Halo Reach Reveal Thread - Matchmaking/Multiplayer Details Revealed

Sai-kun said:
It's especially disappointing to me because of how amazing the books are. It's obviously harder to convey that sort of emotional detail, but...argh. I feel like Bungie could do it if they really tried.
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I agree. I've always wondered if they felt the characters and story had to be reigned in to keep the dudebros that play Halo engaged in it. I feel that their writers are up to the task of creating compelling characters and stories, but they never really go for it.
 
DrBo42 said:
You make some really good points. I guess the time travel could have worked, but I always feel like it's a cop out in a story. With Cortana though, I was banking on her going rogue especially with that insane banter in the Halo 3 early trailer/reveal with the arc. I completely agree with you that this long road with her through the games would have resulted in a huge moral choice/emotional response when you'd have to eventually take her down. The problem with every Halo game is that the story is never really aware of its potential, and the character development is so barren. These characters CAN have depth, even if they're behind helmets and sets of armor. ODST finally started to rectify that, hopefully it continues to build in Reach.
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The trailers and marketing for the Halo games are brilliant because Bungie is great at making certain moments in the game. But fitting in those moments to the over all story and plot progression, not so great. There are a few melancholy moments between the Chief and Cortana (amazing music, great directing, good dialogue and some great voice acting), but Bungie didn't know how to make these moments worth anything in the end. There's no pay off. And I blame that on Bungie being over cautious with their last game. In trying not turn off any fans, they played it too safe by not doing anything remotely outlandish, exciting or surprising. What you have left is a game exactly how you described: barren. Halo C.E and Halo 2 were definitely pushing the cogs well and fast for Halo 3's plot to be ambitious. I mean, after pushing Gravemind the way they did, his demise is so forgettable. In fact his entire role in Halo 3 is forgettable. He's the LOTR film's Sauron to the Halo trilogy.
 
Man those old trailers and TV spots bring me back. Can't believe Starry Night was 3 years ago. I remember watching all of these things.
 
From the PR
Taken from part of the game’s opening cinematic,
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So, confirmation that this is not some incredibly touched up piece of footage that isn't going to be a part of the actual game ?.
 
To be honest with you I can't even remember how the gravemind is destroyed or if it even was. :lol The only part of that game that really stuck with me was the ending with MC and Cortana.
 
joey_z said:
The trailers and marketing for the Halo games are brilliant because Bungie is great at making certain moments in the game.
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I have to disagree. I believe Bungie is making a mistake using segments from the game as a showpiece. Let's just think for a moment, what was the Halo Reach trailer showing? Is there any action? No. Is there any story? No. Can the viewer undestand what's going on? No.

That trailer is fantastic for people who knows the difference between a Spartan II and Spartan III (all four of them), but for the rest of humanity is a slow action, criptic, storyless piece.

I undestand that Bungie burnt themselves with the Halo 2 trailer, but the trailers they are using now is not the way to go.
 
joey_z said:
Fixed.

I always thought time travelling would fit in really well with Halo. Of course I know I'm alone in that thought. Guilty Spark in the library stage in C.E. had me convinced that in Halo 3 the Chief would get new armor and then you'd go back in time and meet Guilty Spark and that's how he knows who you are. That way Bungie could make some key parts from Halo C.E with the Halo 3 engine and the entire part could last like 10 to 20 minutes with you flashing from one scene to another. Seeing yourself fight on the beach etc etc.

Unfortunately that did not happen :(
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This sounds way better than anything we got in the two sequels. Man, the story is just a huge piece of shit now. :(

DrBo42 said:
To be honest with you I can't even remember how the gravemind is destroyed or if it even was. :lol The only part of that game that really stuck with me was the ending with MC and Cortana.
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Likewise. That moment felt so Halo 1-ish. The music, everything. A really nice moment.
 
U K Narayan said:
This sounds way better than anything we got in the two sequels. Man, the story is just a huge piece of shit now. :(
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I can't tell if you're being U K Narayan or if you actually feel that way.
 
DrBo42 said:
To be honest with you I can't even remember how the gravemind is destroyed or if it even was. :lol The only part of that game that really stuck with me was the ending with MC and Cortana.
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I'm pretty sure he was on the Arch when it blew up, but I agree with you. I only really remember the last cutscene.
 
U K Narayan said:
I'm mostly speaking for the games. Other than Halo 1 and ODST, the story really isn't all that great. The universe is cool though.
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Yeah, I agree with that. Reach has such huge potential though, in terms of story. Reach is really a last stand planet-side that we never really got with Halo 2 or even 3. Despair, loss, these aren't exactly new themes in gaming or even in Halo (we got a touch of that in Halo 1) but they could really turn it into a compelling experience here.
 
