“Halo 5: Guardians” is undoubtedly the most anticipated game in Xbox One. It will come as exclusive to Microsoft’s next gen gaming console and is expected to launch before the end of the year.
Based on the cinematic trailer showed by game developer 343 Industries at the E3 event in June 2013 at Los Angeles, Master Chief, a.k.a. John-117, is the game’s hero. It was said then that he would face a number of challenges and would need a Herculean effort to stay alive while continuously being hunted and on the run.
343 Industries released a 15-second cryptic video teaser of “Halo 5: Guardians” on March 21 which seems to put a question mark on the earlier premise it showed to the gaming community almost two years ago.
Puzzled and excited
Apparently, the teaser has puzzled Xbox One gamers and video game fans whether the Master Chief will actually be the hero or not on the upcoming fifth installment of the “Halo” franchise, notes the Inquisitr.
Gamers and enthusiasts are already getting excited over the release of the latest installment to the most beloved video game in Xbox history, and so is Microsoft.
The original “Halo: Combat Evolved” has been the flagship video game of Xbox since 2001. It was because of the game that millions of video game enthusiasts were convinced to purchase the original Xbox gaming console.
Microsoft is obviously pinning its hope that “Halo 5: Guardians” will give the Xbox One the lift that the first video game gave the original Xbox.
Viral campaign
The 15-second video teaser was released as part of 343 Industries promotional #HUNTtheTRUTH viral campaign to drumbeat the coming of “Halo 5: Guardians.”
Many in the gaming community believe that the cryptic teaser is just a prelude to a full gameplay trailer which would most likely be released soon.
But the latest teaser sparked numerous speculations on what the true plot of the new game would be. The short trailer began looking down on the barrel of a United Nations Space Command (UNSC) sniper rifle before a bullet is fired and the camera follows it as it heads towards its target.
The bullet’s target is Master Chief’s helmet and it shatters upon impact. While the video teaser did not show the minute details, some sites noted that the bullet had the word ‘traitor’ on it. Some others say that the bullet had the word ‘truth’ on it. Still, some others who scrutinized the cryptic teaser said that it had the word ‘hero’ or ‘halo’ on it.
Whatever the word inscribed in the bullet, assuming that there really is a word, it only put more questions than answers on what the actual plot of “Halo 5: Guardians” would be.
But if gamers would simply look back to the previous hints made by 343 Industries, it was still consistent actually. There will be another playable gameplay character in Agent Jameson Locke.
Late last year, Mike Coulter, voice actor of Agent Locke was quoted as saying in an interview that when “Halo 5: Guardians” comes out, gamers would be playing it with him as the primary character.
But Frank Connor of 343 Industries immediately disputed Coulter’ statement by saying that Master Chief will remain as the primary hero in “Halo 5: Guardians.” The bottomline is, there will be two playable gameplay characters – one is the hunter and the other one is the hunted.