Halo 2: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

Line 423: Line 423:
''Halo 2'' has been the only game in the series to have the most content either cut from the game entirely or redesigned completely as evidenced in many forms of media. In the ''Halo 3'' Essentials disc featuring the "Director's Commentary" of the cutscenes, three separate levels were discussed as having been proposed but ultimately scrapped due to time constraints: [[Covenant Ship]], [[Forerunner Tank]], and [[Forerunnership|Forerunner Ship]]. In the "Making of ''Halo 2''" documentary there was concept art seen regarding a level location [[Installation 00|The Ark]], although the design was later placed into ''Halo 3''<nowiki />'s [[The Storm]] as the [[The Portal|Portal]]. The former could have been a part of pre-production for ''[[Halo 3]]''. Marty O'Donnell was also quoted in a [[Bungie Podcast]] (Episode 13, at 21:00) saying that all the actors had recorded the lines to the original ''Halo 2'' ending and that it still exists today, but he will never show it. The [[Flood Juggernaut]] was a character that was modeled and placed in the coding of the game but never had AI programmed or had been placed on any level, similar to the [[Huragok|Engineer]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
''Halo 2'' has been the only game in the series to have the most content either cut from the game entirely or redesigned completely as evidenced in many forms of media. In the ''Halo 3'' Essentials disc featuring the "Director's Commentary" of the cutscenes, three separate levels were discussed as having been proposed but ultimately scrapped due to time constraints: [[Covenant Ship]], [[Forerunner Tank]], and [[Forerunnership|Forerunner Ship]]. In the "Making of ''Halo 2''" documentary there was concept art seen regarding a level location [[Installation 00|The Ark]], although the design was later placed into ''Halo 3''<nowiki />'s [[The Storm]] as the [[The Portal|Portal]]. The former could have been a part of pre-production for ''[[Halo 3]]''. Marty O'Donnell was also quoted in a [[Bungie Podcast]] (Episode 13, at 21:00) saying that all the actors had recorded the lines to the original ''Halo 2'' ending and that it still exists today, but he will never show it. The [[Flood Juggernaut]] was a character that was modeled and placed in the coding of the game but never had AI programmed or had been placed on any level, similar to the [[Huragok|Engineer]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.


The lead writer for ''Halo 2'' was [[Joseph Staten]]. With the ''Halo 2'' campaign, Staten was interested in expanding the game's scope from solely the Master Chief and humanity,<ref name="vice"/> fleshing out the [[Covenant]] antagonists through the perspective of the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]]. The core idea behind the Arbiter was to create a character who suffered the consequences of the Master Chief's victory in the first game.<ref>'''[[Remaking the Legend]]'''</ref> According to Staten, Bungie co-founder and the game's project lead [[Jason Jones]] was extremely passionate about including two particular scenes that were ultimately cut. In one of these, the Master Chief would be standing on an orbital above Earth and look down on the carnage inflicted by the Covenant, saying "Only blood will pay for this." A similar scene occurs in the final game, at the conclusion of "[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]", but the quote is absent. Jones also wanted to have [[Miranda Keyes]] play the role of an antagonist and have her betray the Master Chief, strapping and bomb to his back and throwing him down a hole. Staten was not fond of the idea and, though great effort, convinced Jones it would not work in the context of the story.<ref name="vice"/>
The head writer for ''Halo 2'' was [[Joseph Staten]]. With the ''Halo 2'' campaign, Staten was interested in expanding the game's scope from solely the Master Chief and humanity,<ref name="vice"/> fleshing out the [[Covenant]] antagonists through the perspective of the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]]. The core idea behind the Arbiter was to create a character who suffered the consequences of the Master Chief's victory in the first game.<ref>'''[[Remaking the Legend]]'''</ref> According to Staten, Bungie co-founder and the game's project lead [[Jason Jones]] was extremely passionate about including two particular scenes that were ultimately cut. In one of these, the Master Chief would be standing on an orbital above Earth and look down on the carnage inflicted by the Covenant, saying "Only blood will pay for this." A similar scene occurs in the final game, at the conclusion of "[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]", but the quote is absent. Jones also wanted to have [[Miranda Keyes]] play the role of an antagonist and have her betray the Master Chief, strapping and bomb to his back and throwing him down a hole. Staten was not fond of the idea and, though great effort, convinced Jones it would not work in the context of the story.<ref name="vice"/>


According to Microsoft Halo Franchise Development Group employee [[Eric Trautmann]], who liaised with Bungie on the development of the Halo story, Bungie was initially skeptical that fans would recognize the [[ODST]]s during the ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]'' level, and questioned the in-universe purpose they served. This was the last work Trautmann worked on before leaving development on the Halo franchise in November 9, 2004.<ref>[http://scifishow.libsyn.com/005-dc-reboot-trautmann-interview-round-2-of-our-quiz '''The Sci Fi Show''': ''Episode 005: DC Reboot/Eric Trautmann'']</ref>
According to Microsoft Halo Franchise Development Group employee [[Eric Trautmann]], who liaised with Bungie on the development of the Halo story, Bungie was initially skeptical that fans would recognize the [[ODST]]s during the ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]'' level, and questioned the in-universe purpose they served. This was the last work Trautmann worked on before leaving development on the Halo franchise in November 9, 2004.<ref>[http://scifishow.libsyn.com/005-dc-reboot-trautmann-interview-round-2-of-our-quiz '''The Sci Fi Show''': ''Episode 005: DC Reboot/Eric Trautmann'']</ref>