DrBo42 said:
To be honest with you I can't even remember how the gravemind is destroyed or if it even was. :lol The only part of that game that really stuck with me was the ending with MC and Cortana.
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Exactly. Because the ending with Chief and Cortana is just one of those moments I was talking about. Bungie is a company full of some talented mother fuckers. The music in that final scene and the general feel of what's happening; that isolation, the Chief's computer like response to Cortana's emotions (how an AI feels stronger about what just happened than a human soldier) and his final words to cortana (at that moment stranded like a patient lover shut off or an anxious kid told not to bother his dad) were just fucking AAA. Yet, in the wider context, that scene meant nothing because of the lame plot itself.
 
joey_z said:
Exactly. Because the ending with Chief and Cortana is just one of those moments I was talking about. Bungie is a company full of some talented mother fuckers. The music in that final scene and the general feel of what's happening; that isolation, the Chief's computer like response to Cortana's emotions (how an AI feels stronger about what just happened than a human soldier) and his final words to cortana (at that moment stranded like a patient lover shut off or an anxious kid told not to bother his dad) were just fucking AAA. Yet, in the wider context, that scene meant nothing because of the lame plot itself.
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That bond between them is the only thing that really keeps me interested in that story. I think we should storm the Bungie offices and make them show us the storyboards for Reach. :lol "This right here, NO." "EMOTION."
 
Sometimes I feel Halo and Matrix are really alike.
And one day, I wish both would get a new sequel that would retcon the events of 2 and 3.

Hell, its not even that I don't like 2 & 3. Unlike most people, I like the continuations of both franchises, BUT a story that leads in a different direction than the one we got could be fucking amazing aswell.

Imagine Halo 2.

Chief & Cortana are flying back on the longsword from the ruins of the first Halo.
They get picked up by a human vessel.
On their way back to Earth, they find out that the during the events of Halo: CE, the covenant found Earth and their fleet is in orbit.
*Cue the Halo 2 Announcement Trailer Scene*
Master Chief drops down on to a covenant ship and wrecks havok.
He proceeds to blow the core of the covenant cruiser and (hell)jumps down to the planet.
He is found by Sargent Johnson in a level reminiscent to Halo 3's first level ensues.
Once on the pelican, Chief/Cortana/Johnson head to New Mombasa Headquarters.
*Cue Halo 2 E3 Realtime Demo*
*Insert some more cool Earth levels such as the Outskirts/Metroplis from Halo 2 and Tsavo Highway/The Storm from Halo 3.*
In the end, its all futile and the Covenant glass much of New Mombasa, but instead of finishing off the planet, the remaining force retreat.

Concurrently, we see the trails and tribulations of the Arbiter, but instead of being sent on a mission to catch a heratic, he travels to find a new Halo (which he learned the coordinates of while he was on the first ring).
While he is on this new Halo, he also learns the truth of the rings from the Monitor of the new Halo. ("There are things about Halo even the Hierarchs do not understand.")
The prophets were following the Arbiters moves and upon finding a new Halo, want to waste no time in activating the rings.
They recall all of the covenant fleet and redirect them to the new Halo.

At this point, the 2 stories converge.

The Master Chief & Johnson follow the covenant ships back to the new Halo.
The Arbiter tries to resist but the Prophets turn on him (with the help of the brutes) and leave him to die.
Johnson goes to find the index & the Chief goes to find the Prophets and Tartarus in the Control Room.
Containment of the flood is once again breached on this new Halo
The Chief fights the flood in a Two Betrayals type level and ends up finding the Arbiter.
The two form a weird alliance against the Prophet and the Brutes...all the while fighting the flood.
*Insert levels like Delta Halo from Halo 2 and The Ark from Halo 3*
Similar to Halo 3, Johnson has the index but is captured and forced to activate the ring.
The Chief and the Arbiter show up just as Johnson is being killed. The Chief has a shown down with the Brute Chieftan (Tartarus) and the Arbiter takes care of the Prophets.
The level plays out in a mix of The Great Journey from Halo 2 and The Covenant from Halo 3.
The Ring is stopped from firing. The Prophets are dead. The elites listen to the Arbiter and form a truce with the Humans. The Covenant is broken. We see that the Brutes still consider Halo to be a sacred place and go back to Delta Halo. They are overtaken by the flood.

In the final scene we are introduced to the Gravemind, who has finally found a way to get off Halo (using Brute Ships).

End...
 
SimpleDesign said:
There are those that said this day would never come. What are they to say now?
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The day is not here yet. Wait for the game to reach the announcement trailer graphics, then I will have nothing to say.
 
Shake Appeal said:
Given the clip size in that bitch, he'd have to stop to reload seven or eight times.
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But who are we kidding. The Chieftain was winding up to swing the hammer and baseball the Chief right into the horizon before he even landed.
 
dd0wv8.jpg
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You can still see helmets from Halo 3 a bit.

