The Halo Thread V8: Nooo Mongoose, Come Back! - Games

[IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/j0lYk.png[/IMG] [I]Props to King for the header this go around.[/I] Thread Credits: [IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=110440&dateline=1283367093[/IMG] Arachnidus - Your sword, shield and founder of the Halo threads(at least, this time around) on Facepunch. [IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=116847&dateline=1283273596p[/IMG] leach139 - Complete dumbass who posted v3 and v4, can't get a doublekill for shit. Compiled most of the content for v3 and 4, and is responsible for the continuation of these threads. Give him hearts. [IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=202761&dateline=1311527533&ext.gif[/IMG] xeonmuffin/zombiedawgs- Responsible for the overhaul of the thread at V7 and forcing me to actually do work. Give him hearts for the shiny new headers. [release][B][U][highlight]Community credits: KingKombat, Zezibesh, Links, cowsaysoink, Trooper-guy1, P1X3l N1NJA, LordCrypto, Zethiwag, ZombieDawgs/xeonmuffin, Funky Pickle, Combotroop, and the rest of the regs for sticking around, even in the twilight of Halo's reign as king of the console FPS. Without you guys, this entire thread/series of threads would never have been possible. [/highlight][/U][/B][/release] [release]Halo is a game series started in the late 90s by Bungie LLC. Originally conceived as a strategy game for the Mac, Halo was turned to an FPS when Microsoft bought out Bungie in 1999. Halo was announced as a flagship title for the upcoming Xbox, beginning the series.[/release] Halo on Bungie- 2000-July 7th, 2011; a legacy that shall not be soon forgotten.[/h2] [release][IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/STORYLINE.png[/IMG] Halo's heart is in it's rich story. So, as such, it needs quick summation. Halo takes place primarily between the years of 2552-2554, following Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, and his AI companion, Cortana. Introduced in the second game was The Arbiter, also known as Thel 'Vadam, a Covenant Elite who was exiled for his loss of the Halo in the first game . Long story short, an alien parasite known as the Flood was invading the galaxy a few million years ago, and after a long and costly war, the Forerunner race, the dominant species in the Milky Way, created the Halo Array and the Shield System(AKA, the Sword and Shield). The Halo Array was a series of super weapons that could be individually fired or triggered from The Ark, a salvation and control station outside our galaxy. The Forerunner were doomed, and, unable to flee into their shield worlds, was forced to trigger the Halos in order to save the rest of the galaxy. All life was extinguished, starving the parasitic Flood(also killing a great amount of them) and driving them to extinction in the Milky Way. In the 2500s, humanity has reached the stars, and is now in the midst of a situation resembling Warhammer 40k. There are massive insurrections in the UNSC and many colony worlds have seceded from the main empire. In 2525, this is made worse by the arrival of The Covenant, a conglomerate of alien species who see humanity as a threat to their religious salvation, and seek nothing but the total and utter annihilation of man. Prior to this, the Spartan Program was created to quell the insurrection, as main UNSC forces were too little. John, AKA the Master Chief, was the most promising candidate, and became the leader of the primary squad, Blue Team. So now the stage is set, the Halos are out there, somewhere, the Spartans have been deployed numerous times against the Covenant and the games are soon to come. Read more at the Halo Wiki or play the games, and read the books.