Halo 3 should play a role in why we have gotten to the point we are at in the Halo timeline. For the sake of in-game-canon Halo 3 teased something on the Space horizon after Chief and Cortana split from Arbiter. I completely understand why players who loathe Halo’s 4 and 5 and Bungie’s Halo’s 1-3, ODST, and Reach often blame 343’s handling of Halo after Reach. (The is not coming from me). I see this on YouTube’s comment sections all the time.
However, let’s be real. Had Master Chief had been killed off with Keyes and Sargent Johnson in Halo 3 will would be here in terms of the games (I am glad that did not happen). I love Halo and did not want it to away in 2007 and especially now in 2020. However, Honestly, Halo 3 teased another game at the end.
This link above goes directly Halo 3 Legendary Cutscene where the spherical forerunner world is teased. Therefore, Bungie did not IMO bookend the initial Halo trilogy definitely.
The reason we got Reach was because Bungie initially planned a Halo 4, but knew they wouldn’t be able to see the project through afterward. They were obligated to do two more Halos, so ODST and Reach were it.
I really wish we had seen Bungie’s Halo 4 game. I am not of the belief that 343’s Halo is better than Bungie’s Halo or vice versa. However, lately I feel people need to cut 343 some slack. I am unsure whether not the expansion of the Halo universe was just dropped on them. Whenever people say 343 ruined Halo I see their point. Halo 4 and 5 were in their own ways a complete departure from the original Halo. The music, dialogue, cinematography or cinematics, environments, character designs, etc., were completely overhauled to fit 343’s vision.
However, my point is Halo 3 was not as wrapped up and bookend as some people want to believe. That spherical world appears to be Requiem at the end of Halo 3. For that reason alone I personally cannot fault 343 for deciding to have the majority of Halo 4 taking place there. Yes, they messed up in execution on a lot attributes we had grown to love in the first three Halo games. However, again 343 were only doing what they thought was right at the time. I still think they do now but I believe they are listening to the community.
They have given me a lot of hope in the last two trailers. 2018 Halo trailer did a great job showing off the new Slipspace Engine and last year’s trailer did a great job setting up the story. I am not saying after 8 years of trial and error 343 will knock it out of the park with Halo Infinite but I believe they are finally on the right track.
