150°

Halo 5: Guardians Infographic Ties Halo Storyline & Lore; Studio Head Comments On Lore Necessity

343i and Microsoft have released a infographic for the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians to ties the Halo lore and storyline.

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paradiger.com
Gazondaily3209d ago

No the Halo games do a TERRIBLE job of doing the lore justice. In fact, so much of the story is based on the lore than I really wonder if anyone who hasn't read the books stands a chance of understanding what's going on.

With Halo 4; who was the Didact? The books explained everything in great detail including the existence of another Didact (created via brevit mutation), the relationship with the Librarian and why the Didact lost his mind somewhat.

With Halo 5, you're reunited with Blue team. Now I'm having to constantly explain to my mates who haven't read the books, the significance of this and who Blue team are.

Instead of making shoddy series like they did with Agent Locke, they need to make a real effort to explain the lore to the masses because the lore is absolutely incredible and deep, its just that the devs don't do it justice.

Make a series about how humans existed millenia ago and were technologically matching the Forerunners. Show how they were devolved. Show how the Forerunners won and what they did to the Precursors (who created humans and Forerunners. Explain what the Mantle of Responsibility actually is. What the Domain is! What the Flood really were. So much important info untouched by the games.

VER1ON3209d ago (Edited 3209d ago )

Interesting. I think it would be amazing and interesting if 343 would make some sort of of pilot explaining the lore in a nutshell. Same like what they are doing with the #Huntthetruth episodes.

Having played all Halo games I must admit I'm haven't read through all the lore and I feel like I'm missing out on certain parts.

OC_MurphysLaw3209d ago

watch this, I found it helpful in connecting some dots: https://www.youtube.com/wat...

4Sh0w3209d ago (Edited 3208d ago )

Septic
"So much important info untouched by the games."

-Agreed, but are you seriously suggesting that they can tell the whole of Halo's vast lore within any 1 Halo game?

-I got tons of friends who never read the books and understand the basic storyline of Halo and enjoy the games WITHOUT understanding the nuances of the lore....the people who are looking to understand everything NEED to explore the lore outside of the game, seriously I think Halo4 told a great story but its asking a lot for a Halo game to completely encompass the Halo lore so that folks know everything about Halo once its concluded, remember this is a FPS not a RPG.

The way I see it is that gamers who really enjoy or are interested in Halo's story after a play through SHOULD have some questions, not about huge plot wholes that left them lost about what's going on(not the case with Halo4) but stuff like "What the Domain is", is frankly something that if you are really that captivated by the storyline something you should read up on.

-Foxtrot3209d ago (Edited 3209d ago )

May I just say that despite you thinking we don't see eye to eye all the time that this is the best comment on this subject that I've agreed to.

They expect us to have read ALL THE BOOKS or looked at any other media from the Halo Universe that isn't a game.

Halo 4 did just that. The Didact, Requiem, the Forerunners, the war between humans, forerunners and the flood, the librarian and how she was the Didacts wife etc. Some things are hinted at within the game but it's done in a way where you are supposed to think back of what you've read in a novel to understand what's currently going on so they don't have to explain it. So basically die hard Halo fans get it while the rest are like "Huh...wonder what that was about" and then after the game checks a list of references they didn't get.

Sparten Ops is another. I never finished it but looked at what happened online and it's a lot to take it. You had backstory on Halsey and what happened to her. This will link into Halo 5 so what about those who didn't finish Sparten Ops. Wouldn't it have been better to add those story points into the main game.

Like you've said about Halo 5. The Blue team. I have no idea who they are and because of that I don't care like the rest of people. As you've seen with my comments instead of being glad of the Blue teams return I'm left with "So a bunch of A.I's are going to be following me in the entire game making the game easier for me just so other people can play co-op I have to suffer". Not to mention the fact there is going to be dialogue between them and no offence but Master Chief isn't much of a talker as we've all seen. I'm more ticked off with the fact they've replaced Cortana with a bunch of Spartans like Chief. That chemistry and relationship the Chief and her had is now gone.

You have Agent Locke aswell. They spent their time on a bloody series to get a look into Lockes backstory and have him fully developed for the game and yet it fell flat on it's face. The show was lacklustre and Locke just came across as boring.

So now we have people who didn't read the books/novels AND those unfortunate people who didn't watch the series.

