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{{Level infobox | {{Level infobox | ||
|pagegamelabel=H4 | |pagegamelabel=H4 | ||
|prev = [[Composer (level)|Composer]] | |prev=[[Composer (level)|Composer]] | ||
|next = | |next=*[[Halo 4 credits|''Halo 4'' credits]] {{C|''[[Halo 4]]''}} | ||
* [[Halo 4 credits|''Halo 4'' credits]] | *[[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|''Epilogue'']] {{C|''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|MCC]]''}} | ||
|name='''''Midnight''''' | |||
|game = ''Halo 4'' | |image=[[File:H4 Midnight Loadscreen.png|300px]] | ||
|devname=<code>m90_sacrifice</code> | |game=''Halo 4'' | ||
| | |devname=<code>m90_sacrifice</code>{{Ref/File|Id=H4EK|H4EK|H4EK\tags\environments\solo\m90_sacrifice\m90_sacrifice.scenario}} | ||
| | |player=[[Master_Chief_(gameplay)#Halo_4|Master Chief]] | ||
|player = [[ | |date=[[2557|July 25, 2557]] | ||
|date = [[2557|July 25, 2557]] | |place=Onboard ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', over [[Earth]] | ||
|place = Onboard ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', over [[Earth]] | |objective=Stop the Didact by destroying the Composer. | ||
|objective = Stop the Didact by destroying the Composer. | |||
|partime=00:25:00 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}} | |partime=00:25:00 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}} | ||
|parscore=25,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}} | |parscore=25,000 {{C|''Master Chief Collection''-only}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Article | {{Article quote|With the Composer in the Didact's possession, Chief and Cortana must destroy the device before he turns it on his next target.}} | ||
'''Midnight''' is the ninth [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 4]]'', and the eighth and last one to feature actual gameplay. | '''Midnight''' is the ninth [[campaign]] level of ''[[Halo 4]]'', and the eighth and last one to feature actual gameplay. | ||
Completing the level on any difficulty awards the player the "[[Midnight (achievement)|Midnight]]" achievement, worth 10 Gamerscore. Killing three [[Promethean Crawler]]s with the [[ | Completing the level on any difficulty awards the player the "[[Midnight (achievement)|Midnight]]" achievement, worth 10 Gamerscore. Killing three [[Promethean Crawler]]s with the [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]] in one hit in the level unlocks "[[Chief, Smash!]]", worth 20 Gamerscore.<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2012/08/22/The-Halo-Bulletin-82212.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''The Halo Bulletin - 22/08/2012'']</ref> | ||
In ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', "Midnight" can be unlocked with the same criteria and awards the same amount of Gamerscore. "Chief, Smash!" can still be unlocked by killing three Crawlers in one hit with the gravity hammer, but the achievement is now worth only 10 Gamerscore points. Beating the level's 25 minute par time and the 25,000 point par score awards "[[Countdown (achievement)|Countdown]]" and "[[Witching Hour]]", respectively, each worth 10 Gamerscore points. Activating the [[seven]]th and final ''Halo 4'' [[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal]], which is found in this level, unlocks "[[Cryptum (achievement)|Cryptum]]", worth 5 Gamerscore points. | In ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', "Midnight" can be unlocked with the same criteria and awards the same amount of Gamerscore. "Chief, Smash!" can still be unlocked by killing three Crawlers in one hit with the gravity hammer, but the achievement is now worth only 10 Gamerscore points. Beating the level's 25 minute par time and the 25,000 point par score awards "[[Countdown (achievement)|Countdown]]" and "[[Witching Hour]]", respectively, each worth 10 Gamerscore points. Activating the [[seven]]th and final ''Halo 4'' [[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal]], which is found in this level, unlocks "[[Cryptum (achievement)|Cryptum]]", worth 5 Gamerscore points. | ||
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''The Broadsword flies forward through an enormous chasm in the Forerunner ship. Streaks of stars can be seen in the sky from their slipspace travel.'' | ''The Broadsword flies forward through an enormous chasm in the Forerunner ship. Streaks of stars can be seen in the sky from their slipspace travel.'' | ||
