Haggar

Haggar
Developer(s):	n-Space
Engine:	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s):	Xbox 360
Release date(s):	Cancelled
Mode(s):	Campaign

Haggar was the codename for a canceled Halo Mega Bloks title that deviated from the series' typical design and gameplay. The game was to be originally released on the Xbox 360. The game was apparently cancelled in 2013.

Overview

Haggar was an exploratory project worked on and intended for the Xbox 360 platform, in development "several years" prior to 2017. The game was worked on in conjunction with MEGA Brands and n-Space with a focus on elements of action, exploration and user creativity. The project was one of many Halo games prototyped by 343 Industries an an ongoing basis. The game was primarily created by n-Space, a studio which ultimately closed in 2016, using Unreal Engine 3 and was considered internally to be a fully-AAA project. As such, the prototype was developed to a more complete status than typical game pitches. According to PtPOnline, the prototype's work represents around 10 months of development (not including initial pitching) and the game was one of numerous pitches to Microsoft Game Studios around the same timeframe. The game's cancellation is said to have come suddenly by Microsoft. After Haggar was cancelled, n-Space began work on a new game called Backyard Heroes, using Haggar as a base, and making enemies/weapons very similar to those planned for Haggar. Backyard Heroes would focus primarily on a very similar gamemode to Haggar's planned "Besieged" mode (detailed below), though would ultimately end up being cancelled too by n-Space. Builds available still had Halo-related related weapons and vehicles leftover.

On January 7, 2017, gameplay of the demo from the game's September or November 2013 build was leaked online and uploaded to YouTube by user PtoPOnline. Two days later, 343 Industries studio head Bonnie Ross made a post on the Halo Waypoint forums confirming the game's existence and the legitimacy of the footage shown.. 2 months later, on March 13 2017, PtoPOnline would upload another video, showing the "Besieged" mode the game had, acting similarly to the Generator Defense mode featured in the Firefight of Halo Reach.

Gameplay

Haggar's gameplay can be most likened to that of the LEGO video games series, particularly those produced by Traveller's Tales starting with LEGO Star Wars. The game was played in a third-person view and appeared to magnetically pull the crosshair over enemies to make aiming easier. Like Halo the player would have shields and health, be able to pick up and use weapons and grenades, and interact with various objects and structures to progress. New features specifically created for this game involved collecting blocks from fallen enemies and building various structures including barriers and automated turrets. Unlike the core series, vehicles could be customized with different paint jobs, decals, weapons, and tools that would give the vehicle different utilities.

In the prototype revealed on YouTube, one campaign mission vertical slice can be found extremely polished and almost complete, with another playable though lacking polish. In the first mission, players play as a Mega Bloks representation of John-117, on a mission to defend a UNSC base tasked with overwatching a Forerunner temple. En route to the objective, the Pelican is shot down by Banshees, forcing the player to proceed on foot through the swamps while battling Covenant forces along the way. According to Bonnie Ross, the prototype did not progress far beyond the levels showcased in the demo.

Appearances

Species Human Kig-Yar Sangheili Unggoy Mgalekgolo Organizations UNSC UNSC Navy Office of Naval Intelligence Covenant or Covenant remnants Weapons UNSC Usable BR55HB battle rifle MA5C assault rifle M319 grenade launcher M41 Vulcan M41 SPNKR M739 SAW M9 fragmentation grenade M90 shotgun Unusable M7 SMG M6 Spartan Laser Covenant Usable Anskum-pattern plasma grenade Energy sword Plasma pistol Needler Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun Mosa-pattern carbine Kelos'vaarda-pattern storm rifle Unusable Assault cannon Class-1 directed energy cannon gravity hammer M'tara-pattern focus rifle

Vehicles AV-30 Kestrel D79-TC Pelican M274 Mongoose M12 Chaingun Warthog Zurdo-pattern Wraith Karo'etba-pattern Ghost Ru'swum-pattern Phantom M808 Scorpion Technology and equipment Anti-vehicle barrier M5 Talos base turret Covenant defense barrier Covenant supply case Halo Array Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor MJOLNIR [GEN1] Mark VI MJOLNIR [GEN2] Scout Armor abilities Active Camouflage Drop shield

Gallery

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  Project Haggar MasterChief gameplay; image provided by PtoPOnline.

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  Project Haggar Warthog Customization; image provided by PtoPOnline.

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  The second of two playable characters on the Project Haggar campaign.

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  MasterChief using the bubble shield ability in Project Haggar.

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  Project Haggar MasterChief in an unfinished level; image provided by PtoPOnline.

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  Project Haggar’s version of the Ghost (Vehicle).

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  Project Haggar Covenant squad.

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  Project Haggar MasterChief on Forerunner structure; image provided by PtoPOnline.

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  Project Haggar phantom dropship.

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  Project Haggar Hunter enemy unit; image provided by PtoPOnline.