The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level): Difference between revisions

{{Title|The Pillar of Autumn}}

{{Center|''For more articles of the same name, see [[The Pillar of Autumn|The Pillar of Autumn (disambiguation)]].''}}

{{Level infobox

|pagegamelabel=CE

|next=''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]''

|name='''''The Pillar of Autumn'''''

|date=[[2552#September 19, 2552|September 19, 2552]]

|place=Aboard the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, in orbit of [[Installation 04]] in [[Soell system]]

''Keyes examines the main screen, pulls his pipe out of his mouth and shakes some ash off it. He closes his eyes wearily.''

*'''Keyes''': "Well, that's it then. Bring the ship back up to Combat Alert Alpha. I want everyone at their stations."

*'''Johnson''': ''([[Normal]])'' "Once again, it is our job to finish what the flyboys started. We are leaving this ship, platoon, and engaging the [[Covenant]] on solid ground. When we meet the enemy, we will rip their skulls from their spines, and toss 'em away, laughin'!" ''(turns around)'' "''Am I right, Marines?''"

*'''Johnson''': ''([[Heroic]])'' "Men, here is where we show those [[Sangheili|split-chin squid-head sons-of-bitches]] that they could not have picked a worse enemy than the [[human]] race! We are going to blow the hell out of those dumb bugs, until we don't have anything left to shoot 'em with! And then we are going to strangle them with their ''own-living-guts!''" ''(turns around)'' "''Am I right, Marines?''"

*'''Marines:''' "Sir, yes sir!"

*'''Johnson''': "All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close...this is gonna be your lucky day."

''Cut to a computer screen.''

===Reveille===

''Note: Testing only happens in single-player, on Easy and Normal difficulties.''

''When the Chief faces Shephard and stands on the square:''

*'''Shephard''': "I know the ordnance techs usually take care of your targeting sensors, but we're short of time, Chief. Just look at each of the flashing panels to target them. When you lock on, it'll change color."

''The Chief approaches Keyes.''

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3HHf3TQw3E '''{''Original Cutscene''}''']

''Cortana looks around the bridge for one last time, then sighs.''

*'''Cortana''': "Yank me."

===AI Constructs and Cyborgs First!===

''Keyes hands his [[M6D magnum|pistol]] to the Chief.''

*'''Marine #3''': "Move it! Back to the airlock!"

*'''Cortana''': "They're using ''our'' lifeboat airlocks to attach their boarding craft! We go out and they come in! Clever bastards..."

*'''Marine #3''': "Go on ahead, Chief. We'll secure this airlock."

''The Chief finds a trio of Marines fighting Covenant while taking cover behind [[Combat Barriers]].''

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t628k8Bqv44 '''{Anniversary ''Cutscene''}''']

''A Marine heads for the airlock, but is thrown to the ground by an explosion.''

*'''Marine #6''': "We're gonna make it, aren't we, sir? I don't wanna die out here!"

''The Chief pats him on the shoulder.''

''The ''Autumn'' accelerates and flies over the lifepod (past the pod's starboard side in ''Anniversary''). It is struck by multiple [[plasma torpedo]]es.''

*'''Bumblebee Pilot''': "Heads up, everyone, this is it! We're entering the ring's atmosphere in five!"

==Production notes==

{{Main|Development of Halo: Combat Evolved}}

In both the opening and ending cinematics, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' model remains static. Instead, the movement of surrounding objects and background matte painting forged an illusion that the ship was moving in space.{{Ref/Film|Id=Commentary|[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]], Halo: Combat Evolved developer commentary}}

===Glitches===

{{Main|Glitches}}

*There is a glitch which allows the player to get back into the cryo chamber. The player must jump inside the tube and crouch before the cover closes. Once inside, the player will be able to see [[Headless Master Chief|an apparently decapitated copy of the Master Chief]], but once the cover closes, the player will be trapped inside and must load the last checkpoint or restart the level.

*It's possible to stand outside of the energy shield test station while the test is running. Just move carefully into the square and when it starts, the machine will push the player out, freezing the player in place until the process is done.

*If the one listens closely when Johnson and his Marines break formation and move out in the launch bay during the beginning cutscene, the sound of a Warthog crashing into a wall can be heard in the background.

*In the cinematic when the player goes to the bridge for the first time, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' is hit by an antimatter charge, and the bridge will shake. Captain Keyes and Master Chief will fall on the bridge, but the crewmen behind them are not affected in any way.

*After Keyes puts his cigar in his mouth, his lip becomes permanently tilted as if the cigar was there, even when it has been removed.

*Sometimes, in the cafeteria area, there are two Johnsons among the Marines. One of them comes out of the door where the Sangheili Minor is as normal. The other one is where the rest of the Covenant forces come out of the two doors at the other side of the cafeteria. The second Johnson is pointing his weapon at a pillar that's next to a table. He doesn't attack the Covenant or the player when the rest of the marines think of the player as a [[Treason|traitor]]. He won't budge unless the player or the Covenant kill him. He'll still do his speeches as normal.

*If the player kills an ally from outside the bridge, they will be teleported to the bridge. This is a programmatic measure to prevent the player from escaping the horde of invincible Marines that try to kill them; it stops the player from rushing out of the bridge after killing an ally. However, the player could climb down a ladder near the pilots' chair and recover there.

*In the novel ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' there is a command chair on the bridge, but there isn't one in this level.

*Strangely enough, all the Covenant and Marines the player finds on his way to the bridge are invincible. This could be so that players cannot take weapons of fallen enemies or allies.

*The Covenant encountered on the way to the bridge will mostly ignore the player. Sometimes they will shoot at you, but inflict very little damage.

**On [[Easy]] and [[Normal]], the player goes through a testing diagnostic which acts as a tutorial for basic controls and the mechanics of health and shields. On Heroic and Legendary difficulty, this is automatically skipped and the player immediately heads out to find Captain Keyes.  

**On Easy and Normal difficulty, the [[Motion tracker]] and grenades are disabled until certain moments in the level. On Heroic and Legendary, they can be used right from the start.

**On Easy and Normal, there is a stuck door that the player must use a melee attack on to open, which Cortana will point out.

**On Easy and Normal, there is an [[Unggoy]] with its back to the player that serves as a tutorial for the stealth melee attack mechanic.

{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Levels|H1}}