[/release] [release][IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/GAMES.png[/IMG] CHRONOLOGICALLY ORDERED[/release] [release] [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/HaloWarsHeader.png[/IMG] Halo Wars takes place in 2531, and a deviation from the Halo series as it's an RTS. The plot is kinda stale, but it adds a bit of data previously unknown, and is a fun game all around. [/release] [release] [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/HaloReachHeader.png[/IMG] This is the most recent game, but it's the prequel to the events of Halo CE. Reach takes place in September 2552, around a month before Halo 1, during the Fall of Reach. You play a Spartan III, a somewhat lower form of Spartan II(like the Chief). Your spartan and his squad are one of the few Spartan forces on the ground on Reach, and may be all that stands between the Covenant and whatever awesome plot device that Bungie decides to pull out. Other than that, feel free to post plot details (but PLEASE USE SPOILER TAGS (). The multiplayer beta ran in May 2010, and featured multiple game types, a preview of the armor customization and a snippet of the weapons and maps available in the final game. LIST OF APPLICABLE GAMES FOR HELMET NAMEPLATE Halo PC Halo 2 Xbox Halo 3 Xbox Halo 3 ODST Xbox Halo Reach multiplayer Beta IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A HALO PC KEY BUT PLAYED ALL THE OTHER GAMES YOU STILL WILL NOT GET THE HALO NAMEPLATE. YOU NEED 4 OF THE ABOVE TO GET THE HELMET. (thanks to LordCrypto for the above) [B][I]DLC Info[/I][/B] The Defiant Map Pack-800MSP The most recent DLC for Reach, Defiant adds two well received, amazingly designed with regards to aesthetics, maps for multiplayer and one for Firefight. This pack also raised the issue of an unknown armor variant that have yet to be revealed. Noble Map Pack-800MSP -no splash available- The Noble Map Pack was the first map pack released for Halo Reach. It added three maps; Breakpoint (an invasion/BTB geared map), Tempest (a team objective oriented map which also brought new Forge pieces), and Anchor 9 (based on the campaign level Long Night of Solace, centered around the eponymous station, Anchor 9, you dock with in the beginning of LNS; geared towards slayer/infection). [/release] [release] [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/Halo3logo.png[/IMG] Halo was the first game in the series. Named after the main setting of the game, Installation 04("Halo"), the game features the first appearance of the Master Chief and Cortana. Beginning in 2552, it starts after the Fall of Reach(see: Halo Reach). The UNSC Pillar of Autumn, running from the Covenant assault on the fortress world of Reach, and carrying the Master Chief, FTLs to the Halo due to an accident caused by a Forerunner artifact recovered by the Chief. There, the Autumn is crashed on the ring, and the Master Chief, Cortana and the rest of the crew fight to survive and escape the Halo. However, they find much more than just the Covenant; the Flood is there, and the Chief learns the true nature of the Ring. This is the game that started it all. Succeeded with no online multiplayer until the 2003 PC edition, and with the same maps until launch. That's a good game. [/release] [release] [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/Halo2Header.png[/IMG] Halo 2 is the 2004 sequel to Halo: Combat Evolved. Taking place roughly a month after the events of Halo, the Master Chief has returned back to Earth, and at the Covenant capital city of High Charity(giant squid-looking space station), Thel 'Vadam is branded as the Arbiter for his loss of the Halo(he was the commander of the Covenant Fleet at Halo) . What follows is a plot spanning several days as the Chief and the Arbiter fight through the invasion of Earth, the Flood and eventually another Halo, this time with much more at stake. Kicks off Halo 3, but before that... [/release] [release] [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/Halo3ODSTHeader.png[/IMG] Taking place in New Mombasa in the weeks prior to Halo 3, and starting midway through Halo 2, you play as an unnamed rookie ODST(Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, think of them as US Army Rangers or SAS units), who had the misfortune of dropping into New Mombasa shortly before it was destroyed. Filling in some major plot points between Halo 2 and 3, the game adds a lot of context to the series. Also added is the Firefight game mode, pushing up to four players in an onslaught against the Covenant. The goal is to survive as long as possible and get as many kills as possible. ODST also includes a second disk containing the Halo 3 Multiplayer in full, with three additional maps(Mythic Map