They've got to work on their story telling. I feel like because they work so much on the multiplayer side of things they don't put much time into the single player which is always why the campaign comes off a bit short. If they spent their time on a longer campaign they could explain everything in a well crafted story. In the end it comes across that they need to condense as much into this smaller campaign then they actually want

Now it seems we have to access terminals and voice recordings to understand the backstory

I feel like with Halo 5 they've decided to create some sort of spin off instead of making a full on main game just starring the Master Chief. I would have been happy if it was just Chief running from Locke (without playing him) so he could find Cortana or a way to fix her while facing their new threat.

Gazondaily3209d ago

Compeltely agree. In fact, Destiny kinda sums up the problem with these games as that's a total extreme of that approach there.

Also yeah, good point about Spartan Ops. Halsey has an arm missing. People who didn't go through that are gonna be like er...wtf? The story coming off the impressive CGI series is so important in Halo 5 and its been neglected within the game itself.

I doubt the approach will change either. If they got their act together here then maybe fans wouldn't have to resort to making videos after videos on the lore.

OC_MurphysLaw3209d ago

I do agree that the lore / Story of Halo is complicated and not many have a full understanding of it. To be honest, I am not sure you could either unless you are really hardcore about both playing, watching and reading everything Halo.

Its very similar to the issue that Star Wars has/had...You have movies, games, books and animated series which some is considered cannon and other elements isn't... to a casual fan you will have no way of know what is what... its a giant web of a story that only the most hardcore will have the full story down.

So Halo will continue on to be a bit of a hot mess in terms of being properly told but ....and I do say but...I don't find that to be so big an issue to keep me and others who are not as "into" the full story from enjoying the next installment.

Hooby3209d ago (Edited 3209d ago )

They were so scared of "confusing" people with who the didact was that they didn't even bother explaining a damn thing about him. Laughable. Did no one on the infinity wonder WHO he was? WHY he was trying to kill them? WHAT requiem is? WHAT the floating orb was? This isn't deep fiction, these are core components of the story that they couldn't bother to answer within the story itself.

OpieWinston3209d ago

They put a lot of effort into giving you ways.

Fall of Reach (Blue Team) has been told MULTIPLE times.

Book, Comics, and now Animated Series.

The Halo lore is so expansive and so rich with content that all they really need to do is tell brief versions of each of the stories via Animated Series with "Sequence Group" the guys who did the Halo 2 Terminal videos and now the Fall of Reach animated series.

Things like Escalation bridge the gap between 4 & 5, and introduce you to Tanaka. But when you're playing 5 much like 4, they'll tell you what you need to know.

The point is if you want to explore more content it's there for you. As far as "The masses go", all they'll need to explain is what the Guardians do and Blue teams connection.

Halo has....
Games
Books
Comics
Audio series
Animated Series
Web Series
TV Series

They give you just enough when the game launches. But all Halo lore junkies know that 343i is doing the lore justice. I don't think you know what "justice" means.

-Foxtrot3209d ago

If you want to play the games why should you feel the need to watch/read another form of media to understand an upcoming game.

It's called story telling. You use your chosen form of media to tell your story.

If you are telling a story and you come across a problem where you think "Ah they'll hopefully have read or watched (insert other media)" then you have a problem.

If they want to expand their lore and universe they can...they just shouldn't expand it with stuff that they want to use for their main games. All you are doing is confusing non die hard Halo fans.

If the main games really need to reference something that is told in other forms of media then they need to make sure that the story they are telling has the time to tell the audience that and explain it within the story.

"The point is if you want to explore more content it's there for you"

You can't just brush people off like that. If I was telling a story and there was plothole but I turned around and said "Well go watch/read the other forms of content" I'd end up being a bad storyteller.

"But all Halo lore junkies know that 343i is doing the lore justice"

Halo Lore Junkies is basically who they are catering to and is why they don't try with their story telling.

They need to know not everyone is a die hard fan. I like Halo but to spend my time reading and watching EVERYTHING. People have lifes you know.

OC_MurphysLaw3209d ago

single best/quick recap of the Halo Universe I have come across: https://www.youtube.com/wat...

4Sh0w3208d ago (Edited 3208d ago )

-Foxtrot, allow me to disagree with you as usual.
"You can't just brush people off like that. If I was telling a story and there was plothole"

-What "plothole" is there in Halo4 though? If by plothole you mean every single character or event is NOT fully explained along with a complete background synopsis of what happened before then YES, but every game and movie out there suffers from this. As far as the plot of Halo 1-4 goes its pretty well told for the most part, maybe a few "huh? moments" here and there but that's mostly just because you might want to know more about who, why or how something happened. Still if you just want to sit down and play a sci-fi story driven game about a super soldier trying to save the world it pretty much gives you all that in the story 1-4.

