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[Squire]

I didn't mean to imply they were IVs, I meant that they seemed like regular marines in cool armour with how they were handled. The generic IVs you see in 4 just reinforce it both mechanically and psychologically to me is what I meant.

Ah, I get you. That's probably an error in Reach. For 4 it makes perfect sense, I'd say.

I don't think it hurts the image of the Spartan or Chief though. He's still one of the only Spartan-IIs left and it'd be hard to argue against him being the best in the universe' history. I think that "II" is important.

 

[spootime]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPmBT08zcc4 uhhh spoiler I guess?

pause at 1:24 unless there's some weird perspective thing going on she's a damn child compared to him

what's the point of calling Spartan IV's, Spartans? that's what I don't get. Why bother? they aren't half as effective as the II's, Chief alone is probably more effective than everyone else on that ship combined. The franchise is slowly eroding the legendary status of the Spartans (which for me was one of the only things it had going for it) :/, pretty soon they'll just regular Marines with cooler armor

Yeah this is what confuses me too. She looks the same size as the rest of the normal humans. Why the hell does halo wiki and waypoint list her as 6'9 and 240 fucking pounds.

 

[Trickster]

I didn't mean to imply they were IVs, I meant that they seemed like regular marines in cool armour with how they were handled. The generic IVs you see in 4 just reinforce it both mechanically and psychologically to me is what I meant.

Spartans were never these immortal combat gods that you seem to prefeer they were. I mean most died at Reach if I remember my halo lore correctly. Master Chief is the guy that saves the world because he's the protagonist of the halo series, not because he's a spartan.

 

[Flipyap]

You're ~30 years too early there, partner. They're all Spartan-III's in Reach, not IVs.

Ironically, they're closer to what IVs are, than the III you might know from the books.
They shouldn't be able to wear Mjolnir; they're hardly a team, let alone a "family"; and the only trace of their trademark anger issues manifests in Emile's arts and crafts project.

IIIs were awesome, they were "Shitty Spartans" by design. I don't really get that vibe from the IVs, all the fetishistic shots of them putting on their space clothes suggest that you're still supposed to be in awe of their superhumanness.

 

[Overdoziz]

It doesn't help that the Spartans have all kinds of different types of ridiculous looking armor. Even Spartan IIs now all of a sudden wear different kinds of armor, it's pretty lame.

 

[∀ Narayan]

It doesn't help that the Spartans have all kinds of different types of ridiculous looking armor. Even Spartan IIs now all of a sudden wear different kinds of armor, it's pretty lame.

This is such an odd thing to complain about.

 

[Trickster]

It doesn't help that the Spartans have all kinds of different types of ridiculous looking armor. Even Spartan IIs now all of a sudden wear different kinds of armor, it's pretty lame.

Why is that lame? Makes perfect sense tbh, different armors for different tasks.

 

[Havok]

I didn't mean to imply they were IVs, I meant that they seemed like regular marines in cool armour with how they were handled. The generic IVs you see in 4 just reinforce it both mechanically and psychologically to me is what I meant.

Yeah, the campaign kind of failed to make the S4s interesting outside of Palmer. Spartan Ops is looking to remedy that, but that hinges so heavily on the quality of the writing that I can't say whether or not it'll be successful at doing so. It didn't help that the combat dialogue from the S4s in campaign, particularly during the tank sequence, was some of the most generic, deep-voiced bro military stuff in the game.

 

[Plywood]

It doesn't help that the Spartans have all kinds of different types of ridiculous looking armor. Even Spartan IIs now all of a sudden wear different kinds of armor, it's pretty lame.

I like how in the flashback in the opening scene with Halsey there are a bunch of spartans that look exactly like Chief does in H4.

Yeah, the campaign kind of failed to make the S4s interesting outside of Palmer. Spartan Ops is looking to remedy that, but that hinges so heavily on the quality of the writing that I can't say whether or not it'll be successful at doing so. It didn't help that the combat dialogue from the S4s in campaign, particularly during the tank sequence, was some of the most generic, deep-voiced bro military stuff in the game.

