The Maw: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Gameplay}}

{{disambig header|campaign level|other uses of "The Maw"|The Maw (disambiguation)}}

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|concurrent=''[[Last Stand (Halo: Fireteam Raven level)|Last Stand]]'' <br>(chronologically {{C|''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''}})

|next=*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved credits]]'' <br>{{C|''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''}} {{C|''[[Halo PC credits|PC]]''}} {{C|''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary credits|Anniversary]]''}}

*''[[The Heretic]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|MCC]]''}}

|image=[[File:HCEA TheMaw Loadscreen.png|300px]]

|player=[[Master_Chief_(gameplay)#Halo:_Combat_Evolved|Master Chief]]

|place=Inside the crash site of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}

|objective=Destroy and escape from the ''Pillar of Autumn''

|partime=00:15:00 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}}

|parscore=18,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}}

 

'''The Maw''' is the tenth and final level in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.

The [[John-117|Master Chief]] makes his way through the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}'s wreck in order to detonate the ship's [[Fusion drive|fusion reactors]] and destroy Halo, the [[Flood]], and the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] armada, thus preventing the destruction of humans and potentially, all sentient life in the galaxy. Just like the previous two levels, the player has no allies.

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bpf96l71GE '''{''Original Cutscene''}''']

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUbKN7g9Dyw '''{Anniversary ''Cutscene''}''']

''The view skims low over a large body of water, tinted gold by an oncoming sunrise.''

''View slowly pans up as it flies over the sand, revealing a burnt coastline, and a giant gouge where the terrain has been ripped away and the sea has flooded into the newly-formed canyon. At the top of that canyon rises the massive stern of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, relatively intact.''

''View circles around the side and front of her, revealing that her nose is hanging just slightly off a massive cliff; the antennae along the bow have been bent and torn away. The entire bow has been severely burnt; the metal is badly scarred. As the view circles around to reveal the ship's starboard side, a damaged and smoking [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]] drifts into view.''

''Cuts to a view of the ship's exterior through one of the empty [[Bumblebee]] airlocks. The damaged Banshee comes into the frame and veers wildly towards the'' Autumn.

*'''[[Cortana]]''': "This thing is falling apart!"

*'''[[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]]''': "It'll hold."

*'''John-117''': "We'll make it."

*'''Cortana''': "Pull up! ''Pull up!''"

[[File:BansheeCrashCEA.jpg|300px|thumb|Master Chief climbing into a Bumblebee port.]]

*'''Cortana''': "You did that ''on purpose'', didn't you?"

''The Master Chief's hand appears from below and grips the edge of the ship, and he looks around the interior before pulling himself up and onto the ''Pillar of Autumn''.''

*'''Cortana''': "We need to get to the bridge. From there, we can use the [[Jacob Keyes|Captain]]'s neural implants to initiate an overload of the ship's fusion engines. The explosion should damage enough systems below it to destroy the [[Installation 04|ring]]."

''As the Master Chief heads for the bridge, he is forced to engage Covenant, Flood, and Sentinels as they battle throughout the corridors. The ''Pillar of Autumn's'' mess hall is occupied by a [[Covenant Special Operations]] team. The Chief kills all enemies present and eventually, he reaches the bridge.''

''The Master Chief clears out another Covenant Special Operations team guarding the bridge.''

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_imCZ-b1--U '''{''Original Cutscene''}''']

 

[[File:MawCountdownCEA.png|thumb|300px|Cortana starts the countdown as the Chief looks on.]]

''The Master Chief takes Cortana's chip from his helmet and inserts it into the cylindrical terminal near the front of the bridge. Cortana's avatar appears above it. She looks around.''

''She concentrates for a moment, and the main screen flickers to life.''

 

 

<tt>'''''Security protocols met. Begin evac procedures. All secondary and redundant systems shut down effective immediately.'''''</tt>

 

''A countdown begins from a random starting point between five and twenty minutes.''

*'''[[343 Guilty Spark]] (COM)''': "I'm afraid that's out of the question, really."

*'''Cortana''': "''Oh, hell!''"

''Cortana concentrates once more.''

''Cuts to 343 Guilty Spark in the engine room. He is scanning a computer console.''

[[File:Interfacing.jpg|300px|thumb|343 Guilty Spark collects information from the ''Pillar of Autumn's'' systems.]]

*'''343 Guilty Spark:''' "Oh, how I will enjoy every moment of its categorization! And to think that you would destroy this installation, as well as this record... I ''am'' shocked. Almost too shocked for words."

