A new Halo series just premiered, and with Infinite having come out recently, there's no better time to close the divide between gaming and television. Just ask Cortana who in the latest clip from Paramount gives a solid Halo 101 for the uninitiated.
Master Chief's AI companion has been with him since the very start, and her name has become synonymous with having a helping hand, like Windows' own game-inspired assistant. Unfortunately, some fans feel the Halo series appears to have missed out on Cortana's own explainer, as her design was among the most heavily criticized due to how much it deviated from her in-game blueprint.
Nevertheless, Cortana is still voiced by Jen Taylor, which does help set the tone for her quick rundown of Halo's history as a pop culture phenomenon. The video refers to the game's origins, its influence over the FPS genre, and how the games ultimately led to the creation of loving communities. It also covers the vast and expansive lore that includes spinoff games, novels, mic books, and now, the very series that aims to bring the world of Halo to an even wider audience.
Unlike some trailers released prior to the show’s premiere, this Halo primer is more geared towards paying homage to the franchise’s history. That said, so far the series’ premiere hinted at a world preceding even the events seen in Halo: Reach. Naturally, one of the biggest recipients of these changes is its soldier, Master Chief himself, as the sole creative decision of him taking off his helmet has sparked controversy in the fandom.
The changes in John-117's more introspective nature from the very start are perhaps caused by how hard it can be to center an entire show around a protagonist like Master Chief, who rarely speaks, unless it’s with Cortana that is. While Pablo Schreiber is seemingly a perfectly adequate Chief, or at least as much as he can be in a mostly “helmet-on” role, his digital sidekick could definitely instill the show with some personality courtesy of the two’s playful banter.
Some fans might notice that this rundown of the franchise’s history doesn’t include any Halo 5 footage, however, that’s not necessarily a surprise, as that one has always been considered one of the weaker Halo games ever. Despite the very little content out right now, Halo Infinite still makes the cut, so hopefully that game can leave a shinier legacy.
Halo the TV series is currently available on Paramount Plus.
Source: Paramount Plus | YouTube