Halo 2‘s iconic ending, where Master Chief defiantly declares his intent to “finish the fight,” is undeniably memorable. However, it fell short of many fans’ expectations, as the epic journey through the game built to a crescendo, only to abruptly cut off without a satisfying conclusion.
The awkward gap has led many to believe the ending was rushed, a victim of development time constraints. However, more recently revealed information suggests a different story – Halo 2 originally had a much more fleshed-out finale.
Halo 2‘s Original Ending Featured Earth And A Tense Face-off
Thanks to the release of Halo 2 storyboards by the game’s storyboard artist, Lee Wilson, we now have a glimpse into what could have been. Following his escape from High Charity, the Master Chief would have returned to Earth, a pivotal location in the fight against the Covenant.
There, he would have joined forces with besieged Marines battling near the newly unearthed Ark, setting the stage for the exhilarating convergence of the Arbiter arriving with reinforcements to tip the scales in favor of humanity.
The storyboards then delve deeper, showcasing a confrontation within the Ark’s control room. The tension as the Chief, the Arbiter, and the mysterious 343 Guilty Spark face off against the Prophet of Truth would be heavily palpable. Justice would have been served as the Arbiter takes revenge, delivering a fatal blow to the Prophet.
Master Chief And The Arbiter, Side By Side
However, there would’ve been more to the fight, as the ultimate goal of preventing the activation of the Halo rings and the destruction of countless lives remained. The storyboards depict the Chief and the Arbiter working together, utilizing the Ark’s control center to deactivate all five Halo rings.
This act of heroism would have cemented an uneasy alliance between the two and delivered a truly epic payoff for players. However, victory comes at a cost. The storyboards show the Ark, having served its purpose, beginning to crumble and laying the foundation for a desperate escape.
While the Chief fights his way out to a hero’s welcome on a human space station, the Arbiter embarks on a different path. His journey takes a shocking turn as he uncovers a potentially game-changing secret about the Forerunners and humanity’s origins within the collapsing Ark.
The revealed storyboards depict of a vastly more satisfying conclusion for Halo 2, one that would’ve offered closure, character development, and a sense of accomplishment after a grueling campaign, and not simply a gaping hole that the next game has to fill.
While the reasons for the original ending’s removal remain unclear, it’s safe to say that the fans who felt shortchanged by the game’s final moments were right. Halo 2 could have been a masterpiece of storytelling, not just a memorable cliffhanger.
