Editing Cortana (level)
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Era|RW}} | |||
{{Title|Cortana}} | {{Title|Cortana}} | ||
{{Disambig header|the Halo 3 campaign level|the human AI|Cortana}} | {{Disambig header|the Halo 3 campaign level|the human AI|Cortana}} | ||
{{Level infobox | {{Level infobox | ||
|prev=''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]'' | |prev=''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]'' | ||
|next=''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]'' | |next=''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]'' | ||
|game=''[[Halo 3]]'' | |||
|name='''''Cortana''''' | |name='''''Cortana''''' | ||
|image=[[File:H3 | |image=[[File:HTMCC H3 Achievement TheKey.jpg|300px]] | ||
|player=[[John-117]] | |||
|date= [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> | |||
|player= | |place= [[High Charity]] | ||
|date=[[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> | |||
|place= | |||
|objective=Rescue [[Cortana]] and destroy [[High Charity]]. | |objective=Rescue [[Cortana]] and destroy [[High Charity]]. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 25: | Line 18: | ||
'''Cortana''' is the ninth [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 3]]''. It takes place in the [[Flood]] infested [[High Charity]]. The player's mission is to find [[Cortana]] in order to activate [[Installation 08]]. | '''Cortana''' is the ninth [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 3]]''. It takes place in the [[Flood]] infested [[High Charity]]. The player's mission is to find [[Cortana]] in order to activate [[Installation 08]]. | ||
Upon completing it on the [[Normal]], [[Heroic]], or [[Legendary]] difficulties, the player will earn [[the Key|"The Key" achievement]] and 40 [[ | Upon completing it on the [[Normal]], [[Heroic]], or [[Legendary]] difficulties, the player will earn [[the Key|"The Key" achievement]] and 40 [[Gamerpoint]]s. Earning over 15,000 points in the campaign meta-game on this level will give the player the [[Orpheus]] achievement, and 10 Gamerpoints. | ||
==Summary== | ==Summary== | ||
With the [[Prophet of Truth]] dead and the [[Covenant]] defeated at last, the Master Chief must now infiltrate the Flood-infested [[High Charity]] and rescue [[Cortana]], who possesses the [[Activation Index]] needed to activate [[Installation 08|the new Halo]]. The Chief flies into High Charity in a Banshee and journeys into the depths of the city, searching for his lost AI companion. During this mission, not only does the Chief encounter stiff resistance from the Flood, he is constantly plagued by disturbing visions of Cortana being tortured, as well as taunts and threats from the [[Gravemind]]. Despite this, he finally locates and retrieves Cortana, finally fulfilling the promise he made to her before departing for [[Earth]]. The Chief then overloads High Charity's backup reactor to destroy the city. The Arbiter unexpectedly shows up and aids the Chief in his escape. The pair find a crashed Pelican and use it to escape | With the [[Prophet of Truth]] dead and the [[Covenant]] defeated at last, the Master Chief must now infiltrate the Flood-infested [[High Charity]] and rescue [[Cortana]], who possesses the [[Activation Index]] needed to activate [[Installation 08|the new Halo]]. The Chief flies into High Charity in a Banshee and journeys into the depths of the city, searching for his lost AI companion. During this mission, not only does the Chief encounter stiff resistance from the Flood, he is constantly plagued by disturbing visions of Cortana being tortured, as well as taunts and threats from the [[Gravemind]]. Despite this, he finally locates and retrieves Cortana, finally fulfilling the promise he made to her before departing for [[Earth]]. The Chief then overloads High Charity's backup reactor to destroy the city. The Arbiter unexpectedly shows up and aids the Chief in his escape. The pair find a crashed Pelican and use it to escape High Charity just before the city is destroyed. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
Line 43: | Line 36: | ||
''(Co-op Change)'' '''Johnson (COM)''': "[[Rtas 'Vadum|The Shipmaster]] will do the same with the Elites." | ''(Co-op Change)'' '''Johnson (COM)''': "[[Rtas 'Vadum|The Shipmaster]] will do the same with the Elites." | ||
''The Chief shakes off some organic material sticking to his boot.'' | ''The Chief shakes off some organic material sticking to his boot.'' | ||
Line 67: | Line 59: | ||
''As the Chief goes deeper into the hive.'' | ''As the Chief goes deeper into the hive.'' | ||
