they widened her hips for the "plot"

Fun fact: Halo 4 is the only game where Cortana’s in every level. And in no game is she with John the entire time, start to finish.

I came here for the “plot”

Thicc Cortana is the best Cortana

Reminder that CE Cortana needed to console Chief in the level Keyes. And then she'd rationalize the aftermath of the Maw. She was always more to Chief than a smart AI.

sure yeah in halo 4 she is hot for master chief.

Fun fact. Cortanas entire character and appearance in Halo 4 was to make her look more maternal. Due to H4 writer having a similar experience with his mother and an illness she had that was degrading her mind and motor functions. That why cortana looks maternal and why her performance it so genuine. Its coming from someones first hand experience.

“lol insert me into the defense grid”

Thel Vadam (The Arbiter) had a shit-ton of character development. For all intents and purposes, Halo 2 is all about his journey, with Masterchief’s levels being the less important plot-wise. It was his rebellion splitting the Covenant in half that even gave humanity the *chance* to survive.

Halo 4 probably hits the deepest for me between Chief and Cortana. When Chief notices what's happening to Cortana, he asks what is wrong. Cortana explains that AI's deteriorate after 7 years, her service is almost at an end and when Chief finally figured it out, you can tell just from his body language he is scared, he is afraid. His not afraid of dying, his afraid of losing his friends and the people he works closely with. We never seen Chief afraid in game media before, but in other media such as books, you can read that deep down Chief is hurt when he loses a team mate. His hurt when he lost his first friend Sam, the first spartan-II casualty. Chief was also afraid to lose Linda when she took a plasma hit to the head and she was almost NEAR death. For the first time on our TV screens we can see Chief afraid, determined to do whatever it takes to save Cortana. Hell the OST soundtrack in halo 4 really emphasizes the theme of determination throughout the game. That's why halo 4 really hits me hard in the campaign, Chief expresses a part of his feelings through body language, and Cortana we can feel her emotions through her suffering. Both at their most vulnerable point. I think the best part too is when they were in the station trying to look for the scientist and Cortana was spazzing out trying to locate her and Chief tries to calm her down and reassures her.

I loved Cortana in Halo 4. Her story with Chief throughout the campaign was so emotional. She was trying so hard to keep it together and gave her life to save Chief at the very end. Bringing her back in Halo 5 was so dumb because I thought she went out in a good way in Halo 4. Though I am curious how her story will play out in Halo Infinite. We’ll have to wait and see to find out. Great video, Ascend! Also, congrats on reaching 5,000 subscribers! You deserve it!

If cortana in halo infinite isn't dummy thicc we're gonna make these riots look like tea party Edit: I like this new Clone-tana. Her outfit is kinda cute. This is... acceptable.

Cortana feels more like an actual character in Halo 4 rather than a AI tool in other games

One time I started the Halo 4 campaign and my dad walked downstairs and I was at the part where you first get out of cryo sleep and he says "is that a rack on that thing?"

I still wonder what they're going to do with her, after becoming a galactic dictator in 5.

Halo 3 Cortana had dem jiggle physics, bro....

halo 4 coming to MCC pc hype!

I remember first seeing this Cortana. Even without the body, her face was beautiful! I don't know if they modeled after the same person in 5, but she looks way better in Halo 4

All those years sitting on the Dawn doing nothing really went to her hips.

"I've seen more thirsty comments about the lady in blue from women" Hey I don't need to be called out like this

After playing Halo since the first game and watching Cortana "die" in Halo 4 made me cry a little ngl. Then Halo 5 kicked me in the balls.

I’m in the minority but halo 4 is my favorite halo game story.

halo 4 definitely made me feel the most feels out of any halo.

You are proabily the only one who likes Cortana's story approach in halo 4. Im glad I subscribed to you. Keep up the work man.

"Green man busting alien butt" Doom guy?

4:09 this was my desktop when halo 4 came out i swear

So, we're not going to discuss the fact that Halo 4 was the first time that Cortana was motion and performance captured off of a real person? I''m sure that had ALOT to do with making her more relatable.

Halo 5 Cortana made most of the AIs simp for her. Change my mind.

Halo 4 is so underrated you can still find games in seconds on the 360

And I desperately hope that we can get that dynamic duo back in Halo: Infinite. Chief seems to always finds his way back to her in Halo.

