Now, just to be clear, this thread isn’t going to be “Oh Bunges design r the betterz!!1!”. No , I’d just like to discuss the flaws that IN MY OPINION make Halo 4’s pelican seem weaker.
Firstly, the access ramp. In the previous Halos, Pelicans were accessed through a door in the back of the pelican, which also functioned as a ramp for people and the occasional Mongoose. Now in Halo 4 we have Pelicans with large ramps that also function as doors. These ramps in Halo 4 also lack the windows that the previous Halos’ pelicans had. I’m just wondering: wouldn’t these doors be much more impractical? When someone needed to get inside a pelican quick, they would have had a quick access. But now, we have to wait for the ramp to lower, and it also requires more space to lower. Why did they change such a small detail?
Secondly, the Pelicans overall design. When you look at the Pelican in Halo 4 compared to other Pelicans, it looks a lot more bulbous and large. It has a more lumpy shape, towards the previous Pelicans square, rugged box shape. But with the new design, the one thing that really bugged me was the frontal window! Instead of one big square window, we now have two separate oval shaped windows. Wouldn’t this hamper visibility during combat or flight? Of course, you could use the argument: “Well Dino you fool! It’s to prevent the windows from being breached in space combat!” Well I don’t think this is the case. If an enemy wants to breach or destroy a Pelicans cockpit, they are still going to shatter the windows, whether or not they are two smaller ones or a large square one. Now, while we are on the topic of the pelicans windows, in the Campaign mission “Shutdown”, why did Chief enter the Pelican by opening the front window instead of going through the back? Although I may be wrong and this is a feature in those new “combat pelicans” or whatever they are called, it just really bugged me.
So, overall, these things may not annoy some people or may not of even crossed your minds, but in my opinion the newer Pelicans seem inferior to the previous model that has been in service for at least 25 years!
TL;DR: I’m frustrated with the new Pelican because of its shape and design.
Discuss what YOU think of the Pelican and how it could be improved/changed.
Someone made an absolutely BRILLIANT post a while back pointing out dozens of massive design flaws in it.
While some folks think it looks nice, the new pelican is basically a flying coffin.
And that isn’t good for a game that clings to its canon and screeches when somebody attempts to get between them. Practicality should be canon before aesthetics.
it’s a game get over it.
> Someone made an absolutely BRILLIANT post a while back pointing out dozens of massive design flaws in it.
> While some folks think it looks nice, the new pelican is basically a flying coffin.
> And that isn’t good for a game that clings to its canon and screeches when somebody attempts to get between them. Practicality should be canon before aesthetics.
Exactly! Why make something look good if it’s gonna get you killed.
Halo 4’s Pelican is awesome.
You’ve got to be Yoinking! me…
> it’s a game get over it.
SO EDGY
And why stop at “getting over it” in the gaming industry?
Why don’t authors, movie and television writers, and, hell, artists, just “get over it”?
Let’s throw consideration of all kind out the window in ALL forms of media because “lol it doesn’t matter”
Right? 
I honestly don’t care lol…
Halo:Reach Pelicans all the way…
> You’ve got to be Yoinking! me…
lol
people complaining about a game… its not new… when H5 comes out and people will say H4 is/was better h5…
its annoying but its funny too
I do see why some think its pedantic but its so iconic. Pelicans shape is second only to the chief.
On all the flying, there’s no swaying side to side like in halo 1 (which was done, in bungies words, to “look cool”) AND it just seems too modern and good! I liked the old,rough, worn pelicans, you know wutti mean?
> it’s a game get over it.
I’ve noticed your posts. By your attitude really the only thing we should be discussing is how great and flawless Halo 4 is.
These kinds of discussions (Pelican shape) are actually more interesting than the average “XXXXX is overpowered” or “Thank you 343!”.
That slowly deploying ramp is more noticeable with the Mammoth than the Pelican.
That said, I’m disappointed by how on Infinity, it’s possible to get inside the Pelican after defeating the Battlewagons but there’s no loading point to glitch it (on Co-op).
As for it’s design, I’m disappointed by how you can barely do anything special with them (besides piloting it by glitch and mini-Pelican).
Halo 2: flip launching, riding out of map, loadzone crossover, Pelican punt
Halo 3: riding out of map, sinking, loadzone crossover, cutscene glitching, operating the machine gun turret, filling it to it’s maximum capacity with marines
Reach: riding out of map, armor lock/drop shield out of map on any Pelican, launching (P2P)
> > You’ve got to be Yoinking! me…
>
> lol
>
> people complaining about a game… its not new… <mark>when H5 comes out and people will say H4 is/was better h5…</mark>
>
> its annoying but its funny too
Annnnd is that a problem? if it’s truly their opinion, then it should not matter if they think the predecessor is better.
It would be easier to read in paragraphs.
I think that the pelicans design it fine
Overall, I like the new design, with a few issues. One, as you pointed out, the ramp is too long. I prefer the smaller opening the prior iteration had. Also, I don’t like the forward wing shape. Its just too…wingy? Too long and curved. I liked the shorter profile of the old Pelican.
Aside from that, I dig the new Pelican. The cockpit is cooler, its got better armament, the body design is sleeker and better looking, IMO.
I think 343 may have tried dragging the Pelican into a more realistic style. What I’m trying to say is, the Halo trilogy’s Pelican seemed more sci-fi in design: light, smooth and shiny, and very dependable. Halo 4’s seems more in line at humanity’s attempt at building a war-capable drop ship/ support ship.
It is a large hulk of metal with cockpits styled after smaller aircraft (the Pelican isn’t an airliner after all). It carries weapon pods housing missiles and Gatling guns as well as supplies on its side for infantry. Large ramp in the back for easier loading of large objects (outside of combat, at least).
You can say that H4’s vision of a pelican is closer to older variants that may have been built before the improved, lighter style pelican’s we’re used to. I think it’s based off what humanity more realistically would have made that still is combat-ready, despite its inferior qualities.
With that said, it does have its flaws, and personally I still like the old ones more. The new ones are definately more intimidating with their size.
Personally,I thought Halo 3 had the best pelicans. I can see where 343 have gone with the new cockpits, they look similar to the one on the falcon, but I really preferred Halo 3’s pelicans. And Halo is a sci-fi game, they don’t need to have everything looking like present day tech. And reliability is the most highly sought characteristic in any military force.
On these forums, I have officially, seen it all.
This community is embarrassing at times.
I’m perfectly fine with it, actually.