''Cuts back to the bridge. A tone sounds over the ship's speakers. The countdown timer freezes.''

<tt>'''SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE ABORTED'''</tt>

 

 

 

*'''343 Guilty Spark (COM)''': "Why do you continue to fight us, [[Reclaimer]]? You cannot win! Give us the construct, and I will endeavor to make your death relatively painless, and -"

*'''John-117''': "Where is he?"

 

*'''Cortana''': "I'm detecting taps throughout the ship - Sentinels, most likely. As for the [[Monitor]]... He's in Engineering. He must be trying to take the core offline! Even if I could get the countdown restarted... I don't know what to do."  

''Cortana shrugs her arms in desperation.''

*'''John-117''': "How much firepower would you need to crack one of the engine's shields?"

[[File:GrenadeTossCEA.jpg|300px|thumb|The Chief proposes using explosives to destabilize the reactors.]]

''Cortana turns to see the Master Chief, who is calmly tossing a [[M9 fragmentation grenade|fragmentation grenade]] up and down. She nods reluctantly.''

*'''Cortana''': "Okay, I'm coming with you."

''The Chief reaches for Cortana just as a squad of [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s descend from above and take position along the shattered windows of the bridge.''

''The Sentinels open fire, shattering the main display and dealing a glancing blow to the Chief's shields. The Chief quickly drops behind cover, removes Cortana from the terminal and places her into his helmet, and raises his rifle.''

*'''Cortana''': "The ship was heavily damaged when it crashed. Head to the cryo chamber. We should be able to get to the engine room through there."

''The Chief heads for Engineering, fighting through a mass of Flood, as well as more Covenant and Sentinels. Eventually he reaches a corridor lined with [[stationary shield generator]]s where a Covenant Special Operations team augmented by a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair hold off against waves of Sentinels and later, Flood. After eliminating all combatants, the Chief makes a brief detour to the ship's Armory to stock up on weapons. Inside the Armory, he is ambushed by a group of Flood, including several cloaked Combat Forms (presumably infected [[Stealth Sangheili]]). He defeats these enemies and hurries to Engineering.''

''The Chief enters Engineering, which is crawling with Flood and Sentinels. 343 Guilty Spark is also present.''

''Throughout the firefight, 343 Guilty Spark repeatedly attempts to convince the Chief to spare his Installation:''

*"Detaching the fail-safe just now?"

*'''Cortana''': "Good, step one complete! We have a straight shot into the fusion reactor! We need a catalyst explosion to destabilize the magnetic containment field surrounding the fusion cells. Use an explosive. I recommend a grenade or a [[M41 SPNKR|rocket]]. If you run out of explosives, there is an armory station located near the engine room's entrance."

*'''Cortana''': "That did it! The engine's gone critical! Based on the current rate of decay, we should have fifteen minutes to get off the ship; we don't have much time! We should move outside and signal for evac. Accessing schematics... There's a service lift at the top of the engine room! It leads to a [[Class Seven service corridor]] that runs along the ship's dorsal structure. Hurry!"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Cortana to ''[[Echo 419]]'': come in, ''Echo 419''!"

*'''Flight Captain [[Carol Rawley]] (COM)''': "Roger, Cortana. I read you, 5 by 5."

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "The ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engines are going critical, Foe Hammer! Request immediate extraction! Approach the crash site and be ready to pick us up at external access Junction 4C as soon as you get my signal!"

*'''Rawley (COM)''': "Affirmative. ''Echo 419'' going on station."

''Explosions continue to rock the elevator shaft.''

*'''Rawley (COM)''': "''Echo 419'' to Cortana. Things are gettin' noisy down there. Everything okay?"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Negative, negative! We have a wildcat destabilization of the ship's fusion drive core. The engines must have sustained more damage than we thought!"  

''The Chief enters a [[M12 Warthog|Warthog]] garage.''

 

 

 

''If the Chief leaves the Warthog station on foot:''

''If the Chief continues to leave on foot:''

*'''Cortana''': "Alert: we need to keep moving! Get back in the Warthog."

''The Chief drives down the corridor. Flood, Covenant, and Sentinels are fighting all around him. Eventually he nears the site where Foehammer is supposed to extract him. A Spirit flies over and lands.''

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "Cortana to ''Echo 419''! Request extraction ''now'', on the double!"

