98 replies to this topic

[Va1or]

Look the following pics and note the similarities.





Both images have text in the upper left hand corner. The text even appears to be written by the same person. The first is drawing of a level in Halo 2 named "The Arbiter." The text "Gas_Giant_04" refers to the fact that the level takes place on a space station above the gas giant Threshhold. The image is a picture of that station. The number "04" probably means it is the 4th drawing in a series. Underneath that text we see the word "Dervish" (Arbiter). What does the Arbiter have to do with this level? He is the character that you play as on this level

The second image is presumably an image from a level in Halo 3. It is clearly the ark that we see. The description is "Earth_Ark_09." What is really interesting is the text underneath. What do "Chief/Dervish" have to do with this level? Perhaps they are both characters that you can play on this level.

Under the drawing description is a description of which character(s) are playable on that level. Both pics use the same fomula:

Gas_Giant_04
Dervish

Earth_Ark_09
Chief/Dervish

This would solve a lot of the Arbiter-haters complaints. You don't want to play as the Arbiter on the Earth Ark level? Well, you can play as Chief if you want.

Now, I would not doubt if some levels are Arby exclusives, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Bungie mixed it up to give Chief more love.

And you can bet your bottom dollar that if I am right, you'll be able to play co-op as chief and your buddy as Arby.

Edited by Mr Vociferous, 31 May 2007 - 12:18 PM.

[BRASH]

Isn't the gas giant that level in Halo 2 where you cut the cables of that station and make it fall so you can kill the heretic leader?

[SharpeWolfe]

yes

[Jironimo]

Let's not forget that the scene where The Ark was discovered by MasterChief was supposed to be in Halo 2 and was probably going to be the end. These images are taken from the Halo 2 LE documentary.

[Syracuse022]

Given the narrative structure of Halo 2, I'd say it's more likely that we would have played the level as the Chief AND the Arbiter successively and seen how their paths intertwined...

[vociferous]

I could see them implementing a "dual-hero system" for Halo 3, since we're to believe that it'll come with online cooperative play for at least two people. Rather than playing as two versions of the Master Chief or the Arbiter, one player could play as the Master Chief and the other, the Arbiter. It might quell the frustration some fans have with the Arbiter being a forced portion of the game, but I'm not a hundred percent convinced that Staten will allow the narrative to be restricted in this fashion. Also, I think some of the existing problems with the Arbiter's appearance in Halo 2 have to do with early shitty-level design (the first few levels with him are complete ass) and the initial shock of not being the Master Chief. It'd be nice to shoot other Elites (not simply "heretics") again, being that it was so popular beforehand.

Plus, I'd like to see one of the two heroes die before the end of the game and this doesn't take into or account the possible inclusion of another, third character, to play as. They introduced a new character in Halo 2 to follow, so Halo 3 may do the same...that may piss off more fans, but it's a possibility none-the-less.

[Vanwadilion]

I actually liked the first few levels with the Arbiter. The levels I didn't like were the ones at the end of the game when you played as the MC. I must be in the minority on that one.

[Syracuse022]

Actually, the formula's pretty easy to figure out, at least for me. Are there Flood on the level? Do they outnumber any other enemies? Then I don't like it.

That means that the first Arbiter level was really fun (for me), with all of those grunts and Elites and no pesky sniper jackals to worry about, but the next 3 can suck a fat (-censored-) (-censored-) (-censored-) as far as I'm concerned. That also means that MC's last two levels also blow the aforementioned appendage... The Arbiter's final levels weren't bad, per se, they just weren't amazing, the way the Maw was. One of the most unforgettable moments in the whole campaign (for me) was when the hunters joined you and started destroying the brutes on the other side of the chasm in the Arbiter's final levels.

I might have to go back and play through the whole H2 campaign here pretty soon, to nail down exactly what about it was off for me, beyond my tired repetitive lists... maybe I will, but don't hold your breath.

[DualX]

Actually, the formula's pretty easy to figure out, at least for me. Are there Flood on the level? Do they outnumber any other enemies? Then I don't like it.

I actually liked fighting the Flood on the level where you play as the Arbiter and you are on this machine that travels upward in a slow spinning motion. And while you're on that flying platform heading towards the Library.

[vociferous]

One of the most unforgettable moments in the whole campaign (for me) was when the hunters joined you and started destroying the brutes on the other side of the chasm in the Arbiter's final levels.

"The Hunters have come to our aide," was definitely one of the best scenes in the game.

