List of references to Aliens in the Halo series: Difference between revisions

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There are numerous similarities between the Halo and Aliens universes. Bungie has even admitted to being inspired by the movie. Listed below are detailed account of how the beloved science fiction of Aliens influenced the Halo trilogy.

The Marines

Both Colonial and UNSC Marines are en route to battle via dropship, ready to rock.

Sergeant Apone from Aliens (left) and Sergeant Johnson, as he appears in Halo 3 (right)

The UNSC Marines bears several resemblance to the Colonial Marines from Aliens in terms of armour design and behaviour (characteristic and personality). It is evident that Bungie clearly loved them and fashioned their own closely after them.

Both Sergeant Apone and Sergeant Johnson obviously have a strikingly similar appearance. Both are tough-as-nails, moustache-lipped, black, cigar-chomping, gung-ho Sergeants with a penchant for playfully mocking their Marines and spouting humorous one-liners. Bungie admitted that Sergeant Johnson was inspired from Sergeant Apone.Template:Fact

The Parasites

The Facehugger and Infection Forms similar behaviour in attacking

A comparison between the infected from Aliens and Halo franchise

Notice the similarities between the Facehugger and Infection Form. Both are roughly the size of, say, a football, their coloring is extremely similar, neither has visible eyes or mouth, both move around low to the ground on numerous long, thin appendages and both have a ridged tail. Another characteristic that they share is their great ability to leap with appendages spread open in order to latch on to their hosts.

Similarly, when a Facehugger attaches to a host it implants the Xenomorph embryo inside of it, which will eventually become a “Chestburster” and smash its way out of the victim. This tiny Xenomorph will grow very quickly into either a Warrior or a Queen. When the Flood attaches to a host it will mutate and take over the host, transforming it into a Flood warrior (if adequate biomass is present). In the case of both aliens the genetic make-up of the host will influence the genetic make-up of the resulting creature “born” from the parasitic process. For example, if a Xenomorph hatches from a human it will retain human characteristics and if a Flood attaches to a human, it will adopt human characteristics.

The Aliens

A comparison between the Queen and the Councillor's headdress

As seen in the image, the headdress worn by Councilor Elites closely resemble the Alien Queen's head, albeit smaller and narrower. In addition, both the Covenant and Aliens have a caste system. Whereas the Covenant's is based on race and religion, the Alien's is based on their different life stages and species.

The Vehicles and Structures

A comparison between UNSC Pillar of Autumn's and Sulaco's frontal hull

The atmosphere processor from Aliens and the Portal from Halo 3

A comparison between the Pelican and the Cheyenne Dropship

A comparison between the Sulaco and the USNC Frigate

Similar to the above section, several vehicles and structures within the Halo trilogy are inspired by the Alien franchise. One such example would be the Pelican Dropship where it bears some resemblance in form and function to Aliens' UD4L Cheyenne dropship in their descent to the surface of LV-426.While the UD-4L has an APC (armored personnel carrier) loaded internally in its belly, the Pelican is capable of holding various vehicles externally from under its tail-section, including the Warthog. Both swoop in, drop the Marines off and get out of dodge. In a cutscene from “The Ark” level in Halo 3, a Pelican snaps off of its frigate and plummets toward the construct below in almost the exact same fashion as the UD-4L deploys from the Sulaco starship in Aliens. While the UD-4L has an APC (armored personnel carrier) loaded internally in its belly, the Pelican is capable of holding various vehicles externally from under its tail-section, including the Warthog. Both swoop in, drop the Marines off and get out of dodge. In addition, the UNSC Frigates, such as the Forward Unto Dawn, the In Amber Clad, and especially the Aegis Fate with its protrusions from the bow, greatly resemble the ship Sulaco, both in appearance and usage. The most obvious shared trait is that both of their profiles look like massive guns, a characteristic the Sulaco is famous for. In a cutscene from “The Ark” level in Halo 3, a Pelican snaps off of its frigate and plummets toward the construct below in almost the exact same fashion as the UD-4L deploys from the Sulaco starship in Aliens.

