The main reason I really like Halo 5's story

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

So, when Halo 5 starts out it feels like this is the beginning of a new threat, and the UNSC is fairly on top of trying to shut it down. But as the story goes along, there is a very subtle sense of unease that builds and builds. Halsey being led away privately to give out secret details, Governor Sloan being just slightly off in a way that has nothing to do with rampancy. Everything feels just a little bit too neat, a little bit too much like a halo story. And then you meet Cortana, and instead of instantly becoming an enemy, her motives seem kind of unclear. She helps Master Chief get closer to her, which feels like an odd move considering what she seems to be planning and how that could make her a target.

And then there’s the part that a lot of people felt was abandoning that storyline: the focus on Osirus on Sanghelios. But I feel like this is essential as a way of contrast: Osiris helps land the decisive blow in a full-scale war, they get to Genesis, and then they discover that Blue team has literally been walking in circles for the entire time. This is the turning point of the tension between Osiris and Blue Team.

And it’s also when you start to realize that Cortana’s plans aren’t just the “main objective” that needs to be taken care of this game, they’re a TRAP!

It’s not just that the heroes failed to save the day, it’s that it was lost before they even realized it needed saving. And in the end, the only thing they could do was save each other.

And in those last few missions Cortana is written so well. Chief begins to realize how unhealthy their relationship is, and arguably has always been. And everything about how she talks to the spartan IVs reinforces that. And then instead of there being a way to miraculously beat her at the end of the game, it reveals that the dynamic and tension between Locke and Chief is the actual main throughline of the game. And these characters that have been running from and chasing and fighting each other resolve their differences and show they respect and understand each other more than they did before, and THAT’S the end of the game.

It’s so unlike a video game for personal growth and camaraderie to be the conclusion of a story, and I really like it. I hope 343 realizes their writers helped make something that any normal human being can relate to, and that stuff like that is really important for gaming. There were definite flaws in this game (Halsey’s characterization happens really fast and is difficult for people unfamiliar with her to understand, Arbiter needed a bit more development and voice in the story, some of the cutscene direction seemed inappropriate for the tone of the scenes) but I really think it’s a step in the right direction.

other things I really liked: The Warden’s characterization, slowly revealing that he’s not just under Cortana’s control or acting based on protocols: he’s OBSESSED with her.

I thought the supporting cast of spartans was great, even though they weren’t all as developed as the leaders of their squad (which I think would have been too hard to do without slowing the story down too much), they all felt like good companions and were nice to be around.

And of course Exuberant Witness. One of the most charming and genuinely funny Halo characters. The timing and delivery on her “Oh dear…” after all the AIs join Cortana, that was one of the highlights of the game for me!

2

> 2533274859755618;1:
> It’s so unlike a video game for personal growth and camaraderie to be the conclusion of a story, and I really like it.

Have you played Halo 2? Or 3? What about ODST?

3

Hmm. Interesting perspective on it

4

Never saw it this way…but you’re right, now that I think about it.

I was just glad to get to play with Blue Team for once…

5

Interesting perspective and all, but it still undermines and disrespects one of Halo’s core characters (Cortana), introduces another antagonist who just exists and gets little to no actual explanation (Warden Eternal) and completely shelves and makes pointless the last 3 years of expanded universe material with a poorly introduced new faction (The Created) that everything moving forward is going to have to revolve around. I’ve spoken so much about why I feel this game had a poorly conceived story that I’ve got little energy to even delve into detail anymore. To me it doesn’t even feel like Halo anymore, a totally subjective statement but that’s my feeling on the matter.

6

Well honestly, as a story I did like H5. But I was expecting a lot different one based on the forerunner saga and all the flood related hints. So in a way I was pleased and dissappointed at the same time. Like Halsey said above, it feels like they threw a lot of what they had build aside with the sudden direction change of the story. But while playing I was very eager (not sure how to type that) to know what happens next and I think as a story that is a good thing, but in the end I was expecting something else.

7

As a story Halo 5 is good and I could name lots of positives that liked about It but that being said there are a lot of unforgivable negatives that just unfortunately out weigh all the good the campaign did.

