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[Black Mantis]

Isn't the main brute, that this is supposed to be about, the one that died at the end of Halo 2?

If so it can't take place afterwards.

Tartarus? I don't think they've mentioned him at all in the little news they've released, so it's a different Brute.

 

[nekkid]

But the Forerunners weren't secretly evil? The Didact just has a grudge against Humanity. I don't see how him being evil makes the rest of his species be evil.

Also humanity isn't advanced anymore cause they lost their war against the Forerunners and as punishment, rather than be wiped from existence, were devolved.

You say you can't get on board, but it seems like you don't even understand it.

The problem is that you don't really see that in the games. Other than the brief cut scenes with the Librarian, you don't see both sides of the Forerunners. The overriding impression you get after playing 4 and 5 is that Forerunner = bad, despite the extensive lore telling you otherwise.

 

[Compsiox]

Tartarus? I don't think they've mentioned him at all in the little news they've released, so it's a different Brute.

I want it to be Tartarus.

 

[Captain Zyrain]

I like the look of this.

Hopefully it does tie in somehow with Hunters in the Dark. Or at least reference something from that book.

I like most of the novels but that was felt particularly weak, since it apparently had zero bearing on anything else, other than introducing us to Vale.

 

[Kalentan]

The problem is that you don't really see that in the games. Other than the brief cut scenes with the Librarian, you don't see both sides of the Forerunners. The overriding impression you get after playing 4 and 5 is that Forerunner = bad, despite the extensive lore telling you otherwise.

Fair enough. 343i hasn't been the best are protraying all of the book lore in the games.

 

[Poodlestrike]

Tartarus is deaaaaaaad, it's not gonna be him. Some new Brute chieftan who's finally gotten them all in line is my bet. Brutes are a little like Orks, without a strong leader figure they just start killing each other.

 

[Black Mantis]

I want it to be Tartarus.

How about his brother, ala Die Hard With a Vengeance?

 

[Chip N Chance]

Thats allot of units in the picture.

 

[nekkid]

Far enough. 343i hasn't been the best are protraying all of the book lore in the games.

I mean, without quibbling on the gymnastics the story would have had to take to build this scenario, if in Halo 4 the Prometheans had been fighting alongside you to defeat a new threat, would that have been better-received? I'm betting it would.

 

[Compsiox]

The problem is that you don't really see that in the games. Other than the brief cut scenes with the Librarian, you don't see both sides of the Forerunners. The overriding impression you get after playing 4 and 5 is that Forerunner = bad, despite the extensive lore telling you otherwise.

I don't think that the people living in the Universe currently know all the details that we know about the Forerunners and their behavior. The books that go into detail about their past is being narrated by the author to add lore. The people in the universe don't currently have the information we have from reading the books.

Therefore in the games we only see the Forerunners through their hostile defense methods.

 

[DesertFox]

But the Forerunners weren't secretly evil? The Didact just has a grudge against Humanity. I don't see how him being evil makes the rest of his species be evil.

Also humanity isn't advanced anymore cause they lost their war against the Forerunners and as punishment, rather than be wiped from existence, were devolved.

You say you can't get on board, but it seems like you don't even understand it.

Oops, I've offended the 343 writer in the house. I've read the Greg Bear books and I understand what reasons they've come up with to explain that particular terrible plot point. Just because a book takes the time to explain it, doesn't make it not contrived and middle school fanfiction levels of bad. Before you tell me all the reasons I'm wrong and how I don't understand, this is just my opinion.

 

[nekkid]

I don't think that the people living in the Universe currently know all the details that we know about the Forerunners and their behavior. The books that go into detail about their past is being narrated by the author to add lore. The people in the universe don't currently have the information we have from reading the books.

Therefore in the games we only see the Forerunners through their hostile defense methods.

Exactly what I'm saying.

 

[Compsiox]

Exactly what I'm saying.

Ta-dah!

 

[mcrommert]

There is not a single videogame book that can objectively count as great in this world.

Yeah not true at all...ghosts of onyx, the forerunner trilogy from g. bear, the fall of reach

 

[Kalentan]

Oops, I've offended the 343 writer in the house. I've read the Greg Bear books and I understand what reasons they've come up with to explain that particular terrible plot point. Just because a book takes the time to explain it, doesn't make it not contrived and middle school fanfiction levels of bad. Before you tell me all the reasons I'm wrong and how I don't understand, this is just my opinion.

