Bungie upped its newest ViDoc for Halo: Reach first thing this morning. I was initially so excited that I went and made sure to post it on a local game news blog I write for before I'd even watched it myself. Partly that was because I had my just woken up eight month-old son on my lap and I can only type so much one handed.
Now that I've had some time to site down and analyze it, I'm surprised Bungie called this a ViDoc and not a trailer--because really, it played more like a trailer. Their ViDoc's typically involve interviews/commentary with the design team about changes to the play style. This was just an introduction to Noble Team. Don't get me wrong, as it was interesting, but I was just expecting a little more meat on the bones.
Some questions and comments that occurred to me (which I'm sure glosses over a ton, but that's what comments are for!):
1. How will Carter compare to Buck? The leader of the squad in ODST is probably one of my favorite in-game characters in the Halo universe. So far, with what little we've seen, it's difficult to tell how Carter will compare.
2. Kat's character model continues to be an excellent example of unsexualized female character design. Dare from ODST wasn't particularly sexual either, but knowing that Tricia Helfaer was her voice actress (and her character looked like Tricia) gave her some unnecessary sexiness.
3. The introduction of Noble Six is pretty sweet. What will be really interesting to see is how much, if at all, Bungie gives character to Six. I'll be really surprised to see a Master Chief-like portrayal, but the intro suggests that we'll get more than the "strong, silent type" of the Rookie from ODST. Nothing's wrong with a blank cipher, but some personality is a nice touch in a Halo-style game.
4. The voice narrating the ViDoc sounds an awful lot like Cortana. Which, when you get to the end, makes a lot of sense. . . because it's Dr. Halsey doing the voice over. (Those of you who've read The Fall of Reach know that Cortana's personality was strongly derived from Halsey). It's nice to see her finally make an in-game appearance, and now I'm really curious who she's "talking" to off camera, because her dialogue sounds an awful lot like Cortana's blabbering about "choosing" Master Chief over all the other Spartans in those annoying interruptions from Halo 3.
For my more random observations, follow on Twitter @MKEGameDesign.
Halsey is extremely close to her Spartans, although the 3's weren't really hers they came directly from her life's work. I assume she was talking to Kalmiya, Cortana's older "sister", her personal AI. Also, "There's only one other Spartan with that rating." -- such a good line.
@Riley-- totally agree about that line. I'd forgotten about Kalmiya--I've read the books, but it's been a while.
I've been around the fine forums down at Halo.Bungie.org lately and one of the most popular theories surrounding this trailer is that the voice over in it is actually a dialog between Halsey and another AI that would be played by the same voice actress. (Either Cortana, Kalmiya, or another as yet un specified AI spun off of Halsey's brain.)
I'd recommend anyone with a huge Halo lore nerd-on check out halo.bungie.org's forums. They have had the best discussions of this sort for pretty much all of halo's life span. very entertaining and informative.
@Jeffrey-- thanks for the suggestion. Forums are always a huge help, and Bungie has one of the best communities around! In fact, as someone who's a pretty big Halo buff (but nowhere near the nerd-level of some), I almost find the forums overwhelming by the sheer volume of posts.
Yea I used to be heavy into all the lore. Read all the books twice, frequented Bungie.net, watched Halo Legends and all the jazz. I've kinda died out over the past two years or so. As a result, I'm really excited for Reach's campaign and I hope it not only tells a great story; but ties into the novel in some ways as well. I'm am ready for my Halos, so bring it! I know it's a long shot but I will absolutely lose it if we get to see Kelly, Linda, or James. Pretty much any of MC's spartans for that matter.