Editing Cut Halo 3 weapons

{{Title|Cut ''Halo 3'' weapons}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{GameFiles}}
{{Series/Cut/H3}}
During the [[Development of Halo 3|production]] of ''[[Halo 3]]'', several '''weapons''' were concepted and implemented - though ultimately cut for various reasons.

==UNSC==
===Missile launcher===
During the game's development, it seems that a second rocket launcher was intended for inclusion. Several pieces of concept art for this weapon can be found in ''[[The Art of Halo 3]]'', showcasing multiple rocket launcher designs reminiscent of the [[Cut_Halo:_Combat_Evolved_weapons#Anti-air_rocket_launcher|anti-air rocket launcher]] cut from ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. One of these concepts is famously known as the "G4H-DuSH", derived from the [[wikipedia:Leet|L33t speak]] for "gah-dush", an onomatopoeia of the sound a rocket makes when it is launched or detonates.{{Ref/Book|AoH3|Page=58-59}}

An image posted by Reddit user "sneakyfellow" showcases a weapon resembling these concepts in the [[Halo 3 Alpha|''Halo 3'' Alpha]], though no details are known of its in-game operation.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/u6xai/my_friend_and_i_got_to_play_the_halo_3_alpha_in/|Site=Reddit|Page=My friend and I got to play the Halo 3 alpha in January of 2007. Here are some pictures I took.|D=20|M=9|Y=2021}} Given its resemblance to the anti-air rocket launcher, it is possible this weapon was eventually superseded by the [[LAU-65D/SGM-151 missile pod|missile pod]].

A later leak of the ''Halo 3'' Alpha showcases some more gameplay of this weapon. Referred to in-game as the Missile Launcher, the weapon is an untextured model. It has a fully-realised HUD and carries one rocket, before needing to reload. The weapon fires a single missile with a fair degree of drop.{{Ref/Twitter|landaire|1481100267516923906|lander|Quote=valhalla|Detail=Footage of the Missile Launcher in use.|D=17|M=01|Y=2021}}
<gallery>
File:G4H-DuSH-RocketLauncher-Concept.png|Concept art for the "G4H-DuSH".
File:H3_CutRocketLauncher_Concept_1.png|Concept art for the rocket launcher.
File:H3_CutRocketLauncher_Concept_2.png|Concept art for the rocket launcher.
File:H3 - Manual interior.jpg|Concept art used in the [[Halo 3 manual|''Halo 3'' manual]] depicting John-117 holding a missile launcher.
File:H3 Alpha RocketLauncher.jpg|A picture of the rocket launcher in the ''Halo 3'' Alpha.
File:H3 Alpha MissileLauncher Ground.png|The missile launcher on the ground inside a base on [[Valhalla]].
File:H3 Alpha MissileLauncher ThirdPerson.png|A Spartan holding the missile launcher.
File:H3 Alpha MissileLauncher FirstPerson.png|A view of the missile launcher in first-person.
</gallery>

==Covenant==
===Excavator===
The Excavator is a weapon found in early beta builds of ''[[Halo 3]]'', and can be found in the [[Halo 3 ViDoc: Et Tu, Brute?|Et Tu, Brute?]] ViDoc wielded by [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]]. The weapon is an early version of the [[Mauler]] found in the final game; the original design and concept for the Mauler was based on the [[Cut Halo: Combat Evolved weapons#Excavator|Excavator weapon]] cut from ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.{{Ref/Book|AoH3|Page=61}} The weapon can be found in the ''[[Halo 3 Beta]]''.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Kidd|l_CF6ubz5GM|Generalkidd|Halo 3 - Never Before Seen Cut Weapons, Vehicles & Equipment In The Beta}}{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Analysis|brd9uKroWGQ|The Vengeful 'Vadam|Full Analysis of the Halo 3 Beta|D=20|M=9|Y=2020}}
<gallery>
File:H3 BruteExcavator.png|A Brute wielding the Excavator in ''Et Tu, Brute?''.
File:H3_Beta_Excavator.png|The Excavator in the Beta.
File:H3_Beta_Excavator_FP.png|The Excavator held in first-person - note the transparency effect on the gun.
</gallery>