In Aliens’ fiction, “atmosphere processors” (above left and right) are set up by colonists in order to alter the atmosphere on new worlds, to make them survivable by humans. This structure is prominent in the story as it is the place where the colonists are cocooned and the Colonial Marines have their first “close encounter” with the Xenomorphs. The Forerunner gateway artifact, which generated a portal to the Ark (below) is also a prominent set piece in Halo 3.

Dialogues

Several dialogues heard in the Halo trilogy are identical to those from Alien franchise. As stated throughout the whole article, Bungie was largely inspired by the franchise and chose to parody it in the game. For example:

Apone: All right, let’s go people. They ain’t payin’ us by the hour. Let’s go, head ‘em out.

Johnson: Hit it, Marines! Go! Go! Go! The Corps ain’t payin’ us by the hour!

In some cases Halo’s Johnson borrows military banter from other Aliens cast members.

Hicks: All right people. Let’s move like we got a purpose.

Johnson: You heard the lady. Move like you got a purpose!

The following dialogue occurs in the Colonial Marines dropship as they head toward the colony, before meeting the Xenomorph.

Frost: …telling ya, I got a bad feeling about this drop.

Crowe: You always say that Frost. You always have a bad feeling about this drop.

The following discussion takes place in Halo: Combat Evolved before the UNSC Marines encounter the Flood for the first time.

UNSC Marine: I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Johnson: Boy, you always got a bad feeling about something.

The following comical exchange in Halo 2 is worth noting here.

Grunt 1: Me have bad feeling about this.

Grunt 2: You always have bad feeling! You had bad feeling about morning food nipple!

The following discussion takes place in Halo: Combat Evolved's Halo Opening Cutscene after the Bumblebee exited out of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn

Ferro: Stand by to initiate release sequencer. On my mark. Five. Four.

Bumblebee Pilot: Heads up everyone, this is it. We’re entering the ring’s atmosphere in five…

Notice the similarity in dialogue and jargon below that Foehammer and her Marines share with Ferro and hers.

Hicks: Ferro, do you copy?

Ferro: Standing by.

Hicks: Prep for dust off. We’re gonna need immediate evac.

Ferro: Roger. On our way.

Gorman: [To Ferro] Immediate dust off on my clear, then stay on station.

Ferro: In the pipe. Five by five.

During the “Halo” level in Halo: Combat Evolved:

Cortana: [to Foehammer] We have survivors and need immediate dust off.

Foehammer: Echo 419 staying on station, Foehammer out.

During “The Maw” level in Halo: Combat Evolved:

Cortana: Cortana to Echo 419. Come in Echo 419.

Foehammer: Roger, Cortana. I read you five by five.

Foehamer: Affirmative. Echo 419 going on station.

The following dialogue occurs after the dropship sent to rescue the Colonial Marines crashes in spectacular fashion when a Xenomorph butchers Ferro mid-flight.

Hudson: Well that’s great. That’s just fucking great, man! Now what the fuck are we supposed to do? We’re in some real pretty shit now, man!

Hicks: [Grabs Hudson] Are you finished?

[A moment of dialogue takes place between other characters]

Hudson: That’s it, man. Game over, man. Game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?

The following dialogue occurs in Halo: Combat Evolved after the dropship pilot informs a group of Marines that she is taking fire and can’t rescue them from the Covenant ship they are now trapped on.

UNSC Marine: Oh man, we’re trapped in here. We’re screwed! We’re screwed, man!

Captain Keyes: Stow the bellyaching soldier. Remember that you’re a leatherneck.

Tension builds before a dramatic “last stand” scene in Aliens as Hudson gets a lot of activity on his motion tracker and famously declares one of the better-known lines of the film.

Hudson: There’s movement all over the place!

When Chief first emerges to the surface after his first bloody meeting with the Flood only to battle more of them on the surface, Foehammer says,

Foehammer: I’m tracking movement all over the place!

Jonesy

Jonesy and the Billboard

The light blue poster reads, “LOST: CALICO CAT ANSWERS TO: JONESY.” which is a reference when Brett goes looking for the ship cat Jones by calling "Jonesy".