Pack II). [/release] [release] [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/Halo3Header.png[/IMG] Halo 3 concludes the Halo trilogy's main plot. It's now several weeks since the end of Halo 2, in late 2552(presumably November, with Halo 1 in September). The Arbiter and the Elites are now the main faction in the Covenant Civil war, choosing to ally with the UNSC. The Chief has been MIA since the end of Halo 2, but reappears at the beginning(durr). The Covenant have been excavating something near the city of New Mombasa in Africa. It is a portal to The Ark, the control center of the Halo array. With the four factions(the remnants of the UNSC, the Sangheili[species known as the Elites], the Covenant and the Flood) poised and ready to begin the final battle of the war, they all enter the portal, some in chase of the others, in one final battle to either use the Halos or stop them once and for all.[/release] [release]The Halo series is not limited to games. As of May 2011, there are 8 books available in the series, not counting comics. [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/THE BOOKS.png[/IMG] Halo: The Fall of Reach- Essentially, this is the most important book of all. It documents the pre-game events of the Halo universe and gives all you need to know about the Master Chief. Very good read. Halo: The Flood- A somewhat mediocre retelling of Halo: Combat Evolved, but still an interesting book. Adds a bit of depth to the main story of the game, and pretty entertaining to read. I call it mediocre because of it's characterization of the Master Chief, which saw him as more of an action hero and less of a soldier. Halo: First Strike- Bridging the gap between Halos 1 and 2, the book recounts how the Master Chief, Sergeant Johnson, Cortana and the rest of the Spartans made it home to Earth. Adds a lot of details to the plot, and has some seriously interesting scenes. Answers many questions about Halo 2. Halo: Ghosts of Onyx- Ghosts is my personal favorite, and seems to be the most well received of the Halo books. Focusing around Kurt "Ambrose", a Spartan II turned trainer for the Spartan IIIs, the book takes place on the secret world Onyx, where the UNSC is training the next gen Spartans and a component of the Halo array lies in wait. This book introduces the concept of Shield Worlds, the Spartan IIIs and SPI armor. Halo: Contact Harvest- Following the first contact with the Covenant at Harvest, the book centers around Sergeant Johnson during the pivotal days during the violent battle that was Humanity's first encounter with aliens. I found it to be a very good book, as it adds a lot of character to Johnson and it gives a lot of clarity about the first contact, the Covenant's political layout and the enigmatic Engineers. Halo: The Cole Protocol- This one is a bit of a toss up for me, as it centers around the character of Captain Keyes, who was a main plot center in Halo 1. The game takes place in the 2530s, and introduces the Arbiter outside of his role as the Arbiter, merely being Thel 'Vadam. For that, this book is good. It also provides some back story into the Insurrection in the UNSC and has a few really awesome battle scenes. It also goes into detail about Gray Team, a group of Spartans that was basically given guns, pointed to Covenant space and told to fuck shit up. Halo: Evolutions- A book of short stories revolving around the Halo universe. Love them all. The poems are kinda cheesy, but the stories are fantastic, and most are considered Halo canon. Halo: Cryptum- The first in the planned trilogy of novels depicting the final years of the Forerunners leading up to the activation of the Halo array. The first novel, in trilogy form, introduces the main characters and paints an image of the Halo universe as it was over 100,000 years ago. Brings loads of ridiculously detailed new info, much of which was surprising. Including some on Forerunner society, the existence of humans and their role in the Forerunner empire, the existence of the races that formerly comprised the Covenant, and the mystery of the Precursors. I won't go into much detail, as I don't wanna spoil anything, but it's a fascinating read if you're a hardcore fan. Halo: Primordium- The second installment in the Forerunner trilogy. After the events of Cryptum, Bornstellar's human allies find themselves lost on a partially destroyed Halo. [/release] [B][U]Future of the Franchise[/U][/B] Halo Reach marks the end of Bungie's development of the series. 