*'''Gravemind (Gravemind Moment)''': "Of course, you came for ''[[Cortana|her]]''... | *'''Gravemind (Gravemind Moment)''': "Of course, you came for ''[[Cortana|her]]''... We exist together now. Two corpses, in one grave..." | ||
*'''Cortana''': ''(distant)'' "A collection of lies; that's all I am! ''Stolen'' [[artificial intelligence|thoughts and memories]]!" | *'''Cortana''': ''(distant)'' "A collection of lies; that's all I am! ''Stolen'' [[artificial intelligence|thoughts and memories]]!" | ||
Line 75: | Line 67: | ||
*'''Cortana''': ''(deranged laughter)'' | *'''Cortana''': ''(deranged laughter)'' | ||
''In the large room where the [[Halo 3 | ''In the large room where the [[Halo 3 Skulls|Tilt skull]] is located, a [[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminal]] can be activated, but does not count towards the Marathon Man achievement. If activated, it displays another Cortana Moment.'' | ||
*'''Cortana (Terminal)''': " | *'''Cortana (Terminal)''': "It was the [[Quarter|coin]]'s fault! I wanted to make you strong, keep you safe...''(drop in tone)'' I'm sorry, I can't..." | ||
''Cortana begins to show signs of [[rampancy]].'' | ''Cortana begins to show signs of [[rampancy]].'' | ||
Line 85: | Line 77: | ||
''The Chief fights through more narrow, Flood-contaminated tunnels.'' | ''The Chief fights through more narrow, Flood-contaminated tunnels.'' | ||
*'''Cortana''': ''(upset and frightened)'' "I'm just my [[Catherine Halsey|mother's]] | *'''Cortana''': ''(upset and frightened)'' "I'm just my [[Catherine Halsey|mother's]] shadow... don't look at me, don't listen! I'm not who I used to be..." | ||
''As the Chief nears a large room (with the route to the reactor room at the top):'' | ''As the Chief nears a large room (with the route to the reactor room at the top):'' | ||
Line 101: | Line 93: | ||
''The Chief heads through a tunnel littered with bones and skulls, and enters the reactor room. He sees one of the four reactor pylons malfunction and overload. The Chief fights his way through the reactor room, and exits through a door on the other side. He enters yet another hallway.'' | ''The Chief heads through a tunnel littered with bones and skulls, and enters the reactor room. He sees one of the four reactor pylons malfunction and overload. The Chief fights his way through the reactor room, and exits through a door on the other side. He enters yet another hallway.'' | ||
*'''Cortana (Cortana Moment)''': ''(panicking, voice slightly distorted)'' "There will be no more sadness, no more anger, no more envy!" | *'''Cortana (Cortana Moment)''': ''(panicking, voice slightly distorted)'' "There will be no more sadness, no more anger, no more envy!" ''(a reference to the three main stages of rampancy.)'' | ||
*'''Gravemind (Gravemind Moment)''': ''(enraged)'' "You ''will'' show me [[Activation Index|what she hides]]...or I shall feast upon your ''bones''!" | *'''Gravemind (Gravemind Moment)''': ''(enraged)'' "You ''will'' show me [[Activation Index|what she hides]]...or I shall feast upon your ''bones''!" | ||
''The Chief begins to reach the end of the hallway.'' | ''The Chief begins to reach the end of the hallway.'' | ||
*'''Cortana (Cortana Moment)''': ''(speaking in a calm, distorted, monotone voice as though brainwashed. Her image is green.)'' "This is [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[AI serial number|AI Serial Number]] CTN 0452-9. I am a monument to all your sins." | *'''Cortana (Cortana Moment)''': ''(speaking in a calm, distorted, monotone voice as though brainwashed. Her image is green.)'' "This is [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[AI serial number|AI Serial Number]] CTN 0452-9. I am a monument to all your sins." | ||
[[File:H3-Cortana-StasisField.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The shielded podium in which Cortana is trapped.]] | |||
''The Chief rushes to the end of the hallway and enters the former [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]]. There he finds Cortana lying prone in a stasis field in a center podium. He bashes the shield until it finally fails. Cut to black.'' | ''The Chief rushes to the end of the hallway and enters the former [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]]. There he finds Cortana lying prone in a stasis field in a center podium. He bashes the shield until it finally fails. Cut to black.'' | ||
Line 127: | Line 120: | ||
*'''Cortana''': "You… keep it. ''(she raises her head, and sounds amused)'' I ''do'' know how to pick 'em." | *'''Cortana''': "You… keep it. ''(she raises her head, and sounds amused)'' I ''do'' know how to pick 'em." | ||
