Halo - Art Style Debate - Lore and Theory

Lore and Theory is a video series were I explore ideas, Lore and Theories within the Halo Universe that pop into my mind at any given time, or that are popular among the community.

In this episode: I discuss the Art Style debate and an idea which could resolve the art style debate if implemented carefully and perfectly, to enable custom graphical experiences.

[centpb]

In a universe where unlimited time and resources was a thing, this might be an excellent idea. That said, I think it's absurdly unreasonable to expect 343 to effectively double the number of 3d models they need to create in order to satisfy a cosmetic preference.

[midstrength]

That Scene With Chief Falling Off a Chair Was Pure Gold Made my Day.

[theseekerofancienttruth]

The Sole Issue I have with the Elite Art Style Change is that thier Facial Structure should have Remained the Same. Everything else would have been able to be accepted by Most if that had remained what it was.

[levicarpenter]

Now the new elites being a different sub spesies can be a resonable explanation if they didnt change the arbiter to the new design

[deathsicon]

I'm not a huge fan of the newer style, but I could have been more open to it if they made a slower progression into it and have reasons in the story for the changes

[JGooden]

Where does the scene of Chief watching TV on the FUD come from?

[icantfinkofname]

My issue with the art Styles is what they did to all the different covenant species

[seanmurphy]

Like I said on amino, it's a great idea, but it has some large flaws. For example, you need to think about costs. A large portion of the games budget would be dedicated to making more models for the same thing. This would cost a lot, and would take a lot of time to do. This would also effect things like hitboxes. Say one person has the bungie era graphics in multiplayer, and he is about to fight an elite (presuming that there are playable elites), but another person using 343 graphics fights an elite. Their body types are very different, and could increase the problem with some players thinking that elites are unfair. Great video though.

[agentgamma--B]

I don't care about forerunner style I like both and I am also satisfied with the explanation of builder and Promethean design

[gjtrue]

I personally love both styles, but I can understand the debate. I think Halo Wars 2 and Halo Infinite seeming to mix both styles was a wise choice, and I like those the best by far. 🙂

[IrishZOMBIE]

Love the sentiment, but realistically no team of devs or publisher is going to be able to afford the time or money necessary to pull something of this scope off.
The team would have to make multiple sets of assets including high poly models, low poly models, baked maps, textures, rigs, animations, coding, lighting, LOD meshes, collision meshes, etc etc etc. The list goes on and on. Creating just two copies, let alone three copies that interchangeably interact with one another is a wild feat. Anything is possible, but this is definitely not a realistic option. Love the idea! It's just a tad over scoped.

For me, honestly, I love all the art styles that Bungie and 343 have developed. I think Bungie really pioneered Halo and established a universe for us to love, but 343 has really evolved that universe and unified it visually as well as narratively through their Halo games. I wish folks would just let well enough alone and appreciate the art that these talented people develop instead of complain to the point of them feeling like they need to make sweeping changes to it.

[andrewbutler]

What would a Bungie artstyle Infinity look like? Anyone?

[bug]

Uhm.. when was Master Chief ever lounging in a chair with a TV remote, then fall out of the chair? !!!! =D
no seriously, i want to see more of that!

[PackHunter]

Halo Reach and CEA has the best art style. H2A is second. And Halo Wars 1 is third. I say combine all three of these art styles and your set. With the ODST Covenant art style.

[cw]

Please read fully before rendering judgement. While I don't think that either of the two art styles is bad, I do have to say that I like the style of 343 better as it just looks more technical, bringing the game into a true-er sci-fi look. It seems like when you're looking at a character, even as something as small as gloves or a helmet, you can easily tell the parts and manufacturing of the product as well as the fact that it might not be easy. I always felt that while Bungie's art style was ok for the older consoles, that 343's style is something that will look better from a cross platform requirement. Interested in what anyone else has to say so feel free to reply.

[logosmaxima]

Fact is, halo was a bust in sales after.

[pauldavis]

Elites are waaay too much taller than spartans after halo 3. Spartans= 7' / elites = 8'. More or less.

[Sanya]

Instead of three different model, just have 2 models- the new hybrid(default 343 art style) or full-on Bungie era art style using anniversary-like switching mechanisms. 343 has done this before with CE Anniversary and Halo 2 Anniversary. This would not only cut down costs but also satisfy both sides. The whole debate around the art style has no right answer as it is entirely subjective.

[isaiahhuff]

This would be a cool to see but it’s the same issue has having both classic and modern halo gameplay/movement in the same game. 343i will still have pick one to main focus on and the other will be neglected. That’s why I think 343i should focus on one artstyle/gameplay so the game can be a great. Personally I’m a fan of both artstyles and gameplays but of course I’m not straight up in he middle no one can. What we seen so far Infinite artstyle looks 98% classic, 1% modern and 1% hybrid. So if the full artstyle is that then there is no point doing a “hybrid” artstyle. Either way 343i is boned if they make the game classic or boned if they make the game modern or they make it mixed and the game will be meh.

[FirstnameLastname-cwok]

Halo Reach was the beginning of the new, crappy current art style. The Enemies and Weapons in Halo 4 look far closer to Reach than Reach does to 3. Halo 3 had hands down the best art style.