Well...that's an interesting opinion If I do say so. I enjoy the secrecy, it only serves as build up for E3 either ways, you know? Most of the real showing off will be done in June for all intents and purposes. If Hunt The Truth turns out to be the only source of info, I'd be skeptical too.

Plus, there's also the fact that Halo's reputation is on a thin line after Halo 4(I didn't think it was that bad, in fact I'd give it a solid 8/10) and the debacle that was MCC, so I'm sure there hype doesn't come from thin air.

If the name is blacked out, how does he know that the document refers to the same John?

New Episode 02, what the F is going on?

that's more of a "let's not show his last name" by 343.

It's clear that some of these interviewees are hired by ONI. They are basically telling Benjamin the story he obviously wants to hear. It's the perfect superhero origin - Unbroken among the broken, hopeful among the hopeless, strong among the weak, and so on and on.

They are trying to cover up the Spartan II program through lies. It's nothing new at this point, but it is interesting to see what had been going on with the world while John was trained to be a Spartan. Interested to see how Ben uncovers these truths too.

@theacidskull:

Clearly the boxing coach was hired by ONI.

My thoughts exactly.

I would love to criticize the inconsistencies in Episode 1 where they say John was 12 when he began boxing but I keep hearing these clone theories, so I'll hold off from being an ass until I learn more.

Just listened to Episode 2. Obviously Katrina and Ellie just done fucked up ONI's cover up story. It seems they might be trying to build up John as this patriotic icon, give him purpose as a hero, and then make it all the easier to band against him with some false truth that seems to be going on with Guardians.

So Halsey's plan essentially worked. Kidnap the kids, replace them with clones. Was it her plan for the clones to die to avoid future confusion if the two were ever linked?

Doubt the clone theory is true, I think it has more to do with the boxing coach being an ONI agent or something like that.

Its not a theory. In the very first book The Fall of Reach they Halsey talks about how there creating clones of the children that will die off after a few years. Johns clone making it to twelve isn't crazy but at a certain point the clones were meant to just die off suddenly.

I'm aware of the flash clones. I was referring to the theory that the Flash clone survived, which has pretty much been debunked by the second audio episode.

@theacidskull: Ah yea. Its plausible that the clone survived but I doubt it. The boxing story was nothing but a hoax.

WORD BRAH! Obviously, any mention of John beyond the age of six are all false information and lies, which Ellie and Katrina proved by confirming the clone's death almost immediately after.

@boxxybae: Or a different John and Oni Knew it.

The more I think about it the more hopeful I am that 343 will pull something off here with some of these questions that they're asking about Chief.

The most impactful thing in Halo 4 was that Cortana died, and though it wasn't handled perfectly, the personal story of Chief and Cortana was by far the most meaningful thing in Halo 4, I thought it added a lot to the emotional resonance of the game, it also stood to make Master Chief a potentially way more interesting Character than in the past.

Honestly, with where Halsey is and with where John is, especially after losing Cortana, there is potential for some pretty powerful drama in Halo 5 (if that's your thing, it's mine) if they do it right. Chief has lost all his brothers and sisters in the other Spartan II's as far as he is aware besides what's left of blue team basically, he has lost his closest companion in Cortana. All he has left is Fred/Linda/Kelly, and his "mother" Halsey, who kidnapped him at 6, ruining his parents lives, and forcing him to become a soldier which I'd imagine in his current state is started to weigh on him more and more. Chiefs life has literally been nothing but lose and he has never done anything to question it. Meanwhile Halsey is being hunted by ONI as well as Chief himself, despite being the reason that the Human race is still around by a new breed of Spartans meant to replace him.

Starting to see him actually break a little at his seams, even if subtle would go a long way with me. I want Halo to be a universe with consequence and I want them to play off the strengths of Halo 4.

Agreed, Johns evolution is number one priority list when it comes to Halo 5. His characterization is one of the things I loved about Halo 4. I hope Halo 5 has more pivotal moments where Chiefs character takes subtle yet integral developments, like when he disobeyed a direct order from Del Rio in Halo 4.

Also, I kind of want to see John lose his temper just once. For someone who is a stoic as a damn rock, i'd be very interesting to see him take a momentary, yet dramatic turn.

I want to see Chief and Halsey together. On the run, breaking rules to fight for the truth, inadvertently making them seem like the "bad guys" in the process.

@theacidskull:

I almost would be afraid to see John lose his shit. I cant imagine what would break him.