[[File:H3-Index and Cortana.jpg|right|300px]] | |||
*'''John-117''': "Lucky me. Do you still have it?" | *'''John-117''': "Lucky me. Do you still have it?" | ||
''Cortana slowly gets up. As she does, she begins to glow more brightly and the lines of code and equations begin to fall over her surface again. She opens her palm and a hologram of the Index appears above it.'' | ''Cortana slowly gets up. As she does, she begins to glow more brightly and the lines of code and equations begin to fall over her surface again. She opens her palm and a hologram of the Index appears above it.'' | ||
Line 150: | Line 142: | ||
*'''Cortana''': ''(weakly)'' "Chief, get me out of this place. I… I don't want to stay." | *'''Cortana''': ''(weakly)'' "Chief, get me out of this place. I… I don't want to stay." | ||
''The Chief heads back out | ''The Chief heads back out the hallway.'' | ||
*'''Gravemind (Gravemind Moment)''': ''(roars)'' "Now, at last, I see! Her secret is ''revealed!''" | *'''Gravemind (Gravemind Moment)''': ''(roars)'' "Now, at last, I see! Her secret is ''revealed!''" | ||
Line 194: | Line 186: | ||
''The Chief and Cortana find the Arbiter battling Flood with a [[M7057 flamethrower|flamethrower]] (occasionally, Thel will use his energy sword instead).'' | ''The Chief and Cortana find the Arbiter battling Flood with a [[M7057 flamethrower|flamethrower]] (occasionally, Thel will use his energy sword instead).'' | ||
*'''Cortana''': ''(amused)'' " | *'''Cortana''': ''(amused)'' "Wait, you two made nice? What ''else'' did you do while I was gone…?" | ||
[[File:H3 High Charity Blowing up.jpg|thumb|300px| | [[File:H3 High Charity Blowing up.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[High Charity]] is destroyed.]] | ||
''The Chief and 'Vadam clear the immediate area of remaining Flood, then head outside.'' | ''The Chief and 'Vadam clear the immediate area of remaining Flood, then head outside.'' | ||
Line 202: | Line 194: | ||
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0i93cjEEyM '''{''Cutscene''}'''] | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0i93cjEEyM '''{''Cutscene''}'''] | ||
''The Chief and the Arbiter board the Pelican the Chief discovered earlier. The Chief uploads Cortana into the Pelican's holotank and starts up the engines. One of the [[Gravemind]]'s tentacles reaches for the dropship, but the heat from the thrusters forces it to retreat. The Pelican takes off, smoke pouring lightly from the left engine. The tentacle comes back and tries to ensnare the dropship, but the Pelican pulls free of its grip. The Pelican barely escapes as [[High Charity]]'s reactor goes critical, consuming the planetoid in a massive explosion. The Pelican makes its way to the new Halo ring.'' | ''The Chief and the Arbiter board the Pelican the Chief discovered earlier. The Chief uploads Cortana into the Pelican's holotank and starts up the engines. One of the [[Gravemind]]'s tentacles reaches for the dropship, but the heat from the thrusters forces it to retreat. The Pelican takes off, smoke pouring lightly from the left engine. The tentacle comes back and tries to ensnare the dropship, but the Pelican pulls free of its grip. The Pelican barely escapes as [[High Charity]]'s reactor goes critical, consuming the planetoid in a massive explosion. The Pelican makes its way to the new Halo ring.'' | ||
== | ==Trivia== | ||
The | ===Production notes=== | ||
The original idea for the level Cortana was entirely scratched.<ref>[https://twitter.com/dmiller360/status/533780831513624576 '''Twitter''': ''Dan Miller @dmiller360'']</ref> Originally, the level had a proper [[High Charity]] geometry completely different from the geometry seen inside the [[Indulgence of Conviction|Flood-infested cruiser]] in ''[[Floodgate]]''. The player had to follow Cortana's footprints to know where to go. As to why Cortana would be able to leave such footprints, Bungie designer [[Dan Miller]] likened the situation to her mysterious appearance in the closing cutscene of ''[[The Covenant]]''. Once Cortana was rescued, the player was to encounter a [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarab]] with damaged hind legs. The Chief would have to insert Cortana so she could take control of it. Then, the [[Gravemind]] would appear and a battle between him and Cortana's Scarab would ensue. The Chief would have to hold his position on the Scarab by fending off invading Flood forms and shooting off the Gravemind's tentacles that would try to latch on the Scarab. Eventually, the entire level —including its specific High Charity geometry— had to be cut from the game's development. | |||
