Editing Cut Halo 2 vehicles

{{Title|Cut ''Halo 2'' vehicles}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{GameFiles}}
{{Series/Cut/H2}}
During the [[Development of Halo 2|development of ''Halo 2'']], a number of '''vehicles were cut''' from the final game release.

==UNSC vehicles==
===Anti-air Scorpion===
An anti-air equipped variant of the [[Scorpion]] tank was included in the early ''Halo 2'' design documentation. This variant bears a striking descriptive resemblance to the [[M808B2 Sun Devil]] vehicle included in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)|Halo Encyclopedia]]'', and may have even inspired this canon vehicle.{{Ref/Reuse|H2:AVehicles}}

===Falcon===
While discussing the "strike fighter" (see below), the developers at Bungie also mentioned the need for a "[[Wikipedia:Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|Black Hawk]]-type vehicle", which was later cut from the game. This seems to correspond with the prototype Falcon aircraft seen in very early [[Halo 2 Beta|beta builds]] of ''Halo 2'', which had been prototyped in 3D shortly after the release of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|1145532132011335680|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Yes! I was playing around with 3D concepts of it right after HaloCE|D=17|M=12|Y=2020}} The vehicle in these builds is untextured and un-animated, simply appearing as a low-poly blockout model. The vehicle has a single pilot with a nose-mounted machine gun at the front of the aircraft and two side-mounted seats for passengers.{{Ref/YouTube|Cl5GL6qXPjE|Gamecheat13|Halo 2 Beta - Falcon Prototype}} The Falcon is additionally included in a rough state in map files for the ''Halo 2'' build seen in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', and can be spawned in via [[modding]].{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Zedd|KsAV1p_yXYo|Lord Zedd|Halo: MCC - Flying The Falcon in Halo 2 And More!|Time=2:28}}

Notably, a [[Cut Halo Wars units#Falcon|vehicle of the same name]] was concepted for, and cut from, the [[real-time strategy]] game ''[[Halo Wars]]'', though in that game was to appear more akin to a UNSC jet fighter and appears to have little resemblance to the ''Halo 2'' vehicle. The ''Halo 2'' Falcon was intended by Marcus Lehto to be a smaller cousin to the Pelican dropship, for small-unit deployment.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|728969994348822528|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Here's a sketch of the proto-Falcon dating back to Halo2. I always wanted a smaller cousin to the Pelican.|Y=2021|M=1|D=7}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=LehtoFalcon1|game_fabricator|1132324500165410817|Marcus Lehto|After building the Pelican, I wanted to design a smaller unit deployment craft. The Falcon was something I started during H2, got morphed into the Hornet (never liked it) in H3, and finally became a reality in Reach.|Y=2021|M=1|D=7}} Following the cutting of the ''Halo 2'' Falcon, Marcus Lehto continued to work on the idea, producing sketches between the production of ''Halo 2'' and ''[[Halo 3]]'' that later became ''Halo 3''{{'}}s aerial craft the [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornet]].{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|1145531541377802241|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Just found this old sketch idea from one of my books between Halo2 and Halo3. Falcon design brainstorm I believe. Trying to cram the Warhog in there somehow.|D=17|M=12|Y=2020}}{{Ref/Reuse|LehtoFalcon1}} However, Lehto wasn't satisfied with the Hornet and eventually the Falcon would finally be realised in 2010's ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' as the [[UH-144 Falcon]], a tiltrotor helicopter bearing little visual resemblance to the original ''Halo 2'' design but filling the same "Black Hawk" gameplay role.{{Ref/Reuse|LehtoFalcon1}}

<gallery>
File:H2 Falcon Concept.jpg|''Halo 2'' concept art for the Falcon.
File:HTMCC_H2_Falcon_Back.jpg|Back view of the Falcon in ''The Master Chief Collection''.
File:HTMCC_H2_Falcon_Front.jpg|Front view of the Falcon in ''The Master Chief Collection''.
File:HTMCC_H2_Falcon_Side.jpg|Side view of the Falcon in ''The Master Chief Collection''.
File:HTMCC_H2_Falcon_Flying.jpg|Flying the Falcon in ''The Master Chief Collection''.
File:HTMCC H2 Falcon 4Players.jpg|The Falcon with four passengers.
File:HTMCC_H2_Falcon_Shooting.jpg|A passenger shooting the cut [[M247 machine gun]] weapon.
File:HTMCC_H2_Falcon_Driver.jpg|An external view of the driver in the cockpit (note the [[Cut Halo 2 weapons#Silenced SMG|cut suppressed SMG]].
File:Early Falcon Concept.jpg|Marcus Lehto's Falcon concept sketch produced between ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3''.
File:HR GrenadierFalcon FrontQuarter2.png|The Falcon as it appears in ''Halo: Reach''.
</gallery>

