Halo Infinite is coming and with it should be the end of Master Chief's 20-year story.
It certainly seems like 343 Industries is teeing Halo Infinite up to be the final chapter in the epic saga that is John-117. The trailer that debuted at the Xbox Games Showcase ends with Chief coming face-to-face with a Banished leader whose monologue implies the Chief's demise: "But here you now stand. This is my last fight. A true test of legends, our story will outlive us both. Set a fire in your heart, Spartan. Bare your fangs, fight hard, die well."
With the news that Halo Infinite is meant to be the last standalone Halo title for a decade, there's nothing left for 343 to do except to kill their darling or in this case, their Master. The blatant throwback to Halo: Combat Evolved in the Halo Infinite box art and the game's nostalgic, sunny graphics hammers home the idea that Halo Infinite will close the loop that is the Halo saga. It's a narrative Halo ring, and this is the final piece.
Here's how all roads point to Halo Infinite closing the door forever on Master Chief, Cortana, and the Halo universe as we know it, and why that's a good thing.
While Halo lore is far more complicated than the gameplay would have you think, it's clear that the epic story has been funnelling us towards a logical conclusion. Let's recap, as it can get a bit convoluted.
Long before the events of Halo: Reach, humans were an advanced, spacefaring species in the running to obtain the Mantle of Responsibility. The Mantle is an ideology before it is an object, the creation of the Precursors (an ancient species responsible for genetically engineering many of the races in the galaxy). It represents the obligation of the most advanced race to protect lesser life forms in the galaxy but the Forerunners, another alien race, believed they were the rightful inheritors of the Mantle, and began a long war that led to them forcing humans to live in a pre-technological state on a planet known as Earth.
The term "Reclaimer" is important here it's used to refer to the species chosen to inherit the Mantle in particular, it refers to humans who carry a special genetic code written in by a Forerunner known as the Librarian. Reclaimers can activate Forerunner technology it's why Master Chief comes damn near close to activating the ring in Halo: Combat Evolved, and why he seems to know his way around the tech despite never having encountered it before. It's also why the Covenant have to kidnap humans to activate Forerunner tech despite believing they deserve the mantle, none of the Covenant races are Reclaimers. Sucks to suck.
The genetic code that Chief contains is also responsible for the creation of other SPARTANs and Cortana's creation - the Librarian planted seeds that led to technological advances like the SPARTAN program and Smart AI. This speaks to the larger picture of the ties that bind Chief and Cortana.
Sacrifice is a common theme in the Halo franchise, though the ultimate sacrifice (giving one's life) has thus far been reserved for characters who aren't Master Chief and Cortana though not for their lack of trying.
In Halo: Reach, every member of Noble Team (save one) sacrifices themselves to ensure humanity can stand against the Covenant. At the end of Halo 3, it appears Chief has sacrificed himself to save humanity, although he obviously ends up surviving. At the end of Halo 4, you control Chief as he desperately claws his way to a nuclear warhead that he detonates with his hands to save humanity. Again, Chief doesn't die, despite being centimeters away from a nuclear explosion - because Cortana sacrifices herself to save him.
By Halo 5, it's clear that Cortana is still alive, though driven to madness by rampancy (a sort of deterioration that advanced AI suffer after being online for more than seven years"), and determined to get her hands on the Mantle of Responsibility, which she claims belongs to AI.
For Halo: Infinite to narratively and thematically close the Halo loop, Chief should sacrifice himself to stop the Banished (and likely Cortana and the Created, a faction of rogue artificial intelligence she founded). But there's arguably an even bigger sacrifice, in John's future Cortana herself, the closest thing this tragic figure has had to a loved one since his brief childhood.
And that may very well be the core of this Halo epic. Master Chief and Cortana's relationship, brought together by destiny, by the genetic gifts bestowed upon humanity by the Precursors.
