Creating a proper Halo universe is not easy, especially when it comes to recreating the entire covenant architecture. However, while those purple engineering wonders are mostly handled by CGI technology, the show’s vast array of weapons are mostly crafted without the aid of computers, as shown in a recently released featurette.
Paramount Plus' new Halo series has received criticism due to the stark departure it represents when compared to the source material, with the show’s take on Master Chief or the character design on the likes of Cortana being big talking points among fans of the games. Recent Halo episodes have been more positively welcomed by both critics and fans, and that’s largely down to a greater focus being put on the action and weaponry that owes its origin to the first-person shooter.
In this behind-the-scenes featurette, Andrew Orlando, the show’s Property Master, gives fans a brief rundown on some of the details that went into making each of the weapons preferred by every member of the Spartan Silver Team. Whether it’s Kai's sniper rifle, Riz's magnum pistols or, of course, Master Chief's iconic assault rifle, they all do a great job at imitating their respective looks from the games. At the same time, they somehow still manage to be somewhat practical for filming, with nice touches like magnets that attach the pistol to the Chief's armor.
The Covenant weapons are an entirely different story, as the first thing that might catch many’s attention is just how massive a “real” Needler looks in the hands of 6’3 tall actor Kate Kennedy. Plus, its unique ammunition demanded a lot of work from the props expert. Unlike the firearms used in the series, the deadly Shanghai plasma sword does require tons of CGI to be brought to life, and it’s clear the show is happy to use them given that even Jackals now carry them.
Beyond the overpowered first iteration of the magnum pistol, there are tons of awful weapons in Halo, though judging from one of the more recent episodes, it’s clear humans are finding all Covenant guns to be equally dangerous this early in the war. Content like this new video will be much appreciated by those enjoying the show, since covering it is proving particularly difficult for creators due to some YouTubers receiving copyright claims over Halo footage used in reviews or discussions about it.
Suffice to say, Halo is not exactly enjoying the best of times. What should have been a smooth launch and life cycle for Halo Infinite has been marred by lack of content and an inconsistent multiplayer experience, all issues players will want to see fixed in season 2.
Halo the TV series is currently available on Paramount Plus.
Source: Paramount Plus