Halo 4 - Catch All

I don't think the covenant really knew anything about the truth of the forerunners as they were seeded from the ark just like humans were when the forerunners fired the halos way back when and wiped out all life.

Yes the Covenant is technologically more advanced, so perhaps they knew more about the installations locations, but they didn't know the real purpose of the installations until halo 2 and 3. It was all "the great journey blah blah blah" Only when the arbiter brought back the information about the real purpose did some in the covenant begin to understand what the real purpose was.

With the exception of the crazy prophet Truth that actually wanted to fire up the halos, the other prophets recognized what would happen if they did, complete extinction. When they discovered this it led to the civil war we saw in Halo 2 and 3. The prophet Truth wanted to fire up the Halos and go on the great journey. The other prophets realized that humans were related to forerunners and could actually start the equipment they recognized that their power was at risk. So in order to maintain control they just decided to destroy all humans and keep the secret to themselves, thus retaining power and preventing their annihilation.

That just sounds like a lot of "this is what I think was going on", particularly as I don't necessarily agree. The Great Journey was always spiritual in nature.

But I think any further discussion would further derail this thread's actual intent.

At this point, the thread's effective intent is to distract me from fearfully refreshing the screen on http://www.weather.com, trying to estimate how soaked I'm going to be between 8pm and midnight.

momgamer wrote:

At this point, the thread's effective intent is to distract me from fearfully refreshing the screen on http://www.weather.com, trying to estimate how soaked I'm going to be between 8pm and midnight. ;)

Ah, well in that case I'll continue.

At no point in Halo 2 was there ever doubt amongst the Prophets, not the ones in charge at least, of the purpose of the Great Journey. Granted it has been some time since I played Halo 2, but I played the first two games like a mother f*cker. I was really into the story and into finding all the little details that hinted at the much larger plan.

At the end of Halo 2, the big mysteries were just who the Forerunner were, what Gravemind was exactly, why Gravemind was particular to a specific Halo ring or were there more, and why the Covenant attacked humans to begin with.

You state that the Prophets already knew that humans were tied to the Forerunner. However, recall that the Prophet of Regret did not expect to find humans when he specifically targeted the coordinates they found for the Ark. It was a shock to the Covenant that they ended up on Earth when they were trying to find the greatest Forerunner installation of all.

Unless someone knew something was up. Again, the behavior of the Prophet of Truth was awfully funny in Halo 2, as if he knew something and wasn't letting anyone else in on the secret. In Halo 3, however, he just comes off as a desperate zealot.

Maybe it's time to do a marathon replay of Halo 1 and 2. Can't do 3, though. Got rid of that long ago. In any event, Bungie, while they had Halo, never once explained why the Covenant attacked, and it has always frustrated me. It felt like Halo 3 answered nothing. Then again, Halo 3, ODST and Reach just don't have the same heart that the first two games had.

Which could be reason enough to try Halo 4, now that I think about it. A new studio that hasn't been burnt out on it.

My copy's shipped!

Don't bother with a marathon replay. Just rewatch the cutscenes on Youtube.

Alternatively check out:

http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Human-Cov...

At the very least skip Halo 2, that game was an incomprehensible mess. One that I played a million times over I grant you, but still a mess. And that tank level... I shudder just thinking about it.

I would like to thank MS in advance for releasing this game on election day. It will give me something to do so that I can ignore the TV.

Now hopefully UPS shows up early tomorrow.

Funny thing is I just got an email about a 25 dollar rebate that I've been waiting on from OCZ Technology... Now I've gotta decide if I wanna use that card on Halo 4 or wait till Black Friday and tempt the fates that some new game is on sale for an incredibly low price.

GameStop has definitely improved queue management since my last midnight release. Had a copy in my hands no more than 5 minutes after open doors, didn't even have to wait in line. Now for some multiplayer.

Can someone confirm/deny that the campaign has co-op? The GameTrailers review said it doesn't and I found that really idiotic if true.

Edwin wrote:

Can someone confirm/deny that the campaign has co-op? The GameTrailers review said it doesn't and I found that really idiotic if true.

It absolutely does have co-op. Local splitscreen as well.

There is at least 2 player co-op for the campaign, local and online. I'm not so sure about more players.

Bah, beat to the punch.

Since I just finished the campaign I might as well give my thoughts and not make this a waste of a post.

This is the sequel to Halo CE I've always wanted. It is the best looking game in the series to date, the soundtrack actually fits for me this time, and the plot does one thing that no other Halo game has done yet: it answers questions. The previous games don't really delve into the complications of SmartAIs, this one states it clearly. Haven't had the time to read the Forerunner novels? No need, the relationship between humans and Forerunner is explained fairly well. Meaningful character development between Chief and Cortana? Yes, it's about damn time. I do have a couple gripes to take away from this experience but overall I think this is on par, if not better than any Halo campaign to date.

On Normal it took me about 6 hours to complete, died at most 3 times. No complaints here about length, it was a blast.

I'm waiting for my brother to ship this to me, as I mooch off of his MS discount. I really ought to finish my playthrough of the Halo Anniversary game in prep for this.

Six hours seems awfully short when I think abut how long the first game took me. Of course, everything I have read is that you really need to play on a higher level than Normal. And since I pretty much suck, these games tend to take me longer anyway, as I find that I have to repeat certain segments many times in order to get through.