* '''Cortana''': ''(mildly | * '''Cortana''': ''(mildly crackling from rampancy)'' "Broadsword's hull integrity is stable. ''We'll be safe'' as long as we stay below the Didact's shields." | ||
* '''John-117''': "Where's the Composer?" | * '''John-117''': "Where's the Composer?" | ||
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=== FROM THE CRADLE... === | === FROM THE CRADLE... === | ||
[[File:H4-Midnight-F41Broadsword.jpg|thumb|275px | [[File:H4-Midnight-F41Broadsword.jpg|thumb|275px|The view of Earth.]] | ||
''The new area is round and surrounded by larger anti-air cannons. In the distance, the ''Infinity'' and several other UNSC ships can be seen approaching the Didact's ship.'' | ''The new area is round and surrounded by larger anti-air cannons. In the distance, the ''Infinity'' and several other UNSC ships can be seen approaching the Didact's ship.'' | ||
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* '''Cortana''': "Now what do we do?" | * '''Cortana''': "Now what do we do?" | ||
''John turns around and carefully removes the warhead from the missile. He then locks onto the back of his armor and grabs his [[MA5D assault rifle|assault rifle]].'' | ''John turns around and carefully removes the warhead from the missile. He then locks it onto the back of his armor and grabs his [[MA5D assault rifle|assault rifle]].'' | ||
* '''John-117''': "Plan B." | * '''John-117''': "Plan B." | ||
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* '''Cortana''': "I recommend entering the doorway to your left." | * '''Cortana''': "I recommend entering the doorway to your left." | ||
''John jumps down a shaft, his descent slowed by a gravity lift.'' | ''John jumps down a shaft, his descent slowed by a [[gravity lift]].'' | ||
* '''Cortana''': "I won't leave you! I promise! ''(in the background simultaneously)'' ''I will always take care of you.''" | * '''Cortana''': "I won't leave you! I promise! ''(in the background simultaneously)'' ''I will always take care of you.''" | ||
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* '''Cortana''': "''Reinforcements! Hold them off'' while I locate the Composer." | * '''Cortana''': "''Reinforcements! Hold them off'' while I locate the Composer." | ||
''An infinite wave of Crawlers charges | ''An infinite wave of Crawlers charges John from the bridges.'' | ||
* '''Cortana''': "I'm taking control of the local defense turrets." | * '''Cortana''': "I'm taking control of the local defense turrets." | ||
''Two [[Z-510 focus turret|beam turret]]s slowly charge and fire at the Crawlers. Cortana finishes and her image appears for | ''Two [[Z-510 focus turret|beam turret]]s slowly charge and fire at the Crawlers. Cortana finishes and her image appears for John to reclaim her.'' | ||
* '''Cortana''': "''I've got it. I locked him'' out of the system but I don't know for how long!" | * '''Cortana''': "''I've got it. I locked him'' out of the system but I don't know for how long!" | ||
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* '''John-117''': "I know." | * '''John-117''': "I know." | ||
''The room's roof opens up, revealing Earth in the sky above. An enormous slipspace portal forms in the chasm below the machine.'' | ''The room's roof opens up, revealing Earth in the sky above. An enormous [[slipspace portal]] forms in the chasm below the machine.'' | ||
* '''Didact''': "And so, you come at last." | * '''Didact''': "And so, you come at last." | ||
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''John stands up and retrieves his weapons. As he runs down the platform, he can hear Cortana whispering in the background. The phrases play at random.'' | ''John stands up and retrieves his weapons. As he runs down the platform, he can hear Cortana whispering in the background. The phrases play at random.'' | ||
* '''Cortana''': (whispering) "Save me." | * '''Cortana''': ''(whispering)'' "Save me." | ||
* '''Cortana''': (whispering) "Destroy it." | * '''Cortana''': ''(whispering)'' "Destroy it." | ||
* '''Cortana''': (whispering) "Take it to the core. ''Destroy it.''" | * '''Cortana''': ''(whispering)'' "Take it to the core. ''Destroy it.''" | ||
* '''Cortana''': (whispering) "I always take care of you." | * '''Cortana''': ''(whispering)'' "I always take care of you." | ||
* '''Cortana''': (whispering) "We will light this." | * '''Cortana''': ''(whispering)'' "We will light this." | ||
* '''Cortana''': (whispering) "Place the bomb in the core." | * '''Cortana''': ''(whispering)'' "Place the bomb in the core." | ||
