The Halo series has captivated science fiction and FPS fans for years. Players will be sucked into the adventures of Master Chief and his war against the Covenant. They have followed his struggle from the beginning Halo game in 2001 to the innovative Halo Infinite. The franchise has become the hub of Xbox and even got a live action show on Paramount Plus. It is safe to say that the Halo franchise has become a staple of the video game industry and shows no signs of stopping.
Almost every title in the Halo series followed the adventures of John 117, also known as Master Chief. He has become the nemesis of the Covenant and the savior of mankind, and it was quite a fun ride. However, he has been the centerpiece of the franchise since 2001 and maybe it’s time for someone else to take the helm. Storytelling after a brand new character opens up even more story possibilities, and it can help revive a franchise that hasn’t been able to reach the heights of the original trilogy. Master Chief doesn’t have to be gone forever, but the series shouldn’t be afraid to tell more stories where he’s not the main character. It did it in 2010, and there’s no reason 343 Industries can’t do it again.
Master Chief has had his time in the spotlight
John 117 is the main character of the Halo series since it first began in 2001. He has been the centerpiece of the franchise for six of its titles and has been referenced in a number of spin-offs. He also served as the main character of the Halo show on Paramount Plus, and fans got to see a lot more of him than they were used to. Master Chief defines Halobut maybe it’s time for the series to give it a little break.
The Halo story has been fans in love for a while. Players can remember the feeling of the first landing on the Halo ring in Halo: Combat Evolvedthe high stakes story of halo 2and the climatic finale of halo 3. Since the end of the original Halo trilogy, however, the main series hasn’t quite managed to recapture that essence. halo 4 struggled to pave new ground after the end of halo 3, Halo 5: Guardians was often called a step back for the franchise, and Halo Infinite felt more like a return to form, but still lacking compared to the original trilogy.
Since the end of halo 3343 Industries still seems to be figuring out the trajectory of Master Chief’s story. halo 3 felt like a strong finale for the character, but the series had him return again for another one Halo saga that has not reached the same heights. Perhaps the series would be better off if 343 Industries let Chief sit in the backseat for a while. This would allow new stories with new characters to flourish without the limitations of Master Chief’s ongoing story.
The Halo series has told great non-main stories
The Halo franchise is no stranger to stories without Master Chief in the middle. None of the spin-off games featured John 117 as the main character, but arguably the most memorable non-Chief game came in the form of Halo Range. It was the last Halo game created by Bungie, and it told the heartbreaking story of Noble Six. The match took place earlier Halo: Combat Evolved and portrayed the events of Reach’s destruction. It has been praised by critics and is considered by many fans to be the best story in the world Halo franchisee.
Halo Range proved that Halo stories that don’t follow Master Chief’s work, and there’s room in the franchise for other characters. Bungie showed that too Halo stories, Spartans don’t even have to follow when it’s released Halo 3: ODST in 2009. That title gave players control of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper during the events of halo 2, and it was also quite well received. It showed the world of Halo from a whole new perspective and doubled the fact that HaloThe world is bigger than the Spartans.
It’s time for more non-main stories
The Halo franchise appears to be in a tough spot right now, with a fanbase angry at the state of Halo Infinite multiplayer and stories that failed to capture the feel of the original trilogy. Introducing a brand new protagonist to the franchise is arguably the best way to break free from this. Building out a brand new character has all kinds of new story options and usually involves a brand new cast of side characters. It could feel like a fresh start for the series, which seems to be what Halo needs.
Halo wouldn’t be the first Xbox franchise to introduce new protagonists to the series. Weapons of War been doing it since the end of Gears of War 3. The series once followed Marcus Fenix, but Gears of War 4 focused on his son JD Fenix, while Gears 5 with Kait Diaz. Both characters were fairly well received and the series has maintained its popularity. These new characters have helped to reinvent and breathe new life into the franchise, and that’s something that Halo could benefit a lot.
Halo has been telling the same kind of stories with Master Chief since 2001, so it’s time for a new protagonist to step into the limelight. The series has shown that it can be done; 343 Industries just needs to give someone else a chance. Master Chief has had his day and his story needs to be put on the back burner so that 343 can further expand the world with brand new characters. It can just go in a positive direction for Halo.
Halo Infinite is now available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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