Man, bringin back all the feels I got after playing Halo 4 for the first time...

Fun fact: there is a lore reason why cortana seems more human as her rampancy progresses. And that reason is a concept called Meta-stability in which if an AI survives rampancy the process of thinking yourself to death would free an AI of of their code and allow themselves to be truly sentient

She has very important hips

I hate halo 5 Cortana because she wears clothes

I think you coulda touched on how she affects Chief in this story, it really broke down his stoic hero persona, highlighted his machine like nature and how someone who isn't human made him more human himself. That line at the end "She said that to me once... about being a machine." That shit was so powerful. Loved their dynamic in Halo 4, it was clearly the highlight and Jen Taylor along with Steve Downes fuckin killed it. Never knew Chief could sound so defeated when he is the 7'2 embodiment of power.

Have to agree Cortana is very expressive in Halo 4 and you definitely get more of her and the Chief's relationship throughout the game. While I didn't enjoy Halo 4 as much as the Bungie era games I can't deny that Cortana was probably the best aspect of the game. Loved this video!

Dam man these essays are so great, you mad underrated

I LOVED Halo 4 Cortana. She had the best look, the best Voice Acting, and an actual story arc.

This is my favourite cortana because they add extra depth to her character that we saw glimpse of from time to time.

It's why I kind of like her in Halo 5, you spend Halo 4 trying desperately to save her, to find a way for her to survive and as the plot progresses, she becomes more and more human. In Halo 5, she has found her solution, she's survived. But you interact with her and you can tell she's just a shell of what she once was and her design reflects this as well. Rather than being inviting and personable, instead she lays somewhere in the uncanny valley and the addition of clothing not only makes her more authoritive but also shows us that she now hides away what she previously was comfortable or happy showing.

Halo 4 Cortana is the pinnacle of her character. Omg. Honestly one of my favorite campaigns because it focuses on the relationship between her and Chief. Pure love. ❤️😭😭😭🦁🦁🦁👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏

Halo 4 Cortana is the best version of Cortana we'll probably ever get too bad her cuteness and thickness is gone 😔

That last part reminded me of “The Prototype” from Halo Legends

I missed this on my first playthrough but caught it this time. At 10:02, without Cortana, Chief crumbles like the room around him. But he doesn't have to let out a dramatic wail or scream "noooo" to let the player know that he's in turmoil. He stands firm and upright, but it doesn't stop him from falling apart.

A good majority of OG Bungie fans hate on Halo 4 for its character development but I honestly loved how 343 actually made these characters feel like human beings and not just clique, standard characters that never change. It’s why Halo 2 and 4 are my favorite stories, Arbiter has development in 2 and Chief and Cortana both have development in 4.

"I will not allow you to LEAVE THIS PLANET!" Damn Cortana, chill. "I am ordering you to SURRENDER THAT A.I.!" Damn dude, you need to chill too. Those 2 dialogues made me say whoa on my first playthrough back in 2012

In halo 4, chief's and Cortana's relationship felt a bit romantic to me.

Chief and Cortana’s relationship throughout the games CE: Partners 2: Friends 3/4: Family Cortana in H5 is just a rampant version of her so I don’t think it counts.

Halo 4 proved that the entire Halo franchise was never Master Chief's story but always Cortana's story.

Gonna need another Spartan ‘Analysis’ chief.

Yeah I'm sure that's why we all love this cortana

Halo 4 Cortana is best Cortana She's wonderfully written. An AI that is arguably more human than the other human characters in the game. Able to think about her existence and death as well as her relationship with the Chief.

Watched 2 of your videos, and i already subscribed. This never happenned to me before. Props to you man, good content.

Agreed! She got so much wonderful chatacter development in Halo 4 and a wonderful, tear jerking send off. Why did they have to dig up her corpse for 5?

H2C Cortana is probably my favorite design. I really wish they kept the purple tint rather than just going completely blue

I will forever fight and defend anyone who says Halo 4's campaign is trash. Most casuals just weren't ready for an actual story. (looking at YOU Halo 3)

Only recently joined, super enjoying your content, amazing work of the destiny/halo forge and amazing job to the composer!

I love Halo 4 Cortana. I want one just like her.

