AM PDT
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I haven't felt as much excitement for Halo 4's story since pre Halo 3.

  • 06.06.2012 1:41 AM PDT

心の中に弱い風が吹いています。


Posted by: RangyPro1337

Posted by: Bryanesie

Posted by: RangyPro1337

Posted by: Bryanesie
Where both sides still have a grudge against each other because of the bloody past they share.


Basically similar to the case between the English and the French right?
Pretty much. That's a good real world example of the relationship between humanity and the Sangheili.

And now that it's been 4 years since the end of the war anything could have taken place to spark another conflict or at least hostilities between both races.


Glasslands explained that ONI was deliberately trying to provoke the Sangheili but the content of the novel was rather blurry and I had trouble following the story so that's as far as I can go.
Exactly. And it's just like ONI to do something like that. Set it up so that the Sangheili have a civil war and then clean up what's left. And do it using a force of Spartans that have been training since the end of the war. The only problem though is that Infinity crashes on Requiem, so there was a kink in the plan at some point or things didn't go as planned.

  • 06.06.2012 1:47 AM PDT

Haters are going to hate.
Praisers are going to praise.

The Bungie Forums are what keeps my mind sharp and my fingers active, between writing my own movie scripts, drawing, and studying industrial design. At the moment I'm working on miniatures for a short movie that I'll hopefully be able to film once I've saved up for a camera... That's me, with the mug, trying to have a conversation with Konoko.


Posted by: Thugzz Deluxxxe

That said, I am not freaking out about it like I did about the original trilogy. It's more of just an interest now than a true following.



This is exactly how I feel. I'm not interested in Halo anymore, everything after ODST hasn't been my cup of tea, so to say. The only reason I still follow the series, is cause I'm curious to see where they take it. That does not mean that I like where they're taking it.

The version I have cooked up in my head after having seen the Legendary ending, experiencing the Terminals, and reading the articles over at Ascendant Justice, is the canon that I--in denial--follow.

Halo 4 looks well crafted; both graphics and production value seem to live up to my expectations, and the gameplay looks ok too. Nothing else however. The design is poor and so is the storytelling, script and direction.

  • 06.06.2012 1:54 AM PDT


Posted by: X Delta Xero X
The Covenant forces have a massive fleet? Where's this info?

And Spartans were meant for the Insurrectionists, humans are still at war with humans even after the Covenant War.


I read information that in the first level, Chief looks out a window as sees a massive Covenant fleet. edit: The quote After fighting the Sangheili and their "repatriated" Unggoy subordinates, John makes his way to the aft observation deck, viewing a large Covenant fleet surrounding the Forward Unto Dawn while multiple boarding crafts dock with the heavily damaged aft section of the frigate.

As for second line, false. As I read in my read of glasslands (most, not all of the book), the UNSC and rebels are not as war truly. They haven't been since the human-covenant war took a turn for the worse. Fighting? maybe. But post-Reach the rebel raids stopped.

edit2: Yep, game looks good. We'll see how the story goes. I plan on judging 343 and the future of Halo based on Halo 4. The rest of the glasslands books might affect it, but halo 4 is the main one. (Glasslands already placed future of halo into bleh mode for me).

[Edited on 06.06.2012 2:25 AM PDT]

  • 06.06.2012 2:22 AM PDT