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Halo Anniversary |OT| It All Comes Full Circle

Heysoos

Member
Quick question regarding the Terminals. Slight spoilers.

Do we ever find out anywhere who or what the wrecked ship Guilty Spark found belongs to?
Or are there any other hints as to the origins of this?
 
Quick question regarding the Terminals. Slight spoilers.

Do we ever find out anywhere who or what the wrecked ship Guilty Spark found belongs to?
Or are there any other hints as to the origins of this?

Not that I know of. The later terminals don't shed light on that, so it's still a mystery. I imagine there could be a reference to that ship in the future though, maybe in the third Greg Bear novel.
 

Tunavi

Banned
Grrrrrrr..... I remember stealing a Banshee at the beginning of "If I had a super weapon" being much easier way back when...
I didn't know that was an achievement when I got it, I always do it on my playthroughs and it surprised the hell out of me when the achievement popped up haha
 
I am ready to be enlightened, Fronk.

Doesn't the sniper work just fine against the flood in later games though? ;)

I guess I just figured a massive sniper round would rip the combat forms apart, but maybe that have super dense fleshy armor or something. The pistol works really well against them, but we all know that thing shoots nukes.

I've always thought that the snper not working against the flood just made sense, just like melee against the flood wasn't as useful either.

There's this nice little triangle of which weapons are most effecient on which enemies in the orginal halo that seems to disappear in the proceeding ones, with a slight return to fire based ones returning in halo 3.

It's one of my favorite design elements of the original halo, whether intentional or not.
 
I've always thought that the snper not working against the flood just made sense, just like melee against the flood wasn't as useful either.

There's this nice little triangle of which weapons are most effecient on which enemies in the orginal halo that seems to disappear in the proceeding ones, with a slight return to fire based ones returning in halo 3.

It's one of my favorite design elements of the original halo, whether intentional or not.
100% agreed.
 
I didn't know that was an achievement when I got it, I always do it on my playthroughs and it surprised the hell out of me when the achievement popped up haha
I always do that too but then you miss out on A Walk in the Woods if you skip straight ahead to the control room. I think I'll do an on foot AotCR run soon...
 
Do they ever explicitly explain why the Flood - the very parasite that Halo was designed to destroy - was actually held, alive on Halo?

When I played through Halo ten years ago, I came away quite sure that it was for research purposes, in hopes of finding a less drastic solution to the problem. But having just completed the game twice in Anniversary, there's never an explicit explanation.
 
Do they ever explicitly explain why the Flood - the very parasite that Halo was designed to destroy - was actually held, alive on Halo?

When I played through Halo ten years ago, I came away quite sure that it was for research purposes, in hopes of finding a less drastic solution to the problem. But having just completed the game twice in Anniversary, there's never an explicit explanation.

Did you watch the Terminals? I think they make it clear that
there was a strong possibility that the Flood would return to the Galaxy anyways (even if samples weren't preserved) since that's where it originated. It was a hotly debated topic among Forerunner, but they finally decided that it was best to keep samples to study in hopes of finding a more permanent solution for the Flood problem if/when it returned.
 
Did you watch the Terminals? I think they make it clear that
there was a strong possibility that the Flood would return to the Galaxy anyways (even if samples weren't preserved) since that's where it originated. It was a hotly debated topic among Forerunner, but they finally decided that it was best to keep samples to study in hopes of finding a more permanent solution for the Flood problem if/when it returned.

Thanks. I figured. I don't have all the terminals yet, but it seemed like the most obvious reason.
 

GhaleonEB

Member
I think I'll play this over the weekend. I really underestimated the degree to which Skyrim would suck me in - I played two levels of Campaign, got Skyrim, never went back. Feels weird to have a Halo game sit on the wayside, but I've been looking forward to diving in when I felt like a break from Skyrim, and I'm about there now.
 
I'm going to do my solo Legendary run using Bandana, Grunt Funeral and the bigger explosions skulls turned on. It will basically be easy mode. I wish every Halo game had these options because I just do not have the patience for solo Legendary. I have the skill but it just takes too damn long.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
I'm going to do my solo Legendary run using Bandana, Grunt Funeral and the bigger explosions skulls turned on. It will basically be easy mode. I wish every Halo game had these options because I just do not have the patience for solo Legendary. I have the skill but it just takes too damn long.

Oh just you wait. It won't be as easy as you think. There are two spots that having that combination on makes it damn near impossible. Still fun as hell with them on though.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
I thought I was cool enough to dodge Flood rockets. But then I had Boom on. Fuck.