| | |||
As a replacement for the deleted ''Cortana'' level, ''Floodgate'' was split into two distinct levels, the latter part of the mission becoming the new ''Cortana'' level.<ref>[https://twitter.com/dmiller360/status/533780549807398912 '''Twitter''': ''Dan Miller @dmiller360'']</ref> Thus, the geometry in the released ''Cortana'' level is the same as the one of ''Floodgate'', and there is no unique High Charity geometry in the final game. The second part of ''Floodgate'' —now the new and final ''Cortana'' level— was acknowledged by Bungie as being a bad mission, as it did not have its own level designer.<ref>[http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=47803018&postcount=17956 '''NeoGAF''' - ''Halo |OT14| They call it Halo'']</ref> | |||
===Glitches=== | ===Glitches=== | ||
{{Main|Glitches}} | {{Main|Glitches}} | ||
*During the level, the player will find dead Elites wearing [[Assault Harness|Assault Armor]]. One of them is glitching by doing their death position in mid-air though; it looks like his foot seems to be stuck in Flood biomass. The corpse will fall if the player melees or uses explosives against it. | *During the level, the player will find dead Elites wearing [[Assault Harness|Assault Armor]]. One of them is glitching by doing their death position in mid-air though; it looks like his foot seems to be stuck in Flood biomass. The corpse will fall if the player melees or uses explosives against it. | ||
===Easter | ===Easter Eggs=== | ||
{{Main|Easter | {{Main|Easter Eggs}} | ||
*The [[Halo 3 | *The [[Halo 3 Skulls#Tilt|Tilt]] Skull can be found on this level. | ||
*After obtaining [[Cortana]], there is a skull on a ledge-like structure (it's purple and is kind of bulbous at the end) overhead after the player exits the hallway that leads to Cortana. To get it, one needs to get the Deployable Cover, deploy it on the floor directly in front of the edge of the roof, jump on the deployed cover and crouch jump onto the roof. One may also partner jump or grenade jump with a plasma grenade. Once on top of the roof, locate the skull towards the apex of the angled roof and get the skull. Please note that this skull has no affiliation with the "[[Halo 3 | *After obtaining [[Cortana]], there is a skull on a ledge-like structure (it's purple and is kind of bulbous at the end) overhead after the player exits the hallway that leads to Cortana. To get it, one needs to get the Deployable Cover, deploy it on the floor directly in front of the edge of the roof, jump on the deployed cover and crouch jump onto the roof. One may also partner jump or grenade jump with a plasma grenade. Once on top of the roof, locate the skull towards the apex of the angled roof and get the skull. Please note that this skull has no affiliation with the "[[Halo 3 Skulls|13 required skulls]]" list and, if carried for the rest of the level, will start Master Chief with a Spartan laser on the next level. This may only work with certain skull combination's and/or other factors in gameplay. | ||
===References=== | ===References=== | ||
*This level is a reference to the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' level, ''[[The Library]]'', and the ''Halo 2'' level, ''[[Sacred Icon]]'', where the player has to retrieve Halo's [[Activation Index]] and that it is a pure-Flood level. The only difference is that there are no Sentinels. | |||
*The section of the level after saving Cortana is called 'Nor Hell A Fury...', referencing the poem by William Congreve 'The Mourning Bride'. The entire line is 'Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned', possibly referencing Cortana, who, after months of torment, now has the ability to light the newly constructed Halo ring and destroy the Ark as well as the Flood. | *The section of the level after saving Cortana is called 'Nor Hell A Fury...', referencing the poem by William Congreve 'The Mourning Bride'. The entire line is 'Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned', possibly referencing Cortana, who, after months of torment, now has the ability to light the newly constructed Halo ring and destroy the Ark as well as the Flood. | ||
*Thematically, this level also has much in common with the levels ''[[Keyes]]'' and ''[[The Maw]]''. It depicts the Chief venturing alone into a vessel to rescue a comrade or friend, from the Flood, most specifically for a data construct in their possession; and detonate the fusion reactor core. In this case the objective is the Index to fire Halo; in Keyes it was [[Jacob Keyes|the Captain]]'s neural implants to destroy the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. | |||
