Spoilers follows and are hidden behind spoiler tags. You have been warned.
Edit 1: Spoilers are also located in the comments. Comments will include discussion regarding the spoilers so do not scroll down and start reading them. Unless of course… you want to spoil the Campaign for yourself. Either way, you’ve been warned, yo. This edit is getting too long. Whoops.
Okay, let’s just get things straight. I loved the Halo 4 Campaign. It was deep, rich, and I felt myself more deeply captivated by it than any other Halo game. But I have to admit that the ending really threw the whole experience off. One of these reasons? Cortana’s “death”.
I can’t say that Cortana has ever been on my good side. Despite her actions to save me multiple times, her Cpt. Obvious personality has me yelling at her 90% of the time. I digress, the way she was handled at the end, considering the games theme, slammed the door shut. Why? Character development.
It was mentioned multiple times before release that this new trilogy — especially this game — was supposed to focus on Master Chiefs development as a character. I am in 100% support of this, because dwelling deeper into the mysterious life of John was something that would intrigue any Halo player. But Cortana’s death really killed the whole idea of character development in my opinion. Sure, death really helps someone see who they are and develop new values, but I find it odd that they kill off a crucial character in the first installment of the new trilogy. Not to mention, Cortana was the only thing that prevented Master Chief from being a full-blown Sociopath. He betrayed orders, and risked his life several times to save Cortana, and that was the only form of affection that we ever seen from Master Chief. So really, the only person that ever enticed emotion from Master Chief was killed off.
I saw a lot of potential with the relationship between Cortana and John, and I really expected 343 to play with this relationship through-out the entirety of the trilogy. Of course, there is still hope that they will in future games, but the death of Cortana was not a good indication of this. I feel that her death was too fast and the whole relationship between the two was not developed enough to have such a abrupt ending.
TL;DR - Cortana’s death hinders further character development emotionally. She was a key factor in his emotions, and her death was too abrupt. The relationship between the two was not given enough time to develop, so it felt out of place.
I don’t care about Halo 5 or 6, all I care about is to hear from a 343 exec say Cortana is indeed alive and will return AT SOME POINT.
I just wanna see John happy
This was the most we ever saw John act human. When he disobeyed direct orders from his superior to save Cortana yet he has followed orders to do suicide missions without pause. If Cortana stays dead I’m done with the series, it kicked me right in the gut and almost made me shed man tears.
I doubt a crucial character would be killed off in the first game of the new trilogy, like I think Didact will return.
I’ve heard a few theories, perhaps Cortana became metastable (she was able to touch John somehow), maybe she infused herself into Didacts armor, maybe Halsey will make a new one.
I agree it doesn’t make sense for 343i to focus on John’s character development and then kill the only character he talks to.
Only time will tell what’ll happen. I’m looking forward to halo 5 already.
> Spoilers follows and are hidden behind spoiler tags. You have been warned.
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> Okay, let’s just get things straight. I loved the Halo 4 Campaign. It was deep, rich, and I felt myself more deeply captivated by it than any other Halo game. But I have to admit that the ending really threw the whole experience off. One of these reasons? Cortana’s “death”.
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> I can’t say that Cortana has ever been on my good side. Despite her actions to save me multiple times, her Cpt. Obvious personality has me yelling at her 90% of the time. I digress, the way she was handled at the end, considering the games theme, slammed the door shut. Why? Character development.
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> It was mentioned multiple times before release that this new trilogy — especially this game — was supposed to focus on Master Chiefs development as a character. I am in 100% support of this, because dwelling deeper into the mysterious life of John was something that would intrigue any Halo player. But Cortana’s death really killed the whole idea of character development in my opinion. Sure, death really helps someone see who they are and develop new values, but I find it odd that they kill off a crucial character in the first installment of the new trilogy. Not to mention, Cortana was the only thing that prevented Master Chief from being a full-blown Sociopath. He betrayed orders, and risked his life several times to save Cortana, and that was the only form of affection that we ever seen from Master Chief. So really, the only person that ever enticed emotion from Master Chief was killed off.
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> I saw a lot of potential with the relationship between Cortana and John, and I really expected 343 to play with this relationship through-out the entirety of the trilogy. Of course, there is still hope that they will in future games, but the death of Cortana was not a good indication of this. I feel that her death was too fast and the whole relationship between the two was not developed enough to have such a abrupt ending.
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> TL;DR - Cortana’s death hinders further character development emotionally. She was a key factor in his emotions, and her death was too abrupt. The relationship between the two was not given enough time to develop, so it felt out of place.
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> Discuss.
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I think we needed a bittersweet ending, that cutscene with John and Cortana showed so much emotion, but I couldn’t quite feel to sad because I was confused as to what was going on, where was this blue box chief and cortanana were in? was it a dream? I was also thrown off by the lame didact battle, too much was running through my head at once. Amazing Campaign though, incredible story and soundtrack.
The thing about the chief is that… he never spoke… he never showed his human side… Cortana did that. She was the voice of chief… Together they were heroes… without her… he is just a man in a suit.
Don’t think that will happen. They had that whole scene where Cortana was telling Chief that if they made a new one, it would not be her. Even if they did make a new one, I don’t see Chief accepting her especially after the aforementioned scene.
Honestly, the last ten minutes of the Campaign felt like the writing team went off to lunch and some crazy Chief+Cortana shipper sneaked into the office, got onto the computer, and typed the ending themselves.
> I doubt a crucial character would be killed off in the first game of the new trilogy, like I think Didact will return.