"We go together," Chief tells Cortana at the end of Halo 4. It's a simple statement that profoundly states his feelings for her. After she sacrifices herself for Chief, a montage plays of their interactions across the series, hammering home the notion that this bond goes beyond a soldier tasked with protecting an AI. She is, after all, the only real thing that gives Chief pathos in the entire series, and that's thanks to 343 deciding to lean into that relationship when they took the Halo helm.
Before that, Chief is merely a faceless super soldier with a pretty solid moral compass, one-lining his way through a franchise in order to save the world and his snarky computer lady. Cortana and Chief are the beating heart of the Halo franchise but I think it's time for that heart to stop.
With the back-to-back fake-outs of Halo 3 and Halo 4, the stage is set for Chief to make the ultimate sacrifice. Cortana is still alive at the end of Halo 5, after having brutally betrayed him in order to continue on her rampage to get her hands on the Mantle. As the Banished leader said in the Halo Infinite trailer, it is indeed time for John-117 to "set a fire" in his heart in order to "die well." But not before he takes Cortana with him.
See the rest here:
Halo Infinite should close the ring that is Master Chief and Cortana's saga - GamesRadar+
- Who are We? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Vilsack targeted for his Pro-GMOs stand - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Call for technology to produce cellulosic ethanol - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Kenyan scientists weigh on GMOs - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Indian researcher makes a case for biotechnology - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Michigan smoothens the way for alternative energy investors - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Link of ethanol use to high food prices questioned - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- EU challenges France on GM Maize - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- POET rolls out cellulosic ethanol plant - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- There’s a bright future for cellulosic ethanol investment - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Cellulosic ethanol can considerably reduce gasoline use by 2030 - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human Genetic Engineering - Background - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human Genetic Engineering - History - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human Genetic Engineering - Methods - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human Genetic Engineering - Uses - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human Genetic Engineering - Controversy - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human Genetic Engineering - In popular culture - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human genetic engineering - An Introduction - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Human Genetic Engineering - A Very Hot Issue! - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- What are the risks of genetic engineering in humans? (human genetic engineering) - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- What are the benefits of human genetic engineering? (human genetic engineering) - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Genetic Engineering - Ethics and Controversy - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Genetic Engineering Ethics In Science Fiction - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Genetic Engineering Ethics - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Welcome to Pest Control Exterminator Network - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- OMD - Genetic Engineering - August 27th, 2011 [August 27th, 2011]
- X-Ray Spex - Genetic Engineering - August 27th, 2011 [August 27th, 2011]
- Ancient Alien Nephilim, Giants, Mutants, Genetic Engineering, and Hybrids (2-6) - August 28th, 2011 [August 28th, 2011]
- Human-Plant Hybrid (Genetic Engineering at Home) - August 28th, 2011 [August 28th, 2011]
- Ancient Alien Nephilim, Giants, Mutants, Genetic Engineering, and Hybrids (1-6) - August 29th, 2011 [August 29th, 2011]
- 3. Genetic Engineering - August 29th, 2011 [August 29th, 2011]
- Genetic engineering nightmare - August 31st, 2011 [August 31st, 2011]
- Ancient Alien Nephilim, Giants, Mutants, Genetic Engineering, and Hybrids (3-6) - August 31st, 2011 [August 31st, 2011]
- Future of genetic engineering - by Futurist Dr Patrick Dixon. Genetic mutations and genetic disorders. Gene science by conference keynote speaker - September 2nd, 2011 [September 2nd, 2011]
- Genetic engineering: The world's greatest scam? - September 3rd, 2011 [September 3rd, 2011]
