Gameplay

Prologue: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

(Undo revision 1198666 by Blitzard (talk))
No edit summary
 
(27 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Era|RW}}
{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Center|This article is about the Halo 4 cinematic. For the Halo 2 music piece, see [[Prologue (music)]].}}
{{Center|This article is about the Halo 4 cinematic. For the Halo 2 music piece, see [[Prologue (music)]].}}
{{Level Infobox
{{Level infobox
|prev=*[[Halo 3 credits|''Halo 3'' credits]]
|pagegamelabel=H4
**[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|''Halo'']] (chronologically)
|prev=*''[[Lone Wolf]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: Reach]]''}}
|next=*[[Dawn (level)|''Dawn'']] (gameplay)
*''[[Epilogue (Halo 3: ODST)]]'' {{C|''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection|MCC]]''}}
*[[Mission 1: Assault on CF-32|''Assault on CF-32'']] (chronologically)
|next=''[[Dawn]]''
|name='''''Prologue'''''
|image=[[File:H4 Prologue Loadscreen.png|300px]]
|game=''Halo 4''
|game=''Halo 4''
|name=Prologue
|devname=<code>m05_prologue</code>{{Ref/File|Id=H4EK|H4EK|H4EK\tags\environments\solo\m05_prologue\m05_prologue.scenario}}
|image=[[File:Covenant assault - Aftermath.png|300px]]
|nowalk=yes
|nowalk=yes
}}
}}


{{Article Quote|Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility.}}
{{Article quote|Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility.}}


'''Prologue''' is the first level of ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[campaign]]. Rather than featuring gameplay, it is a cutscene depicting [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and her thoughts on the [[SPARTAN-II Program]].
'''Prologue''' is the first level of ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[campaign]]. Rather than featuring gameplay, it is a cutscene depicting [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and her thoughts on the [[SPARTAN-II Program]].
Line 21: Line 22:
''Open on a line of beds. They are made of plastic, with no sheets, and are enclosed by glass walls. Children inside them are sleeping. Pan to a boy sitting on one of the beds. His head is shaved and he wears a gray uniform that reads "[[John-117|JOHN]]". He looks up at his viewer, his eyes grave.''
''Open on a line of beds. They are made of plastic, with no sheets, and are enclosed by glass walls. Children inside them are sleeping. Pan to a boy sitting on one of the beds. His head is shaved and he wears a gray uniform that reads "[[John-117|JOHN]]". He looks up at his viewer, his eyes grave.''


[[File:Spartan candidate John-117.png|right|thumb|Halsey's memory of a young John.|200px]]
[[File:Spartan candidate John-117.png|thumb|Halsey's memory of a young John.|200px]]


''Fade in to a closeup of Halsey's eyes. She seems tired and grave.''
''Fade in to a closeup of Halsey's eyes. She seems tired and grave.''
Line 37: Line 38:
*'''Interrogator''': "You kidnapped them."  
*'''Interrogator''': "You kidnapped them."  


''Cut to John-117, now wearing a breath mask, lying down on the bed as machines prepare to operate on him.''
''Cut to John-117, now wearing a breathing mask, lying down on the bed as machines prepare to operate on him.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "Children's minds are more easily accepting of indoctrination, their bodies more adaptable to augmentation. The result was the ultimate soldier."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "Children's minds are more easily accepting of indoctrination, their bodies more adaptable to augmentation. The result was the ultimate soldier."
Line 43: Line 44:
''Cut to John, now fully armored and being inspected by technicians. He towers over all of them.''<!--The main Spartan featured throughout the cutscene has the number 117 written in Braille on his chest.-->
''Cut to John, now fully armored and being inspected by technicians. He towers over all of them.''<!--The main Spartan featured throughout the cutscene has the number 117 written in Braille on his chest.-->


[[File:Spartan-II MJOLNIR Armor fitting.png|right|thumb|John fully armored.|200px]]
[[File:Spartan-II MJOLNIR Armor fitting.png|thumb|John fully armored.|200px]]


*'''Halsey''': "And because of our success, when the [[Covenant]] invaded, we were ready."
*'''Halsey''': "And because of our success, when the [[Covenant]] invaded, we were ready."
Line 53: Line 54:
*'''Interrogator''': "Dr. Halsey, you're bending history for your favor and you know it. You developed the Spartans to crush [[Insurrection|human rebellion]], not to fight the Covenant."
*'''Interrogator''': "Dr. Halsey, you're bending history for your favor and you know it. You developed the Spartans to crush [[Insurrection|human rebellion]], not to fight the Covenant."


