Should Master Chief's story end with Infinite?

[Forerunner]

Master Chief goes by many different aliases: John, Spartan 117, Demon, and etc. Whatever you want to call him, he's always been the face of the Halo series. When you think of Halo, he's generally the first thing that comes to mind.

Halo: Infinite is supposed to be the conclusion in the latest saga (H4, H5, and Infinite). So with that in mind, should Master Chief's story finally come to an end? 343i has tried to introduce other playable characters, however, they are generally meant with a lot of backlash. For instance, Fireteam Osiris in Halo 5. None of these characters were well received (besides an old established character like Buck). Everyone just wanted to play as the Chief.

So when should Chief's story end? Do they just put him on ice again (like H3) or do they finally end his saga with Infinite? Or does Master Chief become infinite?

 

[Kasey]

Fuck no.

 

[Banamy]

No. He is Halo.

 

[bananas]

Should've ended after Halo 3, but at this point no. He's a superhero at this point. They'll find ways to keep him around forever.

 

[Xumbrega]

No.

But it fucking should be the end for Cortana for good now.

 

[0MAR10]

no. just like link, he's a staple to video games in general and can be used in multiple storylines .

 

[Buff DrinkLots]

Nope, he's too tied to the series at this point.

 

[Falconbox]

Definitely.

Please bring on a character with some actual personality, not a faceless drone.

 

[Finaj]

No, but they do need better writers going forward. We know that the game has the Narrative Director from the Batman Arkham games.

Do we know who's writing Infinite yet?

 

[AppleKid]

Should've ended with 3 tbh. Would have liked to see them flash forward farther than just ~5 years and with a new character for Halo 4

 

[Deleted member 43077]

probably not.

That being said I havent played Halo Infinite and dont know how the story goes.

 

[Van Bur3n]

I think he deserves an ending at some point. Especially since Steve Downes isn't going to be around forever.

But it's hard to replacement Master Chef. Their attempt in Halo 5 was already a bad one, but I think there were other factors involved that made it hard to digest Fireteam Osiris as the new mains. Suddenly introduced characters whose context are entirely outside of the games shoved center stage as the new faces just doesn't fly.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Maybe not end 100%, but they need to work on a more natural passing of the torch. Over whatever 5 was trying to do.

 

[LegalEagleMike]

Theres always someone else to fight.

 

[Xumbrega]

Definitely.

Please bring on a character with some actual personality, not a faceless drone.

Click to shrink...

Huh... So you don't want to play as a Spartan? That's what the Spartan training do to you, he's an emotionless soldier.

 

[Deleted member 13645]

I actually really liked Locke and would have been fine with him being the MC going forward, but i'm fine with them keeping Chief as well. He's a cool guy.

 

[Deleted member 4482]

have a new character inherit the armor

 

[BarringGaffner]

Why would infinite even have the chief? Seems like a good opportunity for a break if it's a lot of people sharing the world. Or will there be single player?

Edit: just reread about it... why did I think this game was an mmo?

 

[Filipus]

I don't think Master Chief is necessary for a good Halo game (Halo Reach, Halo ODST) BUT I don't think his story needs to end. He's a character that can be put anywhere at this point, just like any other superhero.

 

[SpeedyBlueDude]

No.

343 tried in Halo 4 to make Sarah Palmer the future of the franchise, as a key player and the community at large hated her/it.

343 tried again in Halo 5 to make Locke the future of the franchise, and a key player to potentially replace Chief, and the community hated it.

The community wants Chief to stay the fave of the franchise. If 343 hasn't learned this lesson yet, I have no faith anymore.

 

[Omanisat]

It should have ended with three. But since they un-Finished the Fight years ago what does it matter now?

 

[Coolduderedux]

Master Chief is Halo. Halo is the Master Chief.


The Halo Universe on the other hand, has a lot of potential.

 

[blamite]

Yeah, I guess. It should've ended with 3, tbh. It ODST and Reach were the perfect springboard to move on from him to tell stories with other parts of the universe instead, potential that's been squandered for the most part. 3 more games with the Chief (even though 5 should only count for like... a third) is plenty. End him and Cortana for good with Infinite.

It won't happen though. 343 has really gotten themselves into an impossible situation with this series and keeping the Chief around is the easiest way for them to score points with a certain segment of players no matter what.

 

[icyflamez96]

It should begin with Infinite

 

[Moebius]

Yes, unless Master Chief turns evil and joins the covenant. Only then should he continue to live.

 

[Digital Savior]

I don't want it to end, but I wouldn't be against it.

Spartans never die. They're only MIA.

 

[Draconian]

No.

343 tried in Halo 4 to make Sarah Palmer the future of the franchise, as a key player and the community at large hated her/it.

343 tried again in Halo 5 to make Locke the future of the franchise, and a key player to potentially replace Chief, and the community hated it.

The community wants Chief to stay the fave of the franchise. If 343 hasn't learned this lesson yet, I have no faith anymore.

Click to shrink...

I think the community would've been more receptive to Locke if MC wasn't relegated to a cameo role in the game.

 

[MrBS]

I wouldn't mind voting for both, MC could straight up die on screen in the next game and he would be back in the next one. He is the Optimus Prime of this franchise. He will always be back.

 

[Castor Archer]

Mainline Halo should always be Master Chief, but I'm down for Halo: -name- that's a story within the universe, like Halo Wars, Reach, and ODST.

I do also think Chief's story should come to an end soon though. Halo 4 and 5 felt like wasted potential, they should've gone balls to the wall crazy with Halo 4, Chief being completely alone and stranded on the shield world/brand new type of planet structure. Cortana going nuts, maybe a new civilization... no Covenant or UNSC at all.

