View source for Armor customization (Halo 2: Anniversary)

{{Title|Armor customization (''Halo 2: Anniversary'')}}
{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Disambig header|the armor customization in Halo 2: Anniversary|other games|armor customizations}}
[[File:Halo The Master Chief Collection - H2A Spartan armor permutations.PNG|thumb|250px|The original three Spartan armor permutations available in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer.]]
[[File:Halo The Master Chief Collection - H2A Elite armor permutations.PNG|thumb|250px|The original three Elite armor permutations available in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer.]]
'''Armor customization''' in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' allows players to customize their [[SPARTAN programs|Spartan]] and [[Sangheili|Elite]] player model. Following in the footsteps of ''[[Halo 3]]'', and ''[[Halo 4]]'', the customization system would be revamped and overhauled following ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|Halo: The Master Chief Collection's]]'' launch in [[2014]].

==Overview==
[[File:HTMCC H2A ArmorCustomisation.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The customization menu for ''Halo 2: Anniversary'', following its overhaul for Series 3.]]
Upon launch, ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' originally featured six basic armor sets, split between Spartans and Elites. The Spartan and Elite's visual styles were rooted in the aesthetic of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor <nowiki>[GEN2]</nowiki>]], and [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|the Covenant remnant]] introduced in ''Halo 4'', respectively. Originally, the armor players could use in ''Anniversary'' were locked to pre-made armor sets, lacking any customization whatsoever. Additionally, the six base sets were freely unlocked, with no prerequisites present for their use.

For the launch of [[Series 3: Recon]] in [[2020]], the customization system was updated, allowing players to swap individual helmets, shoulders, chests, wrists, and legs for Spartans, and helmets, arms, chests, and legs for Elite models.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/mcc-development-update-august-2020|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=MCC Development Update - August 2020}}

With [[343 Industries]] celebrating the [[Halo 20th anniversary|20th anniversary of ''Halo'']] in late [[2021]], a new armor permutation was added to ''Halo 2: Anniversary'': the [[ORION armor|Orion armor]]. ORION is based on the armor used by the Master Chief, seen during [[Pre-Xbox Halo|''Halo's'' reveal]] in [[1999 (real world)|1999]], and was made available through [[The Exchange]] exclusively.{{Ref/Site|D=03|M=11|Y=2021|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/celebrating-20-years-of-halo-in-the-master-chief-collection|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Celebrating 20 Years of Halo in The Master Chief Collection}}

The launch of [[Series 9]] in [[2022]] saw the release of several new [[Fractures]] armor sets for the game's customization suite; [[Trooper armor|Trooper]], [[Megaframe armor|Megaframe]], [[Panzerdoll armor|Panzerdoll]], and [[Bioroid armor|Bioroid]]. Additionally, a new canon armor set, [[Breach attachments|Breach]], was added - with its design being based on unused ''[[Halo 3]]'' concept art.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/bioroid-boogaloo|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Bioroid Boogaloo|D=27|M=08|Y=2022}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-mcc-august-update|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo: MCC - August Update|D=27|M=08|Y=2022}}
{{Clear}}

==List of permutations==
{{Tabcontainer|
|title1=Spartan armor
|content1=
{{/Spartan}}
|title2=Elite armor
|content2=
{{/Elite}}
|title3=Fracture armor
|content3=A series of [[Fractures]]-based armor sets introduced during [[Series 9]].
{{/Series 9}}
}}

==Production notes==
[[File:H2A - Mark VI (GEN2 - UE4) - 00001.png|thumb|250px|A Mark VI-clad Spartan rendered in ''Unreal Engine 4'' from 2020 to 2022.]]
''Halo 2: Anniversary's'' cosmetic options would undergo dramatic overhauls over the course of ''The Master Chief Collection's'' lifespan.

Notably, the ''Unreal Engine 4'' models for both Spartans and Elites got overhauled over time. Upon ''Halo 2: Anniversary's'' PC release, all six models were of lower quality, lacking the shiny, metallic nature of the actual, in-game armor, while the techsuit featured a predominantly deep black coloration, with a slick sheen that isn't present in-game. With the release of Series 3, the models would all be updated, featuring higher quality assets overall. The metallic shine present on in-game armor would be added, and the techsuit would be rendered in a gray color, featuring a more game-accurate techsuit. Series 8 would update the models again, amplifying the armor's shine, while also returning the smooth sheen once present on the techsuit.

Additionally, during Series 3, when the options for customization were initially widened, the player's Spartan's bicep armor was determined by their choice of wrist armor, not by their shoulder armor. Eventually, this would be changed, and swapping shoulder pieces would also swap the bicep armor underneath it. 
[[File:H2A - Series 8 - Color tweaks.jpg|thumb|left|Two Spartans featuring the same colors, the left being pre-Series 8, the right being post-Series 8.]]
Finally, in a first since [[Hammer Storm]], the release of [[Series 8: Mythic]] would see the colors the player could select being altered, with each being darkened dramatically compared to its pre-Series 8 counterpart. This change resulted in more visual parity between the ''Unreal Engine 4'' render and the in-game character model. It also would not be noted in the Series' patch notes.