===Kestrel===
The Kestrel was a small VTOL, designed to serve in gameplay as a [[UNSC]] aircraft and counterpart to the [[Banshee]]. A number of designs were concepted, though the development team had a difficult time getting the engine physics to work correctly.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=H2CE|DWI7AhQFpTE|Bungie|Cutting Room Floor Weapons Vehicles and Characters|Y=2020|M=12|D=17|Detail=Official Bungie upload of the BTS video from the ''Halo 2'' Collector's Edition}} One of the Kestrel concepts later informed the now-canon [[AV-30 Kestrel]]; featured as a [[MEGA Brands Halo Toys|MEGA Brands Halo Toy]] and useable in the 2015 game ''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''.
<gallery>
File:H2_Kestrel_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art of the cut Kestrel in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2_Kestrel_Concept_2.jpg|Concept art of the cut Kestrel in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2_Kestrel_Concept_3.jpg|Concept art of the cut Kestrel in ''Halo 2''.
</gallery>

===Mongoose===
{{Main|Mongoose}}
The Mongoose was originally intended to be a vehicle useable in ''Halo 2''. The vehicle was fully built and animated, with gameplay of the ATV shown by Bungie in the [[Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition|''Halo 2'' Limited Collector's Edition]] documentary. In the build shown, the Mongoose uses the same driving sounds as the [[Warthog]] and has the aiming reticule of the [[Magnum]]. During development, the Mongoose was difficult to integrate into gameplay, with the designers trying out front-mounted guns and no weapons. Ultimately, the vehicle was cut as it interfered too much with the Warthog and [[Ghost]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2CE}}

Notably, the Mongoose was brought back almost wholly unchanged in ''[[Halo 3]]'' and has since remained a series staple; in ''Halo 3'' and subsequent titles, the Mongoose is a two-person vehicle with no armaments. A second player can mount the back of the vehicle and fire their handheld weapons in third-person or carry objectives (such as a [[flag]]). The idea of the Mongoose with weapons was later revisited in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', with the game's multiplayer introducing the [[Gungoose]] - exactly the same as the regular Mongoose but with two front-mounted and driver-fired [[M67 light anti-infantry weapon|M67 LMGs]].

<gallery>
File:Mongoose Large.jpg|A Mongoose on [[Coagulation]].
File:H2 Mongoose Front Render.jpg|Front render of the ''Halo 2'' Mongoose.
File:H2 Mongoose Rear Render.jpg|Rear render of the ''Halo 2'' Mongoose.
File:H2 BurialMounds Perspective Concept.jpg|Concept art for the map [[Burial Mounds]] depicting the Mongoose.
</gallery>

===Strike fighter===
{{Quote|no=five
|1=[[Marcus Lehto]]
|q1=I think it was the Strike Fighter, right? It was like a defensive fighter for the... the... uh...
|2=[[Robert McLees]]
|q2=Earth Space.
|3=Marcus Lehto
|q3=Well, it just didn't fit into our game play, either. We didn't have any kind of purpose for this thing
|4=[[Shi Kai Wang]]
|q4=Unless it's cinematics.
|5=Robert McLees
|q5=Yeah it'd be a cinematic-only thing, and there wasn't enough time to add it in.
|6=Staff at Bungie discussing the strike fighter.{{Ref/Reuse|H2CE}}
}}
The strike fighter was intended as a defensive [[space fighter]] for use by the [[UNSC]] during the [[Battle for Earth]]. The vehicle would have little place in actual gameplay, and instead be a cinematic-only vehicle, similar to the [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] seen in the final game. For gameplay, the designers needed more of a "[[Wikipedia:Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|Black Hawk]]-type vehicle", likely referring to the cut Falcon UNSC aircraft detailed above.{{Ref/Reuse|H2CE}} Early [[Halo 2 storyboards|storyboards]] for the levels [[Cairo Station]] and the cut level [[Cut Halo 2 levels#Covenant Ship|Covenant Ship]] show some more usage of the strike fighter; in the cut sections of ''Halo 2''{{'}}s early story, the strike fighters would have filled the role shown by the Longsword in the final game - performing an attack run on a [[Day of Jubilation|Covenant carrier]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2CE}}

