Since 2001,Halohas remained one of the biggest first-person shooter franchises in gaming. Microsoft’s flagship series helped bring the Xbox to prominence, and it continues to bring compelling new entries to gamers. Although the popularity ofHalomay have dwindled since its prime, there is still more on the horizon.
After the events ofHalo Infinite, there are a lot of questions hanging in the air that another game is hopefully preparing to answer. Fromthe dangers of the Endlessto where Master Chief goes from here, the next chapter in the series is wide open with possibilities. There is also the chance thatHalowill step away from Master Chief for a bit. AlthoughHalo Infinitewouldn’t exactly be the most satisfying ending for the iconic protagonist, it at least leaves him in a somewhat positive state. There is currently no concrete information about what the nextHalowill choose as its plot, but sticking with Master Chief and introducing a new protagonist both have promise.
Halo Branching Out to Explore Other Protagonists Could Be a Breath of Fresh Air
Making Way For a New Story
Master Chief is usually the main focus ofHalo’s many stories, but this hasn’t always been the case. Two of the most beloved entries,Halo 3: ODSTandHalo Reach, are games that don’t focus on the decorated Spartan.ODST’s Rookie andReach’s Noble Sixboth presented fresh looks at the war with the Covenant. The next game offering a new perspective could give the franchise a chance to dive deeper into certain aspects ofHalo’s lore that may be better suited for a character that isn’t as stoic as Master Chief.
Protagonists who are strong, silent types make for fantastic leads. From Kratos to Joel fromThe Last of Us, it’s a great character trope for storytelling, and Master Chief is the poster model for this archetype. However,the nextHalogamemay benefit from a small change in this formula, at least for now.
Master Chief’s years of conditioning and war have made him the perfect Spartan soldier.
A story following a non-Spartan soldier who is fresh-faced and not as emotionally hardened by battle could be fascinating to see unfold. As the game progresses, their experience could begin to form them into a more silent and battle-ridden personality, mirroring Master Chief. Ultimately, this may work better for a potential spin-off game. At the end of the day, bringing things back around to Master Chief may be for the best.
Halo Needs to Wrap Up Master Chief’s Story in a More Satisfying Way
Worthy of a Hero’s Send-Off
Thepost-credits scene ofHalo Infinitewas nothing but a massive cliffhanger, promising that more turmoil was on the way. If interpretations of the scene are correct, then Atriox is about to unleash the rest of the Endless, meaning a threat even more powerful than the Flood is imminent. Keeping Master Chief out of such a massive story could potentially feel as though the franchise was snubbing the character.
If the Endless are trulymore powerful than the Flood, then it feels quite possible thatHalomay be setting up a grand finale pitting humanity against its ultimate threat. This hasn’t been confirmed, but if this is the case, then Master Chief needs to be present for such a major event. Putting this powerful enemy in the hands of a new protagonist could be a disservice. Even if Master Chief dies trying to defeat the Endless, the character is worthy of a send-off that is on par with his status in the franchise.
The Harbinger fromHalo Infiniteis the first sneak peek at the Endless.
Not only that, but there are plenty of questions about how The Weapon will play into all of this.As the new version of Cortana, this new companion and Master Chief have some relationship-building to do that requires at least one more story focused on the Spartan, even if it is his final chapter.