''John returns to the original platform via a man cannon and fights off more Prometheans. Midway through, his HUD flickers more violently than before.'' | ''John returns to the original platform via a man cannon and fights off more Prometheans. Midway through, his HUD flickers more violently than before.'' | ||
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* '''Didact''': "You persist too long after your own defeat." | * '''Didact''': "You persist too long after your own defeat." | ||
[[File: | [[File:HTMCC-H4 John117VsDidact.png|thumb|275px|The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] and John-117 facing each other.]] | ||
''John levels his weapon, but can't see the Didact anywhere. Seemingly alone, he cautiously backs away, then continues down the bridge. Behind him, the Didact floats down.'' | ''John levels his weapon, but can't see the Didact anywhere. Seemingly alone, he cautiously backs away, then continues down the bridge. Behind him, the Didact floats down.'' | ||
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* '''Didact''': "Come then, Warrior. Have your resolution." | * '''Didact''': "Come then, Warrior. Have your resolution." | ||
''John turns to fire on him, but the Didact telekinetically bats him away. John's [[BR85HB battle rifle|battle rifle]] falls off the bridge and the nuke falls towards the end of it.'' | ''John turns to fire on him, but the Didact telekinetically bats him away. John's [[BR85HB battle rifle|battle rifle]] falls off of the bridge and the nuke falls towards the end of it.'' | ||
''John skids to a stop, turns to look at the Didact, then at the nuke. He charges towards the latter, but the Didact once again telekinetically stops his lunge. The Forerunner lifts him midair and floats John towards him, removing his own helmet as he does so.'' | ''John skids to a stop, turns to look at the Didact, then at the nuke. He charges towards the latter, but the Didact once again telekinetically stops his lunge. The Forerunner lifts him into midair and floats John towards him, removing his own helmet as he does so.'' | ||
* '''Didact''': "So misguided." | * '''Didact''': "So misguided." | ||
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'''{''Gameplay/quick time event''}''' | '''{''Gameplay/quick time event''}''' | ||
[[File: | [[File:HTMCC-H4 Didact ChiefPOV.png|thumb|275px|John-117 faces the Didact.]] | ||
''John struggles to climb up the edge. His shields are down and don't recharge. After looking down at the Composer's energy below, he pulls himself up and pulls out a [[Z-040 pulse grenade|pulse grenade]]. The Didact is still struggling to free himself.''<br /> | ''John struggles to climb up the edge. His shields are down and don't recharge. After looking down at the Composer's energy below, he pulls himself up and pulls out a [[Z-040 pulse grenade|pulse grenade]]. The Didact is still struggling to free himself.''<br /> | ||
''(If the player fails to climb up in time, the Didact breaks loose from his restraints and telekinetically pushes John off the bridge, and the game reverts to last checkpoint. If the player does not even attempt to climb, John automatically dies after a certain amount of time and the game resets. | ''(If the player fails to climb up in time, the Didact breaks loose from his restraints and telekinetically pushes John off the bridge, and the game reverts to the last checkpoint. If the player does not even attempt to climb, John automatically dies after a certain amount of time and the game resets).'' | ||
''John dashes towards the Didact and plants the grenade in his chest. The Didact breaks free and punches him away at that moment. The Didact again telekinetically strangles John, and the Spartan is about to lose his breath when the pulse grenade detonates. The Didact reels from the blast, loses his balance and falls off | ''John dashes towards the Didact and plants the grenade in his chest. The Didact breaks free and punches him away at that moment. The Didact again telekinetically strangles John, and the Spartan is about to lose his breath when the pulse grenade detonates. The Didact reels from the blast, loses his balance and falls off the bridge, dropping into the swirling energy below.''<br /> | ||
''(If the player fails to plant the grenade on the Didact, the grenade falls and rolls onto the bridge as Didact telekinetically restrains John and then throws him off of the bridge, and the game reverts to the last checkpoint).'' | ''(If the player fails to plant the grenade on the Didact, the grenade falls and rolls onto the bridge as Didact telekinetically restrains John and then throws him off of the bridge, and the game reverts to the last checkpoint).'' | ||