They have a generic lead in SpOps.

At least the missions can be fun.

 

[The P of Poland]

Yeah this is what confuses me too. She looks the same size as the rest of the normal humans. Why the hell does halo wiki and waypoint list her as 6'9 and 240 fucking pounds.

She doesn't actually. She looks about the same size as her fellow Spartan IVs. She's small compared to Chief, because he's 7'3" and in the vicinity of 310 pounds outside of his armor. If you want to compare her to a normal human, look in the CGI episode of SpOps. She stands next to Lasky at one point in it, and towers over him, outside her own armor.

I like how in the flashback in the opening scene with Halsey there are a bunch of spartans that look exactly like Chief does in H4.

343 trying to leave their mark on the series again. That inferior design is now how Mk VI has always looked, same as with the abominations that are the new Grunts and Jackals.

 

[Fathead]

Ironically, they're closer to what IVs are, than the III you might know from the books.
They shouldn't be able to wear Mjolnir; they're hardly a team, let alone a "family"; and the only trace of their trademark anger issues manifests in Emile's arts and crafts project.

If you mean the anger issues in that they are all orphans because of the Covenant, then I agree. If you mean anger issues because of the engineering, then only the Gamma Company IIIs got that particular "enhancement". And none of the Spartans in Reach are from Gamma.

 

[A More Normal Bird]

I haven't been following this thread too much.

Can somebody explain to me why Cortana's emerging out of the light-bridge and physically restraining Didact wasn't absolutely ridiculous in a Fonzie-jumping shark way? Or is it something I should just roll with and forget about like Didact's telekinesis ability.

Because both of those seemed like very lazy/convenient narrative devices.

I'm not sure if Didact's telekinesis really counts as a convenient narrative device, as there's quite a few ways they could have shown a giant alien military commander with incomprehensibly advanced technology restraining the Chief, but I'll have a crack at some explanations.

- Cortana is quite good at manipulating alien technology and had also spent some time with the AI librarian. Throughout the game you see the hard light being used and shaped into shields, projected by the flying things above the knights etc... It's not that much of a stretch to believe that she could also figure out how to manipulate it once she got access to the system projecting it.

- The Forerunners having gravity manipulation technology has been there since guilty spark floated towards you in the swamp in Combat Evolved. The fact that the Didact, who would no doubt have access to the best of the best, only has limited telekinesis and not say, full blown flight, seems like more of a nerf than anything lazily overpowering.

 

[Grisby]

Does Chief know at all about the Spartan 4's? He didn't really seem to acknowledge them.

Lasky and Palmer would have been neat to have on a few more missions or story beats. Just so much stuff was crammed in there and that also made Cortanas death not have enough impact.

 

[RedSwirl]

Chief in the legendary ending from the eyes alone looks like Tom Cruise if you ask me. Just my opinion.

 

[RealDeadOne]

What if Cortana comes back as Didact's ancilla? And over the course of Halo 5 and 6 the rampant Cortana slowly takes over Didact's mind and armor to become the primary antagonist herself?

Also, Chief saw that the IVs were Spartans but that's all he needed to know. He doesn't ask a lot of questions, he just gets the bare minimum of information he needs in any situation. Like in Dawn when he says "I thought we had a peace with the Covenant?" and he's satisfied with Cortana's "things change yo" answer. All he needs to know is the Covenant is a threat again.

This was even in Halo 3 when Chief attacks the Arbiter and Johnson just says "He's with us"; Chief doesn't ask questions to anybody, he just accepts the new status quo and adapts to it quickly like he was trained to.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

What if Cortana comes back as Didact's ancilla? And over the course of Halo 5 and 6 the rampant Cortana slowly takes over Didact's mind and armor to become the primary antagonist herself?

I honestly assumed Cortana would have been setup as the antagonist by the end of this game once she went rampant and gained some Forerunner-type tech.

 

[Korosenai]

I really didn't like the ending.