Almost reviving Cortana and failing at the last second because of someone?

That... oh man if Locke got Cortana "killed" that would be horrifying.

MC would probably pound him into a puddle of blood

so this really is the Year of the Hunt.

John finding out that a Spartan shot off Halsey's arm at the order of Oni might piss him off, but I see it more subtle that raging out, that's just not him, and I think that'd be sort of a betrayal of his character.

I could see him asking for answers and abandoning the UNSC's cause at most. Maybe looking for her for answers but not allowing any harm to come to her. He's not just going to start shooting other UNSC personnel or even Oni unless it's in direct defense.

I'd imagine Chiefs rage out would be more in line with that of a silent killers than that of the Hulk. Like he doesn't say a word but completely beats the tar out of everyone in the room.

ep 3

getting closer to the truth, Oni prob ain't to happy. These continue to be amazing

The description of how Chief took out thous poor ODSTs was fucking spine-chilling.

I love it!

I have yet to get to listen to it but i'm assuming you're referring to after his surgery?

Yup.

FUCK YEAH BUDS!

Stupid ass reporter! Get yo shit straight!

ep 4 early

wow, what a cliffhanger

Holy crap, Key is killing it as Benjamin! He is an amazing voice actor! Wish he did this sort of thing more often.

And this was honestly the best episode so far.

New Halo 5: Guardians, live action trailer featuring Locke (and yes, pre-order incentives).

@deranged: Okay, Locke is pretty fucking badass. I mean, seriously.

Dude, I just cannot wait to see all the new movement upgrades used in a campaign setting. I always felt the previous games downplayed how crazy Spartans (especially Chief), but never did anything gameplay wise to show it. I love how much faster Guardians is and it fits perfectly with how a Spartan should move.

And man, Locke crashing through that ceiling and tagging the Elite with a sticky!

ALL THE HYPE

@deranged: I'm sitting in class right now what sort of preorder incentives we talking? Please nothing game breaking...

Nevermind. Just googled it. looks like nothing but a skin. whew.

new ep goes up at 2pm Pacific

I'm not gonna listen to these for an hour.

What are they and what's the story so far?

Ep 5 20 Min

I haven't played four but I did read some of the early books... something tells me I'm out of the loop as far as whats happening story wise

HOLY SHIT! HE SPOKE TO MENDEZ!

Current Image

BLUE TEAM

ODST Maybe probably/is BUCK

Or maybe he's just a plant?

Jornalist is hired by ONI to get interviews from people of Master Chief's past in order to paint him in a positive light. He interviews people that ONI said to, but he has his own sources and interviews them too. The info they give contradict the info the ONI sources give. He follows up with someone and the start to freak out, the call is recorded he is invited to ONI. The tell him to turn everything in, he fired basically. On his way home he spots a person that he interviewed, he appears to be completely different person as the person he interview. He freaks out and they sedate him, the Space TSA. He arrives home drousy and notices he was recording the whole time. ONI was caught on tape just tossing him around, he's mad now he starts to broadcast the FULL story to the universe, which is basically episode 1 of this. Poorly written but to the point.

It is really interesting, just like listening to a audio book. Some high production values going on here.

@bigjeffrey: A plant? O_O

Holy... blue team!? Kelly, Linda and Fred are making a comeback?

So what do everybody think the big Forerunner machine-monster-thing is? It showed up in the first trailer, and is looming over a destroyed city in the new image.

My guess is that it is the form that the Didact assumes after being Composed at the end of Halo 4.

Blue team in Halo 5.

HYPE LEVELS JUST WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.

Okay, so who is the fourth member of Blue Team? Left of Chief is obviously Linda. I'm guessing far right is Fred. Then middle right is... Tom? At the very least it's probably a SIII given the helmet, yeah?

And then Buck on the ONI side?! YES PLEASE. Now I can't wait to read his new book after finals are over.

Apparently, there's a lot I need to catch up on because now I'm just not sure what's going on anymore. I just want this fucking game.

@falconer: Linda, Kelly, and Fred

@big_jon: Yeah, I did some poking around on r/halo and saw that. I thought it was an SIII given the helmet and the stance/angle of the character made me think it was a dude. But the preference of the character using a pistol is a Kelly thing. I haven't finished Mortal Dictata or read any of the comics, but if they're pulling out Blue Team for H5 I wonder if we'll see any SIII's.