You know... Did it ever occur to you that you could have responded without being a jackass?

I mean, without quibbling on the gymnastics the story would have had to take to build this scenario, if in Halo 4 the Prometheans had been fighting alongside you to defeat a new threat, would that have been better-received? I'm betting it would.

I think the solution maybe would have been having the Librarian stay in control of some Prometheans (somehow) or introducing more Forerunner's into the story. That or just keep the Librarian around in the story after the one scene with her.

Another thing that would have helped slightly would have been to make the goddamn terminals ingame. Whoever thought they should be accessed through Waypoint is an idiot.

 

[shoreu]

But the Forerunners weren't secretly evil? The Didact just has a grudge against Humanity. I don't see how him being evil makes the rest of his species be evil.

Also humanity isn't advanced anymore cause they lost their war against the Forerunners and as punishment, rather than be wiped from existence, were devolved.

You say you can't get on board, but it seems like you don't even understand it.

But the forerunner aren't evil the didact is insane and racist because of the shit he's been through... That the humans caused.
And he promethians serve him so that's why we fight.

 

[CrazE]

Love it! Can't wait for HW2. Was really excited last E3 when they announced it.

 

[CalamityPixel]

I am ready for haah waaw 2

 

[AlStrong]

Wonder if/when they'll do anything more with Guilty Spark.

I think the solution maybe would have been having the Librarian stay in control of some Prometheans (somehow) or introducing more Forerunner's into the story. That or just keep the Librarian around in the story after the one scene with her.

Have a Watcher attach to MC's back to provide him a jetpack instead of him "stealing" a pelican.

Another thing that would have helped slightly would have been to make the goddamn terminals ingame. Whoever thought they should be accessed through Waypoint is an idiot.

Would have been nice to have it included on Disc 2 to install, though I suppose they may have only opted for single-layer disc since it's a 3.5GB installation.

A separate download package though... oh well.

 

[Kalentan]

Wonder if/when they'll do anything more with Guilty Spark.

Hopefully! There was only a hint of it in Hunters in the Dark.

Have a Watcher attach to MC's back to provide him a jetpack instead of him "stealing" a pelican.


Would have been nice to have it included on Disc 2 to install, though I suppose they may have only opted for single-layer disc since it's a 3.5GB installation.

A separate download package though... oh well.

The watcher thing would have been pretty cool actually.

Also, huh. I completely forgot Halo 4 was on 2 discs on the 360... Maybe at least they should have given an option for a separate download, like you said.

 

[DesertFox]

You know... Did it ever occur to you that you could have responded without being a jackass?

Did it ever occur to you that people typically don't respond too well when you treat them with condescension and tell them what they do and don't understand?

 

[nekkid]

I think the solution maybe would have been having the Librarian stay in control of some Prometheans (somehow) or introducing more Forerunner's into the story. That or just keep the Librarian around in the story after the one scene with her.

Another thing that would have helped slightly would have been to make the goddamn terminals ingame. Whoever thought they should be accessed through Waypoint is an idiot.

I think we were ultimately seeing the limitations of not having a bluray drive in the 360.

 

[mcz117chief]

I just hope it follows the story of Spirit of Fire. Captain Cutter is an excellent character and I would love to see how his story continues/ends.

 

[Compsiox]

I just hope it follows the story of Spirit of Fire. Captain Cutter is an excellent character and I would love to see how his story continues/ends.

It would be better if it focused on an average Marine taking control of isolated UNSC forces and forming his own military.

 

[mcz117chief]

It would be better if it focused on an average Marine taking control of isolated UNSC forces and forming his own military.

I don't know if it would be better but it would be extremely hard to pull it off right. Unless you were isolated on one planet and you would basically assemble an insurgency army to harass the Covenant until the main army would arrive and then help them retake the planet. That would be pretty rad.

 

[Compsiox]

I don't know if it would be better but it would be extremely hard to pull it off right. Unless you were isolated on one planet and you would basically assemble an insurgency army to harass the Covenant until the main army would arrive and then help them retake the planet. That would be pretty rad.