*One of Cortana's lines, "There will be no more sadness. No more anger. No more envy," appears to reference [[Marathon]]'s stages of Rampancy; Melancholia, Anger and Jealousy, respectively. | *One of Cortana's lines, "There will be no more sadness. No more anger. No more envy," appears to reference [[Marathon]]'s stages of Rampancy; Melancholia, Anger and Jealousy, respectively. | ||
*The line "It's the coin's fault," is a reference to a factor that brought [[John-117]] into the Spartan program. He identified the side of a 20th-century quarter owned by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] | *The line "It's the coin's fault," is a reference to a factor that brought [[John-117]] into the Spartan program. He identified the side of a 20th-century quarter owned by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] that was about to the hit the ground before it did in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''. | ||
*The Gravemind uses a line from ''Halo 2'': "We exist together now. Two corpses in one grave." This line is referring to Cortana, and referred to the Prophet of Mercy in ''Halo 2''. This line was said in the level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''. | *The Gravemind uses a line from ''Halo 2'': "We exist together now. Two corpses in one grave." This line is referring to Cortana, and referred to the Prophet of Mercy in ''Halo 2''. This line was said in the level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''. | ||
*The achievement for gaining over 15,000 points on this level, entitled Orpheus, is a reference to the ancient Greek mythology story in which the Greek hero Orpheus ventures into the depths of hell to retrieve the one he loves. This is easily compared to the Chief's mission: venture into hell, that is represented as High Charity, to rescue Cortana. | *The achievement for gaining over 15,000 points on this level, entitled Orpheus, is a reference to the ancient Greek mythology story in which the Greek hero Orpheus ventures into the depths of hell to retrieve the one he loves. This is easily compared to the Chief's mission: venture into hell, that is represented as High Charity, to rescue Cortana. | ||
Line 257: | Line 224: | ||
*Due to Flood form action in the reactor's room, one of the four reactors explodes when the player first enters the room. This led to the player's mission to only destroy three reactors instead of four. | *Due to Flood form action in the reactor's room, one of the four reactors explodes when the player first enters the room. This led to the player's mission to only destroy three reactors instead of four. | ||
*The [[Mausoleum of the Arbiter]] can be seen in the distance when standing near the crashed Pelican. This and the [[San'Shyuum|Prophets]]' Inner Sanctum are essentially the only recognizable features of High Charity in ''Halo 2'' that can be seen in ''Halo 3''. One can see in the Bungie feature "Flood Autopsy", that they had originally planned to have the Flood reanimate all Arbiter corpses in the room, creating an Arbiter army for the player to fight. | *The [[Mausoleum of the Arbiter]] can be seen in the distance when standing near the crashed Pelican. This and the [[San'Shyuum|Prophets]]' Inner Sanctum are essentially the only recognizable features of High Charity in ''Halo 2'' that can be seen in ''Halo 3''. One can see in the Bungie feature "Flood Autopsy", that they had originally planned to have the Flood reanimate all Arbiter corpses in the room, creating an Arbiter army for the player to fight. | ||
*The room where [[Cortana]] is located is a remake of the room from the level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]'' from ''Halo 2''. This room is located before the final gravity lift where Cortana says "apparently these are the Prophet Hierarch's private quarters, their inner sanctum". In the "inner sanctum" there are three doors, two located opposite one another, with a third, opposite a large view screen. In the level ''High Charity'', the Chief enters through the third door, and exits through the door on his right; in the level ''Cortana'' from ''Halo 3'', he enters through the door that was locked in ''Halo 2'' (opposite the door that leads to the final gravity lift). The graphic design of the room and the rest of High Charity's interior has been remodeled in ''Halo 3''. It resembles the corridors of the {{ | *The room where [[Cortana]] is