You just kind of shove a pulse grenade in the didact and he just falls and disappears. Master chief then goes on to survive a nuke straight to the face.... And then the game just ends. No reccolation of what just happened, just master chief walking and taking off his helmet. Felt very underwhelming.

I did like the story though and the game was a blast to play. I loved the last mission and I felt like cortanas death was handled well. Can't really think of any other way they could have done it.

 

[User 73706]

I was disappointed the Didact and Librarian fell apart. Maybe the Librarian and the Ur-Didact are still on good terms since this was the Bornstellar Didact for some reason. I was hoping we'd get to see a Chief-Cortana relationship between the two to show that they're not so different.

 

[Grisby]

I honestly assumed Cortana would have been setup as the antagonist by the end of this game once she went rampant and gained some Forerunner-type tech.

This would have been way better. If she fully had become the villian I'd give it some marks.

 

[Jack Scofield]

I really didn't like the ending.

You just kind of shove a pulse grenade in the didact and he just falls and disappears. Master chief then goes on to survive a nuke straight to the face.... And then the game just ends. No reccolation of what just happened, just master chief walking and taking off his helmet. Felt very underwhelming.

Yep. They tried to follow COD's lead with a QTE-type ending, but didn't pull it off nearly as well as COD4 or MW2 (two games which have amazing end sequences). Halo 4 just kinda ends with no fanfare or resolution.

 

[Overdoziz]

Cortana not becoming the villain is such a huge missed opportunity.

 

[Rickenslacker]

The QTEs in this game were so pointless that I wonder why they even considered implementing them in the first place. The whole elevator shaft and Elite kill at the start, and climbing up the hardlight bridge to grenade Didact. It just seemed like it could've been handled without including such an empty mechanic; though I am glad they kept it to a minimum.

 

[victreeb3l]

The QTEs in this game were so pointless that I wonder why they even considered implementing them in the first place. The whole elevator shaft and Elite kill at the start, and climbing up the hardlight bridge to grenade Didact. It just seemed like it could've been handled without including such an empty mechanic; though I am glad they kept it to a minimum.

i hated every single one of those sections. it felt like they put them there for the sake of putting them there. it was too COD for me and felt really out of place.

 

[Trey]

Anyone up for some campaign Co op? Invite MGTrey.

 

[Van Owen]

It's totally being setup for Cortana to become organic using composer tech so she and Chief can finally get it on. Come on guys.

 

[Trickster]

Cortana not becoming the villain is such a huge missed opportunity.

Missed opportunity to play up a boring cliché, sure...

 

[User 73706]

It's totally being setup for Cortana to become organic using composer tech so she and Chief can finally get it on. Come on guys.

Smart move considering they made her a fucking blue version of Dylan Rider anyway. First thing that popped into my head when I saw her updated appearance.

 

[Trey]

Cortana not becoming the villain is such a huge missed opportunity.

Halo 5.

 

[NobleGundam]

I really didn't like the ending.

You just kind of shove a pulse grenade in the didact and he just falls and disappears. Master chief then goes on to survive a nuke straight to the face.... And then the game just ends. No reccolation of what just happened, just master chief walking and taking off his helmet. Felt very underwhelming.

I did like the story though and the game was a blast to play. I loved the last mission and I felt like cortanas death was handled well. Can't really think of any other way they could have done it.

I've questioned this and a reviewers opinions about 343 "Playing it Safe". Leaving me wondering what were the many reasons towards a lot of the changes for 4 and what they have planning for the next installments. Halo 4, imo, is a well placed Introduction for the Didact, Librarian, Master Builder, Ancient Humans, and the Flood. Suprisingly, not once Precursors were even mentioned in 4's Terminals...

Yet I wonder more about what 343 plans for The Covenant and Infinity in SpOps or other possible spin offs.

 

[Trickster]

I've questioned this and a reviewers opinions about 343 "Playing it Safe". Leaving me wondering what were the many reasons towards a lot of the changes for 4 and what they have planning for the next installments. Halo 4, imo, is a well placed Introduction for the Didact, Librarian, Master Builder, Ancient Humans, and the Flood. Suprisingly, not once Precursors were even mentioned in 4's Terminals...

