When it comes to Master Chief, 343 gets it

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

You can go on and on about all the things you think 343 has done right or wrong with this franchise, but their take/representation of the Master Chief is incredibly spot on.

It was moments like this and even newer moments like this where everything just clicks. As I’m typing this, it sounds ridiculous. “All he did was walk into the back of the pelican…” Well you’re right but just the way he moves and has to duck his head under the doorway while the camera slowly pans up to him is just a few things that really make you understand him. He doesn’t just pop into the scene with Blue Team, his entry is practically documented and it just goes to show that when he enters a scene, it’s important to focus on him. The music also fits that scene very well. The way he holds his helmet and runs his thumb over the slot where Cortana used to fit, it’s perfect. He’s not sitting in the cockpit crying or sighing or even talking any differently at all. He just has his own little quiet moment remembering her.

A little off topic here but you can even tell from just that one scene that Master Chief and his crew aren’t exactly on the same page. Fred is clearly getting worried about him and while Kelly says he’s fine, I have no doubt that she will eventually take Fred’s side. I can actually see there being a dispute between Fred and Chief especially since Fred technically outranks him. Could we see a “Stand down, that’s an order!” kind of situation between the two?

Anyways, 343 gets it. Master Chief went from being the green guy that destroys everything without saying a word to a really interesting character.

2

I don’t quite see Chief as the flawless masterpiece you see him as, but the Blue Team opening cinematic paints him in a way that makes you want to root for him, regardless of his agenda.

3

> 2533274809541057;2:
> I don’t quite see Chief as the flawless masterpiece you see him as, but the Blue Team opening cinematic paints him in a way that makes you want to root for him, regardless of his agenda.

Lol, I don’t see him as a flawless masterpiece but I definitely think that this is the best possible way that they could have done his character.

4

Hail to the Chief.

5

Man, You think exactly like me, thought I was alone regarding those details. How the music plays, how the camera movement is set up.
(Halo 4 intro with all the spartans walking in slowmo, and Halo 4 ending with Master Chief walking in the Infinity to take of his armor)
All of those details, 343i has really nailed.

6

I agree with you regarding 343i’s portrayal of the Master Chief, they certainly have developed his character leaps and bounds better than Bungie could, or ever would, for that matter. I’m a little curious though, are you sure Fred outranks Chief? I was under the impression he relinquished command back to Chief during Escalation?

7

Totally agree OP

8

The way I see it, the reason why Chief became such a well known and well-loved character wasn’t really because of him as an actual character. He was the face of Halo, and everyone loved Halo. So we all loved the Chief.

But now… Well, now 343 has given us more of a reason to actually like Chief as a character. We like Chief for Chief. Because he’s awesome and is going to kick Locke’s a**. Not just because his face is on the cover of every game.

9

> 2533274960439808;6:
> I agree with you regarding 343i’s portrayal of the Master Chief, they certainly have developed his character leaps and bounds better than Bungie could, or ever would, for that matter. I’m a little curious though, are you sure Fred outranks Chief? I was under the impression he relinquished command back to Chief during Escalation?

Both. Fred is still a Lieutenant to John’s Master Chief Petty Officer, but he defers his command to the Chief.

10

> 2533274912254619;8:
> The way I see it, the reason why Chief became such a well known and well-loved character wasn’t really because of him as an actual character. He was the face of Halo, and everyone loved Halo. So we all loved the Chief.
>
> But now… Well, now 343 has given us more of a reason to actually like Chief as a character. We like Chief for Chief. Because he’s awesome and is going to kick Locke’s a**. Not just because his face is on the cover of every game.

He is also the face of xbox.

11

I definitely agree with you. 343i has put Chief into a position that Bungie never had. A position that really tests the Chief as a person.

Many people think Chief is a boring character… And I understand that. However, I PERSONALLY do not…

Chief isn’t a normal human being… He doesn’t even act like one many times. We all know that. He doesn’t cry when someone close to him dies. He doesn’t seem to care TOO much for human beings… As he’s generally more focused on his own MISSION. Yes… He does care for a few people (Cortana, Blue Team)… But he does NOT show it that much. ESPECIALLY when they’re not injured.

And THAT is what makes him interesting… It’s NOT the fact that he’s always silent. It’s not the fact that he’s always shooting aliens. It’s the fact that he’s UNIQUE.

I can play various types of video game nowadays… Uncharted, The Last Of Us, Gears of War, Mass Effect, Tomb Raider reboot, and etc. But what they ALL have in common are… Human beings… NORMAL human beings. Humans who cry during rough times, humans who SHOW that they CARE for others. Humans who are MORE focused more on saving people rather than completing a mission.

Another words, seeing people who act like normal humans is VERY common. I PERSONALLY am interest in the things that are DIFFERNT. I am interested in the MISFITS. The UNIQUE. The ones OUT OF THE NORM.

I’m not interested in all those white gooses.
I’m interested in that one black goose.

Master Chief is that type of guy. He’s isn’t Marcus Fenix. He isn’t Nathan Drake. He isn’t Joel and Ellie. He isn’t Commander Shepherd. He isn’t Solid Snake. He ISN’T what 99.9% of the humans are…

What happens if you were to put Master Chief in a position that REALLY allows him to show his TRUE SELF?? He would respond differently than everyone. He would act differently than everyone.

The amount of change that Master Chief needs to go through to make him realize what he’s become is tremendous.

To make a normal human beings suffer is normal and happens all the time. His/her reactions are PREDICTABLE.
To make Master Chief (Part machine and part man) suffer… Is UNPREDICTABLE.

That… Is what makes Chief special.
That is what makes him ONE OF A KIND.

And that is why he is INTERESTING. Because he’s not like everyone else you see in… Pretty much every media. He’s that black goose in a sea of white gooses.

343i has took Master Chief to the next level. And I can’t wait to see him in Halo 5.

Just my OWN opinion on why I think Chief isn’t boring as people make it out to be. And why he’s actually interesting… Rather than boring.

12

343i NAILED the Chief back in Halo 4 so it is natural that they continue to only get better at it with each new game. They really do know how to get his emotions across in subtle way that doesn’t bang you over the head with it. Can’t wait to get to play the H5 and see the interactions between the members of Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris. This game is shaping up to be something special.

13

Well said ZoomGears99!

One thing I never understood about Bungie games was that they had so many interesting characters… and there was almost no character developement at all.

Within a single 343i developed game you can already see so many pieces finally moving, and H4 was just the start.
H5 will be an emotional rollercoaster ride - and I’m both excited and terrified to see what our hero has to go through.

My bet: Dr. Halsey, his ‘mother’ will play a part in that. After loosing an arm and not being best friends with the UNSC/Oni she might be willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of her Spartans.

14

Great post ZoomGears99.

Totally agree with everything you said and I can see Fred’s rank over Chief causing some kind of trouble if they don’t agree on something big, Could make for a pretty intense moment. He is obviously worried about him.