343 Industries, a subdivision of Microsoft Game Studios will now begin developing the series. Don't panic just yet, some of Bungie's staff, including Frank O'Connor, and a pretty shaped up staff will take the helm. And here's what's coming! [release] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/8X5HP.png[/IMG] It's been 5 long years, but we start anew. Halo 4 is the first of a new trilogy which completes the Master Chief's story arc, and, quite frankly, I came when I saw the trailer. Okay, not really, but if you're at all a Halo fan this should be getting you off. Trailer below! [/release] [release][B][U]"Minor" (Read: MAJOR) Release: Halo HD/Halo CE Anniversary Edition[/U][/B] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/kqRaC.png[/IMG] The 2011 remake of Halo CE. Same as the 2001 original, but with better graphics, multiplayer maps running in Reach, and remastered audio. Also, new Terminals, which will completely destroy your mind and prepare you for Halo 4. Videos snipped until they're fixed. [/release] [release][IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/MACHINIMA.png[/IMG] Halo, due to it's popularity, customization and multiplayer choices, has become a major haven for Machinima creators. The most known of all is Red vs Blue, by Rooster Teeth. It began during the Halo 1 era, and continues all the way through Reach- and likely beyond. Halo 3 made the Machinima scene far more accessible due to the addition of the Theater, which allows players to view real-time reconstructions of a game they previously played, allowing for complex camera angles to be used. [U][B]Videos by Facepunchers, for Facepunchers(and the retarded masses)[/B][/U] [highlight]LasGunz / SneakyMode is an ENORMOUS FAGGOT[/highlight] [/release] [release][IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Halo Thread/FACEPUNCH.png[/IMG] [U][B]Scoreboard from v7[/B][/U] [IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11363412/Untitled.png[/IMG] Zezibesh has kindly thrown together a list of every armour in the armoury. [URL="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/795329/Pictures/me/screnshot/fullarmory1.jpg"]Click this if you're as lazy as the rest of us and can't be moved to unlock the pieces and see them yourself![/URL] [URL="http://steamcommunity.com/groups/FPSPARTAN"]Our almost entirely inactive STEAM group. Perhaps you, dear reader, can help change that.[/URL] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/members/224276-cowsaysoink"]cowsaysoink/penis/g-lorry-us[/URL] helped make a fad with helmet avatars, mine included. Worship his demigod work. [URL="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11336433/cow's Halo Avatar Pack.rar"]Keep the trend alive.[/URL] [IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1445439/halohelp.png[/IMG] [URL="http://live.xbox.com/en-US/MyXbox/Profile?pp=0&GamerTag=FacepunchReach"][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/rBLeS.png[/IMG][/URL] [/release] [release][h2]Feel like some Nostalgia?[/h2] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/957581-The-Halo-Thread"]The Halo Thread V1[/URL] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/995320-The-Halo-Thread-V2-Forklifts-Never-Die"]Forklifts Never Die[/URL] [highlight]The era of leach139[/highlight] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1001969-The-Halo-Thread-v3-Zealots-Zealots-EVERYWHERE"]Zealots, Zealots Everywhere[/URL] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1007564-The-Halo-Thread-v4-SWAT-Edition"]SWAT Edition[/URL] [highlight]Arachnidus gets his shit back on time[/highlight] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1032755-The-Halo-Thread-v5-Kat-s-Ass-Fan-Club"]Kat's Ass Fan Club[/URL] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1089307-The-Halo-Thread-V6-STILL-STUCK-ON-CILENT-PHOTOGRAPHY"]Still Stuck on Cilent Photography[/URL] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1112957"]What the fuck, how am I in Canada[/URL][/release]