==Forerunner==
===Guardian eye===
In early production, the planned [[Guardian Sentinel]] in the titular [[Guardian Forest]] level was to have a unique weapon of its own. In the planned encounters, players would have been able to hijack the Guardian and rip out the Sentinel's eye, using it as a powerful weapon. Little is known of this weapon's planned function.{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gdcvault.com/browse/gdc-09/play/1284|Site=GDC Vault|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Powerpoint|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://downloads.bungie.net/presentations/gdc_bungieproduction_march2009.pptx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie|Detail=Original presentation download}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Doc|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://twitter.com/dmiller360/status/881997799046258697?s=19|Site=Twitter|Page=Dan Miller|Quote=#halo3 original 'guardian forest' (cut map):}}
<gallery>
File:H3_Guardian_Concept_4.jpg|Near-final concept art for the Guardian Sentinel, with its distinctive red eye prominently-featured.
File:H3_Epitaph_Hologram.png|A model of the Guardian featured on [[Epitaph]].
</gallery>

==Equipment==
Alongside the various cut weapons, a number of [[equipment]] items were cut or significantly altered prior to release.
===Bomb===
The [[Type 14 Magnetic/Anti-Tank Mine|bomb]] used in the [[Assault]] gametype appears in the Beta, similar in purpose to the [[TR/9 trip mine|trip mine]]. The bomb can be picked up and thrown as an equipment, at which point it will roll along the ground while beeping and flashing red. The beeping escalates in frequency, ultimately resulting in an explosion.{{Ref/Reuse|Kidd}}
<gallery>
File:H3 Beta07 Bomb Pickup.png|The bomb in the March 2007 beta.
File:H3 Beta07 Bomb Thrown.png|The bomb in the March 2007 beta.
File:H3 Beta07 Bomb Explosion.png|The bomb in the March 2007 beta.
</gallery>

===Covenant trip mine===
Found in the files of the [[Halo 3 Beta|''Halo 3'' Beta]], this early version of the [[TR/9 trip mine]] boasts a distinctly Covenant themeing as opposed to the aesthetic found in the final game. The metal and lights on the mine have a blue/purple hue rather than the brown-orange seen in the final game.{{Ref/Twitter|Kashiiera|1485054590542307330|Kiera キ|Quote=Today I learned a covenant tripmine exists in the Halo 3 Beta|D=13|M=02|Y=2022}} The files in the Beta only have a model and texture, with no associated gameplay functions.{{Ref/Twitter|Kashiiera|1492585987490426880|Kiera キ|Quote=I could make it different, the H3 beta only had the model and textures leftover not the actual equipment :(|D=13|M=02|Y=2022}}
<gallery>
File:H3 Beta CovenantTripMine Screenshot 1.jpg|The Covenant tripmine in the ''Halo 3'' Beta.
File:H3_Modded_CovenantTripMine_Screenshot_1.png|The Covenant tripmine restored into ''Halo 3'' via the use of [[modding]].{{Ref/Twitter|Kashiiera|1492583982617305095|Kiera キ|Quote=I restored the covenant tripmine that I recently found in Halo 3s Beta!|D=13|M=02|Y=2022}}
</gallery>

===Bubble shield===
Various early forms of the [[Z-4190 bubble shield|bubble shield]] can be found in early builds and trailers. One of the most notable can be found in the ''[[Starry Night]]'' trailer, thrown to the ground by [[John-117]] to avoid incoming [[plasma mortar]] fire. This model seems to be based upon the version found in the March 2007 Beta build of ''Halo 3'', shown below.{{Ref/Reuse|Kidd}}

Another, model of the bubble shield found in ViDocs and the multiplayer beta appears to use a similar design to the [[radar jammer]] and [[power drain]], except yellow. This bubble shield is capable of rolling along the ground, pulling the shield with it.
<gallery>
File:BubbleShield StarryNight.jpg|A closeup of the bubble shield model in ''Starry Night''.
File:Avatars Halo Halo3 Shield.jpg|The ''Starry Night'' bubble shield in use.
File:H3 Beta07 BubbleShield Pickup.png|The bubble shield pickup in the March 2007 beta.
File:H3 Beta07 BubbleShield Interior.png|The active bubble shield pickup in the March 2007 beta.
File:H3 Beta07 BubbleShield Exterior.png|The active bubble shield pickup in the March 2007 beta.
File:1179249572.jpg|An early bubble shield in the multiplayer beta.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Deleted Material}}
[[Category:Halo 3 deleted material]]