I enjoyed small segments of some of the early levels for the Arbiter: The Arbiter, Oracle, Sacred Icon, and Quarantine Zone, but my favorite are the last two: Uprising and The Great Journey. Yeah, they're not The Maw, but they trick me into thinking in that some of the places that I'm playing in are large and a more open area than they really are. Plus, they look beautiful and unrestricted. I like some of the aforementioned four levels, but overall, I thought they played a lot like the lesser Halo: Combat Evolved maps: repetitive textures, boxed-in environments, and the Flood. I hardly ever replay those levels because of those reasons.

[Vanwadilion]

I actually liked fighting the Flood on the level where you play as the Arbiter and you are on this machine that travels upward in a slow spinning motion. And while you're on that flying platform heading towards the Library.-Dual

Yeah, I just played through those levels again, and they're actually about as fun as is possible with flood in them. The part where you have to cut down the supports that are holding the space station together and then the whole thing free-falls is cool too. I don't mind the boss fight so much with the heretic leader either (except that it's close to impossible on legendary). I'm playing through the whole campaign right now (I just finished the Halo 1 campaign), so that I'll have all the levels unlocked on my 360; and so far it's been fun.

[BRASH]

The only level I never really dread is an Arbiter one, as he fights brutes on Halo, and you follow this river down the mountain to a small pool with Wraiths in there. Eventually you make your way to the white armored elite with the broken mandibles. That level is always fun. There's always something fun to do, and the pace is perfect.

[Jironimo]

I just found an interview of Frankie online. I think his comments about the playable characters are pretty interesting. He says that aspect of the game will be "interesting" and maybe "newsworthy" after being asked if the Arbiter will be back. I don't know if this just means yeah the Arbiter will be back, or we'll end up by some surprise playing as a different character. I think it's totally expected to play as the Arbiter again so I wouldn't quite see that as newsworthy. Could this mean we play as yet another character?

GamePro

We recently chatted with Bungie.net's content producer, Frank O' Connor, with some big questions about Halo 3. Here's a partial transcript; check the April issue of GamePro for more details!
Single-player Questions

Including the Arbiter as a playable character was a controversial move in Halo 2. Is it possible Halo 3 will include another playable character besides M.C.?

Of course it's possible. Anything's possible. But I think that aspect of the game will be pretty interesting, maybe even newsworthy.

What kinds of changes have been made to enemy A.I.?

The most visible difference when you play will be the sheer number of characters you fight. Battling teeming hordes of bad guys in huge, complex arenas will be one of the most defining characteristics of the game. How they behave and how they fight will probably cement those memories. We've built on the strengths of the last two games, fixed and improved some of the "old" characters, and innovated completely in some instances. Encounters -- single battles against packs and individuals, are going to define campaign.

Does the returning Assault Rifle replace the SMG altogether? Does it function as a close-range weapon, or does it feature any long-distance capabilities? If so, is it intended to replace the Battle Rifle as well?

SMGs are still there, tweaked slightly, but not dramatically. The purpose of the AR is to fill a void, or rather, a vital role. A weapon that is not only useful to spawn with, but is flexible and powerful enough that you might stick with it rather than favoring another type of weapon. The proof of that pudding is that AR-only games of Slayer are absolutely fun and satisfying. That weapon will be honed to a glossy sheen by launch, but bluntly, it's about perfect right now. That of course is an opinion, but believe me, it's balanced by knowing what our audience wants.

How will grenades work? Will M.C. be able to carry four of each grenade -- 4 x 4 = 16, correct? -- or will players have to choose which to carry?

Players will have plentiful grenade options. More on that soon. But grenades have an added layer of strategy this time around. Picking role-specific nades is important, but silkily natural.

What can you tell us about the "Spiker" weapon? Is it a precision-based weapon? Does it replace the Brute Shot?

The Brute Spike Rifle will be revealed in more detail soon. It can be dual-wielded by the Chief and can be thought of, loosely, as a Brute version of the SMG - albeit nastier in tone. The Brute Shot is being tuned for great justice in Halo 3 and is almost certain to return.

What changes have been made to the Needler? Does it still have the "instant death" attack?

The Needler has gone through significant changes. I'll call them improvements. The instant death attack - filling your opponent with a certain number of consecutive crystal-shards - is being tuned. But yes, it will still assplode your face.

Multiplayer Questions

Will there be any significant changes from Halo 2's matchmaking system? Are you leaning towards a more server browser-based structure, ala Gears of War and Vegas?