>
> I’ve heard a few theories, perhaps Cortana became metastable (she was able to touch John somehow), maybe she infused herself into Didacts armor, maybe Halsey will make a new one.
>
> I agree it doesn’t make sense for 343i to focus on John’s character development and then kill the only character he talks to.
>
> Only time will tell what’ll happen. I’m looking forward to halo 5 already.
I really do hope so. She was too crucial in Master Chief’s personality to be killed off in the first installment of a trilogy that focuses on his development emotionally. The abruptness of this leads me to believe that we have not seen the last of her. I really hope that the next installment will involve Master Chief being haunted by his loss, and the next installment being him going back for her. Just like he promised.
It really was sad to see the only character master chief genuinely cared for be killed off. I can’t imagine him opening up to anyone in the next two games after having Cortana torn from his fingers.
I heartily disagree, the “death” of Cortana was absolutely necessary and a coming eventuality. For the story and character development to be solidified the protagonist had to lose something close to him, or else it would have felt like the ending of any of the previous Halo games (with the exception of Halo: Reach.) I would like to remind anyone reading this that it isn’t the first time he’s been separated or has lost her, that if you remember he proceeded through the portal to Earth aboard the Prophet of Truth’s ship at the end of Halo 2. At the time, the Chief didn’t suffer emotionally. This loss was different and seems to be much more permanent. However, if you had accessed any of the logs throughout the game (notably during the mission “Requiem”) than you would know that Cortana wasn’t any typical A.I. She was constantly evolving, recognized by both the Librarian and the Didact as unique ancilla. While the Chief believes that he has lost Cortana, I would beg to differ. For now she is lost, but if the Composer could be used to turn flesh into binary, than reason states it would be possible to turn binary into flesh. I believe that Cortana, while interfaced with the Didact’s ship and therefor being interfaced with the Composer, figured out a way to stabilize herself via the required Slip Space rupture seen in the last mission below the composer. The Cortana we have come to know is gone, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her.I’m sure Halo 5 will reintroduce some variant of her.
> I heartily disagree, the “death” of Cortana was absolutely necessary and a coming eventuality. For the story and character development to be solidified the protagonist had to lose something close to him, or else it would have felt like the ending of any of the previous Halo games (with the exception of Halo: Reach.) I would like to remind anyone reading this that it isn’t the first time he’s been separated or has lost her, that if you remember he proceeded through the portal to Earth aboard the Prophet of Truth’s ship at the end of Halo 2. At the time, the Chief didn’t suffer emotionally. This loss was different and seems to be much more permanent. However, if you had accessed any of the logs throughout the game (notably during the mission “Requiem”) than you would know that Cortana wasn’t any typical A.I. She was constantly evolving, recognized by both the Librarian and the Didact as unique ancilla. While the Chief believes that he has lost Cortana, I would beg to differ. For now she is lost, but if the Composer could be used to turn flesh into binary, than reason states it would be possible to turn binary into flesh. I believe that Cortana, while interfaced with the Didact’s ship and therefor being interfaced with the Composer, figured out a way to stabilize herself via the required Slip Space rupture seen in the last mission below the composer. The Cortana we have come to know is gone, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her.I’m sure Halo 5 will reintroduce some variant of her.
Hey! Just want you to know that you made a lot of really good points and I respect your disagreement. Although speculation, I really hope the series follows a path similar to the theories that you described near the end of your post. It’s good to know that I’m not alone in thinking that Cortana will appear in the next installments.
I just redid the mission regarding the Librarian, and I can’t believe I missed the part where she talks about Cortana/kidnaps her. I must have been out of my mind when that part came along, so thanks for telling me that!
Heres my take: I redid the Librarian mission “Reclaimer” as well, and caught the comments about Cortana. I also support your idea of binary data be converted into flesh as well and personally believe Cortana will eventually return to Chief, maybe in 5, or maybe in 6. But one thing is for certain, Chief has lost many soldier friends, seen many humans die, and has almost died himself without it ever phasing him; but from the moment he said “what” when cortana told him she wasn’t coming back; I knew that would destroy every last bit of humanity left him. Like 343 and any fan of the halo series has noted, its Cortana that brings out the human being in Chief. Its been stated Halo 5 will be the darkest of the new trilogy. Personally I believe the next installment will not have Cortana (or at least not until the end), and Chief will act, feel and talk like a soldier and nothing more. And when he either returns to Requiem with the UNSC to study the planet and meets the Librarian housing a metastable copy of Cortana, or whether the Librarians intercepts Chief during a war or battle with Cortana in tow; the return of Cortana will be the return of the Human side of Chief. Until then he will be cold and even more stoic then before IMO. Ill be -Yoink!- if i have to suffer this series without Cortana. Hell, I felt empty as hell and almost cried man tears when I saw her death scene, must be 1000x worse for the Chief. Awesome theory though man, I fully agree with it and hope she truly becomes human. Would be a nice touch to the end of the series to see him physically united with her.
the ending of this game is up there with mass effect 3 for worst ending. Who ever thought it was a good idea to have a short quick time event was stupid. I understand that they left the didact’s death ambiguous to set up a sequel but boy was that a limited ending. We could of did that in mission 3 when we met the dam guy.
Campaign was a greatest hits of the halo series and had no creativity at all. also star wars must of been a heavy influence, once again showing no creativity.
WHile i like the development of cortana and chief and how their part of the story went, it doesnt mean much if you have a under-developed villain, which the didact was. The campaign felt like a walk in the park for chief, he really wasn’t threatened besides the force powers of the didact. This is unacceptable for any story whether it be movie, book or video game.