Yet I wonder more about what 343 plans for The Covenant and Infinity in SpOps or other possible spin offs.

Just checked halopedia to see what this was. Ended up reading related stuff for a good 25 minutes. Really considering buying the books I haven't got already

 

[Lingitiz]

I liked how at the end of FUD, Chief kinda gave inspiration for Lasky as a soldier, whereas at the end of Halo 4 Lasky is the one making him think about his humanity.

I really hope they expand on their relationship with Halo 5.

 

[op_ivy]

wow, shit ending. the slow paced cod stuff, but even more so the cgi stuff. usually i have a huge nerd grin on my face for halo endings but that was just so... flat.

incredible campaign though.

 

[Caspel]

Even though I did enjoy the Prometheans, especially compared to the tiresome Flood, I did miss the inclusion of Brutes and Drones.

I don't miss the Prophets, so I don't care if they ever return.

Campaign was shorter than I expected with not much narrative to get behind outside of Cortana/MC's relationship. I didn't care for the Didact, although I did like when he was fully suited for combat even if MC never went one-on-one with the dude.

Reading up on the differences between Promethean and Forerunner races confuses me. They seem to be one in the same, right?

 

[LiK]

Even though I did enjoy the Prometheans, especially compared to the tiresome Flood, I did miss the inclusion of Brutes and Drones.

I don't miss the Prophets, so I don't care if they ever return.

Campaign was shorter than I expected with not much narrative to get behind outside of Cortana/MC's relationship. I didn't care for the Didact, although I did like when he was fully suited for combat even if MC never went one-on-one with the dude.

Reading up on the differences between Promethean and Forerunner races confuses me. They seem to be one in the same, right?

Not gonna lie, I missed the Brute vehicles

 

[Caspel]

Not gonna lie, I missed the Brute vehicles

With only three variances of Prometheans -- not including the outfitting -- the enemy type was more limiting that I expected and strategies came to become one in the same every mission by later half of the game.

I am glad 343 put out a quality game for their first entry and if Halo 4 is to be compared to Halo CE when comparing the trilogies, then Halo 6 should come packed with content in comparison to Halo 3's offering of vehicles, enemies, and weapons that were included.

I do hope for a Firefight DLC inclusion, but that has nothing to do with the story so I'll leave that to be discussed in general discussion thread.

On the topic of the story: outside of the Spartan program, I could care less what is going on with the humans. I am more interested in the Covenant and they are up to since the end of Halo 3. Also, call me crazy but the muted emotions of the military finding out that their war hero, Master Chief, has returned from a 4-year-absence doesn't present an exciting introduction to the new world of Halo. No one seems to care that the dude that saved everyone's life many times over in the events of Halo 1-3 is back and is about to save their lives again.

In all honesty, I hope 343 takes a few chances with MC and have him become more isolated and disinterested in humanity as it currently stands. Only four years removed, he doesn't fit into their military anymore as he once did in Halo CE -- so 343 should continue his trek to do his own thing instead of saving humanity over and over again in every game. Why not let him break away from the group and set off to visit Covenant worlds, perhaps a short reunion with Arbiter to see the struggle of the collapsing Covenant empire.

Alas, I think 343 will continue down the road of exploring humans a million years ago where they first encountered the Forerunners and Prometheans, along with probably introducing the Precursors in some fashion. It won't be terrible, but the Didact pales in comparison to Gravemind and even the nefarious Prophets. The Didact reminded me a lot of the weak Romulan, Nero, from the new Star Trek. I hope he was a one-off villain and won't be brought back in current form and is only referenced or shown through flashbacks.

 

[Squire]

I think challenging Chief's place in the current military and in humanity in general is definitely where they're going and will continue too. In the intro alone we see there's an officer who appears to be of notable rank questioning exactly those things.

Humanity is doing well for themselves in Halo 4. They've got the Infinity and they've managed to tinker with Spartan augmentation to where it's safe for any adult to partake. It's not surprising some staunch futurist might see Chief as a relic by modern standards.

