List of inconsistencies in the Halo series
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
- "So, um, how come do you figure stuff looks different sometimes? Like guns, or the Arbiter? Like do you remember being more purpler? I do! Eh, maybe it's just my eyes getting smart, but I swear sometimes it's like a whole spaceship is different and nobody says anything. I mean was the Gravemind always so much scary? I dunno, he was like a big puppet, big flabby thing. Eh, maybe it's just me that notices stuff."
- — Dimkee Hotay, noting cosmetic retcons in the Halo universe.
This list is compiled to show the various discrepancies spotted in the Halo universe. Inconsistencies on the list are divided into two types: internal and external. Internal inconsistencies refer to discrepancies which occur within a single source, while external inconsistencies are conflicts between two or more sources.
It is often difficult to decide which resource is "superior" to another, so conflicts are mostly listed in a chronological order. Likewise, it can rarely be conclusively determined whether a conflict is the result of an oversight on part of the author or editor(s) or an intentional retcon, unless this is specifically confirmed by the developers of the Halo franchise; such cases are noted accordingly. For more information, see here. There have been a number of cases in which an apparent inconsistency arises within an individual piece of media, only to receive a canonical workaround in another source; an example of this is the shared designation "Type-47 Scarab" for the two different Scarab models appearing in Halo 2 and Halo 3, something that was eventually clarified as "a UNSC administration quirk".[1] For inconsistencies that have since been resolved by other Halo media, see List of rectified inconsistencies in the Halo series.
Many inconsistencies on this page are provided possible explanations, although it should be noted that these are only unofficial theories unless otherwise stated, and may not reflect the franchise developers' stance on the matters in question. If you think you can explain an inconsistency, do so here, on this article's talk page.
Inconsistencies[edit]
In instances in which two or more works have been developed concurrently and released within a short span of time of one another (e.g. games and their marketing material), the "primary" work takes precedence on this list even if released marginally later than the "secondary" one. For example, conflicting information in Halo: The Fall of Reach is said to contradict Halo: Combat Evolved, even though the novel was released slightly earlier than the game. Conflicts which are persistent throughout multiple sources are listed in the "Several sources" section.
Halo: The Fall of Reach[edit]
- Main article: Halo: The Fall of Reach
- Internal
- The Eridanus II space dock is erroneously stated to be located in the Epsilon Eridani system in the chapter heading for Chapter 10.[2] Throughout the rest of the book, Eridanus II is correctly referenced as being located in the similarly named Eridanus system.[3][4][5]
- When Dr. Halsey and the Spartans are on a Pelican leaving the Damascus Testing Facility, Halsey tries to adjust her glasses but can't due to her space helmet. Despite this she is later said to tap her lip in thought.
- The time stamp for Chapter 23 is labeled "0500 hours, July 18, 2552",[6] even though the events portrayed take place after the preceding chapters which occurred over the evening of July 18; the previous chapter begins at 2010 hours that day.[7]
- It is possible that while Chapters 18-22 are labeled as occurring on July 18, they are supposed to take place on July 17. The time stamps suggest a day-long pause between Chapters 17 and 18,[8] and although this can be justified by Admiral Stanforth's Battle Group Leviathan taking more than several hours to reach the Sigma Octanus system, the description of the battle on the surface suggests the events occurred during the same day as the initial space battle. Alternatively, the date in Chapter 23's heading could simply be a mistake, with the intended date being July 19. This is corroborated by the second Data Drop, in which Stanforth sends a message to Admiral Parangosky in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV at 2300 hours on July 18, 2552.