Halo 4: Difference between revisions

|primary-dev= [[343 Industries]]

|support-dev=[[Certain Affinity]] {{C|[[Downloadable content|DLC]] and [[Forge]]}}<br/>[[Liquid Development]] {{C|Armor models}}

|composer=[[Neil Davidge]]<br>[[Kazuma Jinnouchi]]

|publisher= [[Microsoft Studios]]

==Plot==

{{Quote|The Master Chief returns to battle an ancient evil bent on vengeance and annihilation. Shipwrecked on a mysterious world, faced with new enemies and deadly technology... the universe will never be the same.|Official summary{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}}}

Halo 4 begins on [[2557|July 21, 2557]],<ref name="Game Informer May 2012">'''Game Informer''': ''May 2012''</ref> four years, seven months and ten days after the armistice ending the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Cortana, laying silent for almost five years, notices that the ship's intruder alarms have activated and attempts to wake John-117 from [[Cryo chamber|cryo-sleep]]. Cortana notifies him that in his sleep, she rewrote the firmware of his [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI armor]], upgrading the HUD and armor capabilities. With alarms ringing and the intruders spreading to multiple decks, John slips Cortana's chip back into his [[Spartan neural interface|neural interface]] and sets off to find the source of the disturbance. Suddenly, a [[Sangheili]] swordsman comes charging at the Spartan. After neutralizing the threat, John questions the AI construct on why his once-formidable allies have attacked them, to which she has no answer. After fighting the Sangheili and their "repatriated" [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] subordinates, John makes his way to the aft observation deck, viewing a large [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|former Covenant]] fleet, led by [[Jul 'Mdama]], surrounding the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' while multiple boarding crafts dock with the heavily damaged aft section of the frigate.  

===The Didact===

After disabling two control nodes, it becomes clear to John that a great threat had once been imprisoned within Requiem. The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], the Forerunners' greatest warrior, is released from suspended animation within a [[Cryptum]]. Easily disabling John with his powerful abilities, he declares the return of the Forerunners as the galaxy's rulers and saviors. Humanity remains weak and unworthy in his eyes of inheriting the [[Mantle|Mantle of Responsibility]], a view rejected by his wife, the [[Librarian]]. Having always revered the Forerunners as gods,Jul 'Mdama's Covenant quickly swears alliance to the Didact and his Prometheans. The Didact views Jul's Covenant as mere "primitives", but permits them to serve his cause, to prevent the ascension of the human race to galactic prominence.

'''[[Forerunner]]'''

*[[Librarian]]

*[[Ur-Didact]]

**[[Mgalekgolo]]

*[[Sangheili]]

**[[Sangheili Ranger|Ranger]]

**[[Sangheili Storm|Storm]] {{1st}}

*[[Covenant remnants]]

**[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]]

*[[Ecumene]]

**[[Lifeworker]]

**[[Warrior-Servant]]

***[[Promethean]]

*[[Unified Earth Government]]

**[[United Nations Space Command]]

****[[SPARTAN-IV program]] {{1st}}

*****[[Fireteam Castle]] {{1st}}

**[[Circinius IV]] {{Mo}}

***[[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]] {{Mo}}

*[[Concord]] {{1st}}

*[[Epoloch system]]

**[[Requiem]]

***[[Control]] {{1st}}

***[[Haven]] {{1st}}

***[[Librarian's Rest]] {{1st}}

***[[Quarry]] {{1st}}

***[[Sniper Alley]] {{1st}}

*[[Epsilon Eridani system]]

**[[Reach]] {{Mo}}

*[[Epsilon Indi system]]

**[[Harvest]] {{Mo}}

***[[Ivanoff Station]]

*[[Sol system]]

**[[Earth]]

***[[Africa]]

***[[United Republic of North America]]

****[[New Phoenix]] {{1st}}

*[[Human-Covenant War]]

**[[Battle of Circinius IV]] {{Mo}}

***[[Battle of Mombasa]] {{Mo}}

***[[Battle of Voi]] {{Mo}}

**[[Battle of Installation 04]] {{Mo}}

**[[First Battle of Harvest]] {{Mo}}

*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]] {{1st}}

**[[Battle of Requiem]] {{1st}}

*[[M395 DMR]] {{1st}}

*[[M41 rocket launcher]]

*[[M45 shotgun#M45D Tactical Shotgun|M45D shotgun]] {{1st}}

*[[M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]

;Unusable

*[[Mark 2551 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] {{1st}}

*[[M97 Lance]]

*[[Landmine|UNSC landmine]]

*[[M85 Scythe]] {{1st}}

====Covenant====

;Usable

;Unusable

**{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} {{Mo}}

*{{UNSCShip|Infinity}}

*[[M510 Mammoth]]

*[[Orbital defense platform]]