That's basically what I meant. I don't think this is taking place on multiple planets? Also, waiting for the main military is a good idea.

I think this would be awesome too

 

[Danny 117]

It's some BS if the Spirit of Fire somehow ends up drifting towards the Ark lol.

 

[mcz117chief]

That's basically what I meant. I don't think this is taking place on multiple planets?

Anyway, I think this would be awesome too

Damn straight, that would be good. But I think it will probably take place aboard some space ship as you gallivant across the universe. Which isn't bad either, since I totally adore Halo Wars' story (and those incredible cutscenes, hnnnng)

 

[nekkid]

It's some BS if the Spirit of Fire somehow ends up drifting towards the Ark lol.

That is very true.

 

[Kalentan]

Did it ever occur to you that people typically don't respond too well when you treat them with condescension and tell them what they do and don't understand?

Considering this statement:

" "Suprise! Forerunners were secretly EVIL! Oooooh, scary! But wait, there's more - Humans used to be really super advanced and spacefaring, but aren't anymore because reasons!""

Is a misunderstanding. I wasn't being condescension. Also if I was being so, why did you make things work by being a jackass in response rather than merely explaining yourself. Instead you barely explained yourself! The whole: "Fanfiction" insult is honestly one of the weakest and most cop-out explanations.

 

[Future PhaZe]

looks like they aren't fucking with the prometheans

thank gawd

 

[Sephzilla]

Wait, The Ark? And it wasn't destroyed after Halo 3?

Holy fuck. I'm in.

 

[Kalentan]

Wait, The Ark? And it wasn't destroyed after Halo 3?

Holy fuck. I'm in.

Heavily damaged, but not destroyed.

 

[Diablohead]

The story around halo 2-3 is some of the best IMO, so it would be nice if halo wars 2 is around that time.

 

[AlStrong]

It's some BS if the Spirit of Fire somehow ends up drifting towards the Ark lol.

Speaking of it being adrift... That one comic page with the lone flood infection form reminded me of Alien. I would love to see a horror survival ala Alien: Isolation, although I suppose it'd be more like Dead Space with the Flood infection. i.e. more shooting.

Ship adrift for years.
Ellen Ripley Anders as the heroine.

Gotta bring back those Alien(s) homages.

 

[nekkid]

Speaking of it being adrift... That one comic page with the lone flood infection form reminded me of Alien. I would love to see a horror survival ala Alien: Isolation, although I suppose it'd be more like Dead Space with the Flood infection. i.e. more shooting.

Ship adrift for years.
Ellen Ripley Anders as the heroine.

Gotta bring back those Alien(s) homages.

Was it in the Halo Evolutions book that had the short story Frankie did? The Heart of Midlothian I think was the ship's name (dat patriotism). That played out with a very similar horror theme, that I always thought would work well as a Dead Space-type game.

Edit:
The Mona Lisa, was the story. Also had that moving comic of it.

 

[AlStrong]

Was it in the Halo Evolutions book that had the short story Frankie did? The Heart of Midlothian I think was the ship's name (dat patriotism). That played out with a very similar horror theme, that I always thought would work well as a Dead Space-type game.

The Mona Lisa story I think, but yeah, might be a neat one-off spin-off game. Could even do a co-op wave survival mode in that sort of setting.

 

[DesertFox]

Considering this statement:

" "Suprise! Forerunners were secretly EVIL! Oooooh, scary! But wait, there's more - Humans used to be really super advanced and spacefaring, but aren't anymore because reasons!""

Is a misunderstanding. I wasn't being condescension. Also if I was being so, why did you make things work by being a jackass in response rather than merely explaining yourself. Instead you barely explained yourself! The whole: "Fanfiction" insult is honestly one of the weakest and most cop-out explanations.

Calling it fanfiction is just the latent frustration from where Halo 4 took the story 4 years ago. I get how that could seem like a cop out, but that's just the remaining summary of how I feel about it so long afterwards.

As for the long winded explanation, here goes.

In my opinion (you're welcome to have your own) the most compelling part of the story of Halo was how, in spite of Humanity being incredibly advanced 500 years in the future and being capable of spaceflight, colonization, the SPARTAN program, etc. we were proven to be a fragile species, easily broken and pushed back by the Covenant.