Gameplay

During Flood levels in both Halo and Halo 2, most notably 343 Guilty Spark and High Charity where visibility is limited and close quarters fighting is common, the player is forced to keep an eye on the motion tracker, a homage to Aliens. This was pointed out in The Art of Halo.Template:Fact

Story

The novelizations of Alien and Halo say that people go into cryo-stasis naked, though the films and game show them clothed.
Ripley begins and ends both Alien and Aliens in cryo-stasis much like the Chief's overall story throughout the three games.
Both Ripley and Master Chief begin Alien and Halo in a large ship with other people and end up alone in a smaller shuttle with a non human, Ripley with Jonesy and Master Chief with Cortana.
In the sequels Ripley and the Chief leave behind their fellow survivor from their first adventure, Jonesey on (presumably) Earth and Cortana on High Charity.
Both Ripley's and Master Chief's lives deal with keeping their respective parasitic life forms from spreading and eventually reaching Earth.

Sources

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{merge|List of pop culture references in Halo}}
+{{Ratings}}
-There are numerous similarities between the [[Halo]] and Aliens universes.  Bungie has even admitted to being inspired by the movie.  Examples:
+{{references}}
+There are numerous similarities between the [[Halo]] and [[wikipedia:Alien (franchise)|Aliens]] universes. Bungie has even admitted to being inspired by the movie. Listed below are detailed account of how the beloved science fiction of Aliens influenced the Halo trilogy.
-==Aliens and the Flood==
+==The Marines ==
+[[Image:Marines - Comparison.png|thumb|Both Colonial and UNSC Marines are en route to battle via dropship, ready to rock.|100px|right]]
+[[Image:AJ - Comparison.png|thumb|100px|left|Sergeant Apone from Aliens (left) and Sergeant Johnson, as he appears in Halo 3 (right)]]
+The UNSC Marines bears several resemblance to the Colonial Marines from Aliens in terms of armour design and behaviour (characteristic and personality). It is evident that Bungie clearly loved them and fashioned their own closely after them.
-*The Facehuggers resemble [[Flood]]  [[Infection Forms]].
+Both Sergeant Apone and Sergeant Johnson obviously have a strikingly similar appearance. Both are tough-as-nails, moustache-lipped, black, cigar-chomping, gung-ho Sergeants with a penchant for playfully mocking their Marines and spouting humorous one-liners. Bungie admitted that Sergeant Johnson was inspired from Sergeant Apone.{{fact}}
+{{clear}}
-*The Aliens and Flood both reproduce in a way that could be described as parasitic, though the Flood seem to modify existing biomass, (or create their own in the case of the [[Pure Form]]) while the Xenomorph "chestbursters" only develop inside the host up to a certain point, at which time they erupt from the victim's chest and presumably make up the rest of their mass by food consumption.
+==The Parasites==
+[[Image:Flood - Comparison.png|thumb|right|100px|The Facehugger and Infection Forms similar behaviour in attacking]]
+[[Image:Parasite - Comparison.png|thumb|left|100px|A comparison between the infected from Aliens and Halo franchise]]
+Notice the similarities between the Facehugger and Infection Form. Both are roughly the size of, say, a football, their coloring is extremely similar, neither has visible eyes or mouth, both move around low to the ground on numerous long, thin appendages and both have a ridged tail. Another characteristic that they share is their great ability to leap with appendages spread open in order to latch on to their hosts.
-*The Xenomorphs were created by beings known as Space Jockeys, Pilots, or other names (the famous scene in ''Alien'' in which the Xenomorph eggs are discovered takes place on the derelict 'Space Jockey' ship on LV-426).  This is analogous to the Flood's connection with the [[Forerunners]], though they were not created.
+Similarly, when a Facehugger attaches to a host it implants the Xenomorph embryo inside of it, which will eventually become a “Chestburster” and smash its way out of the victim. This tiny Xenomorph will grow very quickly into either a Warrior or a Queen. When the Flood attaches to a host it will mutate and take over the host, transforming it into a Flood warrior (if adequate biomass is present). In the case of both aliens the genetic make-up of the host will influence the genetic make-up of the resulting creature “born” from the parasitic process. For example, if a Xenomorph hatches from a human it will retain human characteristics and if a Flood attaches to a human, it will adopt human characteristics.