Halo 2 4 evur~~

[QUOTE=Funky Pickle;34500750]Halo 2 4 evur~~[/QUOTE] If 343 doesn't make a Halo 2 anniversary edition, I'll be sad.

I didn't intend to close the last thread with my "sudden return!" post.

[QUOTE=Funky Pickle;34500750]Halo 2 4 evur~~[/QUOTE] ODST is where it's at. Classic Firefight is best firefight.

Woo i'm on the score board!

Combotroop you... you... DOUBLE SPARTAN

So, i'm not enthusiastic about Halo 4. If the TU is anything to go by, 343 likes to listen to that small sect of fans who hate any form of change and think things like armor abilities and bloom are terrible.

I wonder if there will be any more map packs for Reach, anniversary or brand new ones.

Halo 4? I mean, I love Halo, but I think they are beginning to milk it. I would have loved to see Chiefs story through a book or something, but when they say finish the fight and just end up making a Halo 4, it gets annoying.

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;34502745]Halo 4? I mean, I love Halo, but I think they are beginning to milk it. I would have loved to see Chiefs story through a book or something, but when they say finish the fight and just end up making a Halo 4, it gets annoying.[/QUOTE] Bungie planned Halo 3 as Master Chief's last adventure, it was 343i that decided to develop Halo 4.

Halo 4 is going in a completely new direction from what it seems. Also, why does that comment remind me of a VERY similar comment about Halo: Reach? [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] also fuck yeah 2nd place birches [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] ALSO FUCK YES MY BANNER

sup how's this new thread

Halo 4 is going to be a make or break for 343i - and if it's not I think there's a high likelyhood it'll be a Marmite game, we can pray that they keep the great halo feel and don't fuck up the lore or listen to the braindead twats on 343i's forums.

so what's the latest news on halo 4?

I just want cool skyboxes honestly I could just stare at that ring for hours

[QUOTE=MAspiderface;34503895]so what's the latest news on halo 4?[/QUOTE] [B]Soon[/B]. At least, that's the general idea, based on the Weekly Updates.

Does the thread title mean the mongoose is being cut from halo 4?

[QUOTE=KingNick220;34504630]Does the thread title mean the mongoose is being cut from halo 4?[/QUOTE] Pretty sure this title was thought up like a year ago. :v:

According to a Finnish magazine, we should have a box of information opened to the public on February 29 at the Microsoft video game boogaloo or some shit

[QUOTE=KingNick220;34504630]Does the thread title mean the mongoose is being cut from halo 4?[/QUOTE] Nah, at least, we haven't heard anything about it. It was a thing we came up with during the Bungie Day 2011 custom games. Someone lost a Mongoose during speed Halo and screamed "No Mongoose, come back!". I said it should be the title, somebody agreed, I forgot, they reminded me. King made a banner. That's pretty much it.

it was YOU who said it

[QUOTE=KingKombat;34504865]it was YOU who said it[/QUOTE] Really? Shit. [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] well now this just feels self serving [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] Still like it, though.

I always thought I said it [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] I distinctly remember me flying off my mongoose and yelling that, then laughing at Arachnidus suggesting that

I would be happy with a new Halo game if we left the lolz awesome spartans. How about some brutal marine warfare without shields renamed stamina, and not a super awesome special forces marine unit with four guys and a gunnery sergeant making up a squad ala A-team, something a tad more realistic in organization that does not focus on rule of cool. Guess not though, back to MC.

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;34505174]I would be happy with a new Halo game if we left the lolz awesome spartans. How about some brutal marine warfare without shields renamed stamina, and not a super awesome special forces marine unit with four guys and a gunnery sergeant making up a squad ala A-team, something a tad more realistic in organization that does not focus on rule of cool. Guess not though, back to MC.[/QUOTE] look who hasn't read a single detail about halo 4

Doesn't really suit Halo's style and ODST is the closest you'll get.

[QUOTE=KingKombat;34505310]look who hasn't read a single detail about halo 4[/QUOTE] Like?

[QUOTE=Conro101;34505103]I always thought I said it [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] I distinctly remember me flying off my mongoose and yelling that, then laughing at Arachnidus suggesting that[/QUOTE] That's how I remember it... [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;34505496]Like?[/QUOTE] Chief is confirmed to be the main, playable character, once more. However, we have no idea what the plot, theme or setting may be. Or new gameplay dynamics. So there could be room for some new stuff to mix things up a bit. I can't see the characters or plot falling into the same formula as the past games. I hope, this time, we get a bit more dialogue and characters interacting. A bit like ODST. And the pacing, I hope it's slower. Reach felt like we just blazed through it, the entire campaign taking place over weeks but skipping several days at a time.

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;34502745]Halo 4? I mean, I love Halo, but I think they are beginning to milk it. I would have loved to see Chiefs story through a book or something, but when they say finish the fight and just end up making a Halo 4, it gets annoying.[/QUOTE] Money makes the world go round. But in all seriousness I think Halo 4 for me is either gonna be a big win or a huge failure.