Halo 2andHalo 5: Guardianshave a lot of similarities as games in the iconic sci-fi shooter series. Both are the second game in trilogies released by their respective developers, and both have campaigns that see players switching between the series main character Master Chief andanother character ostensibly working against Master Chief.
Halo 2also stands as one of the most beloved entries in theHaloseries. It was no surprise then, that the game was chosen to be remastered for release inHalo: The Master Chief Collection. Featuring reworked visuals and HD CGI cutscenes,Halo 2: Anniversarywas received positively by fans.
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Halo: The Master Chief Collectionwas not only a collection of all currently released main seriesHalogames, however. It was also part of a marketing boost for theHalofranchise as the next numbered installment,Halo 5: Guardians, was soon to be released.Halo 2: Anniversarybegan with a teaser cutscene forHalo 5where Spartan Locke meets the Arbiter,the fan favorite character players hoped would show up inHalo Infinite. This cutscene has now been removed fromHalo 2: Anniversary.
The scene’s removal likely has to do with the fact that it was a clear teaser for fans that were replayingHalo 2while awaitingHalo 5’s release, and sinceHalo 5has released and had another sequel, the scene doesn’t add anything toHalo 2anymore. New fans playing through theHalogames without any knowledge ofHalo 5’s plot will also likely be confused by the cutscene as it sets up a framing scenario the player would expect to see reach its conclusion during the events ofHalo 2’s campaign. But the events of the cutscene are in factseveralHalogames worth of story and contextaway from the player first booting upHalo 2.
Not only this, but the teaser cutscene also acts as a slight spoiler for the events ofHalo 2and3as the Arbiter plays a key role in both these game’s campaigns. Players that watch thisHalo 2: Anniversarycutscene will know from the get-go that the Arbiter will survive the events of both games and where the arc of his tumultuous alliance with Master Chief ends up.
The cutscene still appears inHalo 5: Guardians, though not quite in the same visual fidelity ofthe stunningHalo 2: AnniversaryCGI cutscenes. Fans have been hoping thatHalo 3will get the same anniversary treatment that the first twoHalogames did, as playing through the games in order inThe Master Chief Collectionnow seesHalo 3have a noticeable visual downgrade from the remasteredHalo 2.
Halo: The Master Chief Collectionis available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.Halo 5: Guardiansis available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