located is a remake of the room from the level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]'' from ''Halo 2''. This room is located before the final gravity lift where Cortana says "apparently these are the Prophet Hierarch's private quarters, their inner sanctum". In the "inner sanctum" there are three doors, two located opposite one another, with a third, opposite a large view screen. In the level ''High Charity'', the Chief enters through the third door, and exits through the door on his right; in the level ''Cortana'' from ''Halo 3'', he enters through the door that was locked in ''Halo 2'' (opposite the door that leads to the final gravity lift). The graphic design of the room and the rest of High Charity's interior has been remodeled in ''Halo 3''. It resembles the corridors of the {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}} ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' from ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. | ||
*There is an area with a dead ODST (not the crashed Pelican). It is unknown how he made it so far from the Pelican or if he was from the Frigate {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} before the Flood attacked [[High Charity]]. There is also a Flamethrower in this area which hints to a final stand since he's in a pipe area with one opening. | *There is an area with a dead ODST (not the crashed Pelican). It is unknown how he made it so far from the Pelican or if he was from the Frigate {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} before the Flood attacked [[High Charity]]. There is also a Flamethrower in this area which hints to a final stand since he's in a pipe area with one opening. | ||
* | *On single-player campaign at the end of the level, a Banshee (probably the one the Arbiter used to land on High Charity) can be seen near the Pelican. While the player can reach it and destroy it, the player cannot enter it, and oddly, grenades will not stick to it. | ||
*Much of High Charity is flooded with water; the reason for this is that it crash-landed in a large body of water near the Ark's [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]]. This can be seen by going out to the crashed Pelican and looking towards the Mausoleum and looking downwards. | |||
*This level was originally split into two separate campaign missions, both considerably shorter than the current level. | |||
*According to a quote made by Bungie developer Jason Keith,<ref>http://www.2old2play.com/Blog/Comments/352/17564</ref><ref>http://blog.ascendantjustice.com/halo-3/hindsight-halo-3/halo/</ref> it is implied that the Flood hive of High Charity and the Gravemind were one and the same during ''Halo 3'', thus making this level seem like a boss fight, in a sense.<ref>http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/966/966319p1.html</ref> | |||
*[[Jiralhanae]] and Sangheili skulls can be found among the skeletal remains laying around the level. | |||
*The entire Covenant cityscape once found on the lower levels of High Charity is believed to be completely engulfed in the ocean of unknown fluids seen throughout the level from a distance due to the fact that the cityscape's presence is completely absent. | |||
*The room with the pillars and circular platform outside the window is actually the former High Charity [[Council Chamber]]. | |||
*Numerous landmarks seen in High Charity in ''[[Halo 2]]'' can be found throughout the level including the [[gravity lift]] to the [[Mid Tower]], one of the High Charity corridors, and the Council Chamber. | |||
*This level has been infamous among the community for being overly difficult, repetitive, frustrating, and generally not very fun, along with ''Halo: Combat Evolved's'' ''[[The Library]]''.<ref>http://www.xbox360forum.com/forum/halo-3/52037-whats-annoying-about-level-cortana.html</ref><ref>http://forum.8bitbrigade.com/showthread.php?t=4009</ref> The entire level is covered with Flood 'sludge', which is thought to be flesh of dead bodies. This means that the layout is sometimes disorienting, when it's not possible to tell directions, or even walls from floors. Enemies easily blend into the scenery, thus making the level very difficult. A few players have commented that the level's layout is simply too confusing for those playing it the first time - this is because of the enormous amount of enemies and maze-like pathways. Some fans have even claimed it is one of the worst ''Halo'' campaign levels ever made and a few have even labeled it as the 'worst video game level ever designed'.<ref>http://forum.8bitbrigade.com/showthread.php?t=4009</ref> In contrast, other players enjoy the level for its challenge, and many praise Bungie for making this as realistic as possible. | |||
