Character interludes: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Era|RW}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{Title|Cortana/Gravemind Moments}}
{{Cleanup}}
Through the ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[campaign]], there are "Moments" when either [[Cortana]] or the [[Gravemind]] telepathically address the [[John-117|Master Chief]]. During these Moments, the player's movements will slow drastically, as will their ability to turn and face another direction. A screen effect will alter the display of the game.
Through the ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[campaign]], there are "Moments" when either [[Cortana]] or the [[Gravemind]] telepathically address the [[John-117|Master Chief]]. During these moments, the player's movements will slow drastically, as will their ability to turn and face another direction. A screen effect will alter the display of the game.


During a "Cortana Moment," the screen turns blue, and Cortana's image flashes in and out of focus on the screen. Her voice will contain a slight echo and sometimes a deeply-pitched distortion effect, and her image will erratically "jump" around the screen. During a Cortana Moment there will also be a noise sounding vaguely similar to the noise heard if you place a seashell to your ear (the sound of the sea).
During a "Cortana moment," the screen turns blue, and Cortana's image flashes in and out of focus on the screen. Her voice will contain a slight echo and sometimes a deeply-pitched distortion effect, and her image will erratically "jump" around the screen. During a Cortana moment there will also be a noise sounding vaguely similar to the noise heard if one places a seashell in their ear.


During a "Gravemind Moment," the player's view become murky green, and "tentacles" can be seen at the edge of the screen. The screen will shake in unison with the Gravemind's voice, shaking far more violently if Gravemind is screaming or yelling in anger at John-117.
During a "Gravemind moment," the player's view become murky green, and "tentacles" can be seen at the edge of the screen. The screen will shake in unison with the Gravemind's voice, shaking far more violently if Gravemind is screaming or yelling in anger at John-117.


The Cortana moments depict her descent into [[rampancy]], while the Gravemind moments are used to convey the point of view of the [[The Flood|Flood]]. Checkpoints are usually attained after these moments. The player is almost never in any danger of damage while the Moments occur, which is fortunate, as the player cannot move quickly. It is possible in co-op mode for one player to trigger the Moment while the other player is behind fighting enemies that the first one skipped.
The Cortana moments depict her descent into [[rampancy]], while the Gravemind moments are used to convey the point of view of [[the Flood]]. Checkpoints are usually attained after these moments. The player is almost never in any danger of damage while the moments occur, which is fortunate, as the player cannot move quickly. It is possible in co-op mode for one player to trigger the moment while the other player is behind fighting enemies that the first one skipped. During any of these moments, the player is completely immune to damage and will not be attacked even by nearby enemies.{{Citation needed}}


In ''Halo: Evolutions'', however, the explanation of the Cortana Moments has been provided. It had revealed that the Gravemind had successfully hijacked Cortana's system, allowing him to speak with her voice. This was part of his plan to persuade Cortana and John-117 that Cortana was descending into rampancy. It is, however, unknown how the Gravemind was able to connect to John-117 all the way from High Charity.
The ''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo Evolutions]]'' story ''[[Human Weakness]]'' provides an explanation for the Cortana moments. It is revealed that the Gravemind had successfully hijacked Cortana's system, allowing him to speak with her voice. This was part of his plan to persuade Cortana and John-117 that Cortana was descending into rampancy. It is, however, not explained how the Gravemind was able to connect to John-117 all the way from High Charity.
 
Cortana battled the Gravemind, trying to hold onto the data about the Portal and the Ark. She ends up creating multiple copies of herself to distract the Gravemind and twice they apparently chime in during her conversations with the Gravemind. One adds the "I am a monument to all your sins" part of one of the moments while the rest is Cortana defying Gravemind to buy the Master Chief time. Cortana places the message onto the [[Unidentified Flood-captured battlecruiser|Flood-controlled cruiser]] by composing it with the help of a copy and then transmitting it to that ship through Gravemind's link to it, with part of it being coded to seek out and upload itself to the nearest data device. Gravemind then reveals that he knew and helped out as he wanted to lure all of his enemies to one place, but had no idea what the message actually said.