I think we all agree: the potential is thrilling and near endless.

 

[Flipyap]

If you mean the anger issues in that they are all orphans because of the Covenant, then I agree. If you mean anger issues because of the engineering, then only the Gamma Company IIIs got that particular "enhancement". And none of the Spartans in Reach are from Gamma.

Ohhh, right. I forgot that detail.

What if Cortana comes back as Didact's ancilla? And over the course of Halo 5 and 6 the rampant Cortana slowly takes over Didact's mind and armor to become the primary antagonist herself?

It's certainly possible, but... what would be the point? I guess they COULD make a few more games about the Master Chief cluelessly hoping to fix her, and then she'd have to die AGAIN, but by then it would be robbed of all impact.
Her return would also devalue the events of Halo 4, unless she comes back as a different character, simply based on Cortana, but that sounds even cheaper.

Cortana not becoming the villain is such a huge missed opportunity.

Maybe, but then 343 would be just recycling Bungie's 18-year-old material.

 

[Red_Man]

Don't know if it's been asked, but how the fuck does Cortana physically hold down the Didact?

 

[thetrin]

Chief in HALO 1 - HALO 3:

HALO 4 - Chief:

How DARE they try to grow the character! Forget that all of what is talked about in Halo 4 has been planted in the lore up until now! I don't want characterization! I want one dimensional badass!

Don't know if it's been asked, but how the fuck does Cortana physically hold down the Didact?

It was asked at the top of this very page. My assumption is that she is part of the Composer's system at that point, and conjures hard light constructs of herself from the bridge. Because you know...that bridge is a hard light construct.

Hard light constructs end up being a pretty integral part of Halo 4. War games maps are hard light constructs. The Hard light shield. Cortana's bridge thing.

wow, shit ending. the slow paced cod stuff, but even more so the cgi stuff. usually i have a huge nerd grin on my face for halo endings but that was just so... flat.

incredible campaign though.

I loved the CG. It made me remember how much I miss CG in video games. I don't know who it was that thought real time cutscenes were better, but that guy sucks, and I don't like him.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

How DARE they try to grow the character! Forget that all of what is talked about in Halo 4 has been planted in the lore up until now! I don't want characterization! I want one dimensional badass!



It was asked at the top of this very page. My assumption is that she is part of the Composer's system at that point, and conjures hard light constructs of herself from the bridge. Because you know...that bridge is a hard light construct.

That doesn't make any sense, since Cameron is the one who fleshed out the protagonist of the sci-fi series he took over.

And characterization isn't the same as betraying what that character is. On the last page I explained how Chief's characterization is something that ought to be done from an external perspective. Chief is broken. But I don't feel he should be the one realizing or lamenting it. It's for the audience and other characters like Halsey, Lasky and Cortana to see what has happened to him and ruminate on his tragic plight as a character over the course of the story so we can feel for him. Because he can't.

 

[thetrin]

That doesn't make any sense, since Cameron is the one who fleshed out the protagonist of the sci-fi series he took over.

And characterization isn't the same as betraying what that character is. On the last page I explained how Chief's characterization is something that ought to be done from an external perspective. Chief is broken. But I don't feel he should be the one realizing or lamenting it. It's for the audience and other characters like Halsey, Lasky and Cortana to see what has happened to him and ruminate on his tragic plight as a character over the course of the story so we can feel for him. Because he can't.

In the end, he is a human being, who was robbed of his entire humanity. At some point, that person is going to reflect upon that. He never really had the opportunity to do such things up until this point (and finally losing the one thing he actually held dear). Cortana doesn't just represent his only real dear possession, but a reflection of the only mother figure he really knows. That's a pretty heavy loss to endure.

I thought it was fine characterization. Sure, he ends up with a lot of questions of self, but up until now, he's never been asked to deal with that (which really, is the only motivation he's ever had to do anything...being asked).

When I read Fall of Reach, I always wondered why he was always so hunky dory with who he was, but I was fine that they never addressed it. I thought it was nice that it wasn't a random epiphany, but the fallout of a rather major personal loss. It says a lot of his character that his only true connection is with an AI created to help him in battle, and made in the image of his adoptive (and morally questionable) "mother".

