Hello,
why do some people say Halo: Reach’s story should not be part of the Halo canon because “almost everything in reach counters everything that Bungie set in stone since the beginning”?
I haven’t read any book, but I assume I don’t need to (to understand this) because Bungie didn’t write any book.
What is it that is so wrong with Reach’s story?
Well mistakes may not be mistakes. Also to me Halo Reach was a alright story.
Oh and before I forget hi Pulse.
> Well mistakes may not be mistakes. Also to me Halo Reach was a alright story.
>
> Oh and before I forget hi Pulse.
Hey, CIA, nice to see you here.
Good to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t know what the heck is so wrong with Reach’s story.
I’m assuming you haven’t read the books? See we’ve had the books, and they’re canon was great, and then Reach comes in and destroys those, essentially Bungie has told us we’ve wasted money on something that they once called canon, then altered without patching any of the holes.
There shouldn’t be anyone canon to the Halo storyline who’s driving abilities are as terrible as Kat’s.
> I’m assuming you haven’t read the books? See we’ve had the books, and they’re canon was great, and then Reach comes in and destroys those, essentially Bungie has told us we’ve wasted money on something that they once called canon, then altered without patching any of the holes.
I haven’t, but that’s why I asked this. Why do you say Reach destroyed the books’ cannon? What’s wrong?
I suppose the dates match and the books never talked about a Noble team, which was introduced by Halo: Reach.
Link for OP and anyone else who doesn’t know why Reach broke canon.
I don’t agree with all of the points involved, namely the Spartan IIIs breaking canon (which they don’t) but this thread sums up all the inconsistencies in between the game and book.
I read all the books except for Cryptum (haven’t gotten around to it yet) and the re-releases of Evolutions and the first three books, but I loved Reach’s story.
Halo: Reach cannot be considered cannon for it’s mainly dull campaign experience.
> Halo: Reach cannot be considered cannon for it’s mainly dull campaign experience.
Most of us don’t think it’s dull, and being dull does not a factor on whether or not it’s canon.
A lot of the things that were different were explained in Dr. Halsey’s Journal. The Journal of course was written by Eric Nylund who wrote The Fall of Reach so it was his attempt at addressing some of the things that were changed by Bungie. Things like, why was Cortana with Halsey when she should have been with the Chief? It’s because Halsey split Cortana in two so that she could assist in the translation of the Forerunner language. This of course ties into Cortana then being reuinited with herself and why she is able to translate the Sigma Octanus IV artifact which leads them to Alpha Halo.
One thing that I thought was interesting about Reach is how they changed the Covenant’s tactics. The book makes it look like they just emerged from Slipspace with a massive fleet and attempted to simply overwhelm the humans. However in Reach we learn the Covenant were a little more tactical in their assault. They would have known that an assault on such a heavily fortified world would be costly, I mean they’re not stupid. They instead sent an advanced team to infiltrate Reach’s defenses and then prepare for the fleet’s arrival.
Personally I think a few cinematic scenes from the Covenant’s point of view could have explained this a little more. It would have been real neat to see Thel 'Vadamee in command of the Fleet receiving the intel from the Elite Zealot and then giving the order to attack. These kinds of scenes could have made his trial at the beginning of Halo 2 a little more impactful.
> Jason: ** Yes, Halo Wars is canon. Frank O’Connor is the Halo “canon overseer” and we have his official signoff!
Gamerplanet | Interview with Ensemble Studios (http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/features/132939.20090304.Halo-War s-Q-A-session/)
Fearless-Leader is to “blame.” Yet fearless Leader is to thank… For as I fight through the darkened valleys of Reach I shall fell no fear. For I am 1 ton of man meets machine and I will have my vengeance.
It contradicts previously established canon. We’re fans, not tools.
It is my understanding that fans understand the rules.
I’m not saying you or anyone else who does not want accept Reach as canon is not a fan. I’m saying that if you or anyone else who wants to call themselves a fan, then they should accept the rules of the universe they are a fan of.
There is a hierarchy of what is and isn’t canon that both newer lore and newer games overwrite older continuity if need be.