==Transcripts==
==Transcripts==
Line 90: Line 92:


== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
*If you use the [[3 Player Local Co op|3 Player Local Co Op]] glitch, during the Cortana Moments, the game will freeze because it was not meant for three-player split-screen campaign. Strangely, Gravemind Moments function normally.
 
*The moments could be caused from the Chief's [[Command neural interface|CNI]], because Cortana would be linked to it, and the Gravemind would be able to control it by projecting Cortana's and Dr. Halsey's memories.
===Fiction===
*If you take a screenshot of a Moment from the [[Theater]], it will appear completely black in the screenshot gallery, adding some mystery to the entire perception.
*The moments could be caused from the Chief's [[SPARTAN neural interface]], because Cortana would be linked to it, and the Gravemind would be able to control it by projecting Cortana's and Dr. Halsey's memories.
*During any of these moments, you are completely immune to damage and will not be attacked even by nearby enemies, causing anyone who goes into a Cortana or Gravemind Moment to be potently invincible for the moments Cortana or Gravemind speaks.
*In [[Sierra 117]], the medic tells the player that during the Cortana and Gravemind Moments, John-117's vital signs momentarily ping KIA, which may be the reason the player slows down, as the armor functions using the user's neural signs instead of muscles, which makes it still possible for the Master Chief to move even if his vital signs have stopped but his brain is intact and functioning.
*Excluding [[Arrival]] (where it should still be noted there ''is'' a Cortana Moment before choosing your controls) there are [[list of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] levels where the Gravemind and Cortana Moments occur.
*The fact that the Cortana Moments affect [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]] is quite odd, as the Arbiter has no connection to Cortana, and has no CNI that would allow her to communicate to him, as [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] did to the Chief. Bungie may have overlooked this problem, or intentionally left it so it wouldn't be that only one player would get the Cortana Moments. More than likely it is simply a gameplay aspect, and the Arbiter was not canonically privy to the Moments.
*Excluding the moment in Arrival, there are twenty-eight moments in total—seven times four.
*The "''It was the coin's fault''" moment in the level [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]] is a reference to Dr. Halsey's examination of a six-year-old [[John-117|John]] before he was drafted into the Spartan II program. Halsey flipped a 21st century quarter, and John correctly identified the eagle side of the coin that was about to the hit the ground before it did. Halsey explained to then-lieutenant [[Jacob Keyes]] that this was a means of weeding out the "unlucky" applicants, as there were only a limited number of slots available.
*If a Moment occurs while you're driving a vehicle, it slows down as well. However, if you are a passenger, then the vehicle goes at normal speed.
*Many of Cortana's lines, as noted above, are repeated lines [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] has said before. One such line is, "''You will be the protector of Earth and all her colonies.''", which Dr. Halsey says to the six-year-old [[SPARTAN Program|Spartans]] in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''. Cortana also recites a few lines from the [[Cortana Letters]] and [[Halo 3 Announcement Trailer]].
*Moments will not slow down a jump, a [[melee]], or attacking with something such as the [[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer|Gravity Hammer]].
*The "''It was the coin's fault''" Moment in the level [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]] is a reference to Dr. Halsey's examination of a six-year-old [[John-117|John]] before he was drafted into the Spartan II program. Halsey flipped a 21st century quarter, and John correctly identified the eagle side of the coin that was about to the hit the ground before it did. Halsey explained to then-Commander [[Jacob Keyes]] that this was a means of weeding out the "unlucky" applicants, as there were only a limited number of slots available.
*During the level [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]], as you enter the Control Room during the Cortana moment, if you look at the screens that, during the next cutscene, show the Prophet of Truth, you'll find that Cortana also shows up on them.