The difference between Halo and most other great sci-fi stories is that aside from Star Wars and a few others, THERE IS ALOT OF OTHER MEDIA to explain the details about what happened across the timeline of its fictional story.

@Dlacy13g
-yeah that's one of the best vids I've ever seen that covers the wave tops of the Halo Universe.

-Foxtrot3208d ago (Edited 3208d ago )

@4Sh0w

Jeez...that response

Don't have to be hostile about it

"allow me to disagree with you as usual"

Oh so you disagree for the sake of it...that's nice to know. Mature.

4Sh0w3208d ago (Edited 3208d ago )

@-Foxtrot
"Oh so you disagree for the sake of it...that's nice to know. Mature."

-No. I just disagree with you about most things gaming related, I find your opinions especially on X1 related news most of the time very much at odds with what I and most xbox fans I know would suggest, prefer, or change. Its subjective so you are welcome to your opinion, as I am welcome to mine. I dont know what I said that made you act so butthurt. Its a simple comment "as usual"= I disagree with you more often than I agree with you, whats wrong with that?...We just see things very differently most of the time.

-Then you go calling names, not once did I personally attack you...ironically you question my maturity.

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Elit3Nick3209d ago

Agreed. BTW the Iso-Didact is one of my favorite characters and I hope he makes some sort of comeback, either still alive (since he and the remaining forerunners exiling themselves after Halo's firing), imprinting himself inside a forerunner ruin like the Librarian or being an implanted geas in someone else.

343_Guilty_Spark3208d ago

He's got to at the very least be in Halo 6.

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BattleTorn3209d ago

Animated Fall of Reach series?

This any good?

343_Guilty_Spark3208d ago

The problem honestly is that Bungie did a poor job explaining all the story in the games. You can't expect 343i to spend all its time explaining what should have been explained in Halo 1-3. There is also the issue that some of the story didn't even exist until it was retconned by Nylund and other authors.

xxmagicmanx3205d ago

This mean the people bought the Xbox one was hardcore gamers people watch E3, and casual gamers are buying ps4 cuz hype like Justin Beiber selling disc

50°

Master Chief Became More Than A Machine In 343's Halo

In Halo 4, 5, and Infinite, Master Chief became a more nuanced, human character.

In spite of the Halo series’ struggles, 343 deserves praise for adding nuance and characterisation to the ever-beating heart of Halo - The Master Chief. Playing through Infinite, it's abundantly clear that the events of the current and previous trilogies have irrevocably changed the iconic hero. He’s no longer the ‘blank slate’ that was previously presented by Bungie. He’s a fatigued, damaged and fallible protagonist, and one who is meandering through currents of grief, while reveling in his newfound agency. Giving the Chief a compelling and meaningful voice was no small feat, and 343 should be proud of that victory.

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thegamer.com
kingnick407d ago

This article completely misses part of the appeal of the original iteration of character in the original game trilogy. It was the Chief and Cortana vs an entire alien collective. The blank slate Bungie displayed in their games was genius, he was an mysterious hero a wide audience could identify with because he wasn't as clearly defined as most characters.

The books added a lot of lore and backstory but most Halo players just want a fun game with exposition that doesn't get in the way of gameplay, it's why the Cortana level in Halo 3 was derided.

Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty.

BandarHub406d ago

A lot of people give the 343 version of Master Chief a lot of slack.
But Fundamentally he is still the same character, he just has a couple more dialogues. He has not changed in terms of attitude.
"Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty."
And that's what he has done at the end of the day, he did his duty. Watch his partner die, and was ready to destroy the weapon in Halo infinite....he is still the same soilder that everyone remembers

Halo Infintes one was a nice balance between both.

slate91406d ago

Chief and the halo franchise became a joke under 343

Sciurus_vulgaris406d ago

The 343i Master Chief has is based on the books. However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion.

Obscure_Observer406d ago

"However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion."

Which is awesome! I love how Master Chief become more John and less soldier.

Sciurus_vulgaris406d ago

I didn’t even notice my typos,lol

250°

GameStop Kicks Off Four Pre-Owned Games For $20 Sale

Daily Video Game writes: "GameStop is running a new pre-owned game sale on over 1000 pre-owned games that offers four pre-owned ($9.99 or less) games for $20 across multiple gaming platforms right now, including PS3 and Xbox 360!"