The strike fighter notably bears a strong resemblance space fighters designed by Bungie in their later titles; specifically the [[YSS-1000 Sabre]] in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' and the jumpships of the later ''Destiny''.
<gallery>
File:H2 StrikeFighter Concept 1.jpg|Concept art for the Strike Fighter.
File:H2 StrikeFighter Concept 2.png|Concept art for the Strike Fighter.
File:H2 StrikeFighter Concept 3.jpg|Concept art for the Strike Fighter.
File:H2 TheArmory Storyboard 1.jpg|Storyboard for [[The Armory]], showcasing a strike fighter in the foreground.
</gallery>

===Orca===
The Orca is a vehicle mentioned in ''Halo 2'' design documentation. It was intended to be a troop-carrying watercraft. The documentation additionally details a variant known as the Mortar Orca, appropriately equipped with mortars as weapons.{{Ref/Generic|Id=H2:AVehicles|[[Halo 2: Artifacts]]|Episode 4 - The Cutting Room Floor|Detail=13:25}}

===Piglet===
Found in the files for ''Halo 2'', the Piglet is seemingly a static prop object intended to populate the level and visually resembles a scaled-down version of the [[Warthog]]. The model has no collision, animations and other info markers required to be useable as a vehicle in-game. The Piglet was notably featured in a breakdown by [[Kenneth Peters]] in an [[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|MCC]] Flighting Update on the ''[[Halo Waypoint]]'' forums, where he made the vehicle driveable in ''Halo 2'' via [[modding]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://forums.halowaypoint.com/t/mcc-development-flighting-update/5019/7?u=postums|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=MCC Development & Flighting Update|D=20|M=02|Y=2022}}
<gallery>
File:H2 Piglet Render.png|The Piglet's model, as viewed in 3DS Max.
File:H2_Piglet_Elite.png|Setting up the Piglet to be driveable, via modding.
File:H2_Piglet_Arby.png|The Arbiter driving a modded Piglet.
</gallery>

===Warthog variants===
These '''Warthogs''' were created by artist [[Marcus Lehto]] shortly after the release of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|1147290983479906304|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Right after Halo CE, I was inspired to build some variants of the Warthog. Different tires, camo netting, troop carrier, and my fav wa the SnowHog.|D=17|M=12|Y=2020}} An image of them was later released on [[Bungie.net]] as part of their ''[[Halo 2]]'' project page.{{Ref/Site|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo2/asset_thumb_viewer.aspx?cc=22&at=53&page=1|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 2 project page}}

In later media such as Bungie.net news, the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)|Halo Encyclopedia]]'' and the [[Halo Waypoint]] universe section, several vehicles have been described with very similar traits to these cut vehicles, namely being the (from left to right, as per the image and not including the standard Warthog) [[M868 Tropic Warthog]], [[M862 Arctic Warthog]] and [[M914 Recovery Vehicle]]. This was later confirmed by [[Jeff Easterling]],{{Ref/Twitter|GrimBrotherOne|1216113343863250944|Jeff Easterling|Quote=Seems about right.|D=17|M=12|Y=2020}} with the note that it can change later if 343 Industries needed.{{Ref/Twitter|GrimBrotherOne|1216117479207948288|Jeff Easterling|Quote=Seems to all fit, and we can always change it if we need.|D=17|M=12|Y=2020}}

''Halo 2'' design documentation also references a number of other Warthog variants including a desert camo Warthog and a "night mission" camo Warthog.{{Ref/Generic|Id=H2:A|[[Halo 2: Artifacts]]|Episode 4 - The Cutting Room Floor|Detail=9:44}}
<gallery>
File:H2 Warthog Variants.jpg|The cut Warthog variants.
</gallery>

==Covenant vehicles==
===Brute Chopper===
Referred to in documentation as the "Brute cycle", early ''Halo 2'' intended to feature the vehicle introduced in subsequent games as the [[Chopper]] for the [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2:AVehicles}} The vehicle was concepted by [[Eddie Smith]], and ultimately later fairly faithfully realised in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
<gallery>
File:H2 Chopper Concept.jpg|''Halo 2'' Chopper concept art by Eddie Smith.
</gallery>

===Brute mounts===
Early ''Halo 2'' design documentation references the desire to have Brutes able to ride [[List of animals|animal]] mounts into battle.{{Ref/Reuse|H2:AVehicles}}