Desperately fighting extinction was a theme that played heavily in the first 3 games, and even more so in Halo Reach. (One of the best campaigns, imo) Everything came to rest on John's shoulders. Humanity likely would have lost the war without him turning the tides.

Contrast that with where 343 has taken the story since. Here's a bullet list of the things that bother me:

• Spartan IVs - a dime a dozen! Super soldiers are now in abundant supply.
• Humanity flipped the tables in a span of 6 years. Technology so advanced, the Infinity literally rams a covenant cruiser, splitting it in 2. This type of advancement is unrealistic, even if we were reverse engineering Forerunner tech.
• Killing the Forerunner mystery. Remember the first time you played Halo 1, and being intrigued by who built Halo? Some things are better off left as a mystery. Even by the end of 3, we knew so little about the Forerunner other than that they built these marvelous structures. I didn't really want the ins-and-outs of the Forerunner explained. One of those things were reality didn't live up to expectation.
• Ancient humanity. This was the most egregious to me. Why did ancient humans need to be spacefaring in order to progress the story? I feel like 343 only added this to give the Forerunners (Didact) a reason to hate humanity, by injecting this ancient forgotten struggle between our two races. How? Well, it gets explained away with devolution! It felt forced, unnecessary, and frankly like poor writing. Plus it just doesn't make sense. How were the forerunner able to manipulate DNA to such an extent as to knock human evolution down a few rungs, but they couldn't reverse engineer a cure for the flood? Or manipulate their own DNA to make themselves immune to flood infection?

Well, there you have it. That's why I hate the direction of the story. Sorry for the wall of text.

 

[nekkid]

The Mona Lisa story I think, but yeah, might be a neat one-off spin-off game. Could even do a co-op wave survival mode in that sort of setting.

Yes, you're right - The Mona Lisa. Frankie's one was about the ODST alone on a ship with Covenant.

 

[Blues1990]

They've been really vague, implying it make take place over some time. However this concept art seems to indicate either taking place during or after Halo 5.

The last time we saw the Brutes we know some wanted to ally with the Sangheili (a small sect) but many are still fighting the Sangheili.

Now I'm curious to know more how the Brutes were able to turn things around. I'll keep my ears open for this game, as I love playing Halo Wars on the Xbox 360.

 

[Kalentan]

Calling it fanfiction is just the latent frustration from where Halo 4 took the story 4 years ago. I get how that could seem like a cop out, but that's just the remaining summary of how I feel about it so long afterwards.

As for the long winded explanation, here goes.

In my opinion (you're welcome to have your own) the most compelling part of the story of Halo was how, in spite of Humanity being incredibly advanced 500 years in the future and being capable of spaceflight, colonization, the SPARTAN program, etc. we were proven to be a fragile species, easily broken and pushed back by the Covenant.

Desperately fighting extinction was a theme that played heavily in the first 3 games, and even more so in Halo Reach. (One of the best campaigns, imo) Everything came to rest on John's shoulders. Humanity likely would have lost the war without him turning the tides.

Contrast that with where 343 has taken the story since. Here's a bullet list of the things that bother me:

• Spartan IVs - a dime a dozen! Super soldiers are now in abundant supply.
• Humanity flipped the tables in a span of 6 years. Technology so advanced, the Infinity literally rams a covenant cruiser, splitting it in 2. This type of advancement is unrealistic, even if we were reverse engineering Forerunner tech.
• Killing the Forerunner mystery. Remember the first time you played Halo 1, and being intrigued by who built Halo? Some things are better off left as a mystery. Even by the end of 3, we knew so little about the Forerunner other than that they built these marvelous structures. I didn't really want the ins-and-outs of the Forerunner explained. One of those things were reality didn't live up to expectation.
• Ancient humanity. This was the most egregious to me. Why did ancient humans need to be spacefaring in order to progress the story? I feel like 343 only added this to give the Forerunners (Didact) a reason to hate humanity, by injecting this ancient forgotten struggle between our two races. How? Well, it gets explained away with devolution! It felt forced, unnecessary, and frankly like poor writing. Plus it just doesn't make sense. How were the forerunner able to manipulate DNA to such an extent as to knock human evolution down a few rungs, but they couldn't reverse engineer a cure for the flood? Or manipulate their own DNA to make themselves immune to flood infection?