I mean Halo 5s story was only made possible after 343 made a ton of retcons, and even then 343s execution on almost everything else was just not up to the Halo standard.

8

OP, you throw some really good points out there, its an interesting perspective to take on the themes of the game.

However it has to be said that these themes and ideas could have been present, and maybe worked better, had the story revolved around everything that Halo 4 and the expanded universe had set up. The beauty of continuing what they had started was that they would have needed to spend less time explaining new plot points and ideas, leaving more time to focus on the new characters and their developments.
What I’m, trying to say is that because Halo 5 basically started a new story from scratch, they had to spend so much time introducing it and making sure it worked, that they left themselves less time to focus on the the deaper story.

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> 2533274810945725;8:
> However it has to be said that these themes and ideas could have been present, and maybe worked better, had the story revolved around everything that Halo 4 and the expanded universe had set up. The beauty of continuing what they had started was that they would have needed to spend less time explaining new plot points and ideas, leaving more time to focus on the new characters and their developments.
> What I’m, trying to say is that because Halo 5 basically started a new story from scratch, they had to spend so much time introducing it and making sure it worked, that they left themselves less time to focus on the the deeper story.

This indeed was an interesting take on the plot of the game, which I enjoyed. But if 343 were really trying to weave a truly cohesive storyline even AFTER Halo 4 they would have used Halo: Escalation not only tie INTO Halo 5, but would have fleshed out both Blue team and Fireteam Osiris so when the game finally did release those who want to find out about any potential back stories or character development that was needed. They could have also used the recent novels to space out what could’ve been in the expanded universe just on the basis of covering their tracks as a company overall.

10

The story would have been OK if it weren’t for the lack of character development and the overall out of the blue characters (especially Tanaka)

11

Well put, OP. I think describing the Warden Eternal as obsessed with Cortana is very fitting. She’s been through so much, and learned so much, that even forerunner AI would be in awe of her.
I’ve always loved Cortana, but Halo 5 has made her character much deeper in my opinion. You learn soon enough that she wants the mantle of responsibility to be under the control of precise and quasi-emotionless AI that can make the tough decisions for the greater good. I can’t fault anyone for thinking of this as a trope. We’ve seen it before, someone with the noblest of intentions taking complete control over others because they know what is best and therefore becoming the antagonist. But as the game continues you realize that it’s much more than this. Cortana is a full-on fascist and she’ll do whatever it takes to control the galaxy. This becomes especially evident when she begins digging up the past of each member of Osiris to do some emotional damage in an attempt to slow them down. That scene broke my heart. I was uncomfortable hearing Cortana be so nasty. Then of course there is the legendary ending which drives home the point that all the lives lost with the emergence of the guardians barely scratches the surface of what she is capable of and more than willing to do. We begin to see her act like Halsey in that her attitude is the end justify the means, but Halsey never wielded the power that Cortana has at that moment and most likely would be emotionally incapable of the mass-death Cortana is willing to cause. An AI based on an imperfect model (Halsey and her narcissism) and given immense power. It forced me to go back and look at Cortana’s actions in previous games and wonder if this mindset has always been there, but was just working within it’s means doing the most it can with what was available. And then you compare Cortana’s willingness to do whatever it takes with John’s “always win” reputation and you have a parallel that adds another layer of depth. If Chief and Cortana are soulmates, the shock of seeing her malevolent true colors would be overwhelming if Chief weren’t, well, Chief.
I also like your point about Chief and Cortana’s unhealthy relationship. A lot of times when a relationship is unhealthy it’s not so evident until it is too late. Chief seeks Cortana hoping that she has good reasons for her actions, but he prepares himself for the worst. As fans, our love of Cortana helps us relate to Chief’s feelings of betrayal–you hurt with him. I consider it the most emotional Halo especially when you realize that you have to help Chief stop his best friend.
I also agree that Osiris’ role in the Sangheili civil war is downplayed/misunderstood. I blame this on too much backstory being available only through novels, comics. UNSC forces saving the day is very significant when you realize that this war may have never started if it weren’t for the machinations of ONI. I think there is a valuable lesson to be learned from this.

12

Interesting, but I honestly didn’t like fireteam Osiris as characters (except for buck), and the direction the story is heading in is a bit cliche.