+{{clear}}
-*The Flood screeches in Halo 2 resemble the Xenomorph screeches but at a higher pitch.
+==The Aliens==
+[[Image:Queen - Comparison.png|thumb|100px|right|A comparison between the Queen and the Councillor's headdress]]
+As seen in the image, the headdress worn by Councilor Elites closely resemble the Alien Queen's head, albeit smaller and narrower. In addition, both the Covenant and Aliens have a caste system. Whereas the Covenant's is based on race and religion, the Alien's is based on their different life stages and species.
+{{clear}}
-*Both have similar qualities such as climbing walls, jumping large distances, and are hive minded yet learn as individuals.
+==The Vehicles and Structures==
+[[Image:POA - Comparison.png|thumb|100px|left|A comparison between [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]'s and Sulaco's frontal hull]]
+[[Image:Ark - Comparison.png|thumb|right|100px|The atmosphere processor from Aliens and the Portal from Halo 3]]
+[[Image:Pelican - Comparison.png|thumb|A comparison between the Pelican and the Cheyenne Dropship|left|100px]]
+[[Image:Frigate - Comparison.png|thumb|100px|right|A comparison between the Sulaco and the USNC Frigate]]
+Similar to the above section, several vehicles and structures within the Halo trilogy are inspired by the Alien franchise. One such example would be the [[Pelican]] Dropship where it bears some resemblance in form and function to Aliens' UD4L Cheyenne dropship in their descent to the surface of LV-426.While the UD-4L has an APC (armored personnel carrier) loaded internally in its belly, the Pelican is capable of holding various vehicles externally from under its tail-section, including the Warthog.  Both swoop in, drop the Marines off and get out of dodge.  In a cutscene from “The Ark” level in Halo 3, a Pelican snaps off of its frigate and plummets toward the construct below in almost the exact same fashion as the UD-4L deploys from the Sulaco starship in Aliens. While the UD-4L has an APC (armored personnel carrier) loaded internally in its belly, the Pelican is capable of holding various vehicles externally from under its tail-section, including the Warthog.  Both swoop in, drop the Marines off and get out of dodge. In addition, the [[UNSC Frigates]], such as the [[Forward Unto Dawn]], the [[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]], and especially the [[Aegis Fate]] with its protrusions from the bow, greatly resemble the ship ''Sulaco'', both in appearance and usage. The most obvious shared trait is that both of their profiles look like massive guns, a characteristic the Sulaco is famous for. In a cutscene from “The Ark” level in Halo 3, a Pelican snaps off of its frigate and plummets toward the construct below in almost the exact same fashion as the UD-4L deploys from the Sulaco starship in Aliens.
-*Both inherit traits based on their hosts. A Xenomporph is different whether the facehugger attaches to a human, ox, or Yautja (Predator). Similarly, a Flood Combat form is different depending on whether an infection form attaches to a [[human]], [[Sangheili]], or [[Jiralhanae]].
+In Aliens’ fiction, “atmosphere processors” (above left and right) are set up by colonists in order to alter the atmosphere on new worlds, to make them survivable by humans. This structure is prominent in the story as it is the place where the colonists are cocooned and the Colonial Marines have their first “close encounter” with the Xenomorphs. The Forerunner gateway artifact, which generated a portal to the Ark (below) is also a prominent set piece in Halo 3.
+{{clear}}
-==Marines/Humans==
+==Dialogues==
+Several dialogues heard in the Halo trilogy are identical to those from Alien franchise. As stated throughout the whole article, Bungie was largely inspired by the franchise and chose to parody it in the game. For example:
-*The [[Marines]]' combat armor in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] and Aliens are very similar.
+:Apone: All right, let’s go people.  They ain’t payin’ us by the hour.  Let’s go, head ‘em out.