Well, there you have it. That's why I hate the direction of the story. Sorry for the wall of text.

Well we will just need to agree to disagree, at the very least it's interesting to see the specifics into why you don't like the direction. Since now I know others pov's.

 

[mcrommert]

The story around halo 2-3 is some of the best IMO, so it would be nice if halo wars 2 is around that time.

It was the best delivered in a video game...sure

But the storyline has gotten so much richer and better built in the last 5-7 years

 

[nekkid]

I completely disagree with the notion that ancient humanity was shoehorned. It's the whole reason that humans are the Reclaimers of the Mantle - something that goes back to the original game.

 

[mcrommert]

Calling it fanfiction is just the latent frustration from where Halo 4 took the story 4 years ago. I get how that could seem like a cop out, but that's just the remaining summary of how I feel about it so long afterwards.

As for the long winded explanation, here goes.

In my opinion (you're welcome to have your own) the most compelling part of the story of Halo was how, in spite of Humanity being incredibly advanced 500 years in the future and being capable of spaceflight, colonization, the SPARTAN program, etc. we were proven to be a fragile species, easily broken and pushed back by the Covenant.

Desperately fighting extinction was a theme that played heavily in the first 3 games, and even more so in Halo Reach. (One of the best campaigns, imo) Everything came to rest on John's shoulders. Humanity likely would have lost the war without him turning the tides.

Contrast that with where 343 has taken the story since. Here's a bullet list of the things that bother me:

• Spartan IVs - a dime a dozen! Super soldiers are now in abundant supply.
• Humanity flipped the tables in a span of 6 years. Technology so advanced, the Infinity literally rams a covenant cruiser, splitting it in 2. This type of advancement is unrealistic, even if we were reverse engineering Forerunner tech.
• Killing the Forerunner mystery. Remember the first time you played Halo 1, and being intrigued by who built Halo? Some things are better off left as a mystery. Even by the end of 3, we knew so little about the Forerunner other than that they built these marvelous structures. I didn't really want the ins-and-outs of the Forerunner explained. One of those things were reality didn't live up to expectation.
• Ancient humanity. This was the most egregious to me. Why did ancient humans need to be spacefaring in order to progress the story? I feel like 343 only added this to give the Forerunners (Didact) a reason to hate humanity, by injecting this ancient forgotten struggle between our two races. How? Well, it gets explained away with devolution! It felt forced, unnecessary, and frankly like poor writing. Plus it just doesn't make sense. How were the forerunner able to manipulate DNA to such an extent as to knock human evolution down a few rungs, but they couldn't reverse engineer a cure for the flood? Or manipulate their own DNA to make themselves immune to flood infection?

Well, there you have it. That's why I hate the direction of the story. Sorry for the wall of text.

Rather than just telling space marines stories (which i like as much as the next guy) now there is a canvas to tell a lot of other cool stories. The one super soldier who fights the evil aliens has been played out and there is room for other stories now.

 

[Danny 117]

The artwork is probably an artists interpretation of a 3 star brute chieftain wreaking havoc in 3v3 lol

 

[ATOMICJORGE]

When I see this image one thing comes to my mind HALO I'm very excited about Halo Wars 2 the first one is the most underrated Halo game of the entire franchise, I can't wait to see more about HW2 at E3 in 10 days ALL UNITS!

 

[nekkid]

When I see this image one thing comes to my mind HALO I'm very excited about Halo Wars 2 the first one is the most underrated Halo game of the entire franchise, I can't wait to see more about HW2 at E3 in 10 days ALL UNITS!

I've been hoping for Kinect integration so I can actually say "ALL UNITS", and "LOCAL UNITS" :-D

 

[NeOak]

Calling it fanfiction is just the latent frustration from where Halo 4 took the story 4 years ago. I get how that could seem like a cop out, but that's just the remaining summary of how I feel about it so long afterwards.

As for the long winded explanation, here goes.