From right to left:

Scout helmet
EVA helmet
Unsure about this one...
Version of CQB?
Version of a Mark V?
 
DeadFalling said:
:lol I just think the loss of Master Chief (No Chief is similar to taking Mario out of Super Mario Brothers and moving onto the story of Toad. It may very well be more interesting and fun, but Mario is the cultural icon and taking him out just doesn't work. Even if I am tired of Chief, the general public probably wouldn't mind if he came back), the loss of an easy identifier (they know Halo 2 is the sequel to Halo, Halo 3 to 2, etc. Reach isn't as easy to understand from first glance. The fact that Wars and ODST came out in the mean time may have further added to the name confusion as well), and the fact that Halo 3 was as big as it was makes me think it won't be topped. Kinda like when musicians use up most of their good ideas and material on the first couple albums, and never quite hit the same level of success as their old stuff. (usually)

edit: clarified my points a little more.
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It has the word Halo in it.

That's about as easy as an identifier as it can get. :P
 
Striker said:
I would welcome this open arms.
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I'm actually really hoping they leave Johnson out of this one. I'm fucking sick of Johnson. He was great in HALO 1 and pretty cool in 2. But the character just became a full blown parody of himself.
 
Scullibundo said:
I'm actually really hoping they leave Johnson out of this one. I'm fucking sick of Johnson. He was great in HALO 1 and pretty cool in 2. But the character just became a full blown parody of himself.
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you didn't hear? He's replaced by his own cousin in Reach, voiced by Samuel L Jackson himself.

I like the sarge, I hope he makes a cameo
 
Vast Inspiration said:
Sometimes I feel Halo and Matrix are really alike.
And one day, I wish both would get a new sequel that would retcon the events of 2 and 3.

Hell, its not even that I don't like 2 & 3. Unlike most people, I like the continuations of both franchises, BUT a story that leads in a different direction than the one we got could be fucking amazing aswell.

Imagine Halo 2.

[snip]

End...
Click to expand...
I want to play that game.
 
Scullibundo said:
I'm actually really hoping they leave Johnson out of this one. I'm fucking sick of Johnson. He was great in HALO 1 and pretty cool in 2. But the character just became a full blown parody of himself.
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Well, considering he's on the Pillar of Autumn getting his ass out of there and over to Halo, I doubt he'll show up planet side in Reach.
 
Scullibundo said:
I'm actually really hoping they leave Johnson out of this one. I'm fucking sick of Johnson. He was great in HALO 1 and pretty cool in 2. But the character just became a full blown parody of himself.
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Halo without Sarge is not Halo at all. Only likeable character in the series.
 
joey_z said:
The trailers and marketing for the Halo games are brilliant because Bungie is great at making certain moments in the game. But fitting in those moments to the over all story and plot progression, not so great. There are a few melancholy moments between the Chief and Cortana (amazing music, great directing, good dialogue and some great voice acting), but Bungie didn't know how to make these moments worth anything in the end. There's no pay off. And I blame that on Bungie being over cautious with their last game. In trying not turn off any fans, they played it too safe by not doing anything remotely outlandish, exciting or surprising. What you have left is a game exactly how you described: barren. Halo C.E and Halo 2 were definitely pushing the cogs well and fast for Halo 3's plot to be ambitious. I mean, after pushing Gravemind the way they did, his demise is so forgettable. In fact his entire role in Halo 3 is forgettable. He's the LOTR film's Sauron to the Halo trilogy.
Click to expand...
I think you make some great points here. Bungie absolutely dropped the ball with Halo 3's plot. It was a rushed, anticlimactic end to two games' worth of exquisite build up. The Master Chief and Cortana's bond in Halo 1, the Arbiter's first steps toward redemption, the revelation of the Covenant's power structure with the Prophets at its head, the introduction of the Machiavellian mind driving the Flood...all squandered. In Halo 3, the Master Chief and Cortana's reunion came too easily (and in my view too late, given the length of the game There should have been at least two levels where the pair acted as a team like in Halo 1, and Halo 3 should have been longer.), the Arbiter was pretty much ignored, the Prophet of Truth magically turned from a serene voice of reason into a raving zealot, and Gravemind barely had time to slither a few tentacles into the daylight before he was blown away with the Ark.

DrBo42 said:
Yeah, I agree with that. Reach has such huge potential though, in terms of story. Reach is really a last stand planet-side that we never really got with Halo 2 or even 3. Despair, loss, these aren't exactly new themes in gaming or even in Halo (we got a touch of that in Halo 1) but they could really turn it into a compelling experience here.
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I'm hoping Bungie takes a cue from ODST really gives Reach's plot some TLC.

NemesisPrime said:
Cry more! Emo tears are sweet.
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Stop trolling.