''[[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshee]]s strafe and bomb the city as [[civilian]]s runs for their lives.''
''[[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]]s strafe and bomb the city as [[civilian]]s run for their lives.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When one human world after another fell..."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When one human world after another fell..."


''A [[Sangheili]] drives his [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] through a fleeing civilian.''
''A [[Sangheili]] drives his [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]] through a fleeing civilian.''


*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When my Spartans were all that stood between humanity and extinction..."
*'''Halsey (voiceover)''': "When my Spartans were all that stood between humanity and extinction..."
Line 67: Line 68:
''The Spartans land. A Sangheili snarls at them. The Spartans take cover and shoot down some of the Sangheili who return fire, flaring the shields on the Spartans' armor, while the lead Sangheili calmly steps forward and fires back. Cut to the Spartans advancing, still firing.''
''The Spartans land. A Sangheili snarls at them. The Spartans take cover and shoot down some of the Sangheili who return fire, flaring the shields on the Spartans' armor, while the lead Sangheili calmly steps forward and fires back. Cut to the Spartans advancing, still firing.''


[[File:Spartan-II defense - 2.png|right|thumb|The Spartans fighting the Covenant.|200px]]
[[File:Spartan-II defense - 2.png|thumb|The Spartans fighting the Covenant.|200px]]


*'''Interrogator (voiceover)''': "So you feel in the end that your choices were ''justified''."
*'''Interrogator (voiceover)''': "So you feel in the end that your choices were ''justified''."
Line 101: Line 102:
*'''Interrogator''': "The Master Chief is dead."
*'''Interrogator''': "The Master Chief is dead."


*'''Halsey''': "His file reads 'missing in action'."
*'''Halsey''': "His file reads '[[missing in action]]'."


*'''Interrogator''': "''Catherine'', [[Office of Naval Intelligence Directive 930|Spartans never die]]."
*'''Interrogator''': "''Catherine'', [[ONI Directive 930|Spartans never die]]."


''Cut to John's foot stepping into a puddle. He leads a crowd of military personnel and civilians. The fighting has stopped but dust clouds cover the city.''
''Cut to John's foot stepping into a puddle. He leads a crowd of military personnel and civilians. The fighting has stopped but dust clouds cover the city.''
Line 111: Line 112:
''Halsey stands up from her chair in determination.''  
''Halsey stands up from her chair in determination.''  


*'''Halsey''': "Our destiny as a species. Do not underestimate them. But most of all, ''do not'' underestimate... ''him''."
*'''Halsey''': "Our destiny as a species. Do not underestimate them. But most of all, ''do not'' underestimate...''him''."


''Cut to black.''
''Cut to black.''


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
*The Spartans' Mjolnir armor (despite representing the [[Mark IV]] and [[Mark V]]) resembles the upgraded [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI]] version that Cortana devised for John-117; however, Dr. Halsey was not aware of the existence of this suit at the time of her interrogation. [[Josh Holmes]] has confirmed that the appearance of John's unique armor in the cutscene is not canon. The development team recycled the existing Mark VI geometry because they had insufficient time to create canonically accurate models.<ref name="notIV">[https://twitter.com/JoshingtonState/status/474224115608731650 '''Twitter'''] ('''Josh Holmes''': ''We didn't have time to build S-II armor just for intro so we used the S-IV armor in its place. Canonically incorrect I know. :('')</ref> The suits are shown to possess energy shields; while this may represent the field testing that began in [[2531]], it is more likely an example of artistic license of Halsey's imagination.<ref>''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', page 119</ref>
The Spartans' Mjolnir armor (despite representing the [[Mark IV]] and [[Mark V]]) resembles the upgraded [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI]] version that Cortana devised for John-117; however, Dr. Halsey was not aware of the existence of this suit at the time of her interrogation. [[Josh Holmes]] has confirmed that the appearance of John's unique armor in the cutscene is not canon. The development team recycled the existing Mark VI geometry because they had insufficient time to create canonically accurate models.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=notIV|JoshingtonState|474224115608731650|Josh Holmes|Quote=We didn't have time to build S-II armor just for intro so we used the S-IV armor in its place. Canonically incorrect I know. :(|D=13|M=4|Y=2016}} The suits are shown to possess energy shields; while this may represent the field testing that began in [[2531]], it is more likely an example of artistic license of Halsey's imagination.<ref>''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', page 119</ref> The Covenant Elites are likewise depicted wearing their patchwork equipment seen in the present day, under Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. They do however use the then-present Plasma Rifles.
*According to ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', John met Cortana when her chip was inserted into his neural interface for the first time. This occurred just after he received his second-generation [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V Mjolnir armor]] and took place inside a large tent. However, the cutscene shows Cortana being introduced in holographic form outside his suit, which is depicted as the aforementioned Mark VI; the meeting seems to take place inside a bunker (likely inside [[CASTLE Base]]) rather than a surgical tent. The comic ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'' also shows John being introduced to Cortana via her avatar, although John is correctly depicted as wearing his new Mark V suit.
 