*In one of the last Cortana Moments, Cortana turns green. In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', upon entering the computer systems of Installation 04's [[Control Room]] and being exposed to the wealth of information contained there, Cortana also turns green and begins to behave quite oddly, experiencing sharp mood swings and displaying rude contempt for both the Master Chief and [[343 Guilty Spark]]. It is noted in ''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' that exposure to such floods of raw information can great shorten the operational lifespan of a smart AI. The presence of green, therefore, serves as an indication of [[rampancy]] (a reference to ''Marathon: Durandal'').
*In one of the last Cortana Moments, Cortana turns green. In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', upon entering the computer systems of Installation 04's [[Control Room]] and being exposed to the wealth of information contained there, Cortana also turns green and begins to behave quite oddly, experiencing sharp mood swings and displaying rude contempt for both the Master Chief and [[343 Guilty Spark]]. It is noted in ''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' that exposure to such floods of raw information can great shorten the operational lifespan of a smart AI. The presence of green, therefore, serves as an indication of [[rampancy]] (a reference to ''Marathon: Durandal'').
*In the level [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]], there is a secret [[Terminal]] in the room where she says, "''So you like games? So do I.''". When the terminal is accessed, Cortana will completely take over John's HUD (as well as those of any other players, including [[Sangheili|Elites]]), mentioning the coin quote.
*Many of Cortana's lines, as noted above, are repeated lines [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] has said before. One such line is, "''You will be the protector of Earth and all her colonies.''", which Dr. Halsey says to the six-year-old [[SPARTAN Program|Spartans]] in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach|Halo: The Fall Of Reach]]''. Cortana also recites a few lines from the [[Cortana Letters]] and [[Halo 3 Announcement Trailer]].
*In [[Sierra 117]], the medic tells us that during the Cortana and Gravemind Moments, the player's vital signs momentarily ping KIA, which may be the reason you slow down, as the armor functions using the user's neural signs instead of muscles, which makes it still possible for the Master Chief to move even if his vital signs have stopped but his brain is intact and functioning.
*During some of the moments, Gravemind dialogue from ''Halo 2'' is re-used. In a Gravemind Moment, he repeats a line from the ''Halo 2'' level [[High Charity (level)|High Charity]] when he broadcasts himself over High Charity's system in response to [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]], saying: "''...we exist together now, two corpses in one grave.''" Another recycled line is from the cut scene during which the Gravemind introduces himself saying: "''I? I am a monument to all of your sins.''" It is actually Cortana who repeats this line, displaying the extent of her corruption.
*During some of the moments, Gravemind dialogue from ''Halo 2'' is re-used. In a Gravemind Moment, he repeats a line from the ''Halo 2'' level [[High Charity (level)|High Charity]] when he broadcasts himself over High Charity's system in response to [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]], saying: "''...we exist together now, two corpses in one grave.''" Another recycled line is from the cut scene during which the Gravemind introduces himself saying: "''I? I am a monument to all of your sins.''" It is actually Cortana who repeats this line, displaying the extent of her corruption.
*The messages: "''I have defied gods and demons''" and "''I am your shield. I am your sword''". The first line could refer to Cortana defying the will of the Forerunners (activating the Halos) and the will of the Flood (assimilating all life in the galaxy).
*The messages: "''I have defied gods and demons''" and "''I am your shield. I am your sword''". The first line could refer to Cortana defying the will of the Forerunners (activating the Halos) and the will of the Flood (assimilating all life in the galaxy).
*After any Cortana/Gravemind moments, there will be vertical lines running down Master Chief's HUD (or visor). The armor's helmet automatically refreshes the visor.
 