- Watch Fed Up! Genetic Engineering, Industrial Agriculture and Sustainable Alternatives Full Movie Online Part 1/15 - September 3rd, 2011 [September 3rd, 2011]
- Ancient Alien Nephilim, Giants, Mutants, Genetic Engineering, and Hybrids (5-6) - September 5th, 2011 [September 5th, 2011]
- Genetic Engineering, Humans with Animals. - September 6th, 2011 [September 6th, 2011]
- Is Genetic Engineering Good for the Environment? - September 7th, 2011 [September 7th, 2011]
- Open Source Food and Genetic Engineering - Michael Pollan - September 10th, 2011 [September 10th, 2011]
- Ancient Alien ( demons ) Nephilim Giants, Mutants Genetic Engineering and Hybrids.avi - September 11th, 2011 [September 11th, 2011]
- MUST SEE : Genetic Engineering Corn Grows in Sand ! For Those That Appreciate Nature ! - September 12th, 2011 [September 12th, 2011]
- Designing Humanity - Genetic Engineering - September 14th, 2011 [September 14th, 2011]
- Genetic Modification | QUEEN ANNE SCIENCE CAFE - September 14th, 2011 [September 14th, 2011]
- Genetic Engineering in California Agriculture - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Genetic Engineering Animation - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Proof Of Ancient Genetic Engineering - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Joad Cressbeckler Fears Genetic Modification Causes 'Wrath-Minded Taters' - September 16th, 2011 [September 16th, 2011]
- Ethical Concerns With Genetic Engineering - September 16th, 2011 [September 16th, 2011]
- Scientists under Attack - Genetic Engineering in the magnetic Field of Money TRAILER - September 17th, 2011 [September 17th, 2011]
- Genetic Modification - September 18th, 2011 [September 18th, 2011]
- Genetic Engineering Not a New Science - Pamela Ronald - September 23rd, 2011 [September 23rd, 2011]
- The Island of Dr. Moreau prt. IV - September 28th, 2011 [September 28th, 2011]
- Ancient Alien Nephilim, Giants, Mutants, Genetic Engineering, and Hybrids (4-6) - September 30th, 2011 [September 30th, 2011]
- 4. Genetic Engineering (cont.) - October 2nd, 2011 [October 2nd, 2011]
- Ancient Alien Nephilim, Giants, Mutants, Genetic Engineering, and Hybrids (6-6) - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Islands at Risk (Part 3) - Genetic Engineering in Hawai'i - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Morgellons Is Genetic Engineering , A Silent Superbug - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Islands at Risk (Part 2) - Genetic Engineering in Hawai'i - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- The Ethics of Genetically Engineering Children - Arthur Caplan - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Disney Geneticists Debut New Child Stars - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Genetic Engineering and Society, Lecture 1a, Honors Collegium 70A, UCLA - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- OMD - Genetic Engineering (312mm Version) (Audio Only) - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- The difference between normal and genetically modified food - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Bioethics Of Human Genetic Engineering - Documentary Video - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Islands at Risk (Part 1) - Genetic Engineering in Hawai'i - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Coast To Coast AM: Genetic Engineering 3-24-2011 Download Link - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Lloyd Pye - Ancient Genetic Engineering - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- X RAY SPEX - ROUNDHOUSE LONDON GENETIC ENGINEERING - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- OMD - Genetic Engineering 1983 - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- OMD - GENETIC ENGINEERING - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- Mechanism of Recombination - Video - October 15th, 2011 [October 15th, 2011]
- Harvard Prof. Michael Sandel on Human Genetic Modification, Berkeley, CA, 7 May 2007 - Video - October 15th, 2011 [October 15th, 2011]
- Genetic Engineering [Medical Ethics Series] - (excerpt) - Video - October 15th, 2011 [October 15th, 2011]
- Genetic Engineering and Society, Lecture 1b, Honors Collegium 70A, UCLA - Video - October 24th, 2011 [October 24th, 2011]
- Genomics: genetic modification (genetic engineering) and the human gene project - Video - October 26th, 2011 [October 26th, 2011]
- Genetically Engineering Intelligent Babies - Horizon: Are We Still Evolving? Preview - BBC Two - Video - October 27th, 2011 [October 27th, 2011]
- "GENETIC ENGINEERING" GERMAN REGIME feat THIRSTIN HOWL THE3RD - Video - October 28th, 2011 [October 28th, 2011]
- Science 360: Genetic Engineering - Video - October 31st, 2011 [October 31st, 2011]
- UFOTV Presents... - Bad Seed: Danger of Genetically Modified Food - Video - November 8th, 2011 [November 8th, 2011]