According to ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', John met Cortana when her chip was inserted into his neural interface for the first time. This occurred just after he received his second-generation [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V Mjolnir armor]] and took place inside a large tent. However, the cutscene shows Cortana being introduced in holographic form outside his suit, which is depicted as the aforementioned Mark VI; the meeting seems to take place inside a bunker (likely inside [[CASTLE Base]]) rather than a surgical tent. The comic ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'' also shows John being introduced to Cortana via her avatar, although John is correctly depicted as wearing his new Mark V suit.
 
The ONI interrogator is portrayed by [[Bruce Thomas]], who is also John-117's motion capture performer.<ref>[[Halo 4 credits]]</ref>
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Halsey Interrogated.png|Dr. Halsey being interrogated.
File:Mom, Son, & Daughter.png|Dr. Halsey bringing Cortana to John-117.
File:Covenant assault - 2.png|The Covenant attacking a human world during the Human-Covenant War.
File:H4 Elite with Sword and Plasma Rifle.jpg|An Elite with a Plasma Rifle
File:Covenant assault - Aftermath.png|A Spartan-II walking among the rubble of a city.
File:H4 - Chieftain Battle.png|A Spartan-II fighting a [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]].
</gallery>


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{succession box | before = ''[[Halo 3 credits]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo 4'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''Prologue''''' |after = ''[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]''}}
{{succession box | before = ''[[Halo 3 credits]]'' <br />| title = ''Halo 4'' Campaign Missions | years = '''''Prologue''''' |after = ''[[Dawn]]''}}
{{Level|H4}}
{{Levels|H4}}


[[Category:Halo 4 Campaign]]
[[Category:Halo 4 campaign]]

Latest revision as of 00:40, November 24, 2024

This article is about the Halo 4 cinematic. For the Halo 2 music piece, see Prologue (music).

Prev:

Next:

Dawn

Prologue
MCC loading screen

Game:

Halo 4

File name (?):

m05_prologue[1]

Main-Legendary.png

Halopedia doesn't currently have a walkthrough for this level; could you write one?

 
Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility.

Prologue is the first level of Halo 4's campaign. Rather than featuring gameplay, it is a cutscene depicting Dr. Catherine Halsey and her thoughts on the SPARTAN-II Program.

Transcript[edit]

{Cutscene}

Open on a line of beds. They are made of plastic, with no sheets, and are enclosed by glass walls. Children inside them are sleeping. Pan to a boy sitting on one of the beds. His head is shaved and he wears a gray uniform that reads "JOHN". He looks up at his viewer, his eyes grave.

Halsey's memory of a young John.

Fade in to a closeup of Halsey's eyes. She seems tired and grave.

  • Interrogator: "Tell me about the children."

The interrogator, who is framed in shadow, sits at the other end of their table.

  • Interrogator: "Dr. Halsey?"

Halsey looks at her speaker defiantly.

  • Doctor Catherine Halsey: "You already know everything."
  • Interrogator: "You kidnapped them."

Cut to John-117, now wearing a breathing mask, lying down on the bed as machines prepare to operate on him.

  • Halsey (voiceover): "Children's minds are more easily accepting of indoctrination, their bodies more adaptable to augmentation. The result was the ultimate soldier."

Cut to John, now fully armored and being inspected by technicians. He towers over all of them.

John fully armored.
  • Halsey: "And because of our success, when the Covenant invaded, we were ready."

Cut to a CAS-class assault carrier hovering over a human city. Dozens of aircraft fly out of its launch bay.

Cut back to the interrogation.