In my opinion (you're welcome to have your own) the most compelling part of the story of Halo was how, in spite of Humanity being incredibly advanced 500 years in the future and being capable of spaceflight, colonization, the SPARTAN program, etc. we were proven to be a fragile species, easily broken and pushed back by the Covenant.

Desperately fighting extinction was a theme that played heavily in the first 3 games, and even more so in Halo Reach. (One of the best campaigns, imo) Everything came to rest on John's shoulders. Humanity likely would have lost the war without him turning the tides.

Contrast that with where 343 has taken the story since. Here's a bullet list of the things that bother me:

• Spartan IVs - a dime a dozen! Super soldiers are now in abundant supply.
• Humanity flipped the tables in a span of 6 years. Technology so advanced, the Infinity literally rams a covenant cruiser, splitting it in 2. This type of advancement is unrealistic, even if we were reverse engineering Forerunner tech.
• Killing the Forerunner mystery. Remember the first time you played Halo 1, and being intrigued by who built Halo? Some things are better off left as a mystery. Even by the end of 3, we knew so little about the Forerunner other than that they built these marvelous structures. I didn't really want the ins-and-outs of the Forerunner explained. One of those things were reality didn't live up to expectation.
• Ancient humanity. This was the most egregious to me. Why did ancient humans need to be spacefaring in order to progress the story? I feel like 343 only added this to give the Forerunners (Didact) a reason to hate humanity, by injecting this ancient forgotten struggle between our two races. How? Well, it gets explained away with devolution! It felt forced, unnecessary, and frankly like poor writing. Plus it just doesn't make sense. How were the forerunner able to manipulate DNA to such an extent as to knock human evolution down a few rungs, but they couldn't reverse engineer a cure for the flood? Or manipulate their own DNA to make themselves immune to flood infection?

Well, there you have it. That's why I hate the direction of the story. Sorry for the wall of text.

I do agree on a few of these. However, I think it is more of an attempt to make the franchise grow beyond the games, so they had to take this direction. But yeah, now the lore is everywhere, and unless you read the books and keep up with the comics, you are SOL.

Spartan IVs made the Spartans feel disposable, and their losses are just another random "ODST with mass produced armor" death rather than the SERIOUS loss that was during Bungie-era Halo. It also downplayed the effort and courage that were attributed to ODSTs as well as the crew of the ships due to their inferiority vs Elites. Now? "Put on that random MJOLNIR variant Private, you are going to box with a Brute and kill him with your bare hands"

Revealing the Forerunners was IMO another mistake. It killed the mystery behind the Flood too.

Rather than just telling space marines stories (which i like as much as the next guy) now there is a canvas to tell a lot of other cool stories. The one super soldier who fights the evil aliens has been played out and there is room for other stories now.

They could have done it like ODST, Reach, or at least like Halo Wars. Those characters were memorable, and, personally, I do remember them. Instead, we got a mess in Halo 4 with the Spartan chronicles or w/e DLC thing was that I can't remember besides Palmer being a cunt, and that Locke team on Halo 5 that I could care less about besides Buck because he was in ODST and how much they fucking suck against Warden Eternal. God damn those boss fights.

John 117, the Master Chief, is still the main protagonist in Halo. Change that, and you get "meh". His struggle after losing Cortana and all that should have been Halo 5 without Locke.

Also, 343i seems intent on killing the Spartan IIs and IIIs to force the IVs as the dominant ones left or w/e. Remember Team Black? Waste of characters by

Spoiler

getting them killed by the Didact for no purpose other than to sacrifice them

 

[blamite]

anyone know or have an idea what this is?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CkAm_CbUYAA2MGt.jpg:large

Looks like a cross between a Locust and a Harvester? Maybe a new artillery unit of some kind?

 

[Captain Zyrain]

I do agree on a few of these. However, I think it is more of an attempt to make the franchise grow beyond the games, so they had to take this direction. But yeah, now the lore is everywhere, and unless you read the books and keep up with the comics, you are SOL.

I think its on the game developers to make sure their stories are solid, regardless of your knowledge of the background material.

Probably not an easy task, but as long as they plan it that way, it should be eminently doa-able.

Most of the recent (2015) lore fiction had very little impact on Halo 5 (surprisingly, to me).