So recently I was thinking on how the Flood could be reintroduced back into the games. I finally settled on an option that gives the Flood horror game idea that people have been wanting, but can be set after Infinite if 343 don’t want to have the Flood be in Infinite.
It starts off in an ONI research facility that is basically off the grid. Of course the main focus/study in this facility is the Flood and for the ONI Researchers/Scientists stationed there, they’re trying to find cures or something that can help fight the Flood etc. I was thinking of having it be a 4 player co-op because that is the de facto per say for these types of horde games.
So let’s get into the characters that the players have the choice of playing. Firstly, an ODST who is very specialised in Flood combat as let’s say he was one of the ODST survivors of I-05 (which was overrun by Flood). He was saved by Thel, Johnson and Miranda as well as others as they were looking for both Human and Elite survivors before heading back to Earth. For a quick explanation the Elite survivors would rendezvous aboard the Shadow of Intent with Rtas’ Vadum whilst the human survivors along with Thel’ would return to Earth. Obviously chronologically speaking, this would occur after Thel’ stopped Tartarus from lighting the ring.
Our second playable character could be an ONI Researcher/Scientist who is studying the Flood in the facility. They would know a great deal of Flood weaknesses and how to protect themselves from being infected. This could be pivotable during the game as they or another could be close to getting bitten/scratched by the Flood so they have to jump in and act quickly.
The third playable character could be maybe another security guard, but their job is more based on internal threats rather than the ODST who is protecting external threats to the facility. This character could perhaps a Marine/Hellbringer who would have specialised weaponary for killing Flood quickly (like a Flamethrower as well as incineration grenades or maybe a new prototype).
Lastly, the final playable character I was thinking of may be a Scientist who was working on the technology in the facility. This character could be the one who works on opening doors, barriers, creating traps to stop the Flood following them for a short amount of time etc. That way they bring something new and different to horde mode games (at least to my knowledge).
So with all the characters being discussed, my main point for each character is that they have strengths and weaknesses, but when they work together as a co-ordinated team, they can survive this horde game.
The ending of this game would leave a loose end (that being that the Flood are in full control of that facility) and so effectively speaking, the Flood have broken containment once more and therefore can be included in the next story where 343 wants to pick them up.
Of course this is just my suggestion of how the Flood can once again be included into the Halo Universe without being contained in a containment facility or in stasis and leaving it open so they can be included in stories down the line, but I feel obligated to mention that I am aware 343 do not take full on ideas from the community due to legal issues, but it’s fun to speculate nevertheless and maybe give food for thought if they are miraculously reading this. Regardless of that though, I want to know what you think would be a good way to include the Flood when considering what the fan base would like to see. Let me know below. I do read most (if not all) replies to my thread so I would be interested to see what you have to say!