  • Interrogator: "Dr. Halsey, you're bending history for your favor and you know it. You developed the Spartans to crush human rebellion, not to fight the Covenant."

Banshees strafe and bomb the city as civilians run for their lives.

  • Halsey (voiceover): "When one human world after another fell..."

A Sangheili drives his energy sword through a fleeing civilian.

  • Halsey (voiceover): "When my Spartans were all that stood between humanity and extinction..."

From up in the sky, a dozen Spartans drop from Pelicans, using thruster packs to slow their descent.

  • Halsey (voiceover): "Nobody was concerned over why they were originally built."

The Spartans land. A Sangheili snarls at them. The Spartans take cover and shoot down some of the Sangheili who return fire, flaring the shields on the Spartans' armor, while the lead Sangheili calmly steps forward and fires back. Cut to the Spartans advancing, still firing.

The Spartans fighting the Covenant.
  • Interrogator (voiceover): "So you feel in the end that your choices were justified."

Cut to Halsey, who sits forward calmly, clasping her hands.

  • Halsey: "My work saved the human race."
  • Interrogator: "Do you think the Spartans' lack of basic humanity helped?"

Halsey looks at him worriedly as the interrogator, now standing, backs away from the table.

  • Halsey: "What are you after? The others before you were Naval Intelligence but you - you're something else."

Cut to John sitting alone in a hangar. His head is drooped and he is speaking to no one. Marines walk past him.

John sitting alone.
  • Interrogator (voiceover): "Records show Spartans routinely exhibited mildly sociopathic tendencies, difficulty with socialization. Furthermore..."

Cut to a Spartan fighting a Jiralhanae Chieftain. He leaps agilely, dodging every blow. Dead Sangheili cover the ground.

  • Halsey (voiceover): "The records show efficient behavior operating in hazardous situations. I supplied the tools to maintain that efficiency."

Cut to John as Halsey hold up a data crystal chip projecting Cortana's avatar.

Cut back to the interrogation.

  • Interrogator: "Do you believe the Master Chief succeeded because he was, at his core, broken?"
  • Halsey: "What does John have to do with this? You want to replace him."
  • Interrogator: "The Master Chief is dead."

Cut to John's foot stepping into a puddle. He leads a crowd of military personnel and civilians. The fighting has stopped but dust clouds cover the city.

  • Halsey: "Your mistake is seeing Spartans as military hardware. My Spartans are humanity's next step..."

Halsey stands up from her chair in determination.

  • Halsey: "Our destiny as a species. Do not underestimate them. But most of all, do not underestimate...him."

Cut to black.

Production notes[edit]

The Spartans' Mjolnir armor (despite representing the Mark IV and Mark V) resembles the upgraded Mark VI version that Cortana devised for John-117; however, Dr. Halsey was not aware of the existence of this suit at the time of her interrogation. Josh Holmes has confirmed that the appearance of John's unique armor in the cutscene is not canon. The development team recycled the existing Mark VI geometry because they had insufficient time to create canonically accurate models.[2] The suits are shown to possess energy shields; while this may represent the field testing that began in 2531, it is more likely an example of artistic license of Halsey's imagination.[3] The Covenant Elites are likewise depicted wearing their patchwork equipment seen in the present day, under Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. They do however use the then-present Plasma Rifles.

According to Halo: The Fall of Reach, John met Cortana when her chip was inserted into his neural interface for the first time. This occurred just after he received his second-generation Mark V Mjolnir armor and took place inside a large tent. However, the cutscene shows Cortana being introduced in holographic form outside his suit, which is depicted as the aforementioned Mark VI; the meeting seems to take place inside a bunker (likely inside CASTLE Base) rather than a surgical tent. The comic Halo: Fall of Reach also shows John being introduced to Cortana via her avatar, although John is correctly depicted as wearing his new Mark V suit.

The ONI interrogator is portrayed by Bruce Thomas, who is also John-117's motion capture performer.[4]

Gallery[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo 4 Editing Kit, game file H4EK\tags\environments\solo\m05_prologue\m05_prologue.scenario
  2. ^ Twitter, Josh Holmes (@JoshingtonState): "We didn't have time to build S-II armor just for intro so we used the S-IV armor in its place. Canonically incorrect I know. :(" (Retrieved on Apr 13, 2016) [archive]
  3. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 119
  4. ^ Halo 4 credits
Preceded by
Halo 3 credits
Halo 4 Campaign Missions
Prologue
Succeeded by
Dawn