====Covenant====

;Usable

;Unusable

*[[Covenant drop pod]]

**{{Pattern|Gloto|Breaching Carapace}} {{1st}}

*[[Seraph]]

====Forerunner====

;Other

*[[Ancilla]] {{Mo}}

*[[Artificial intelligence]]

*[[Data crystal chip]]

*[[Data pad]]

*[[Emergency locator beacon]]

*[[Energy shielding]]

''Halo 4'' was developed for the Xbox 360 console.{{Ref/Reuse|Xbox 360}} The game's creative team, which comprised nearly 200 individuals who developed the game for nearly three years,<ref name="GTTV 612012">[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2012-e3-2012/730801 '''GameTrailers.com:''' ''E3 2012: Halo 4 Xbox Evolved Promo'']</ref> was led by creative director [[Josh Holmes]].{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}} The game has been stated to continue the ''Halo'' series' tradition of inspiring wonder in the player while providing engaging, visceral gameplay. The game utilizes much of the "sandbox" that has been featured across all six prior ''Halo'' games and other media, in addition to introducing new characters, weapons, vehicles, and other elements.{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}} The game's "sandbox" and overall style are meant to be evocative of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' moreso than of later installments.{{Ref/Reuse|CVG}} [[Dual wielding]] is not accessible in the game.<ref name="GI podcast">[http://media1.gameinformer.com/media/audio/theshow/halo4/halo4special.mp3 '''Game Informer:''' ''Halo 4 Special Podcast'']</ref> During production, Halo 4 was given the codename "Halo Onyx".<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Brwkm '''Artstation:''' ''Halo 4 - vehicles'' - concept art bears the logo "Halo Onyx".]</ref>

The art director for ''Halo 4'' was [[Kenneth Scott]]. He described the visual style of ''Halo 4'' as being more ingrained in the expanded universe fiction, and more "mature" than before. With the game's increased focus on the Forerunners, the artists invested heavily on the look and feel of Forerunner technology, including the incorporation of more "active" Forerunner technology as opposed to the mostly inert and abandoned structures seen in the earlier games.{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}}

===Spartan Ops===

{{Main|Spartan Ops}}

''Spartan Ops'' is a secondary campaign that replaces the [[Firefight]] mode featured in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' and ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|IGN 4/7/2012}} Much like traditional campaign cooperative play, ''Spartan Ops'' allows up to four players to participate in weekly objective-based episodic missions.{{Ref/Reuse|GI podcast}}{{Ref/Reuse|IGN 4/7/2012}} Missions intertwine directly with events in the main ''Halo 4'' campaign, expanding on the story of the UNSC ''Infinity'' and her crew;{{Ref/Reuse|GI podcast}} this new mode is being likened to a second full-scale campaign for the game.{{Ref/Reuse|Guardian 632012}} Compared to a season of a television program, each "episode" of ''Spartan Ops'' features a pre-rendered cinematic and five playable missions complete with new events, characters, locations, and gameplay challenges, totaling up to 12 hours of new gameplay.{{Ref/Reuse|Game Informer May 2012}}<ref name="LEHB 6272012">[http://www.littleenglishhaloblog.com/2012/06/new-halo-4-info-blowout-via-expertzone.html '''Little English Halo Blog:''' ''New Halo 4 Info Blowout via ExpertZone!'']</ref> The development of ''Spartan Ops'' saw the largest influx of new characters, along with corresponding facial and voice talent, and gameplay/sandbox elements into any property of the ''Halo'' franchise since 2001.{{Ref/Reuse|RTX Halo 4 panel}} 343 Industries will be supporting additional ''Spartan Ops'' missions for months after launch of the game and unlike ''Reach'' challenges, players have the opportunity to play from the beginning of the episodic campaign regardless of when they started playing. The first "season" is included with the price of the game, though 343i has not ruled out charging players for additional ''Spartan Ops'' seasons.<ref name="NYDN 4302012">[http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/system-update-halo-4-preview-glimpse-return-master-chief-article-1.1068510?pgno=1 '''NYDailyNews.com:''' ''SYSTEM UPDATE: Halo 4 preview, with our first glimpse into return of Master Chief'']</ref> Frank O'Connor has stated that ''Spartan Ops'' will "bridge the gap" between the events of ''Halo 4'' and the future release of its sequel.{{Ref/Reuse|NYDN 4302012}}