For me the two hardest parts were the hanger bay when getting on the covenant ship and then getting out of the Warthog hanger when starting the warthog run. Those scripted explosions just totally fuck you over.
 

brownqk

Member
Replaying this reminded how much Halo 2 and 3 sucked to be honest. Shocking that a 10 year old game is still one of the best console FPS. HALO CE > Halo Reach > Halo 3 > Halo 2
 
Jesus fucking Christ.

You'd think SOMEBODY at Bungie would have played 'The Library' over the course of development and said something like:

"Hey guys? You know everything good about this game we're making? This level has NONE of it. Maybe we should change something."

Usually I like to immerse myself completely in a game, but I got so fucking bored I muted the damn thing and threw on a podcast.
 

Striker

Member
Jesus fucking Christ.

You'd think SOMEBODY at Bungie would have played 'The Library' over the course of development and said something like:

"Hey guys? You know everything good about this game we're making? This level has NONE of it. Maybe we should change something."

Usually I like to immerse myself completely in a game, but I got so fucking bored I muted the damn thing and threw on a podcast.
I played it in co-op the other day and it felt roughly the same, with of course the graphical changes. No, nothing great, especially comparing it to the other fantastic levels in CE, but it's on par with other mediocre stuff throughout the Halo series levels. Cortana from Halo 3 by far is the worst, I never found the Library a god damn chore and feel so much disinterest to play in as I do that level.

Replaying this reminded how much Halo 2 and 3 sucked to be honest. Shocking that a 10 year old game is still one of the best console FPS. HALO CE > Halo Reach > Halo 3 > Halo 2
2's got a great story, but yep, neither hold a candle to CE's campaign.
 
Replaying this reminded how much Halo 2 and 3 sucked to be honest. Shocking that a 10 year old game is still one of the best console FPS. HALO CE > Halo Reach > Halo 3 > Halo 2
2's got a great story, but yep, neither hold a candle to CE's campaign.
But... but... Dax told me that the Halo 3 is better because it is much better designed etc. :(

But I agree. Halo CE's campaign had the best campaign. It has too many moments that I'd use as a perfect example to explain the Halo experience. Of course these moments are still in Halo 2 or Halo 3, but they aren't that remarkable as Halo CE's.
 
But... but... Dax told me that the Halo 3 is better because it is much better designed etc. :(
Halo 3 and Halo: CE are both flawed masterpieces as far as I'm concerned (ODST too). It just depends on which flaws you prefer that you find to be the better game.

Edit: For the record, I've never said Halo 3 is a better game.
 

Magni

Member
This is the longest time I've ever taken to beat a Halo game (just beat SC today, soooo good), but I'm not a kid anymore, no more free time :(

God this game is good, wish I didn't have so many finals and projects and papers right now.
 
Jesus fucking Christ.

You'd think SOMEBODY at Bungie would have played 'The Library' over the course of development and said something like:

"Hey guys? You know everything good about this game we're making? This level has NONE of it. Maybe we should change something."

Usually I like to immerse myself completely in a game, but I got so fucking bored I muted the damn thing and threw on a podcast.

library on legendary is actually quite fun. plenty of classic brainless fps action.
shotgun <3
 
I played it in co-op the other day and it felt roughly the same, with of course the graphical changes. No, nothing great, especially comparing it to the other fantastic levels in CE, but it's on par with other mediocre stuff throughout the Halo series levels. Cortana from Halo 3 by far is the worst, I never found the Library a god damn chore and feel so much disinterest to play in as I do that level.

It's a bad level in context.

Halo is great for amazing enemy AI, wide-open environments and battle arenas, and the seamless transition from infantry to vehicle combat.

The Library offers none of these things. The enemies are brainless. The areas are repetitive, and there are no vehicles involved.

Cortana IS a worse level, you're right.

Personally, my favorite Flood-related level is the first one you encounter them on in Halo 3. You're basically going through an Earth environment as the area is getting glassed to wipe out the Flood infestation. It had a really creep vibe, like being caught in a quarantine zone.

As far as story goes: Halo 2 > Halo Reach > Halo CE > Halo 3 (since it basically was just a third act, go-go-go stuff).

As far as gameplay and set-pieces: Halo 3 > Halo: Reach > Halo CE > Halo 2
 
Personally, my favorite Flood-related level is the first one you encounter them on in Halo 3. You're basically going through an Earth environment as the area is getting glassed to wipe out the Flood infestation. It had a really creep vibe, like being caught in a quarantine zone.
70% of the atmosphere in Halo 3 comes from Floodgate. It's quite sad in retrospect. (10% for Sierra 117, 10% for The Covenant, 5% for Cortana, and the other 5% for "Halo (3)").
 
