He's a byword for endurance, the one constant in a universe rocked by Covenant invasion, but according to 343 Industries, Master Chief hasn't made the transition from Halo 3 to Halo 4 psychologically unscathed.
Eagle-eyed fans picked up on changes to the Chief's armour in the new game's E3 reveal trailer, noting in particular that his mighty Spartan codpiece is no more.
"There's some story behind his new look," explained studio boss Frank O'Connor in an E3 interview. "There are specific reasons why he looks the way he does and why some of his behaviours have changed. We'll see in good time."
If character and setting have shifted, one thing Halo 4 aims to preserve is the feel of Bungie's original trilogy, with Microsoft Games Studios corporate vice-president Phil Spencer telling us that the new game "will live up to what fans fell in love with".
Here's the trailer again for your consideration. Notice any new personality quirks? We find it hard to believe you can slaughter that many Grunts without acquiring some sort of emotional baggage.
[Source: IGN]
19 comments so far...
Bezza89 on 22 Jun '11 said:
I'm guessing it's a clever excuse to make him more vocal, rather than personality changes like 'Chief smokes a pipe now'.
Hopefully he's going to hate elites. ''That Arbiter guy left me to float adrift for hundreds of years'. Elites were the greatest of foes, those brutes were plain boring.
I'm guessing neither enemy will return though, and forerunners will be the main focus/target.
OXM ETboy on 22 Jun '11 said:
Pipe-smoking is a personality trait?
I thought it was one of those "addiction" things.
Bezza89 on 22 Jun '11 said:
I would say so, a change in his personality results in him starting smoking, he is too classy for cigarettes and so whips out a pipe. Ok, so maybe not Ed, you're ruining my ideas for chief being a pipe smoker!
OXM ETboy on 22 Jun '11 said:
I would be properly amused if, at some point during some otherwise really straight-laced cutscene, the Chief were to casually reach down out of shot and pick up a massive tobacco pipe.
golliwoza on 22 Jun '11 said:
Man I wish there was a Halo with Johnson in it again I miss the Cigar chomping and the jokes and the laser eyes (sigh).
PS3Tard on 22 Jun '11 said:
I always pictured him to be more of a BONG smoker than a pipe.
jimbosolo on 22 Jun '11 said:
RIP Sergeant Johnson, baddest non spartan in the galaxy
Bezza89 on 22 Jun '11 said:
Halo 4: Master (Chief) Munchies
ridinglikesatan on 23 Jun '11 said:
I noticed he put a silencer on the pistol, maybe its bringing in some more stealth aspects to the game
CunningSmile on 23 Jun '11 said:
You assume it's a silencer, but knowing Halo it could just as easily be a Loudener for even more OTT action.
Orangeboy117 on 23 Jun '11 said:
how may I ask is Halo action OTT? Just wondering because I see halo's action as some of the best next to COD where it's near impossible to find a mission where you don't nearly survive 3 explosions. And in reply to the topic it sounds fantastic, finally chief will feel the real percussions of loosing his co colleagues
Bezza89 on 23 Jun '11 said:
Spartan Laser? Hijacking banshees in midair? Jetpacks? It's all brilliantly over the top! If you're thinking set pieces? Slip-space jump mid ship? That was awesome! I sound like I'm 15 playing Halo 1 all over...
Waffles2541 on 23 Jun '11 said:
I don't think they should call this new trilogy Halo, because the only characters that will pass over are the chief and cortana, and i thought the halo rings were finished now anyway with the destruction of the arch. They should give it a new name that fits with the story...
force_assassin on 23 Jun '11 said:
Not good. Not good 343, and not good Microsoft.
It is one thing to change how a character looks (Bungie did this between each game), but it is another thing entirely to change WHO the character is.
I know a lot of people have said the Chief has no personality. A lot of people have said a lot of negative things about his character, and truthfully I believe things aren't so simplistic.
His character... his impact on the player is directly tied to and is a reflection of the "hero" virtue. He is a hero. The hero we all want to have, and maybe even the hero that is inside us.
To change that? What are they thinking?
Is he going to be annoying? Will he get emotional? Is he going to display flaws in his character? Is he going to turn into Microsoft's version of Duke Nukem?
No serious fan wants this. Part of the charm of the Chief was that he spoke very little, and when he did he was a solid stone that a hero should be. He wasn't spurting out one-liners or crying or being obnoxious.
Regardless of what reason they have for him changing, it would have to be something bigger than all of the events in Halo 1, 2, and 3 combined since he stayed a constant throughout all those games.
(SPOILER ALERT - to make a point)
From Reach falling, his "mom" Halsey MIA, his fellow Spartans dying, finding the initial Halo ring, Captain Keyes dying (by the Flood and his own hand), Earth being invaded, countless civilians dying, meeting the Flood Gravemind, leaving Cortana behind, Cortana being affected by the Gravemind, teaming up with the Elites, Miranda Keyes dying, Johnson dying, being stranded in space on half of a ship, etc. etc. etc.
(SPOILER END)
Again, after going through all he has gone through, and staying consistent throughout all the games and all those events, 343 is going to need to come up with something so epic that it would dwarf the impact of 3+ games worth of events on him that he would all of a sudden change.
I know I may be jumping to conclusions here, but I hope and I pray that 343 will respect the source material and not do something that will bastardize what Bungie has created.
Orangeboy117 on 24 Jun '11 said:
force_assassin.
I couldn't agree more here's hoping well se slow slight changes in chiefs manner (maybe sighing in game at the sight of fallen marines) as oppossed to having a grudge and wanting to kick some ass etc. I hope we see a
More defeated chief who realises he isn't invincible yet keeps his nobility of a heroin.
Bezza89 on 24 Jun '11 said:
Surely a bit of personality would be good for the chief, but they're not going to turn him into some whining child, as I said it's not going to be drastic or against fan wishes.
The chief has always come out with the best lines ever,
'I thought I'd shoot my way out, mix things up a little' for instance.
SolaceConquest on 24 Jun '11 said:
Bezza has a point, they won't change him dramatically from bad ass Master Chief, to whining biker man Francis. I'm sure the changes may be implemented slower thought the game as we may see him have to as others have said come to terms with what he's seen in his life and what he's realised over the course of the war.
I'm sure they won't ruin what Bungie have created, still have a while to go. I for one can't wait to see their version of Chief... But I do understand why people don't want him to stray too far of what he was.
ATATCCU on 3 Jul '11 said:
Not good for Chief..not good for Braves...maybe one Halo too far. Here's hoping THEY know to stop when the going's good.
Me wantum more, me heap big fan...me don't like mediocre. Me think it time to stop, think Braves go on warpath if let down. Me go change loincloth, heap big heap!
Welcome back Master Chief, now go kick some bottom!
Afrolicious on 7 May '12 said:
I can't even imagine the practical application of a loudener, but that must have been the best idea I've heard all year