''John watches the Didact vanish into the vortex, then groans as he crawls to the HAVOK nuke. He tires and eventually can only pull himself with his arms. Grabbing the nuke and priming it, he looks up at the beam firing on Earth and decides that there's no time to escape. With a loud cry, John punches the bomb to make it immediately explode. Fade to white as the nuke detonates.''<br /> | ''John watches the Didact vanish into the vortex, then groans as he crawls to the HAVOK nuke. He tires and eventually can only pull himself with his arms. Grabbing the nuke and priming it, he looks up at the beam firing on Earth and decides that there's no time to escape. With a loud cry, John punches the bomb to make it immediately explode. Fade to white as the nuke detonates.''<br /> | ||
''(If the player fails to reach the bomb or detonate it after a certain period of time, John will automatically die and the game resets to the last checkpoint. | ''(If the player fails to reach the bomb or detonate it after a certain period of time, John will automatically die and the game resets to the last checkpoint).'' | ||
'''{''Cutscene''}''' | '''{''Cutscene''}''' | ||
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''Cortana walks up to him and touches his breastplate. The spot glows in response.'' | ''Cortana walks up to him and touches his breastplate. The spot glows in response.'' | ||
* '''Cortana''': | * '''Cortana''': ''(sighs)'' "I've waited so long to do that." | ||
''John looks away.'' | ''John looks away.'' | ||
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=== Glitches === | === Glitches === | ||
* If the player destroys the particle cannons before destroying the shield generator, the cutscene and | * If the player destroys the particle cannons before destroying the shield generator, the cutscene and dialogue caused by their destruction will not start. Destroying the generator will cause the dialog to play with several seconds between lines; after the last line the cutscene will start. This can be accomplished by shooting through the hole that the energy beam goes through toward the particle cannons. To get a sightline and survive, the player must be just below the cannon and fire as soon as the target is about two meters wide, then pull up. | ||
=== Mistakes === | === Mistakes === | ||
* While this level takes place in July, the northern URNA, primarily [[ | * While this level takes place in July, the northern URNA, primarily [[Canada]], is clearly covered in snow. This is likely a developer oversight as Earth's [[wikipedia:Terminator (solar)|terminator line]] is inconsistent with the summer months. In July, the terminator runs northwest to southeast across North America in the morning, with the northernmost regions experiencing 24-hour sunlight. In-game the terminator runs northeast to southwest with the North Pole bathed in shadow, a phenomenon which occurs only in winter. | ||
* At roughly 30 miles (48.3 | * At roughly 30 miles (48.3 km) long,<ref>[http://www.polycount.com/2012/11/20/the-environment-art-of-halo-4/2/ '''Polycount''' - The Environment Art of ''Halo 4'']</ref> the distance from the level's starting point near the top of the ship to the Composer's location near the bottom is far shorter than the vessel's canonical height (371 kilometers) would entail.<ref name="VIS">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', page 193</ref> This is likely because the ship was not intended to be so large prior to the official establishment of its size, as evidenced by its scale against other vessels in the game's cutscenes. | ||
* In the cutscene in which Master Chief crashes the Broadsword, he picks up an assault rifle after attaching the warhead to his back. When gameplay begins, however, he is wielding a [[BR85HB battle rifle|battle rifle]] and a [[M739 SAW|SAW]]. There are also no assault rifles in this mission, and this is the only mission in ''Halo 4'' where he does not start with an assault rifle. | * In the cutscene in which Master Chief crashes the Broadsword, he picks up an assault rifle after attaching the warhead to his back. When gameplay begins, however, he is wielding a [[BR85HB battle rifle|battle rifle]] and a [[M739 SAW|SAW]]. There are also no assault rifles in this mission, and this is the only mission in ''Halo 4'' where he does not start with an assault rifle. | ||