I hate how they turned one of our favourite ai into our enemy

Never saw it with this angle....nice observation......and moral for Cortana is It's good to be a bit crazy

Halo 4 Cortana"s Is perfect!!! Phisical and emotional aspect both!!! 343 must not ruin this story in halo infinite!! None wants to kill Cortana!! 🙏🙏

The best Cortana there ever was. _13/10/2020 8:12am_

great video man

"I'm your greatest achievement and you detest me" Damn so Halsey and cortonna are so egotistical. Halsey pretty much constantly tries to take credit for every single thing John has ever done. And cortana believes that she is her greatest achievement... And then gets a god complex. Black box for life.

Thanks for setting out this analysis and for articulating what I felt the first time i played Halo 4 that because of how she defines rampancy 'we think ourselves to death' I could not help but wince every time I deployed her or asked her to do something and the cinematic direction of Chief deploying her in cutscenes is very successful. He always looks at her for longer or looks at her before he looks at what she is displaying - he knows what he's doing is hastening her demise and it is agony for him that only grows for the Chief which is why he goes from being fairly stoic at the start to - for the chief - increasingly emotive and finally desperate.

The plot thickens

I really appreciate you making a mature video about Cortana

Besides. 'Don't make a girl a promise', and 'you might need to get creative', Halo 4 has most of my favorite Cortana quotes from the series.

i really do be missing the days of plowing through some feeble covie resistance while Cortana gave me updates on the battle field. Can't rlly have that anymore

On behalf of BTB #1 I must say this is an instant classic! All the homies like Cortana because she got our backs like two peas in a pod you know what I'm sayin'?

Halo 4 Cortana is bae 🥰

Just watched the latest vid and bro I like your way of thinking things through

This hit me in the feels...

I’ve simped for Cortana since elementary school and I don’t plan to ever stop

This video made me wanna go play some Halo now xD

You sir have earned a subscriber

Halo 4 Cortana is my favorite version of Cortana.

Halo 3 had my favorite version of Cortana, but I love her Halo 4 depiction as a close second.

That make sense in your perspective.

Cortana is gorgeous❤. I like halo4 cortana. But Mr chief being fully armored and cortana being fully naked is kind of wierd to see together.

I'm all for that halo 4 Cortana bod

Eyes are the window to the soul. Cortana had more expressive eyes than ever before. Chiefs visor remained Amber. "I wonder which one of us is the robot"

I've been waiting for this one

Gonna miss her

I cried with this video

3:41 I nearly cried while playing the game

When Cortana says she was put in service 8years ago. Master chief is like "YO wtf it's been 8 years" lmao

I would also point out that that the folks at 343 were playing on the pathos that the only companion/relationship the MC has is with Cortana. Everyone else has been shot away.

I can think of TWO very good reasons right off the top of my head

Halo 4 come for halo Stay for cortana

yes.

it was necesarry because we needed a blue ai to simp on

People hate on Halo 4....and gameplay-wise it had issues. However, Cortana's design was PERFECT...and on top of that, the dynamic between her and John going down a more emotional path after growing over the course of Halo 1-3 was a great path to take. If only they had LET HER sacrifice be permanent, and let the game be the proper send-off for her character. Unless Halo Infinite is absolutely amazing, the Halo saga, for me, ends with Halo 4 and the death of Cortana.

Absolutely stellar video, and I’m always happy to see Halo 4 love in a community that INSISTS on treating it like its Superman 64, but I’m surprised you didn’t touch on one of the biggest things about Halo 4 Cortana. It’s known that she was actively based on the writer’s, Chris Schierf’s, mother’s own battle with dementia during his time writing Halo 4. He specifically made her to be tribute to his dying loved one and used that to further elicit emotion from players who have seen their own loved ones struggle with illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer’s. It humanizes her further, and while the point of this video is to love on her role in Halo 4, it also makes her return and betrayal in Halo 5 way, way worse metatextually.

That is why I think Halo 4 is underrated

It would've been fantastic to see short sequences during Halo 3 where qe get insight in Cortanas experiences.

Shes always been my comrade

Well done home slice. 👍

Halo 4 Cortana is the best Cortana. They have to bring that design back 😭

Honestly I was more concerned about getting the Mark Vi armor reward for beating Halo 4 on legendary than I was the actual story so all of this is new to me.