EazyB said:
Halo without Sarge is not Halo at all. Only likeable character in the series.
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Let's both pretend you forgot about Cortana.
 
Johnson became way too important in Halo 3. I'd be fine with a cameo, but not with him as a main character.

I'm also hoping for it to be pretty "realistic" like Halo 1, stuff like the bomb scene from Halo 2 was over the top for me.
 
EazyB said:
Bad or worst thing about Halo 3's campaign?
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IMO, it was the worst part. Replaying the campaign with some friends, we were disgusted every time Cortana, or the Gravemind, interrepted the flow of the game with their absurd, unintelligible little speeches. I hope whoever was responsible of that brilliant idea is not working for Halo Reach.
 
MagniHarvald said:
I'm also hoping for it to be pretty "realistic" like Halo 1, stuff like the bomb scene from Halo 2 was over the top for me.
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It's been a deliberate direction Bungie has taken culminating in launching a warthog off a ramp and onto a scarab that MC then takes out with a few shots to the nerve center. :lol I don't see them scaling back
 
aries_71 said:
IMO, it was the worst part. Replaying the campaign with some friends, we were disgusted every time Cortana, or the Gravemind, interrepted the flow of the game with their absurd, unintelligible little speeches. I hope whoever was responsible of that brilliant idea is not working on any video games.
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Fixed?
 
Ballistictiger said:
Cortana is irritating in Halo 3 campaign.
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Yea attention devs, gamers do not in fact have an insatiable appetite for some random blue chick telling us shit while we are trying to game. (Borderlands, Halo)

Just stop!

Also yea I'm super pumped to fight Elites again, they were actually so much smarter AI wise than any of the Brutes in H3. They actually took cover when their shields were down. The fact Brutes didn't have recharging shields made the game much easier and simpler. In fact Brutes became more dumb from H2 to H3. In H2 they charged you and if the first hit didn't kill the second hit was right there incoming and that dude was going to go ape shit on you, in H3 each hit was lined up and completely predictable and took FOREVER. Hell whatever that level is where you start with a plasma rifle and are forced to fight waves of Brutes took me hours to beat on Legendary. In H3 even the higher ranked Brutes were dumb as shit. I know they were trying to eliminate unnecessarily unfair difficulty spikes, but it was still just a little too much of a nerf. I don't really know anyone who couldn't beat H3 on Legendary. Even my friends who aren't really gamers took it down rather quickly.
 
Bungie are phenomenal at everything but cinematics. They should outsource these bits to someone with flair and direction. The story in H2 and H3 fell to shit because they tried to be intelligent with it. The engine seamed it had a hard time with sound effects, epic moments came off feeling flat.

Must say ODST was better, but the sound was still off. Folio ? I forgot what these sound guys are called, but it felt it was lacking this effect.
 
Prine said:
Bungie are phenomenal at everything but cinematics. They should outsource these bits to someone with flair and direction. The story in H2 and H3 fell to shit because they tried to be intelligent with it. The engine seamed it had a hard time with sound effects, epic moments came off feeling flat.

Must say ODST was better, but the sound was still off. Folio ? I forgot what these sound guys are called, but it felt it was lacking this effect.
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Fuck you, HALO 2 had excellent cinematics. :D
 
xxjuicesxx said:
Yea attention devs, gamers do not in fact have an insatiable appetite for some random blue chick telling us shit while we are trying to game. (Borderlands, Halo)

Just stop!

Also yea I'm super pumped to fight Elites again, they were actually so much smarter AI wise than any of the Brutes in H3. They actually took cover when their shields were down. The fact Brutes didn't have recharging shields made the game much easier and simpler. In fact Brutes became more dumb from H2 to H3. In H2 they charged you and if the first hit didn't kill the second hit was right there incoming and that dude was going to go ape shit on you, in H3 each hit was lined up and completely predictable and took FOREVER. Hell whatever that level is where you start with a plasma rifle and are forced to fight waves of Brutes took me hours to beat on Legendary. In H3 even the higher ranked Brutes were dumb as shit. I know they were trying to eliminate unnecessarily unfair difficulty spikes, but it was still just a little too much of a nerf. I don't really know anyone who couldn't beat H3 on Legendary. Even my friends who aren't really gamers took it down rather quickly.
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gotta disagree with the Brute AI comment. In Halo 2, all they did was charge. they were damage sponges. dull. At least in Halo 3, they use equipment and play slightly more like Elites from CE. They occasionally charge but they do more than just that.

I can't comment on Max difficulty since I only played on Normal and Heroic. But I stand by my comment that they were more interesting in H3, even if they weren't necessarily more difficult.

But, still, the Elites in H1 just "felt" better to fight against. The recharging shield mechanic made it much more interesting.
 
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