I finished 2, got bored with 3 and Reach. I never played ODST. From the buzz, it really does sound like 4 is going to be the sequel to the original we all wanted.

Of course, I have Dishonored and ACIII staring at me, as well as our GWJHL needing my attention. Oh, and Forza Horizon on its way with Halo 4. Even if I could get real life to just go away for a month, I don't have time for all the games I'm trying to play. So yeah, the odds of me plowing through Halo Anniversary before booting up 4 is slim and none.

Edwin wrote:

Can someone confirm/deny that the campaign has co-op? The GameTrailers review said it doesn't and I found that really idiotic if true.

Gametrailers is usually really good on testing this kind of stuff. Strange that they would get that one wrong. If your ever looking for that kind of info in the future, Co-optimus is my go to site.

Edit: I just watched the Gametrailers review and it still looks like the AI is really dynamic. Also there were short videos of huge open chaotic battles. From what I've read and watched it appears 343 did a great job keeping Halo feeling like Halo.

mr_n00b wrote:

GameStop has definitely improved queue management since my last midnight release. Had a copy in my hands no more than 5 minutes after open doors, didn't even have to wait in line. Now for some multiplayer.

They have always kicked butt at the one I go to for midnight releases. When Fallout 3 came out I worked at a place about 10 minutes away and got off work exactly at midnight and they were closed by the time I got there. Asked them the next day what the line was like and they said they had like 200 people there. I think their secret is having everyone pay before they get in line. The one in the mall didn't do that when Halo 2 came out and it took the line forever to be processed.

Some impressions. Went through the first couple of missions and did a match of slayer.

Graphics are amazing for this hardware.. it's quite a technical achievement. Gameplay is solid Halo, no complaints. Campaign so far has been really good I'm enjoying the more fleshed out Chief/Cortana relationship. I kind of dig the visual redesign as well, the Covenant guys are pretty cool. Part of me will miss the silly Grunts though.

Multiplayer was solid, it certainly felt like Halo, time will tell if the COD-like loadouts and unlock system will end up being a good thing or not. So far it seems okay.

Hearing everyone talk makes me a but jealous I can get the until after work today. Or this weekend. But a few weeks ago I did a Playtest for Microsoft and got to play thought a few rounds of multiplayer.

I was naughty last night and opened it and played instead of going to bed right after picking it up. I got to the point where I met my first new dudes, and I really like some of the new weapons. This thing is just gorgeous. The graphics, and the motion are stunning.

This is going to get a serious workout this weekend, and I think for many weekends to come.

Imagine me sitting at my desk (read: shelf) at work holding my hands to my ears with my eyes clenched tight going "Shut up shut up shut up SHUT UP!"

I might have to just grab this after voting.

Mere Anarchy wrote:
Edwin wrote:

Can someone confirm/deny that the campaign has co-op? The GameTrailers review said it doesn't and I found that really idiotic if true.

It absolutely does have co-op. Local splitscreen as well.

Thanks, came to the thread to confirm this too, me and my son have a good time playing splitscreen Halo, so good to know.

I'm weak. I bought the damn game.

AcidCat wrote:
Mere Anarchy wrote:
Edwin wrote:

Can someone confirm/deny that the campaign has co-op? The GameTrailers review said it doesn't and I found that really idiotic if true.

It absolutely does have co-op. Local splitscreen as well.

Thanks, came to the thread to confirm this too, me and my son have a good time playing splitscreen Halo, so good to know.

I played some co-op campaign on Live tonight. Worked great.

Word of warning for the perpetually full HD people: Multiplayer needs to be installed to the HD before you can actually play.

ccesarano wrote:

I've just come to accept that I must be a freak for being the only person that thought Fall of Reach was a lousy book, let alone a lousy Halo book.

I don't know about lousy but it was a terrible thing to do to anyone who liked the Haloverse as I did but doesn't have an xbox like me.
So many loose ends and sh*t that just doesn't get explained at all; that plus all the retconning that has been done, f*ck you Halo brand managers, f*ck you.
Also, Legends was terrible.

ccesarano wrote:

I'm weak. I bought the damn game.

Same here. I caved, traded in my RROD and got the game plus $10 back. Now all I need is a new television.

Just did the first Spartan Ops mission.

It's a scripted, very large battle between your team and a bunch of Covenant. Took about 15 minutes to complete, and I got 2400 experience, which got me to level 3, and I was able to unlock the BR and DMR as starting weapons.

Good enough for me.

I was also weak (but a very good consumer) and picked this up despite "being done with Halo".

Played a few minutes past the stylishly late title card. Congratulations, 343i. You have taken the tepid, candy-coated feel of Bungie Halo and given it some teeth and a much-needed new coat of paint. I was enjoying just about everything they have done from the new musical score right down to the feel of the menus. Of course I'm eager to jump into the MP arenas but I'm also interested to continue down the campaign, something I never said about Reach and Halo 3.

Spoiler:

I love the detail that the opening music is a solo now, rather than a choir.

So who control scheme is everyone using? I usually use Boxer. That was something Danjo got me hooked on years ago and I used it all through Halo 1, 2, 3, Reach and ODST. It feels odd to use that on Halo 4, though. Mostly because sprinting has become a bigger part of the game. And years of Battlefield and COD training as well as other shooters.

I switched to Fishstick for just that reason, too much muscle memory from modern shooters over the past couple of years. Takes some getting used to for Halo but it works great once you do.