====Editions====

{{Halo 4 Versions}}

Announced on May 16, 2012, 343 Industries revealed a collector's edition for ''Halo 4''.<ref name="Bulletin 51612">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/05/16/The-Halo-Bulletin-51612.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 5.16.12'']</ref> The ''[[Halo 4 Limited Edition]]'' has been noted as "maximizing your multiplayer experience," which in turn expands on the fiction of the ''Halo'' universe like many aspects of the game as a whole.{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin 51612}} The Limited Edition is presented in a large, minimalistic grey case that is adorned with an updated United Nations Space Command insignia; the game itself is included in a smaller silver tin case that features similar artwork to the larger case and is embossed with futuristic artwork. It is currently available for purchase worldwide starting at $99.99 ([[Wikipedia:United States Dollar|USD]]).{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin 51612}} 343 Industries has confirmed that there will not be a "''Legendary Edition''" for ''Halo 4'', citing that they didn't want consumers to have to choose what version-specific ancillary items they would receive.{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin 51612}}

[[McFarlane Toys]] announced three waves of action figures, vehicles, toy sets, and other products for ''Halo 4''.<ref name="Waypoint McFarlane 1192012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/01/19/McFarlane-Toys-to-Create-Halo-4-Action-Figures.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''McFarlane Toys to Create Halo 4 Action Figures'']</ref> The [[McFarlane Toys/Halo 4 Series 1|first series]], released in August 2012, featured four 6-inch carded figures, which include returning characters John-117 and a [[Sangheili Zealot]] and two new inclusions into the ''Halo'' universe, the Unggoy Storm and two Spartan Warriors, one red and one blue;<ref name="McFarlane News 6112012">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/mcfarlane-halo-4-figures/2dad5e8b-2522-4030-b4fd-8423c52436ee#imageNumber=6 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''MCFARLANE TOYS BRINGS THE NEXT HALO GAME TO LIFE WITH HALO 4 ACTION FIGURES!'']</ref> a larger boxed product, featuring an up-scaled John-117 and accessories within a frozen cryopod is also available.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint McFarlane 1192012}} Released alongside ''Halo 4'' in November was the second series, including a figure of Cortana and a SPARTAN-IV soldier with two new enemy types, the Crawler and the Watcher; another large boxed product, featuring a Promethean Knight, was released in Holiday 2012.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint McFarlane 1192012}}  

The [[McFarlane Toys/Halo 4 Series 3|third series]], which were released on February [[2015]], feature three figures: [[Jul 'Mdama]] with an energy sword, [[Gabriel Thorne]] with an MA5D assault rifle, and [[Sarah Palmer]] with two M6H magnums.<ref>[http://www.halotoynews.com/2014/09/10/mcfarlane-halo-4-series-3-figures-jul-mdama-thorne-palmer/ '''Halo Toy News''' - ''McFarlane Halo 4 Series 3 Figures! Jul 'Mdama, Thorne & Palmer!'']</ref>

===Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn===

{{Main|Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn}}

Announced on April 30, 2012, ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'' is a five-episode live-action series with a total runtime of 75 minutes, making it one of the longest marketing programs for any game in history.{{Ref/Reuse|Variety 4302012}} ''Forward Unto Dawn'' chronicles the life of [[Thomas Lasky]] from his experiences at [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science|Corbulo Academy]] decades before his service aboard the UNSC ''Infinity'', alongside his "mentor" John-117. 343i's business director, Matt McCloskey, stated that ''Forward Unto Dawn'' would allow the franchise to "make ''Halo'' accessible for people who haven't played the games." Both McCloskey and [[Frank O'Connor]] noted that the series would flesh out the fiction of the universe, particularly ''Halo 4'''s. Viewers are given background information on the various events set prior to the game and the characters set to appear in it, as well as being introduced to new elements and expanding on old ones.  

File:Halo4-GameCover.jpg|Full game cover for ''Halo 4''.

File:Halo 4 cover art ESRB (without Xbox 360 logos).jpg|North American/ESRB cover art without Xbox 360 branding. Released May 14, 2012.

File:H4Chief.gif|Animated video of the ''Halo 4'' cover.

File:Halo_4_splash.JPG|A promotional image for ''Halo 4'', depicting the wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' descending toward [[Requiem]].

===Concept art===

<gallery>

File:H4_Requiem_Concept_1.jpg|A general view of Requiem.

File:H4_Iris_Concept_1.jpg|The wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' entering an iris-like opening on Requiem.

File:H4_Adrift_LandingPad_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a [[Pelican]] landing at the orbital manufacturing facility that serves as the setting for [[Adrift]].

File:H4_UNSCInfinity_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art of the prototype warship {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.

File:H4_EarlyKnight_Concept.jpg|A compilation of screen captures from the end of the concept art trailer, depicting an early version of a Promethean Knight.{{Ref/Reuse|concept glimpse}}

File:H4_JohnandCortana_Concept.jpg|Concept art of Master Chief and Cortana.

File:H4 Forerunner damage process.jpg

File:H4 forerunner Power supply Concept art.jpg

File:H4 CutDLC UnderWaterCovenant Concept 1.jpg|Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.

File:H4 CutDLC UnderWaterCovenant Concept 2.jpg|Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.