===Gameplay===
*If you use the [[3 Player Local Co op|3 Player Local Co Op]] glitch, during the Cortana moments, the game will freeze because it was not meant for three-player split-screen campaign. Strangely, Gravemind moments function normally.
*If you take a screenshot of a moment from the [[Theater]], it will appear completely black in the screenshot gallery, adding some mystery to the entire perception. In the level [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]], if one forces a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] into Truth's Citadel (using the [[Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage|Wraith]]) and drives straight for the door, nonstop, they may activate both the Cortana Moment and the preceding cutscene at the same time. During this, the cutscene will have a bluish tint with two extra blue layers. This effect could be what causes screenshots during Cortana moments to blank out, although it could also have been a desired side effect of Bungie to prevent all but cutscene screenshots of Cortana from being taken.
*If there is background music playing during the gameplay, it will pause during any Cortana/Gravemind moments.
*If there is background music playing during the gameplay, it will pause during any Cortana/Gravemind moments.
*In the level [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]], if you force a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] into the Prophet's Citadel (using the [[Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage|Wraith]]) and drive straight for the door, nonstop, you may activate both the Cortana Moment and the preceding cutscene at the same time. During this, the cutscene will have a bluish tint with two extra blue layers. This effect could be what causes screenshots during Cortana Moments to blank out. Although it could also have been a desired side effect of Bungie to prevent all but cutscene screenshots of Cortana from being taken.
*After any Cortana/Gravemind moments, there will be vertical lines running down Master Chief's HUD (or visor). The armor's helmet automatically refreshes the visor afterward.
*The fact that the Cortana Moments affect [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]] is quite odd, as the Arbiter has no connection to Cortana, and has no CNI that would allow her to communicate to him, as [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] did to the Chief. Bungie may have overlooked this problem, or intentionally left it so it wouldn't be that only one player would get the Cortana Moments. More than likely it is simply a gameplay aspect, and the Arbiter was not canonically privvy to the Moments.
*If a moment occurs while one is driving a vehicle, it slows down as well. However, if the player is a passenger, then the vehicle goes at normal speed.
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo Evolutions]]'' shows the truth of some of this, though not how the Chief keeps experiencing these moments. Cortana battled the Gravemind, trying to hold onto the data about the Portal and the Ark (presumably gotten when she was in Alpha Halo's Control Center). She ends up creating multiple copies of herself to distract the Gravemind and twice they apparently chimed in during her conversations with the Gravemind. One added the "I am a monument to all your sins" part of one of the moments while the rest was Cortana defying Gravemind to buy the Master Chief some time. Cortana placed the message onto the ship by composing it with the help of a copy and then transmitting it to that ship through Gravemind's link to it, with part of it being coded to seek out and upload itself to the nearest data device. Gravemind knew and helped out as he wanted to lure all of his enemies to one place, but had no idea what the message actually said.
*Moments will not slow down a jump, a [[melee]], or attacking with something such as the [[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer|Gravity Hammer]].


==See also==
===Miscellaneous===
*[[Cortana]]
*Excluding [[Arrival]] (where it should still be noted there ''is'' a Cortana moment before choosing your controls) there are [[list of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] levels where the Gravemind and Cortana Moments occur. Excluding the moment in Arrival, there are twenty-eight moments in total—seven times four.
*[[Gravemind]]
*In the level [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]], there is a secret [[Terminal]] in the room where she says, "''You like games? So do I.''". When the terminal is accessed, Cortana will completely take over John's HUD (as well as those of any other players, including [[Sangheili|Elites]]), mentioning the coin quote.
*During the level [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]], as the player enters the Citadel during the Cortana moment, if they look at the screens that, during the next cutscene, show the Prophet of Truth, Cortana also shows up on them.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 122: Line 122:
File:Cortanam2.jpg|A Cortana Moment where she appears as green, a homage to ''Marathon: Durandal'' in which rampant AI appear green.
File:Cortanam2.jpg|A Cortana Moment where she appears as green, a homage to ''Marathon: Durandal'' in which rampant AI appear green.
File:Gravemind_Halo3.jpg|A Gravemind Moment in ''Halo 3''.
File:Gravemind_Halo3.jpg|A Gravemind Moment in ''Halo 3''.
</gallery>


</gallery>
[[Category:Halo 3]]
[[Category:Halo 3]]
Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/Character_interludes"