We are still building the core game around matchmaking, but we will give players more options and greater flexibility this time around. Although this has its drawbacks, I think that most Live players appreciate the way Halo 2 matchmaking works, and will enjoy the improvements vastly.

Will we see any returning favorite multiplayer maps from Halo 2? Would you mind naming some you're considering? (please say Lockout, please say Lockout...)

You won't see anything identical, but you might see something familiar.

Are any online Co-Op plans in the works? What about other online modes?

What is a co-op? We'll do our best to make the online experience a blast.

Lastly, any word on when the online beta is schedule to go live? How will this process work? Any word on how large the file may be?

The file will be exactly 873.46 megs and...I'm kidding. Still being figured out, but we'll keep you posted.

[UHYVE]

What's weird is he didn't actually say that it would be the Arbiter, he just said that the issue of other playable characters would be newsworthy. My guess, playing as Cortana... now that would be newsworthy, fighting enemy AIs and stuff.

[vociferous]

I think the Chief/Arbiter simultaneous coop scenario is a definite possibility (I might even verge on saying likely). Another thing that comes to mind is the inclusion of other Spartans. I initially wrote them off as additions to the story this late in the game, but the fact is that most people who've played Halo and Halo 2 know that the Chief is the "last" of the Spartans. A return, if handled delicately, could work well and be implemented into the story appropriately. Particularly if the Master Chief dies at the end of the trilogy.

[Blamo]

Particularly if the Master Chief dies at the end of the trilogy.- Voc

C.nom man, He has to die. Bungie keeps saying that it's the end of this story arch, and the entire story(in the games) revolves around the chief and humanity. i think johnson will die aswell. But they can't just fall over dead, they have to die in a kick ass fashion. Like maybe going down thermopylae style, few against many. That's one scenario I see, the Arbiter and Master Chief, with their respective followers, holding off hoards of Covenant, then when the music starts to get all dramatic and you can tell the end is near, you hear "Olly Olly Oxen Free" over te radio, and from behind you come three SPARTANS, followed by the suicide bomber, SPARTAN III's. Then the music goes all crazy cool, and you kick some serious ass. Arbiter dies during battle and so does everyone else except the chief. He is wounded, kneeling on the battlefield sorrounded by dead allies. The Prophet of Truth floats up to him, and ask him some wierd phylosophical question, which the chief answers in a badass way. Then the chief ripps of the prophets face and you see Earth getting completely destroyed. The chief dies, but in a cool way. Kind of Like the 300 spartans at Thermopylae, they completed their suicide mission, But the Persians still burned down Athens, which could symbolize the Covenant Destroying Earth. Wadda ya think? Unles you go all Biblical, and humanity escapes THE FLOOD by boarding the ARK. and Earth is Destroyed, but humanity lives, and all this is possible becuase the chief held them off.

Edited by Blamo, 06 April 2007 - 07:02 AM.

[Va1or]

I would love to see Chief/Cortana fight back to back with the Arbiter in a near hopeless scenario with a huge amount of Covenant troops as the music builds to a crescendo (GRAW style) and one of them falls in battle (Arby has to go first). Maybe the Arby will buy Chief some time to escape on a suicidal last stand.

Arbiter: "Human, go!...it was an honor..."

Chief and Cortana go on to wage glorious battle against the Flood and Truth and his minions. They finally plant a nuke on their last and most important objective (a Halo? a covenant homeworld? a starship?) with no hope of escape. They try escaping anyway.

Cortana: Chief, we did it! We saved humanity!...I am happy to die at your side John.
Chief: You were a good friend Cortana. Thank you. Goodbye.

BA-DOOOOM!

Bad guys explode in a hellish ball of flame which engulfs our two heros. Humanity is made safe. The war is over.

Va1or cries like a school girl.

Edited by Valor, 06 April 2007 - 08:25 AM.

[Blaze]

i think johnson will die aswell.

I don't think so. He probably has some cross-mutation of Parkinson's Disease and AIDS that makes him invincible from nuclear explosions. He'll probably be one of the few characters that actually survive.

[Blamo]

Va1or cries like a school girl.- Valor

Actually, I think there was Bnet weekly update that mentioned a part of the campaign that made some of the developers including, Frankie cry a little bit. Valor don't worry, you are not alone, I will cry aswell.

[Va1or]

I don't think so. He probably has some cross-mutation of Parkinson's Disease and AIDS that makes him invincible from nuclear explosions. He'll probably be one of the few characters that actually survive.

lol