===Covenant artillery===
{{Main|Type-48 Weevil}}
In the [[Halo 2 E3 demo|''Halo 2'' E3 demo]], the city of [[New Mombasa]] is depicted as under siege by a massive Covenant artillery cannon. During the demo, a flight of Longswords is called in to bomb the gun. While this massive artillery piece does not appear in the final game, a smaller version of it known as the Type-48 Weevil does appear in the beach section of the level Outskirts - though inactive. Through modding, the guns are found to have turning and firing animations{{Ref/YouTube|hp5VsRt7HFo|Generalkidd|Halo 2 - The Secret AA Turrets That Were Never Used}}, indicating they may have been intended to be seen firing on the city of New Mombasa in-game.
<gallery>
File:H2E3Demo CovenantArtillery.png|The artillery in the E3 demo.
File:H2-CovenantArtilleryTurret.png|The Type-48 Weevil seen in the final ''Halo 2'' build.
</gallery>

===Covenant fuel truck===
Early ''Halo 2'' design documentation references a vehicle called the "Covenant fuel truck". No further details are known.{{Ref/Reuse|H2:AVehicles}} A [[Combat support vehicle|similar vehicle]] exists in ''Halo'' canon, though is likely unrelated to this concept.

===Command shuttle===
Seen only in early [[Halo 2 storyboards|storyboards]] for the level [[The Arbiter]], the command shuttle appears to be a large Covenant [[dropship]] similar in scale to the [[Type-56 Lich|Lich]]. The vehicle would have been used to transport the Elite strike team to the [[Threshold gas mine]], before being replaced by three Phantoms in the final game. The command shuttle reappears in storyboards for the game's epilogue cutscene, having been taken over by the [[Flood]].
<gallery>
File:H2_TheArbiter_V2_Storyboard_Intro_1.jpg|Storyboards of a command shuttle inserting the Arbiter's team into the gas mine.
File:H2_TheArbiter_V2_Storyboard_Intro_3.jpg|Storyboards of a command shuttle inserting the Arbiter's team into the gas mine.
File:H2_TheArbiter_V2_Storyboard_Intro_6.jpg|Storyboards of a command shuttle inserting the Arbiter's team into the gas mine.
File:H2_TheArbiter_V2_Storyboard_Intro_7.jpg|Storyboards of a command shuttle inserting the Arbiter's team into the gas mine.
File:H2_Epilogue_Storyboard_2.jpg|A command shuttle can be seen in storyboards for the game's [[Earth Ark|original ending]].
</gallery>

===Ghost variants===
Early ''Halo 2'' design documentation references a vehicle called an "Excavation Ghost", alongside "VTOL" and "Special Forces" Ghost variants. No further details are known.{{Ref/Reuse|H2:AVehicles}}

===Excavation Shadow===
Early ''Halo 2'' design documentation references a vehicle called an "Excavation Shadow" - presumably a variant of the existing Shadow vehicle. No further details are known.{{Ref/Reuse|H2:AVehicles}}

===Shadow troop carrier===
{{Main|Type-29 Shadow}}
The Shadow troop carrier is a troop carrier. In-game, the vehicle is only featured in the level [[Outskirts]], driving along the Mombasa highways. These vehicles carry Ghosts in their underbelly compartments; however, a troop carrier variant exists in the files unused, and is shown in the [[Halo 2 Manual|''Halo 2'' Manual]]. This vehicle is found in the shared map content in the ''Halo 2'' component of ''The Master Chief Collection''{{Ref/Reuse|Zedd}}, and despite being unused the troop transport variant was even retextured for the visually updated campaign of ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.{{Ref/YouTube|miyi8dq34DI|Generalkidd|Halo 2 - The Secret Troop Transport Variant Of The Shadow}}
<gallery>
File:H2 Shadow Concept 2.jpg|Concept art for the troop transport Shadow.
File:H2 Shadow Passengers.jpg|A Grunt and a Jackal in the troop bay.
File:H2-T29ShadowTVT-Side.png|A render of the troop transport Shadow.
File:H2-T29ShadowTVT-SideProfile.png|A render of the standard Shadow featured in ''Halo 2'', for reference.
File:H2A T29Shadow TroopTransport.png|A visually updated troop transport Shadow in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
</gallery>

===Phantom door gunner variant===
Finalised storyboards for the level The Arbiter showcase a [[Type-52 Phantom]] with door-mounted gunners. This Phantom design ultimately was discarded for the final game, instead preferring to use three larger plasma cannons. This design for the Phantom was later employed for ''Halo 3'' and subsequent ''Halo'' games.
<gallery>
File:H2_TheArbiter_V3_Storyboard_Intro_27.jpg
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
{{Deleted Material}}
[[Category:Halo 2]]