And as mentioned many times before; Contact Harvest, the Cole Protocol and Halo Wars have long overwritten the Fall of Reach as far as the descriptions of how the human and Covenant vessels look and operate. They also overwrite Fall of Reach’s and First Strike’s continuity problems as far as who and what is known about the Covenant when Reach falls in the FoR.
What I gather is what was discovered/written about the Covenant in how they operate through the new material (mentioned above), how Reach fell had to change.
Halo: Reach didn’t erase the entire novel of the Fall of Reach. It only affected the last few chapters. It made a 3hr battle into the more realistic 1 month battle the humans were capable of. Harvest was a 5 year battle remember? Reach stood more of a chance than the original 3hrs givens.
And if you want I can give you the radio chatter found in the MP and FF maps. They go on to “describe” events of the novel, tFoR, as it is meant to tie into the updated continuity, which was changed long ago and not by Halo: Reach. Everything that happens in tFoR happens. Just not exactly as or when as once told.
I would say that the date given when the Chief and Cortana were threatened by Ackerson was at least sometime in July, if not sooner. Regardless of the date currently given, we know it to be wrong. Some of us always believed it was impossible for the Covenant to completely glass a planet a will. For the most part, those that suspected so, against popular belief because of what Truth said (he he), some of us knew the Covenant could just not simply glass a planet in a few hours. Even with the whole fleet, it would take weeks to months (considering ocean sizes and such).
Because of that, I don’t fret. I know that something is wrong. Not broken, wrong. In sci-fi, that’s like hanging a lamp on something. It’s very much like when we watch TV and we see character movements that we as the audience recognise and act all “WHAT!! How could you not see the subtle cues??” It’s all in part of the misdirection and a form of dramatic irony.
> I’m assuming you haven’t read the books? See we’ve had the books, and they’re canon was great, and then Reach comes in and destroys those, essentially Bungie has told us we’ve wasted money on something that they once called canon, then altered without patching any of the holes.
i respect you opinion and all, but Bungie has stated plenty of times that their games dont follow the book canon. They follow the Halo games canon.
> > Halo: Reach cannot be considered cannon for it’s mainly dull campaign experience.
>
> Most of us don’t think it’s dull, and being dull does not a factor on whether or not it’s canon.
My apologies sir.
> > I’m assuming you haven’t read the books? See we’ve had the books, and they’re canon was great, and then Reach comes in and destroys those, essentially Bungie has told us we’ve wasted money on something that they once called canon, then altered without patching any of the holes.
>
> i respect you opinion and all, but Bungie has stated plenty of times that their games dont follow the book canon. They follow the Halo games canon.
I don’t care what Bungie says after they claimed they worked so hard to ensure that Reach meshed in perfectly with pre-established fiction in the Legendary Commentary. Oh, and Halo 3 having no time constraints, yet levels were cut due to time constraints.
I think the Reach campaign is pretty fantastic. The first time I played throught the campaign I was disapointed towards the end, story-wise. When I realised that there was no turning back, Halo canon had finally been broken after almost a decade of continuity. Over time I developed my own little solution though. I just dont think about the canon anymore. I wish it all added up, but since it doesn’t I take it for what each new Halo release really is. Another story/game/movie based in one of the fictional universes I find interesting.
> > > I’m assuming you haven’t read the books? See we’ve had the books, and they’re canon was great, and then Reach comes in and destroys those, essentially Bungie has told us we’ve wasted money on something that they once called canon, then altered without patching any of the holes.
> >
> > i respect you opinion and all, but Bungie has stated plenty of times that their games dont follow the book canon. They follow the Halo games canon.
>
> I don’t care what Bungie says after they claimed they worked so hard to ensure that Reach meshed in perfectly with pre-established fiction in the Legendary Commentary. Oh, and Halo 3 having no time constraints, yet levels were cut due to time constraints.
They did? i didnt buy the legendary just the limited wish there was a way to see it. Anywhos from what ive heard the story of reach slaps the book canon in the face. Good thing that when 343i makes the next Halo they wont have any Halo Book fans complaining all over their forums cause it didnt follow canon. Thats is if they Continue the Chiefs story.