*In the bone scattered cove before entering the reactor chamber, there is a small yellowish puddle of ooze with a striking resemblance to ''Fuligo septica'' also known as, "dog vomit slime mold". | |||
*The stasis field can be broken with two attacks from the Energy Sword, or 4 melee attacks from a smaller weapon butt. | |||
*Any weaponry from the [[The Covenant (level)|previous level]] is carried on to this level unless the player makes a fresh start, in which case the loadout will be an [[MA5C assault rifle]] and an [[M90 shotgun]]. | |||
**In the opening cutscene, the Master Chief is shown holding the shotgun no matter what weapons the player starts with. However, if the player starts with the default loadout, they are holding the assault rifle instead of the shotgun with the shotgun as their backup weapon. | **In the opening cutscene, the Master Chief is shown holding the shotgun no matter what weapons the player starts with. However, if the player starts with the default loadout, they are holding the assault rifle instead of the shotgun with the shotgun as their backup weapon. | ||
*As seen later, primarily in ''[[Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare]]'', [[High Charity]] was not completely destroyed when the player detonates its reactor. This shell is eventually covered by a [[containment shield]] under the command of [[000 Tragic Solitude]].<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''' - ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - ''Idle Hands II''</ref> This is later breached by [[Voridus]] and the [[Banished]] in ''Awakening the Nightmare'', releasing Flood that had survived the destruction of High Charity and the firing of [[Installation 08]]. | |||
*As seen later, primarily in ''[[Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare]]'', [[High Charity]] was not completely destroyed when the player detonates its reactor. This shell is eventually covered by a [[containment shield]] under the command of [[000 Tragic Solitude]]. | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:H3_HighCharity_Schematic_Concept.jpg|A concept art schematic for the level. | File:H3_HighCharity_Schematic_Concept.jpg|A concept art schematic for the level. | ||
File:H3 Cortana Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of the environment in the level. | File:H3 Cortana Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of the environment in the level. | ||
File:H3 Cortana Reactor Concept.jpg|Concept art of the reactor room. | File:H3 Cortana Reactor Concept.jpg|Concept art of the reactor room. | ||
File:H3 Cortana Concept 2.jpg|Concept art of the Master Chief's raid within | File:H3 Cortana Concept 2.jpg|Concept art of the Master Chief's raid within High Charity. | ||
File:H3_Cortana_Concept_3.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested | File:H3_Cortana_Concept_3.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested High Charity. | ||
File:H3_Cortana_Concept_4.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested | File:H3_Cortana_Concept_4.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested High Charity. | ||
File:H3_Cortana_Concept_5.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested | File:H3_Cortana_Concept_5.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested High Charity. | ||
File:H3_Cortana_Concept_6.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested | File:H3_Cortana_Concept_6.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested High Charity. | ||
File:H3_Cortana_Concept_7.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested | File:H3_Cortana_Concept_7.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested High Charity. | ||
File:H3_Cortana_Concept_8.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested | File:H3_Cortana_Concept_8.jpg|Concept art of the Flood-infested High Charity. | ||
File:H3 Gravemind Concept.jpg|Concept art of an encounter between the Chief and the Gravemind. | File:H3 Gravemind Concept.jpg|Concept art of an encounter between the Chief and the Gravemind. | ||
File:H3-117 and Cortana (Cortana level).jpg | |||
File:H3-117 and Cortana (Cortana level).jpg | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | |||
{{succession box | {{succession box | ||
Line 316: | Line 267: | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{ | {{Level|H3}} | ||
[[Category:Halo 3 | [[Category:Halo 3 Campaign]] |