+:Johnson: Hit it, Marines! Go! Go! Go! The Corps ain’t payin’ us by the hour!
-*In the mission log of PFC [[Jenkins]] during the level [[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]], Sgt. [[Johnson]] yells at [[Private Mendoza]] to identify a noise the squad hears, foreshadowing the coming of the Flood.  This is much the same as the scene in which Sgt. Apone yells at PFC Hudson before the encounter with the Alien. Similarly, Mendoza and Hudson both start out cocky and confident, but start to break down and panic.
+In some cases Halo’s Johnson borrows military banter from other Aliens cast members.
-*Marines in both Halo and Aliens have mission log cameras installed in their helmets.
+:Hicks: All right people.  Let’s move like we got a purpose.
+:Johnson: You heard the lady.  Move like you got a purpose!
-*Hudson's panicked "game over, man!" speech is included in Halo: Combat Evolved.  It and other variations can sometimes be heard in gameplay by Naval personnel and Marines.  One variation is heard aboard the [[Truth and Reconciliation]] by a Marine before being hushed by [[Captain Keyes]].
+The following dialogue occurs in the Colonial Marines dropship as they head toward the colony, before meeting the Xenomorph.
-*In the beginning of Truth and Reconciliation Johnson can be heard saying,"Go, go, go the Corps ain't paying us by the hour." Another line lifted directly from Apone in Aliens.
+:Frost: …telling ya, I got a bad feeling about this drop.
+:Crowe: You always say that Frost.  You always have a bad feeling about this drop.
-*Bungie admits Johnson is based on Apone.
+The following discussion takes place in Halo: Combat Evolved before the UNSC Marines encounter the Flood for the first time.
-*During the level [[Crow's Nest (Level)|Crow's Nest]] in [[Halo 3]] a sergeant advises the player to attack the drones above the barracks using "Short, Controlled Bursts."  This is a possible reference to a line from the movie Aliens, although the phrase is used often relating to military firearms, and is not exclusively an Aliens line.
+:UNSC Marine: I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
+:Johnson: Boy, you always got a bad feeling about something.
-*While landing the drop-ship, the female pilot can be heard saying, "We're in for some chop." [[Halo 3]] has an achievement called, "We're in for some chop."
+The following comical exchange in Halo 2 is worth noting here.
-*Halo: Combat Evolved includes similar dialog from the movie, such as "I got a bad feeling about this," and the response, "man you always have a bad feeling about something".  These exact words can be heard in the [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] level [[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]], by Marines just before the flood attack, and in the [[Halo 2]] level [[The Oracle (Level)|The Oracle]] in which the Arbiter first encounters the Flood.  This dialoug was spoken by Grunts.  The line was also featured in Bungie's earlier game, Marathon.
+:Grunt 1: Me have bad feeling about this.
+:Grunt 2: You always have bad feeling! You had bad feeling about morning food nipple!
-*In [[Halo 3]], if [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Stacker]] is infected by the flood sometimes he mutters "kill me" or "shoot me", which is a line uttered at least 3 times in the alien/AVP series by a infected host.  Again,  this may not necessarily be a deliberate reference.
+The following discussion takes place in Halo: Combat Evolved's Halo Opening Cutscene after the Bumblebee exited out of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn
+:Ferro: Stand by to initiate release sequencer. On my mark. Five. Four.
+:Bumblebee Pilot: Heads up everyone, this is it.  We’re entering the ring’s atmosphere in five…
-==The Pillar of Autumn's Billboard==
+Notice the similarity in dialogue and jargon below that Foehammer and her Marines share with Ferro and hers.
-*"Lost: calico cat.  Answers to Jonesy" which is a reference when Brett goes looking for the ship cat Jones by calling "Jonesy".
+:Hicks: Ferro, do you copy?
+:Ferro: Standing by.
+:Hicks: Prep for dust off.  We’re gonna need immediate evac.
+:Ferro: Roger.  On our way.
+:Gorman: [To Ferro] Immediate dust off on my clear, then stay on station.
+:Ferro: In the pipe. Five by five.
-*The south pacific bulletin has been removed for the following reason: the bulletin says " Attention marines, callbacks for South Pacific" which implies it could be a play or a skit.
