Im most surprised by the graphics for this installment. I didn't think they could push more out of the 360 and truth be told I really didnt think we'd see the Master Chief again until the next gen XBOX. This game looks incredible! Can't wait to get my hands on it!

In know it's silly, but I look at the screenshots (which look good) and can only think about what NEW hardware will be able to do in a few years. I guess my brain likes novel stuff - if you count a graphical jump as novel.

@bigstrat2003: @Capum15: Yeah, it has been a thing for awhile. Further, Cortana's rampancy was supposed to have been delayed but ultimately made worse by all the information she went about absorbing during the initial trilogy, or at least, that's how they're spinning it.

As far as I know, it's also mentioned in the expanded fiction, though I've never read any of it.

Game looks like it could be cool. Definitely getting Metroid Prime vibes from the art direction though.

I'm more excited for Halo 4 then I have been for any game in quite a long time.

Im actually really impressed at how good this game looks graphically! Too bad Im really not interested in it at all.

You know, I wouldn't mind some Halo. I didn't play a significant amount of Reach the same way I played a significant amount of 3, so I'm still good for another one.

Cannot wait.

I love the ship names in Halo. They should not change that part of the series. Forward Unto Dawn in particular was a great name.

Cover image to this story is pretty gross. I don't want naked cyber nerd-bait bullshit in videogames.

I don't like the new Grunts.

Great write up Brad. Enjoyed reading it. I can't tell you how excited I am for this game. Pumped! :)

Man, this game looks fantastic.(for an xbox game, hur hur hur)

Is it me or has Cortana gotten kinda creepy looking

Fuck it, close enough.

nice writeup brad.

and as for you people that are getting all hot and bothered by cortana's new look. you people are weird, its whateves

Also Brad, not sure if Frank answered this, but the Assuslt Rife sounds different because it's a different model. I realise I'm showing my Halo nerdism, but figured why not. Also: who cares. New weapon sounds are very welcome. Glad to 343 putting a lot of work into retooling all the audio.

"I died several times"

Well I know Halo 4 looks awesome, this is what I came for.

I'm really looking forward to the Cortana story arc. Great preview!

The more anatomically correct Cortana gets, the weirder it is that she is just standing around naked (even as a projection). It is the distant future, but everyone else seems to accept social norms about wearing clothing.

I'm not disapproving, so much as noting that this characteristic is kind of out of place...

So I'm sure they made her look more human just for sex appeal. Doesn't make much sense otherwise.

If Halo 4 concentrates on Cortana, then I will be interested. If Halo 4 tries to explain more of the Forerunners, then I'm out.

@LucidDreams117 said:

Also Brad, not sure if Frank answered this, but the Assuslt Rife sounds different because it's a different model. I realise I'm showing my Halo nerdism, but figured why not. Also: who cares. New weapon sounds are very welcome. Glad to 343 putting a lot of work into retooling all the audio.

I am def. not a Halo nerd, but you are suppossed to know this stuff. Especially if one is into a franchise, story-line, equipment etc etc,.. and I do have my own likes..

I commend you.

Protoss, Protheans, Prometheans... what'll they think of next.

Halo 4 sounds dumb...jk sounds amazing tbh and I am prab picking up the 400 bones system

Is it just me, or is Cortana kinda more Hyper-sexualized than she was before?

Looks good overall, I don't think there's any reason to expect this will be bad, but I don't know that I'm really interested in more Halo. Halo has always been primarily about dicking around with friends, and I can do that with the copies of 3 and Reach I currently own.

@darkdragonmage99 said:

Is it me or has Cortana gotten kinda creepy looking

For a second I thought they made her FMV, but yeah, kinda hitting the uncanny valley there.

I'm not super hyped for this, but I could still go for some Halo.

Really looking forward to this. 3 and ODST were ok but Reach got me fully back on board. I'm also really liking some of the CoD-esque features they're adding to MP while still keeping the feel of it fully "Halo". Here up and get here November.

Cortana looks horrible and creepy.

@benu302000 said:

Is it just me, or is Cortana kinda more Hyper-sexualized than she was before?

I was thinking the same thing

It really does look like Metroid Prime. Not a bad thing, just a bit weird.

It really is a beautiful looking game. Props to 343 for making the best looking Halo by far.

What a great preview, and interview. Awesome, Brad.

Dem Cortana thighs.

They really seem to have hit the uncanny valley for Cortana here. I still think she looked her best with the close cut hair and light purple look she had going in Halo: CE and changing her to the blue look I've progressively hated more and more is easily the biggest thing I hold against anniversary edition's updated graphics.

Now she just looks -as many have already pointed out- creepy. Maybe It fits into the whole rampancy thing and it's actually meant to be creepy but I feel more likely they've just gone too far in trying to make her look realistic.

The Promenthans are explained a bit in the Forerunner Saga book series.

@Mitch0712 said:

@benu302000 said:

Is it just me, or is Cortana kinda more Hyper-sexualized than she was before?

I was thinking the same thing

I'd say less so than H3 Cortana. You can make an argument that since H4 Cortana is more lifelike that it falls further down the uncanny valley and perhaps even somewhat unsettling, but I'd say Halo 3 Cortana had to be the most hyper-sexualized version to date, just not as smooth a character model.

This looks like the most interested Halo game there has ever been, from both a gameplay and story standpoint. The story for the first three main Halos were all, in my opinion, pretty poor. Luckily 1 and 3 played well enough to make up and 2's multiplayer was excellent. Really looking forward to this.

New Cortana looks dumb.

Wait, so Cortana is now Jessica Chobot?

Cortana looks friggin' weird.

@giant_frying_pan said:

This looks like the most interested Halo game there has ever been, from both a gameplay and story standpoint. The story for the first three main Halos were all, in my opinion, pretty poor. Luckily 1 and 3 played well enough to make up and 2's multiplayer was excellent. Really looking forward to this.

W...wait, you thought Halo 2 was good?

@LucidDreams117 said:

Also Brad, not sure if Frank answered this, but the Assuslt Rife sounds different because it's a different model. I realise I'm showing my Halo nerdism, but figured why not. Also: who cares. New weapon sounds are very welcome. Glad to 343 putting a lot of work into retooling all the audio.

Why is there a new model of assault rifle on a ship that was around in Halo 3? It doesn't make chronological sense.

More to the point though, that's one of the most iconic weapons of the series and it just feels weird to have a generic machine gun sound coming out of it. That seems like the sort of thing you shouldn't mess with.

@1960sSpiderman: ballbagians.

Cortana looks less like an AI with an ambiguous femine figure and more like a naked chick just hanging out naked. And that results in some uncanny valley in the stills for me if there is pendulous boob sway in the game...well, I won't give up on games, but I'll be very disappointed.

@benu302000 said:

Is it just me, or is Cortana kinda more Hyper-sexualized than she was before?

Prozacians?

@Aelric: Naked? It's Zero Suit Samus with a blue face and hair.

Not sure whats so bad or out of place about first person moments when Reach had many of them and they were fine, especially the Elite moment in the first level, that was awesome. Sounds pretty smart that they would open the game as sort of a throwback to the opening of Halo 1 before going off into new territory.

YOU'RE A PRETTY BLUE LADY

cortana looks funny