===Mistakes===
*Upon ''Halo 2: Anniversary's'' PC release, the customization menu reused tooltips from ''Halo: Reach's'' customization menu. Erroneously, the updated customization menu stated the choice between a Spartan and Elite player model is only applicable to appropriate, species-specific gametypes, despite the option being available regardless of gametype. As of Series 8, the preferred species prompt's tooltip still insinuates the choice is only applicable to appropriate, species-specific gametypes.
**Additionally, during [[Series 2: Spark]], the Spartan customization menu reused ''Reach'' tooltips, and stated the player can change the appearance of their Spartan by "adding or removing armor", despite the game only providing the option to switch armor sets at that time. The Elite menu properly stated the player can only select specific armor classes. This would be updated for [[Series 3: Recon]] later in 2020, opting to use more general terminology with the switch to more intensive customization.

===Miscellaneous===
*As of the release of ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' on PC, the updated Elite armor sets reused descriptions from the [[Sangheili Minor|Minor]], [[Special Operations Sangheili|Spec Ops]], and [[Sangheili Ranger|Ranger]] Elite armor sets seen in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', as a result of reused menu text. With the release of ''Halo 3: ODST'' later in the year, these would change to the descriptions based on those seen in a 2015 Canon Fodder blog post.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-marching-on|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Marching On}}
*The internal unlock files for ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' indicate the ORION armor was originally slated to be released in the ultimately cancelled [[Season 9]].{{Ref/File|HTMCC|data\ui\unlockdb.xml|S9 H2A ARMOR PARTS}} Likewise, the same files indicate the Bioroid, Breach, Trooper, Megaframe, and Panzerdoll armor sets included with Series 9 were originally intended for release in the similarly cancelled [[Season 10]].{{Ref/File|HTMCC|data\ui\unlockdb.xml|S10 H2A ARMOR PARTS}}
**These same unlock files also reveal that ''Halo 2: Anniversary's'' customization component was intended to have visor colors added at some point. While most are listed with basic placeholder names ("Visor2", for example), all eight of ''Halo 4's'' [[Specializations|Specialization]]-exclusive visor colors are listed.{{Ref/File|HTMCC|data\ui\unlockdb.xml|Lassen Nameplates}}
**The internal unlock files for the armor within Series 9 refer to the Breach armor sets as "BREACH A" and "BREACH B". To create "A", the player must combine the Breach Scout helmet, the [[TAC attachments|TAC/SRV-III]] shoulders, and the [[UA/KOTIN]] chest piece. To create "B", the player must combine the Breach Link helmet, the [[UA/WAYLAND]] shoulders, and the [[UA/GRT78]] chest piece.
<gallery class=center>
File:HTMCC H2A BreachA Spartan.jpg|The "Breach A" armour set.
File:HTMCC H2A BreachB Spartan.jpg|The "Breach B" armour set.
</gallery>

==Gallery==
===Developmental images===
<gallery>
File:HTMCC-H2A-Bioroidbacksets.jpg|A teaser for Bioroid armor.
</gallery>

===Menu images===
<gallery>
Halo The Master Chief Collection - H2A Spartan armor permutation UI.PNG|The original UI elements featuring Spartan armor customization in the menu, used from 2014 to 2020.
Halo The Master Chief Collection - H2A Elite armor permutation UI.PNG|The original UI elements featuring Elite armor customization in the menu, used from 2014 to 2020.
File:H2A - Armor permutations.png|The six original base permutations for Spartans and Elites in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'', rendered in ''Unreal Engine 4'', used during 2020, and most of 2021.
</gallery>

===Screenshots===
<gallery>
File:GamescomH2AShotguns.jpg|Two Mark VI-clad Spartans engaging with shotguns on [[Shrine]].
File:H2A Relic Anniversary fight.jpg|A Centurion-clad Spartan in the turret of a Warthog on [[Remnant]].
File:H2A - Lockdown Spartan permutations.png|Two Spartans using newly unlocked armor setups on [[Lockdown]] with the release of [[Series 3: Recon]].
File:H2A Zenith OrionSPNKr 1.png|A Spartan on [[Zenith]] wearing ORION armor, released during [[Series 8: Mythic]].
H2A_Breach_armor_first_look.png|Breach armor, added during [[Series 9]].
File:HTMCC-H2A-BioroidArmor2.jpg|Bioroid armor, added during Series 9.
File:H2A Megaframe armor first look.jpg|Megaframe armor, added during Series 9.
File:HTMCC-H2A-Toast.jpg|Panzerdoll armor, added during Series 9.
File:H2A Trooper armor first look.png|Trooper armor, added during Series 9.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Armor/Permutation/H2A}}
{{Customization}}
[[Category:Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]
[[Category:Halo 2: Anniversary]]
[[Category:Customization]]