*'''Rawley (COM)''': "Affirmative, Cortana. Foe Hammer inbound."

*'''Cortana''': "Wait, stop! This is where Foe Hammer is coming to pick us up. Hold position here."

 

 

 

 

*'''Rawley (COM)''': "''I'm hit!'' Mayday! Mayday! Airfoil structures have been shot to hell! I can't hold her! I can't hold her!"

*'''Cortana (COM)''': "''Echo 419''!"

'''''NOTE''': In the Anniversary subtitles, Cortana says, "Echo 419: Destroyed. That was our only way off the ship."''

''Rawley continues to yell into the speaker, her words becoming inaudible as the roar of the damaged engines are heard in the background. She loses control of the Pelican and crashes into the ''Autumn's'' hull, showering the air with debris.''

*'''Cortana''': "She's gone... Calculating alternate escape route."  

''The countdown timer resumes.''  

*'''Cortana''': "The ship's inventory shows one [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] fighter still docked in [[Launch Bay 7]]. If we move ''now'', we can make it!"

''If the Chief hurries past the platform, Cortana's message is cut short.''

''If the Chief enters one of the maintenance tunnels, he will find [[Thirsty Grunt|a lone Covenant soldier]]:''

*'''Thirsty Grunt''': "Ugh... Good thing that food nipple's waiting for me at the starship, cause man; have I worked up a big - grunty - thirst!"

*'''Cortana''': "Chief, up ahead there's a gap in the trench. At top speed, we ''should'' be able to clear it!"

 

 

 

''If the timer runs out before the Chief reaches the Longsword:''

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsQLPunqvkU '''{''Original Cutscene''}''']

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5tDQGiTd8o '''{''Anniversary Cutscene''}''']

 

 

 

''The Chief, with no weapon in hand, makes a break across the platform for the Longsword, masses of Flood combat forms closing in behind him. He makes it through the open door just before them, and slams the hatch shut.''

''The Chief sprints for the cockpit. He braces himself against a wall as an explosion occurs, shaking his head. He reaches the cockpit, jumps into the seat, quickly punches a series of buttons, and takes the controls.''

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

''[[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Johnson]] struggles with an uncloaked Stealth Sangheili ([[Sangheili Zealot]] in ''Anniversary'') for an assault rifle. A multitude of dead Flood forms surround them, with the ''Pillar of Autumn'' in the background.''

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

''The two embrace and the Sangheili additionally places his right hand on Johnson's bottom. In ''Anniversary'', Johnson places his left hand on the Sangheili's bottom, and the Sangheili reacts uncomfortably.''

 

 

''The Longsword clears the atmosphere, flying away from Halo. The Master Chief stares straight ahead, piloting the fighter as quickly as he can.''  

''As the Longsword sweeps past the view, the distant side of Halo is drowned out in a blinding explosion as the ''Pillar of Autumn's'' engines detonate. A massive shockwave sweeps through the Installation. With its structural integrity compromised, the rotating ringworld begins to fragment. An alarm in the Longsword goes off.''

<tt>'''ENGINE TEMP CRITICAL'''</tt>

''The Chief flips a few switches. The Longsword's engines shut down, leaving it drifting. Debris from the blast hurtles past it, still glowing.''

*'''John-117''': "Did anyone else make it?"

*'''Cortana''': "Scanning." ''(pause)'' "Just...dust and echoes. We're all that's left."

*'''Cortana''': "We did what we had to do...for [[Earth]]. An [[Fleet of Particular Justice|entire Covenant armada]] obliterated, and the ''Flood''... We had no choice. Halo...it's finished."

*'''John-117''': "No... I think we're just getting started."

''The Chief removes his helmet, but the cockpit's frame blocks the view of his head. The view tracks the Longsword for a few a moments, [[Basis]] looming large in the background, before panning to focus on a large spiral galaxy hanging in the sky, an ornament emblazoned across the heavens.''

''Fades to black.''

''[[Halo: Combat Evolved credits|Credits]] roll.''

''Cut back to the vast reaches of space; a blue light speeds towards the screen. As it closes in, it is revealed to be the Monitor, having somehow survived Halo's destruction. His blue floods the view as the entire screen fades to white.''  

''Game ends.''