* | * FLEETCOM is written as "Fleetcom" in subtitles when spoken, but as "FleetCom" when being spoken to. | ||
* In the Master Chief Collection version, a glitch randomly caused the prompt for planting the grenade in the Didact's chest to read "Press RT to fire machine gun"<ref>{{Plain|[https://youtu.be/zWhQ6RIPW38 '''YouTube''' - ''PRESS RT TO FIRE MACHINE GUN'']}}</ref> (the first prompt when the player uses the Mantis in Infinity). The correct (default) control is LT to throw a grenade. | * In the Master Chief Collection version, a glitch randomly caused the prompt for planting the grenade in the Didact's chest to read "Press RT to fire machine gun"<ref>{{Plain|[https://youtu.be/zWhQ6RIPW38 '''YouTube''' - ''PRESS RT TO FIRE MACHINE GUN'']}}</ref> (the first prompt when the player uses the Mantis in Infinity). The correct (default) control is LT to throw a grenade. | ||
** As of the August 27, 2018 update, this bug has been fixed. | ** As of the August 27, 2018 update, this bug has been fixed. | ||
*Master Chief initially addresses Thomas Lasky as a Commander while in the COM, he was written with the rank of Captain. This could be Cortana and John-117 has yet to receive updates from FLEETCOM regarding of Lasky's promotion to Captain | *Master Chief initially addresses Thomas Lasky as a Commander while in the COM, he was written with the rank of Captain. This could be Cortana and John-117 has yet to receive updates from FLEETCOM regarding of Lasky's promotion to Captain. | ||
=== Miscellaneous === | === Miscellaneous === | ||
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== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
===Concept art=== | |||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:H4 Midnight Concept Art.jpg|Midnight concept art. | File:H4 Midnight Concept Art.jpg|Midnight concept art. | ||
File:H4-Concept-Mantle-Interior.jpg|Concept art of the interior of the ''Mantle's Approach''. | File:H4-Concept-Mantle-Interior.jpg|Concept art of the interior of the ''Mantle's Approach''. | ||
File:H4-Concept-Midnight-Composer.jpg|Concept art of the Composer being aimed at Earth. | File:H4-Concept-Midnight-Composer.jpg|Concept art of the Composer being aimed at Earth. | ||
File:H4 MidnightSpaceBattle Concept.jpg|Concept art of Battle Group Dakota engaged in combat with ''Mantle's Approach''. | |||
</gallery> | |||
===Storyboards=== | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:H4 Midnight DidactKill Storyboard.jpg|Original storyboard of the Didact's defeat. | |||
File:H4 DidactDefeat Storyboard 1.jpg|An FX concept storyboard exploring how Cortana's visualisation might look. | |||
File:H4 DidactDefeat Storyboard 2.jpg|An FX concept storyboard exploring how Cortana's visualisation might look. | |||
File:H4_DidactDefeat_Storyboard_Animated.gif|An animated exploration of the effect for Cortana reappearing. Note the spread of Cortana's appearance into the light bridge itself. | |||
File:H4-Concept-Finale-Pickup.jpg|Concept art depicting John-117 being recovered. | File:H4-Concept-Finale-Pickup.jpg|Concept art depicting John-117 being recovered. | ||
File:H4-Concept-Lastcutscene.jpg|Storyboards of the final cutscene. | File:H4-Concept-Lastcutscene.jpg|Storyboards of the final cutscene. | ||
</gallery> | |||
===Screenshots=== | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:H4-F41BroadswordXMSF-Side.jpg|Chief's Broadsword being prepared. | File:H4-F41BroadswordXMSF-Side.jpg|Chief's Broadsword being prepared. | ||
File:F-41 Broadsword.png|The Broadsword being equipped with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK nuke]]. | File:F-41 Broadsword.png|The Broadsword being equipped with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK nuke]]. | ||
File:H4-Midnight-Trench.jpg|A view of the trench in which the Broadsword | File:H4-Midnight-Trench.jpg|A view of the trench in which the Broadsword flies through. | ||
File:HTMCC-H4 PressKit ChiefLightRifle.jpg|John-117 with an [[Z-250 lightrifle]]. | |||
File:H4-Didact.jpg|The Ur-Didact clenches his fist. | |||
File:H4-HardlightEnergyBridge.jpg|The [[light bridge]] leading to the Composer. | File:H4-HardlightEnergyBridge.jpg|The [[light bridge]] leading to the Composer. | ||
File:HTMCC-H4 PressKit LightBridge.jpg|John-117 [[sprint]]ing towards the Ur-Didact. | |||
File:H4-Midnight-Composer-Panorama.jpg|The Composer is used on Earth. | File:H4-Midnight-Composer-Panorama.jpg|The Composer is used on Earth. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||