80% of the atmosphere in Halo 3 comes from Floodgate. It's quite sad in retrospect. (10% for Sierra 117, 5% for Cortana, and the other 5% for "Halo (3)").

Sierra 117 is easily the best opening level of any Halo game IMO. Great visuals, a nice variety of environments, great visuals, a good atmosphere, oh and great visuals. Did I mention the visuals enough?

If there's one thing I wish I could do for opening levels though, then it would be to allow players to use a lot more of the sandbox. The replay value of say H1's PoA is harmed by the fact you only get 4 weapons and Grunts/Elites to fight. It might be good for introducing players to the game and sandbox, but for more experienced players it kind of sucks. In fact, I'd love to be able to play through the entire game with the full sandbox available, even if such a mode would need to be unlocked.


On the subject of the Library, yes it does have many flaws as has been pointed out, but once we get to that stage of the game it's where the rushed nature of H1's final half becomes apparent. Wasn't most of the game done in the 6 months before launch?
 
Sierra 117 is easily the best opening level of any Halo game IMO. Great visuals, a nice variety of environments, great visuals, a good atmosphere, oh and great visuals. Did I mention the visuals enough?
I'd rate the opening levels as such:

Tayari Plaza > Sierra 117 > Winter Contingency > Cairo Station > The Pillar of Autumn

Though I do admit that I vacillate between Sierra 117 and Tayari Plaza for best opening levels. Sierra 117 is longer and has some great encounters sprinkled with "okay" ones in-between, while Tayari Plaza is shorter but all the encounters are great. That's the easiest way to sum it up.
 

Feindflug

Member
80% of the atmosphere in Halo 3 comes from Floodgate. It's quite sad in retrospect. (10% for Sierra 117, 5% for Cortana, and the other 5% for "Halo (3)").

The lighting at the start of Floodgate is still one of the most impressive things I've seen this gen, simply amazing.
 
Come on guys

Let's start chanting for a HALO 4 trailer tonight at the VGAs.

Forget Frankie and his obsession with water. Let's root for us getting a treat tonight!
 
Come on guys

Let's start chanting for a HALO 4 trailer tonight at the VGAs.

Forget Frankie and his obsession with water. Let's root for us getting a treat tonight!
Arresteddevelopmentsnoopy.gif


Though, to be honest, whoever said the VGAs needed Halo more than Halo needed the VGAs was on the mark. What a terrible show.
 

FyreWulff

Member
If it was by choice and not by necessity that you didn't release anything for the VGAs then it was the right choice. VGAs...yuck.

Thanks for not making me sit through that for another year. Will the industry ever get a respectable awards show?

The industry would have to get a respectable journalist organization first.
 

lybertyboy

Thinks the Evil Empire is just misunderstood.
If it was by choice and not by necessity that you didn't release anything for the VGAs then it was the right choice. VGAs...yuck.

Thanks for not making me sit through that for another year. Will the industry ever get a respectable awards show?

Actually the industry already has at least two: the Game Developers Choice Awards & the AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards.
 
Actually the industry already has at least two: the Game Developers Choice Awards & the AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards.

On which of my televisor box's channels do those appear? I understand that there are respectable awards ceremonies out there...just curious if they are full-blown shows that I can tune into.

Edit for:

I'm bummed that this is the side of the industry that the public at large sees. There is so much going on in gaming these days that is redeemable and worthwhile, but all of that goes unseen by the non-gaming public. Instead they see the VGAs on Spike.
 

lybertyboy

Thinks the Evil Empire is just misunderstood.
On which of my televisor box's channels do those appear? I understand that there are respectable awards ceremonies out there...just curious if they are full-blown shows that I can tune into.

Think they usually run the AIAS Awards on IFC which is on cable and satellite here in the US.
 
Think they usually run the AIAS Awards on IFC which is on cable and satellite here in the US.

So this is confirmation that you believe Halo 4 is going to win GOTY for 2012 at AIAS Awards on IFC right? RIGHT?

I guess IFC is better than nothing...but I'm sure more random folks see the industry represented on Spike than on IFC which means I'm still sad, but not as sad.
 
A friend and I just started playing this last night co-op over live and are suffering from horrendous controller lag and fluctuating framerate, is this a common problem? We both have it installed so we were going to try just using the disk next time to see any improvement. Secondly, when is it safe to exit a campaign chapter and actually have it save? We got up to rescuing the marines when you first arrive on Halo, decided to punch out, loaded it up just to see where we were and we have to do the whole level again which sucks.
 
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