None of what is talked about is a betrayal of his character. This MC has existed since Halo 1. Perhaps it's a betrayal of the MC you think exists (the one-dimensional proxy represented in Halo 1-3), but this character has existed in the expanded fiction for years.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

In the end, he is a human being, who was robbed of his entire humanity. At some point, that person is going to reflect upon that. He never really had the opportunity to do such things up until this point (and finally losing the one thing he actually held dear). Cortana doesn't just represent his only real dear possession, but a reflection of the only mother figure he really knows. That's a pretty heavy loss to endure.

I thought it was fine characterization. Sure, he ends up with a lot of questions of self, but up until now, he's never been asked to deal with that (which really, is the only motivation he's ever had to do anything...being asked).

You know what? This was a really good post. I can agree with this. I can agree that that is the direction they should take him now.

I guess I just wasn't a fan of the execution of it. Some of his interactions in those cutscenes felt like really juvenile ways of getting that across.

Eg: Lasky's comment about how being human and serving humanity don't have to be mutually exclusive (or something like that) should have been enough. Chief's line after that (to himself) saying 'She said that to me once.. about being a machine' is overkill and a detriment to the scene. That's when it becomes melodrama. And there was a lot of melodrama between Cortana and Chief that could have otherwise been unsaid and yet still understood.

I don't have a problem with characterizing Chief or exploring his humanity, but I have a problem with doing it in such a clumsy way that acts as a disservice to the characters.

 

[Trey]

Come on, son. The ending to Halo 3 was the perfect ending for Chief. The stoic - now legendary hero, going back to slumber eternally, waiting for the call to save the day again.

Chief was stoic, not a dudebro. He had a sense of humor in the other games. His banter with Cortana was perfect. Their relationship didn't need to be something said out loud, it was very much the underlying, unspoken relationship between them.

HALO 3's 'There's two of us in here now.. remember?' moment was better than any interaction they had in HALO 4. The music and EXTERNAL factors imposted onto their interactions made characterised them.

'I've waited SO long to do that.'

'Cortana, please...'

This isn't Bold and Beautiful. Yikes.

Cortana has been his greatest tool, his greatest ally, his sole comfort, through the most harrowing time of his life. She is the brain-child of the woman who made him. Cortana has told Chief what to do in almost all situations. She has literally kept him together, and Chief attempts to return the favor in Halo 4.

Leaving Cortana, when there is no tactical necessity like In Amber Clad/High Charity, is unthinkable to him at this point. Especially because he made her a promise. The emotional undertones are believable, and if it weren't for the physical manifestation of Cortana (which I admit was goofy), would be exactly in line with other dramatic interactions the two shared.

It works because it was built up. It's not coming from just anywhere. Our stoic hero is not equipped to deal with failure. Especially one of the highest magnitude for him, both personally and tactically. Cortana represents John's entire world. His dogmatic, self-affirming purpose as a soldier who has to protect humanity at costs comes into conflict with this fact. It all comes to bear in the final pre-credit scene where he ruminates over his role without Cortana. His sense of self.

Stoically, of course. Thematically, the whole situation doesn't stray from the established formula in any meaningful way. How else could John lose Cortana, seemingly for good?

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Cortana has been his greatest tool, his greatest ally, his sole comfort, through the most harrowing time of his life. She is the brain-child of the woman who made him. Cortana has told Chief what to do in almost all situations. She has literally kept him together, and Chief attempts to return the favor in Halo 4.

Leaving Cortana, when there is no tactical necessity like In Amber Clad/High Charity, is unthinkable to him at this point. Especially because he made her a promise. The emotional undertones are believable, and if it weren't for the physical manifestation of Cortana (which I admit was goofy), would be exactly in line with other dramatic interactions the two shared.