 

[NippleViking]

No. He is the Halo's Link (LoZ). Even when he's finished this chronicle, they should just put him on ice until the next big bad threat appears and he needs to be woken.

They need to continue through the eyes of Chief, at least until a suitable, extremely well-liked surrogate character can replace him.

Also OP - I'm pretty sure Infinite isn't the closure of this saga. I recall 343i saying that while initially they'd planned a trilogy (i.e. 4, 5, 6), early in Halo 5's development they decided on the simply having the saga be as long as it needed to be.

 

[Bizzquik]

I think its time to see his face, time to see his motivations, time to see him grow beyond transplanted DoomGuy.

Just because Metroid: Other M failed at giving an established, iconic sci-fi character a bigger in-game backstory doesn't mean it can't be done.

 

[bickieditches]

I think he deserves an ending at some point. Especially since Steve Downes isn't going to be around forever.

But it's hard to replacement Master Chef. Their attempt in Halo 5 was already a bad one, but I think there were other factors involved that made it hard to digest Fireteam Osiris as the new mains. Suddenly introduced characters whose context are entirely outside of the games shoved center stage as the new faces just doesn't fly.

Click to shrink...

Not sure Steve Downs should be a limitation tbh. I think most people still think of MC as a largely silent protagonist (read: his voice doesn't matter). Keep him in the games, or at least his armor design, and Microsoft should be fine.

 

[Forerunner]

Also OP - I'm pretty sure Infinite isn't the closure of this saga. I recall 343i saying that while initially they'd planned a trilogy (i.e. 4, 5, 6), early in Halo 5's development they decided on the simply having the saga be as long as it needed to be.

Click to shrink...

The more I look into it. It seems that it was originally supposed to be the end of the Reclaimer trilogy, however, they changed it to a saga that way they can keep all options opened.

 

[bangai-o]

This always seems to be the question with a new Halo game.

 

[TheBryanJZX90]

It should have ended with 3. Captain Chief had never been much of a character, more of a player insert, and he Halo games Bungie made without him show that the series would have been better off leaving him behind a long time ago.

 

[Ryouji Gunblade]

Something something world's biggest assholes.

They can improve his story and characterization from H5, but I doubt it can be as good as H4, let alone the classics. Whichever the case, try not to end it on a note as weak as H5's. He has a lot of heroic deaths to match.

 

[Panic Freak]

have a new character inherit the armor

Click to shrink...

Kind of like the Dread Pirate Roberts?

 

[Kill3r7]

Maybe, ask me again after Gears 5. As it stands the answer is NO.

It should have ended with 3. Captain Chief had never been much of a character, more of a player insert, and he Halo games Bungie made without him show that the series would have been better off leaving him behind a long time ago.

Click to shrink...

Better off for whom?

 

[Admiral Woofington]

he can end his story only when he finally says his famous "my roflcopter goes soi soi soi" line

 

[Dr. Caroll]

Why not shift over to The Arbiter for a game or two?

 

[TheGhost]

I think they could make it his last mission because if they are smart....Infinite could still be getting free content updates 5-8 years after a successful launch.

 

[Bane]

I'd like it to but people won't let it. I'd love nothing more than for him to get a good ending and a new character to come forward. Locke should have been it but they bungled that with 5.

 

[Detective]

Chief is Halo. Halo is Chief.
Afraid they are gonna fuck him up even more than they did and give us someone as messed up as Team Osiris.

 

[SlickShoesRUCRazy]

Nah, but a break would be alright.

I still want my damn Tactical TPS ODST insurrectionist war game 343!

 

[Lackless]

He did a lot pre-CE as well.

 

[Deleted member 4179]

I feel like Master Chief has pretty much been dead since 343 tried to make him a "real character," so whatever

 

[Detective]

I feel like Master Chief has pretty much been dead since 343 tried to make him a "real character," so whatever

Click to shrink...

THANK YOU

He has *Feelings* and all that drama crap.

 

[Forerunner]

I feel like Master Chief has pretty much been dead since 343 tried to make him a "real character," so whatever

Click to shrink...

THANK YOU

He has *Feelings* and all that drama crap.

Click to shrink...

I don't have a problem with them trying to flesh out the character a bit more. Like him showing emotion with Cortana. That AI has been with him for years.

 

[Ascenion]

no. just like link, he's a staple to video games in general and can be used in multiple storylines .

Click to shrink...

Link isn't the same person though. Master Chief as much as I love him needs an Uncharted 4 moment. Quite frankly the smart thing would've been to pass the torch in Halo 4. No one had an issue with Noble team in Reach either. Forcing Locke on us in a sub-par campaign with misdirection marketing wasn't the way to try.

If you think Master Chief is Halo the maybe the series needs to end as a whole. There's so much more to be done in the universe than repeatedly taking ol'reliable out for a drive every 3-5 years.

 

[Droyd]

I don't have a problem with them trying to flesh out the character a bit more. Like him showing emotion with Cortana. That AI has been with him for years.

Click to shrink...

The Chief - Cortana storyline worked really well in Halo 4. Depends how attached someone is to the original trilogy. I've played the games casually (beat 1 + 3 a few times) and heard it can be jarring to see their relationship change so suddenly in 4. I noticed but thought it was done really well. Great writing.

Shame Halo 5 ruins 4's emotional ending and drags a beloved character through the dirt :/

Spoiler

'Hey let's bring our fanbases fav character back from the dead and make them EVIL with little to no explanation why...'

Spoiler

What a car crash! Glad they're course correcting with Infinite, though.

Recent speculation/evidence suggests 343 are going to explain Cortana's bi-polar behaviour through an infection caused by the flood at the end of Halo 2.