Halo 2 ending explanation ( major spoilers)

[lordxixor101]

I realized there is an official topic. But, when looking through it, it seemed to be more general talking and online stuff. I wasn't sure if this would fit in the question (and I didn't want to potentially ruin anything for anyone). So, please don't lock (at least right away).

I beat the game on normal yesterday (so, if there is something special for the other endings on harder difficulties, I'm not looking for that). But, I'm a touch confused on the ending (probably from being distracted while playing). I know during the game, the giant plant took the chief and arbitor and sent them looking for the key. I remember Cortana saying something during the game that the plant was just making a distraction.

But then, after the credits, it showed the plant and Cortana talking. What am I not putting together?

Thanks

[Johnny Postman]

Last 3rd or so of the game was cut to make the release date. The real ending (where Master Chief is defending earth from invasion) is rumored to be coming out as either XBox Live downloadable content (seems unlikly from what Bungie has said in interviews) or as Halo 2.5 (a launch title for Xbox 2).

[whiteboy]

Last 3rd or so of the game was cut to make the release date. The real ending (where Master Chief is defending earth from invasion) is rumored to be coming out as either XBox Live downloadable content (seems unlikly from what Bungie has said in interviews) or as Halo 2.5 (a launch title for Xbox 2).

This is all speculation. Did it ever cross anyones mind that perhaps Bungie made a crappy, incomplete game?

Anyway, Noone knows whats up with Cortana. We do know shes stuck with the plant until someone physically gets her so thats why shes talking to him.

[lordxixor101]

Ok, so it isn't just me who's a little lost with that ending. I couldn't see Cortana turning on Chief. So, I wasn't sure what was up.

[jlarlee]

Ok, so it isn't just me who's a little lost with that ending. I couldn't see Cortana turning on Chief. So, I wasn't sure what was up.

I actually thought she was going to turn on him in the first game. For whatever reason I have never trusted that program.

[alongx]

This is all speculation. Did it ever cross anyones mind that perhaps Bungie made a crappy, incomplete game?

It crossed my mind. Didn't bungie pretty much say that they made a crappy, incomplete game on the bonus DVD with the LE package?

[lordxixor101]

I don't know, we all may be too hard on Bungie. Why is it incomplete? There was 15 levels. It has a cliff hanger ending. Movies have these, tv has these, and they aren't considered crappy (Empire Strikes back had a cliff hanger ending, and is considered the best of the 5 Star War movies so far). They definitely have interest peaked for the next game (or Halo 2.5).

I refuse to think of the game as crappy or incomplete. They put together a good game (and I haven't even been on Live). I don't get a feel that it's "incomplete", like I did with MGS2 when they brought out Substance.

[Ledhed]

There was 15 levels.

Sorry to be John Q. Technically, but there were only 14 levels. The 1st "level" is just an FMV.

As for whether the game was incomplete, I honestly don't care. I paid around $35 out of pocket for it, and have already gotten about $150 worth of play out of it. And if having a cliffhanger ending equates to Halo 3 being an absolute truth, then by all means leave me on the edge of that cliff.

[Stryffe2004]

I don't know, we all may be too hard on Bungie. Why is it incomplete? There was 15 levels. It has a cliff hanger ending. Movies have these, tv has these, and they aren't considered crappy (Empire Strikes back had a cliff hanger ending, and is considered the best of the 5 Star War movies so far). They definitely have interest peaked for the next game (or Halo 2.5).

I refuse to think of the game as crappy or incomplete. They put together a good game (and I haven't even been on Live). I don't get a feel that it's "incomplete", like I did with MGS2 when they brought out Substance.

I agree. I thought the game was great. The ending was a cliffhanger, but so what. if you liked it all the way through, why does the ending suddenly make the game crappy?

[WhipSmartBanky]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

[evilmax17]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

Shouldn't have to. A good game/tv-show/movie shouldn't have to rely on other source material to get the point across.

[lordxixor101]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

Well, if this is true (and I read the first 2 books, haven't read the third), why isn't anyone understanding the ending enough to explain it? Why didn't you take a stab at it? But, the books are great, and the first one really does explain the backstory well.

[WhipSmartBanky]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

Shouldn't have to. A good game/tv-show/movie shouldn't have to rely on other source material to get the point across.

The books add a lot more to the story before Halo 1 and between Halo 1 and 2, that isn't POSSIBLE to add to the games. The games are fine on the level they're at, but if you want an expanded universe, read the books.

[Ledhed]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

Shouldn't have to. A good game/tv-show/movie shouldn't have to rely on other source material to get the point across.

The "point" will be made for casual fans at the end of the series. But, if you'd like to have a better idea of the current situation, then go read the books.

There's not a thing wrong with using other media to help expand the universe. Provided you don't make it a marketing nightmare akin to the Matrix.

[WhipSmartBanky]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

Well, if this is true (and I read the first 2 books, haven't read the third), why isn't anyone understanding the ending enough to explain it? Why didn't you take a stab at it? But, the books are great, and the first one really does explain the backstory well.

Reading the books won't add to the ending of Halo 2, I'm sorry I gave that impression. I was referring to what Cortana did at the end. The books shed a greater light on whether she might be turning on him or not.

[lordxixor101]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

Well, if this is true (and I read the first 2 books, haven't read the third), why isn't anyone understanding the ending enough to explain it? Why didn't you take a stab at it? But, the books are great, and the first one really does explain the backstory well.

Reading the books won't add to the ending of Halo 2, I'm sorry I gave that impression. I was referring to what Cortana did at the end. The books shed a greater light on whether she might be turning on him or not.

Oh, really? Could you shed a bit of light? Is she switching possibly?

[WhipSmartBanky]

Read the books, you'll understand a lot more.

Well, if this is true (and I read the first 2 books, haven't read the third), why isn't anyone understanding the ending enough to explain it? Why didn't you take a stab at it? But, the books are great, and the first one really does explain the backstory well.

Reading the books won't add to the ending of Halo 2, I'm sorry I gave that impression. I was referring to what Cortana did at the end. The books shed a greater light on whether she might be turning on him or not.

Oh, really? Could you shed a bit of light? Is she switching possibly?

Personally, I don't think she is. You learn that she cares for chief on a level she probably doesn't even understand herself, yet she's having a lot of problems due to the sheer volume of information she absorbed from the first Halo. SmartAIs are said to last about 7 years, but she's possibly cut her lifespan by taking all of that info, and when AIs reach their end, they start to go rampant. It just makes a stronger case for either route, or possibly a bit of both.

Like I said, read at least the third book, First Strike. It bridges a lot of the time between the first and second game, and adds a lot of interesting things. The first book, Fall Of Reach is a great book, basically the origin of Chief and the Spartans. The second book, The Flood, is a boring retelling of the first game, and can probably be skipped if you're not a big reader, or entirely interested.

[Wshakspear]

Flood sucked. Different write, game retelling. the 1st and 3rd are great sci-fi war tales, and some neat A.I. usess as well

[ananag112]

WhipSmartBanky, your the green ranger? Go green ranger Go!