There is some discussion that on the Waypoint forums that Master Chief might be killed off in Halo 5 Guardians.
Do you think that would happen? If so, why? If not, why?
Let’s take a step into the portal of ‘What if?” for a moment and discuss the death of Master Chief in Halo 5 Guardians.
So, Master Chief is dead. How did we arrive here? We know very little so far about Halo 5. What we do know is that Agent, now Spartan, Locke is on the hunt for Master Chief. Chief has gone AWOL. The reasons for Chief going AWOL haven’t been said yet, though I’ve guessed to that being a mission to find Halsey, to somehow bring Cortana back. His going AWOL could also be something from within. When the Librarian altered his DNA, did it change him in a way that he is now seeking something Forerunner? Something perhaps for humanity to attain the mantle?
Why is Locke hunting Chief then? Well, the simple answer is that Master Chief has a LOT of UNSC ‘property’ within him in the form of his reenforced skeleton. As well, there is the multi-billion dollar set of Mjolnir armor that he wears. But those two things are not a reason to kill him. Are they?
Yes, and here’s why. Taking a look a Halo Nightfall, we learned that Colonel Aiken, a Sedran military officer, was once Randall-037. Yes, he was a spartan. The UNSC had him listed as MIA, and in this case it really meant MIA. They went looking for him and eventually found him. He was ordered to give up his spartan enhancements or, in no uncertain terms, he would be killed. The UNSC could not and can not afford to have a rogue spartan out there.
Well, the exact same can be said for Master Chief. In fact, even more so. As the ‘savior’ of humanity, if Chief went rogue, he might easily gamer a following. Especially if he turned into a separatist (insurrectionist). Imagine the throngs of people who would come to follow 117! If Chief were to lead an insurrection against the UNSC, you can bet it wouldn’t be pretty and would be a lot longer than the first one (that was fortunately interrupted by the Covenant attack).
Let’s say then that Locke does catch up to Master Chief, orders him to remove his armor and ready himself for ‘final dispensation’ (ala Captain Del Rio). Chief might be given the choice to have his alterations removed. Though, I’d think he wouldn’t want that to happen. So an all out battle would occur.
Why wouldn’t Chief want his abilities taken away? Well, that part is kind of obvious. He needs them to continue to be who he is as a super soldier. Also, with the Librarian’s enhancements, it may be likely that he CAN’T have the spartan parts removed, less it kill him or drastically reduce his new found Forerunner upgrades.
The hard part to believe then, would be that Locke would take Master Chief out, even with Locke’s spartan hunter team. After all, Chief has decades more experience and has faced worse than a 4-person Spartan team and come through it.
One thing I can see Locke having the advantage in is having a signal shutdown on Chief’s armor. Coded only to Chief’s armor, Locke could easily set off the signal to shut down Chief’s armor. Either taking Chief’s shields out or putting him in ‘lockdown’. This would be a last resort kind of thing if Chief wouldn’t come quietly. In either case, Chief would then be at a clear disadvantage. Shields out against 4 Spartans WOULD be tough to handle. Being put into lockdown would take him out completely.
Now, here’s the thing. Locke capturing or killing Chief in this manner would be a HUGE disservice to the character of Master Chief, as well as, a real kick in the face to fans.
Eventually Master Chief will be replaced (though I truly hope not as I feel he IS Halo). But would this be the right way to do it? Many fans I’ve either spoken to, or have read replies about this nearly unanimously agree that is would be a shameful way for 343 to end Master Chief. He deserves to go out in a massive blaze of glory. Being taken out by Locke is NOT that option.
I do not think Master Chief will be killed off in Halo 5 Guardians, but I do believe 343 is coming to a close soon on the chapter of Master Chief within Halo. We have heard rumors that they were not going to bring back the voice actors for Cortana and Chief in Halo 4. How true that is, I do not know. They’ve already ‘killed’ off Cortana. Seems plausible they are readying the end of Master Chief.
Now the question put to you. If Master Chief is killed off, be that in Halo 5 or 6 or 7, whenever. Will that be the END of you buying Halo games?
We have had games where Chief is not the star. ODST, Reach, Halo Wars, Spartan Assault. However, we all knew that Chief was still alive and well and didn’t have reason to question his demise from the franchise. If he’s killed off, where do you stand on buying Halo games?
I must admit, it would be a HUGE and terrible hit for me. Yes, I know it’s just a video game character. But the character has come to mean so much about valor, honor, respect and many more adjectives I could thrust upon him. The character simply does not deserve to be killed off. Even if Steve Downes (the voice actor for Master Chief) isn’t brought back or isn’t able to do the voice anymore, for whatever reason, a new voice could be found. Yes, that would be a big change too, but no where near as much as not having Chief at all.
-Sal
I highly doubt they’ll kill him off, this is just an exciting new plot thread. He’ll eventually either go out in a blaze of glory, or ascend to some kind of Forerunner godhood, I think. Either way, I’d totally keep playing if they killed the Chief, and I’d respect them for having the guts to do it, too.
As for why Locke is hunting him… I think his clone actually survived and was recruited into the insurrection. I think they learned who he’s a clone of and gave him SPARTAN IV augmentations somehow, then stole armor for him that looks like the Chief’s. The clone Chief then would be leading insurrection attacks and rallying people like you mentioned. Since the UNSC thinks his clone is long-dead, they would think it really I the Chief doing it.
Well now… THAT would be a cool story. Would that mean Chief might have to face off against himself?. Interesting.
I also do not want the Master Chief to die. But, if they do decide to kill him, they BETTER send him out……… with a bang.
I think that IF they kill him, it will be in halo 6 at the very LEAST. I also think that not anyone could ever replace him.
There could be spinoff-like games of epic proportions though!
I highly doubt Master Chief will be killed off in Halo 5. 343i has said that they plan to keep Halo going for a long time and Master Chief is the face of Halo as well as Xbox. And when Master Chief does goes away (retire/die), I can’t see 343 just having someone simply killing him. He’ll definitely sacrifice himself or something like that.
As for Spartan Locke and his team capturing/killing Master Chief, doesn’t Master Chief still have Blue Team with him?
And finally to answer your question, I would still buy Halo games even if they do not have Master Chief. I am invested in the Halo universe and there are many stories to be told in it without the Master Chief. Don’t get me wrong, Halo won’t be the same without the Chief, but the reality is that he is getting old and eventually 343i will have to “retire” him.