Halo 2 commercial

The Halo 2 commercial was a TV trailer for Halo 2 that aired on United States television from late October to November 2004. There were two versions of the commercial, a shorter 30-second variant and an extended 60-second version. The commercial shows a montage of shots from cutscenes and first-person gameplay.

Transcript

Short version

A view of Earth is shown.

• Cortana: "We thought they'd never find us."

A Covenant assault carrier is seen approaching Earth, with explosions in the background.

• Cortana: "We were wrong."

The shockwave from the Solemn Penance's in-atmosphere slipspace jump is seen engulfing a highway in Mombasa, sending several civilian vehicles flying.

"OUR WORST FEAR" flashes on screen.

The UNSC In Amber Clad is shown approaching the Solemn Penance, preparing to jump into slipspace over New Mombasa. The Prophet of Truth is then shown, among a hologram of Regret.

• Prophet of Truth: "No enemy has ever withstood our might."

A Scarab is seen striding through Old Mombasa, crushing a civilian car, then charging its focus cannon.

"OUR ONLY HOPE" flashes on screen.

John-117 is shown, turning to face the camera. The music pauses for dramatic effect.

• John-117: "I need a weapon."

A rapid montage of several of shots from in-game cutscenes and gameplay follows: Three Pelican dropships disembark from the In Amber Clad, which is holding position in the background; A brief shot of an in-game view from the level Metropolis, with the player firing a Scorpion tank's main gun at a Banshee; A Pelican crashing over a rooftop, having been shot down by a Scarab, from the level Outskirts; A first-person view of the player firing dual Needlers at a Drone on Outskirts; A brief shot of a Scarab shooting a Pelican down over Old Mombasa.

• Prophet of Truth: "There are those who said this day would never come."

The montage continues with Truth's speech in the background: John-117 grabs hold of a Covenant antimatter charge, hurtling out of Cairo Station's launch bay; Tartarus brands the former Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee with the Mark of Shame; John-117 hijacks an Elite-occupied Ghost in the level Outskirts; Brief first-person shot of the player shooting Drones with dual Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifles; In-game view of the player using a Warthog in the level Outskirts, with the Marine gunner firing on a passing Ghost whilst under fire from a Phantom; Brief shot of John-117 hurtling toward the camera from a Covenant assault carrier's explosion in the background.

The slipspace rupture shockwave from the Prophet of Regret's carrier is seen engulfing the city of Mombasa. As the shockwave hits the camera, a view of New Mombasa's suspension bridge is shown, with the Halo 2 logo and "NOVEMBER 9" under it.

• Prophet of Truth: "What are they to say now?"

• Cortana: "Rated M for Mature."

The Xbox logo is shown.

Long version

A view of Earth is shown, slowly closing in.

• Cortana: "We ran from them. They followed. We thought they'd never find us."

A Covenant assault carrier is seen approaching Earth, with explosions in the background.

• Cortana: "We were wrong."

The shockwave from the Prophet of Regret's assault carrier is seen engulfing a highway in Mombasa, sending several civilian vehicles flying. Cut to the interior of High Charity, with Banshees swooping past the camera, then to Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee during his trial in the Council Chamber.

• Thel 'Vadam: "I will continue my campaign against the humans!"

John-117 is shown, glancing at Regret's carrier over New Mombasa, then a brief shot of a Scarab firing its main gun.

"OUR WORST FEAR" flashes on screen.

• Prophet of Truth: "No enemy has ever withstood our might."

Cut to the In Amber Clad approaching Regret's carrier, preparing to jump into slipspace over New Mombasa. The Prophet of Truth is then shown, alongside a hologram of Regret.

A view of High Charity and its immense defense fleet is seen, holding position near the wreckage of Installation 04.

"OUR DARKEST HOUR" flashes on screen.

Cut to Cortana on Cairo Station's bridge.

• Cortana: "Chief, we're running out of time."

A Scarab is seen striding through Old Mombasa, crushing a civilian car, then charging its focus cannon.

"OUR ONLY HOPE" flashes on screen.

John-117 is then shown, turning to face the camera. The music pauses for dramatic effect.

• John-117: I need a weapon.

A rapid montage of several of shots from in-game cutscenes and gameplay follows: An in-game view from the level Metropolis, with the player firing a Scorpion tank's main gun at a Banshee; In Amber Clad accelerating toward Regret's assault carrier over New Mombasa; Three Pelican dropships disembark from the In Amber Clad, which is holding position in the background.

• Corporal Perez: "Friendlies moving out, covering fire!"

A brief flash of Installation 04's destruction is shown.

• Sergeant Avery Johnson: "We've got Jackals in the courtyard!"

An in-game shot of the player controlling a Scorpion tank in the bridge segment of the level Metropolis, firing on incoming Banshees; A shot of John-117 cocking his BR55 Battle Rifle, from the Halo 2 Announcement Trailer; Brief first-person shot of the player shooting Drones with dual Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifles in the level Outskirts; First-person view of the player shooting a Phantom with a Battle Rifle.

• Marine #1: "Three more, coming left!"

• Marine #2: "I'm running low, man!"

Three Pelicans fly past a Marine sniper-spotter team in the opening of Outskirts; Tartarus brands the former Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee with the Mark of Shame; A Pelican crashing over a rooftop, having been shot down by a Scarab, from Outskirts.

• Thel 'Vadam: "There are things about Halo even the Hierarchs do not understand."

Another montage of short in-game clips follows: In-game view of the player using a Warthog in the level Outskirts, with the Marine gunner firing on a passing Ghost whilst under fire from a Phantom; A shot of a Scarab's main beam hitting a Pelican; John-117 pulls down the handle for Cairo Station's docking bay doors, and grabs hold of the Covenant bomb as it passes, and is pulled out into space; A brief shot of a Scarab shooting a Pelican down over Old Mombasa; A first-person view of the player firing dual Needlers at a Drone on Outskirts; John-117 hijacks an Elite-occupied Ghost in Outskirts; first-person view of the player firing dual Plasma Rifles at Drones; a pair of Hunters in Outskirts' courtyard segment; a couple of rapid flashes from various sections of Outskirts; A brief shot of John-117 hurtling toward the camera from a Covenant assault carrier's explosion in the background.

The shockwave from the Prophet of Regret's slipspace jump is seen engulfing the city of Mombasa. As the shockwave hits the camera, a view of New Mombasa's suspension bridge is shown, with the Halo 2 logo and "NOVEMBER 9" under it.

• Prophet of Truth: "There are those who said this day would never come. What are they to say now?"

• Cortana: "Rated M for Mature."

The Xbox logo is shown.

Trivia

• Some sound clips used in the trailer, namely Perez's line "Friendlies moving out, covering fire!" and the "Three more, coming left!" "I'm running low, man!" exchange, are from the Halo 2 E3 Demo and are not heard in the final game.
• In the commercials, the shockwave from Regret's assault carrier's slipspace jump is noticeably orange-tinted, similar to an effect produced by conventional explosives. In the final game, the effect has a blue tint, similar to other slipspace-based phenomena.