Skull
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Template:Ratings Template:Weapon Infobox
"Standard issue information storage and sensory group housing."
Campaign
Skulls are featured in campaign most prominently in Halo 2,Halo 3 and Halo Wars, as in each game skulls are "hidden" before their applicable traits can be activated either in-game (as in Halo 2) or in a special menu (as in Halo 3 & Halo Wars). Skulls featured in Halo 2 were more-so like Easter Eggs than actual features--although they did affect gameplay dynamically, they were hidden and not entirely well-known to every player, and not essential to a campaign's gameplay experience. Once a skull is found in Halo 2, it can be wielded as a melee weapon, but does the same amount of damage a normal melee with a standard weapon would do (excluding the fatality of a Sword lunge).
Skulls in Halo 3, however, are hidden as they were in Halo 2, but are separated into two different types (silver and gold) and are incorporated into gameplay as score modifiers. Gold skulls represent skulls that amplify and modify scores in campaign levels, and silver skulls represent those that change the game in humorous ways, except for the Blind Skull which changes the dynamics of the player's HUD. Both silver and gold skulls augment the player's score throughout the campaign. Once a skull is found, it can be wielded as a melee weapon just as it could in Halo 2. Although the weapon is quite fast, it is not recommended for use on Legendary mode.
Skulls are also featured in Halo 3: ODST in both campaign and multiplayer (Firefight remains the sole multiplayer function for ODST), and are separated into gold and silver as they were in Halo 3. The skulls in ODST remain the same in concept, name, and function as they were in Halo 3, but are not hidden in campaign levels as they were in the previous installments. Skulls can be activated in a special menu before the game starts, similar to Halo 3, and also feature the separation of skulls into both gold and silver types that function almost the same as they did in Halo 3. Gold skulls modify score, and silver skulls only modify the game itself in humorous ways--both of which retain the names, design, and properties as they did in Halo 3.
In Halo Wars skulls are more numerous than they are in any other Halo game, and retain similar properties of the previous games, while adding new functions and types as well. Specifically skulls are not separated into gold and silver, and are activated by completing certain specific optional objectives in certain missions. Once the objectives are completed, the skull will be unlocked, and must be found in a specific location before the mission ends, giving them a similarity to their location in other Halo games in that they must be "found" in a certain specific area.
Multiplayer
- Main articles: Oddball, Headhunter (Game Variant)
In the Oddball multiplayer gametype, the skull is an item that must be located and in possession for the longest time possible. While carrying the skull, it temporary replaces the previous weapon the player was using. The skull cannot be holstered, but can be used as a very efficient melee weapon. Depending on the rules of the variant, the skull can deal much more damage than a normal melee would. In the default settings for Oddball in Halo 3, a successful skull melee can cause an instant kill. Oddball is featured in Halo CE, Halo 2, and Halo 3 multiplayer.
In Halo 3: ODST's Firefight multiplayer gametype, skulls are "turned on" as the game progresses chronologically in terms of waves and rounds. Every round a different skull activates, ensuring a certain level of difficulty (and score modification) depending on the function of the skull itself. Skulls are separated into both gold and silver in Firefight as well, and the silver skulls can be turned on via a special menu before the game starts.
Skulls are not featured in multiplayer in Halo Wars.
The skull also appears in Halo: Reach's multiplayer Headhunter gametype as multiple flaming skulls. In Headhunter, players fight for flaming skulls which are dropped when an opposing player is killed, and then return the collected skulls to their designated (but mobile) deposit zone. Players will be able to collect the exact numerical bounty which the previous player has collected; i.e. a player who has seven skulls will drop all seven skulls when killed. An interactive counter will be visible in a player's HUD depicting the exact amount of skulls each opponent is carrying.[1]. This gametype can be featured in both FFA and Team multiplayer gametypes.
Also, in Halo: Reach's far more dynamic implementation of Firefight, players will be able to completely customize and create their own Skulls (integrated parameters set for certain conditions, such as damage, player speed, and AI enemy strength) to be incorporated in custom matches.[2] This exceptional customization system allows thousands of possibilities and combinations, and also allows players to control any parameter in the game, allowing them to play pre-defined, heavily customized matches that offer for a significant playing experience.
Production Notes
The Skull itself is from Halo: Combat Evolved's early development: when the player goes to rescue Captain Jacob Keyes in the level Template:Levelname and discovers that he has been consumed by the Flood, the Master Chief was to burn through the Proto-Gravemind biomass and pull out Keyes' skull to get his neural implants. However, this was cut due to the Flamethrower being removed, and possibly the burnt skull being too disconcerting to present in the game as well.
Trivia
- In Halo 2, the skull can be used in a glitch where the player would be weaponless and blind.
- A Command Neural Interface resembling that of Captain Keyes, can be seen on the base of the skull.
Gallery
- Reach Achievement 04.png
A skull featured on the Legendary completion achievement in Halo: Reach.