The following [[achievement]]s can be unlocked on ''The Maw'' across the [[Xbox 360]] and ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' editions of ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''. The original [[Xbox]] and [[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|PC]] and [[Halo: Combat Evolved for Macintosh|Macintosh]] releases of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' did not contain achievement unlocks.

|Listen to the Thirsty Grunt talk about his eating habits.

|<center>''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''</center>

''The Maw'' was primarily designed by [[Bungie]] designer [[Tyson Green]]. ''The Maw'' reuses some of the level geometry from the first level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]'', though the ship has noticeably deteriorated after crash-landing on the ring. Early in development, the ship interiors would have been tilted at an angle. However, doing so would have necessitated additional changes to trigger volumes and scripting in the level design, so the ship was ultimately left upright rather than tilted.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=IGN|9ndZbg8Mr-Q|IGN|Halo: Combat Evolved Devs React to Speedrun (Martin O’Donnell, Marcus Lehto)|D=8|M=5|Y=2021}}

The Warthogs in the Warthog Run have modified gameplay traits, resembling the Warthogs from an earlier build of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. This was the result of designer [[Jaime Griesemer]] rebalancing the Warthog after the level geometry was already completed, which made it impossible for Warthogs to climb the steep ramps. Subsequently, the Warthogs in the Warthog Run were granted higher acceleration and speed to make it possible to complete the run.{{Ref/Reuse|IGN}}

Artist [[Paul Russel]] described the Warthog Run as the "''Pillar of Autumn'' Conundrum."{{Ref/Reuse|IGN}} The ''Pillar of Autumn'' has been established as approximately 1.17&nbsp;km long. This, however, contradicts this level where the player must drive along a 3.5&nbsp;km long service corridor that supposedly runs the length of the ship.

Cinematic Artists Steve Abeyta animated John-117 stumbling on the Longsword.{{Ref/Film|Id=Commentary|[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]], Halo: Combat Evolved developer commentary}} Art Director [[Marcus Lehto]] animated Installation 04's destruction,{{Ref/Reuse|IGN}} supposedly over the course of one night.{{Ref/Reuse|Commentary}} The scene was recreated during a flashback scene in the ''[[Halo 2]]'' campaign level ''[[The Heretic]]''.

The events of the level were later expanded in the novel ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'':

*The unloaded Assault Rifles and Shotguns in the first armory were referenced in ''Halo: The Flood'', in which the surviving Marine forces returned to the ''Autumn's'' wreckage to recover most of its ordnance.

*The [[Special Operations Sangheili]] commanding the squad of [[Special Operations Unggoy]] in Maintenance Elevator 07 would be [[Zuka 'Zamamee]]. 'Zamamee was pursuing John-117 during almost the entire duration that he was on Installation 04. However, depending on the level of difficulty, there can be more than one SpecOps Sangheili in the elevator. Unlike in ''Halo: The Flood'', Zuka 'Zamamee is not manning a {{Pattern|Mamua'uda|Shade}} nor is there one nearby.

The events of this level occurs concurrently with the ''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]'' level ''[[Last Stand (Halo: Fireteam Raven level)|Last Stand]]'', which takes place near the crash site. John-117 makes a brief cameo on ''Last Stand'', in which his Banshee flew over [[Fireteam Raven]] while being pursued by a {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}}.

==Trivia==

===Glitches===

*If the player continues driving after the pick up point where ''Echo 419'' is shot down by Banshees, Cortana will say her line even if Rawley hasn't crashed yet (this is actually a time-saving strategy, but one won't get a checkpoint).

===Mistakes===

*The Banshees that attack and follow ''Echo 419'' have open cockpits so they look like no one is piloting them. The Banshees do not actually fire shots that destroy ''Echo 419''. If the player fires at the Banshees, they will not receive any damage and cannot be destroyed until after ''Echo 419'' has passed over the extraction point.

*The bridge at External Access Junction 4C has long been a point of contention among Halo fans due to its perceived role of holding the front and back of the ship.

===Easter eggs===

*The [[Thirsty Grunt]] appears in this level at one of the tunnels close to the Longsword fighter.

*In the level's Warthog Run, there is a room under one of the runways that has the word "[[Rex|REX]]" written in [[human]] blood splatters and bullet holes.

*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', the [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)#Terminal 10|tenth and final terminal]] can be found in the Cryo Bay's second floor, where Sentinels are fighting a large Flood force. The terminal is a computer screen on the wall, similar to the first terminal.

*The [[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary skulls#Grunt Birthday skull|Grunt Birthday Party skull]] in ''Anniversary'' can be found on one of the pipes in the area where ''Echo 419'' was shot down. The pipe is on the side which the player needs to continue on, and is on the right side. The player is required to use the Warthog as a support to jump on to the pipe so they can reach the end of the pipe.