It works because it was built up. It's not coming from just anywhere. Our stoic hero is not equipped to deal with failure. Especially one of the highest magnitude for him, both personally and tactically. Cortana represents John's entire world. His dogmatic, self-affirming purpose as a soldier who has to protect humanity at costs comes into conflict with this fact. It all comes to bear in the final pre-credit scene where he ruminates over his role without Cortana. His sense of self.

Stoically, of course. Thematically, the whole situation doesn't stray from the established formula in any meaningful way. How else could John lose Cortana, seemingly for good?

Read what I posted above your post.

 

[Trey]

Read what I posted above your post.

Chief audibly pondering who he was was significant for one reason in particular: it is a clear statement from 343 that they are really serious about expanding Chief's character. He has graduated from his role as a proxy. They did this by making the Chief do something he rarely did with Bungie. Talk.

It laid it on a little thick but it was to good effect. You know the pivot of the character's self reflection is based directly on Cortana - more specifically, these words comparing the two. The line is important because it's possibly setting up a transformation arc they will both undergo: that of a machine finding its humanity.

I have a variety of problems with this as I don't like how they're handling Hasley (inconsistent) and Cortana becoming a real girl is just corny, but I think it's the obvious direction they're taking. What with the opening scene calling Chief "humanity's evolution," along with the Composer being capable of evolving both biological and digital consciousness.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Chief audibly pondering who he was was significant for one reason in particular: it is a clear statement from 343 that they are really serious about expanding Chief's character. He has graduated from his role as a proxy. They did this by making the Chief do something he rarely did with Bungie. Talk.

It laid it on a little thick but it was to good effect. You know the pivot of the character's self reflection is based directly on Cortana - more specifically, these words comparing the two. The line is important because it's possibly setting up a transformation arc they will both undergo: that of a machine finding its humanity.
.

It was just written so clumsily. Here is another way to do exactly what you credited that scene with doing - minus the Chief cheese:

Lasky leaves after delivering his line. We hold on Chief as he stares out at Earth.

Cortana (V.O): 'When this is all over, promise me you'll figure out which one of us is the machine.'

Continue pulling out while holding on Chief. BLACK.

Boom. Cortana's line comes back and Chief doesn't have to clumsily utter it.

I also just rewatched Cortana's death scene and there are SO many times when Chief doesn't need to say a damn thing because his slight movements reveal his inflections to what Cortana is saying. It is SO awkward.

 

[A More Normal Bird]

I pretty much agree. But something to consider is that outside of cynicism and battlefield wit, the Spartans aren't very adjusted or well socialised. Weren't they something like 15 when the covenant war began? Going through all that training and other business, then repeatedly being frozen and shipped from battle to battle (in the chief's case lasting until after the war) doesn't leave much time for socialising or reflection and introspection. So maybe the clumsiness of the chief's attempts to verbalise his emotions is somewhat intentional. In that final cutscene it even seemed as if Lasky was a bit surprised/put off by it.

Or it could just be awkward writing.

 

[Blue Ninja]

It's the same except you see his face at the end. Didn't really dig it.

Okay, youtubed that shit. Sigh 343.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

On the mission Midnight, why are there marines with no deep pressure or oxygen equipment just walking around outside on the asteroid? lulz

 

[Trey]

It was just written so clumsily. Here is another way to do exactly what you credited that scene with doing - minus the Chief cheese:

Lasky leaves after delivering his line. We hold on Chief as he stares out at Earth.

Cortana (V.O): 'When this is all over, promise me you'll figure out which one of us is the machine.'

Continue pulling out while holding on Chief. BLACK.

Boom. Cortana's line comes back and Chief doesn't have to clumsily utter it.

I also just rewatched Cortana's death scene and there are SO many times when Chief doesn't need to say a damn thing because his slight movements reveal his inflections to what Cortana is saying. It is SO awkward.

It's supposed to be awkward because the Chief could do nothing. He was outside of his comfort zone - he was losing his comfort zone.

Consider the alternative: Chief half shrugging and cocking his head like a six month old would only make the scene seem condescending on Cortana's part. Like she's talking to a child, not an indoctrinated soldier. His plead was the best he could do, and in his steadfast refusal is the player supposed to sympathize.