+During the “Halo” level in Halo: Combat Evolved:
-==Structures and Vehicles==
+:Cortana: [to Foehammer] We have survivors and need immediate dust off.
+:Foehammer: Echo 419 staying on station, Foehammer out.
-*Some structures and vehicles in the game are very reminiscent of those seen in the 'Alien' series. For example, the [[Pelican]] dropship bears a striking resemblance both in form and function to the craft used by the crew of the Sulaco in their descent to the surface of LV-426.
+During “The Maw” level in Halo: Combat Evolved:
-*Similarly, the 'fins' that rise from the ground upon activation of the [[Portal]] on earth very much resemble similar structures that can be seen surrounding the enormous atmospheric processing unit used for terraforming purposes on LV-426.
+:Cortana: Cortana to Echo 419.  Come in Echo 419.
+:Foehammer: Roger, Cortana. I read you five by five.
+:Foehamer: Affirmative.  Echo 419 going on station.
-*[[UNSC Frigates]], such as the [[Forward Unto Dawn]], the [[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]], and especially the [[Aegis Fate]] with its protrusions from the bow, greatly resemble the ship ''Sulaco'', both in appearance and usage. Also, in Halo 3, when the [[Forward Unto Dawn]] arrives at the [[Ark]], the process of launching Pelicans from the frigate's hold is practically identical to that of launching the single dropship from the hold of the Sulaco.
+The following dialogue occurs after the dropship sent to rescue the Colonial Marines crashes in spectacular fashion when a Xenomorph butchers Ferro mid-flight.
-==Covenant/Aliens==
+:Hudson: Well that’s great. That’s just fucking great, man! Now what the fuck are we supposed to do? We’re in some real pretty shit now, man!
-*The headdress worn by Councilor Elites closely resemble the Alien Queen's head.
+:Hicks: [Grabs Hudson] Are you finished?
-*Both the Covenant and Aliens have a caste system.  While the Covenant's is based on race and religion, the Alien's is based on their different life stages and species.
+:[A moment of dialogue takes place between other characters]
+:Hudson: That’s it, man.  Game over, man.  Game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?
+The following dialogue occurs in Halo: Combat Evolved after the dropship pilot informs a group of Marines that she is taking fire and can’t rescue them from the Covenant ship they are now trapped on.
+:UNSC Marine: Oh man, we’re trapped in here.  We’re screwed!  We’re screwed, man!
+:Captain Keyes: Stow the bellyaching soldier. Remember that you’re a leatherneck.
+Tension builds before a dramatic “last stand” scene in Aliens as Hudson gets a lot of activity on his motion tracker and famously declares one of the better-known lines of the film.
+:Hudson: There’s movement all over the place!
+When Chief first emerges to the surface after his first bloody meeting with the Flood only to battle more of them on the surface, Foehammer says,
+:Foehammer: I’m tracking movement all over the place!
+==Jonesy==
+[[Image:Jonesy - Comparison.png|thumb|right|100px|Jonesy and the Billboard]]
+*The light blue poster reads, “LOST: CALICO CAT ANSWERS TO: JONESY.” which is a reference when Brett goes looking for the ship cat Jones by calling "Jonesy".
 ==Gameplay==
+*During Flood levels in both Halo and [[Halo 2]], most notably 343 Guilty Spark and [[High Charity (Level)|High Charity]] where visibility is limited and close quarters fighting is common, the player is forced to keep an eye on the motion tracker, a homage to Aliens. This was pointed out in [[The Art of Halo]].{{fact}}
-*During Flood levels in both Halo and [[Halo 2]], most notably 343 Guilty Spark and [[High Charity (Level)|High Charity]], when visibility is limited and close quarters fighting is common, the player is forced to keep an eye on the motion tracker, forcing homage to Aliens.  This was pointed out in [[The Art of Halo]].
 ==Story==
@@ Line 67: / Line 118: @@
 *Both Ripley's and Master Chief's lives deal with keeping their respective parasitic life forms from spreading and eventually reaching Earth.
-== Miscellaneous ==
+==Sources==
-*In the [[Halo 2]] level [[Outskirts]], there are several posters showing what appears to be the head of one of the Aliens.{{Verify_source}}
+<references/>
 [[Category:Lists]]
 [[Category:Easter Eggs]]