*The definition of a "maw" is "the throat, jaws, and gullet of a flesh-eating animal." This is a possible reference to either the Flood or the adage: "Victory from the jaws of defeat."

*In the beginning cutscene, Master Chief crashes his Banshee into the wall and climbs up into the ship. This was referenced in a scene in the ''[[Halo 2]]'' level ''[[The Oracle]]'', where the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] crashes a [[Heretic Banshee]] into the wall before climbing it and re-entering the [[Gas Mine]].

*Part of the opening dialog in which Cortana says "We're not going to make it!" which the Chief replies with "We'll make it" is repeated in the end cutscene of the level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]'' in ''[[Halo 3]]''.

*When the player has destroyed the engines, Cortana will say, "it leads to a class '''[[Seven|7]]'''-service corridor that runs along the ship's dorsal structure."

*Foe Hammer responds to Cortana's transmission with "Roger, Cortana. I read you, 5 by 5." Five by Five is one of 25 military responses, indicating that radio communications are the best possible. Five by Five in mathematical terms is 5 x 5 which is 25, and 2+5='''7'''.

*During the elevator ride, just before the Warthog run, Cortana instructs Foe Hammer to pick the Chief up at "External Access Junction 4-C." Considering that C is the third letter of the alphabet, 4C is another reference to '''7'''.

*The final chapter of the level, "Warning: Hitchhikers May Be Escaping Convicts", is referenced in the ''Halo 3'' level ''[[Tsavo Highway]]'' as "Warning: Hitchhikers May Have Jetpacks." It's also referenced by [[Vergil]], who repeats the line as "Warning: Hitchhikers may be escaped convicts" in the ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' level ''[[Data Hive]]''.

*The dialogue of Cortana where she warns the player about the gap in the trench starts when the player is exactly [[Seven|700]] meters away from [[Launch Bay 7]].

*What looks like an approaching Flood army in the final cutscene was revealed to be '''seven''' Flood forms in the ''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition DVD cutscene commentary.

[[File:FFUUUU ending.jpg|thumb|200px|A second helmet underneath John-117's helmet at the end of the game.]]

*In the cutscene where the Chief takes off his helmet, he actually has a second helmet on underneath, because [[Bungie]] didn't model a face for him. This can only be seen with the proper modding tools required to alter cutscenes. This was also revealed in the ''[[Halo 3]]'' Legendary Edition bonus disc.

*If one skips the bridge cutscene before the Sentinels shatter the main display, the display will not be shattered when gameplay resumes, and will not shatter no matter how long the Sentinels or the player shoots at it. This can actually be quite advantageous as it provides the player with additional cover when fighting the Sentinels. If the Sentinels kill the player, the glass may reappear when they respawn.

*This is the only level where Sangheili Combat Forms will use [[Active Camouflage]]. They will come in from the locked door in the armory, along with several regular Combat Forms. There will sometimes also be several human Combat Forms that have Active Camouflage activated, although there is no known reason for this. Since feral Flood are non-sentient, it is unlikely that they share equipment. The Sangheili Combat Forms are referenced as "floodcombat elite stealth unarmed" in the code, and can be seen in HMT, and with the default tagset of the Halo Editing Kit, and states that these are likely infected Stealth Sangheili.

*Apart from the Legendary ending, the only way one can actually see the ''Pillar of Autumn'' explode is to let the timer run down to zero. A cutscene will show it exploding.

*Aggressor Sentinels will start coming through Bumblebee airlocks if the player hangs around the airlocks long enough at the beginning of the level.

<gallery>

File:HaloCE-Maw-PoA-Critical.png|John-117 flies a Longsword away from the ''Autumn''.

File:HCE Legendary Ending 1.jpg|[[Avery Junior Johnson|Johnson]] and the [[Hugging Elite]].

 

File:HCEA LegendaryEnding.jpg|Johnson prepares to hug the Zealot in the Legendary ending.

{{Ref/Sources}}

 

{{Succession box | before = ''[[Keyes (level)|Keyes]]'' <br />| title = [[Halo: Combat Evolved#Campaign|''Halo CE'' Campaign Missions]] | years = '''''The Maw''''' |after = ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Credits|Halo CE Credits]]''<br>''[[The Heretic]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|MCC]]''}} }}

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