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dailyvideogame.com
roadkillers647d ago

I mean, the deal is alright… Unfortunately for me the Serious S doesn’t have a disk drive and unfortunately for Gamestop a lot of those games are on or have been on Gamepass/PSNow.

Sgt_Slaughter647d ago

Given the nature of backwards compatibility on new systems, this is a great sale in case you missed out on some gems from last gen.

Mandingo2020647d ago

Most of the games on Xbox are on game pass. The Switch games in this sale are trash c'mon farming simulator that's laughable. The PS4 games should be cheaper. I can't wait for the GameStop going out of business liquidation sale.

neutralgamer1992647d ago

Seriously man I don't get the hate on GS and I guess you want even less options and give more control to the publishers

And you want thousands of people to lose their jobs because you don't like a company. One thing I have noticed is how most who hate on GS haven't shopped at the actual stores in years. Many who hate on GS have also done so listening to others negative stories or experiences. People on YT want clicks and hating on GS is the cool thing

SurgicalMenace647d ago

It's not people's hate that would lose people's jobs, it's the shady business practices of the company. So what you're saying is that because people work there individuals should just support what they don't want to? Sound advice; Hitler too had supporters, employees, and advocates but people go around hating him too. They only hate because of other people's bad stories or experiences; they only spoke bad about him because they wanted attention. It's been decades; lets give his way another go. With your logic anything could be made to sound good.🤷🏾‍♂️

neutralgamer1992646d ago

SurgicalMenace

Seriously you used Hitler as an example to say company has shady practices

You don't have to shop at GS there are many other retailers. I shop there and vast majority of my experiences have been positive and most of the employees are super nice

SurgicalMenace646d ago

Just having some fun, bro.🤣🤣

Mandingo2020646d ago

There are other places to work besides GS. Plus, their benefits are trash so why not work somewhere else?

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REDGUM647d ago

And none of those game you speak of you actually own as they are digital not physical & would cost more than $20 as the subscription costs more than that.

Mandingo2020646d ago (Edited 646d ago )

You know you can get game pass ultimate codes for the low on cdkeys or g2a right? You don't need to have a subscription 😂. GS is trash and I'd rather support the mom and pop game store here instead.

BlackTar187647d ago

Why are you people so full of hate? GameStop gives people jobs and provides a physical appearance to see things in the flesh and not just some soulless online experience.

Mandingo2020646d ago

You can get physical at mom and pop game stores plus you can get it online. GS is trash

neutralgamer1992646d ago

Because Mom and Pop shops cost two to three times more for the same product Angie the answer

BlackTar187646d ago (Edited 646d ago )

Mom and pop stores cost more and have even harder time competing against the internet. Also lie to me and tell you have a couple mom and pop stores near you selling games then lie and tell me you shop there.

IanTH647d ago

These sales, while potentially great, really struggle to be valuable given you can't easily parse what games are in stock. You can't just say "only show what is online & what are in my nearby stores". Probably 60-75% of these games in these massive lists are out of stock for shipping, and out of stock locally. It makes it a chore to find anything you'd want, much less 4 of them, much less enough if you wanted to get to a free shipping tier. It's a bummer.

647d ago Replies(1)
110°

10 Best Halo Games

NoobFeed Editor Joshua Burt writes - There are many games in the famous Halo Franchise that are stellar titles and need to be revered. And some that do not. These games stand out from the crowd and deluge of colossal Halo titles. Games that made Halo great. We do need to iron out what qualifies the game for this list. They have to be in the Halo franchise… Obviously.

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noobfeed.com
717d ago
717d ago Replies(2)
-Foxtrot717d ago

Halo CE over Halo Infinite anyday

Not to mention the impact it had at the time

Flawlessmic717d ago

Halo 3 at the top is correct the only thing id change is swap infinite and halo ce around.

AuraAbjure717d ago

Halo 4 best campaign and multiplayer. Halo 3 best story.

ChubbyBlade716d ago

Are you trying to give people cancer?

AuraAbjure716d ago (Edited 716d ago )

Halo 4 has the hottest Cortana too which explains why the MC is the hardest in that campaign and why H4's multiplayer is the illest. Chief ain't afraid to take on teleporting enemies that can one hit melee kill.

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