Summary
For over 10 years now, most newHaloinstallments have featured the Forerunners and their artificial soldiers or other new alien factions as the primary antagonists. From the Didact and his Promethean Knights to the Harbinger and her floating Skimmers, these new foes brought a treasure trove of lore to theHalofranchise along with some interesting gameplay mechanics. However, one classic faction has remained out of the spotlight for nearly 17 years and could be used to bring back more horror-centric elements inHalo 7or be the backbone of aHalohorror spinoff. This faction is the all-consuming, zombie-like Flood.
The Flood in 343 Industries’ Halo
With the early activation and subsequent destruction of HaloInstallation 08 at the end ofHalo 3, the Flood’s threat was considered extinguished for most life in the galaxy. The dominating Gravemind was perceived to be destroyed, and most species were now well aware of the threat the Flood could cause on an ill-prepared galaxy. However, this was not the end of the Flood’s story. During the events ofHalo 3and well after the end of the Covenant War, a fleet of Covenant Separatists were stationed near Installation 05 seen inHalo 2to wipe out the massive Flood outbreak on the ring.
Several Halo and other Forerunner installations contained Flood spore samples and even Flood pure form specimens in stasis to be experimented on in hope that a cure could be developed. As more and more of these installations were discovered post-war, several small Flood outbreaks would appear, ensuring the Flood threat continued in an albeit uncoordinated state. To combat these outbreaks, several sets of Spartan 4 Mjölnir power armor would be developed to combat Flood outbreaks and prevent the continued existence of Flood-infected Spartans, such as the Skarbnik and Steelheart armor. By 2559, the Banished caused the largest Flood outbreak seen sinceHalo 3inHalo Wars 2with the awakening of a Proto-Gravemindin the remnants of High Charity on the Ark.
Flood-infected Spartans have appeared in the multiplayer ofHalo 4,Halo 2: Anniversary, andHalo Infinite.
The Potential of the Flood’s Return
Hints to the Flood’s return have appeared throughout mainline Halo games recently, such as the appearance ofa Flood cylix inHalo Infinite. The Flood could make their grand return to the spotlight inHalo 7as the awakening of the Xalanyn could herald the return of the Flood. It’s hinted that the Xalanyn are potentially immune to the Flood, so perhaps the Xalanyn could use the Flood as a tool for revenge against the Forerunner’s reclaimers, humanity. 343 Industries’s rumored usage of Unreal Engine forHalo 7could truly make the Flood the absolutely horrifying and disgusting, zombifying infections they are, similar to the Necromorphs appearance in theDead Spaceremake.
If the Flood aren’t featured inHalo 7, 343 should develop aHalohorror game focused around a Flood outbreak. It could possibly be centered around a classified ONI research base that began testing on Flood spores but inevitably leads to a Flood outbreak, perhaps causing the infection of a nearby UNSC colony. People could play as ODSTs instead of Spartan 4s to make the player feel more vulnerable, asODSTs can’t just punch Flood sporesto smithereens. The ODST could witness first hand the facility succumbing to a Flood outbreak and witness grotesque transformations into Flood combat and carrier forms.
The Horrors of a Flood Halo Game
One intense scene could have the ODST interact with a character in the beginning of the game normally, but toward the end of the game, witness them as a horrifying carrier form andexplode into dozens of infection forms. Throughout the game, as the colony turns into a Flood hive, the player could increasingly hear louder Flood shrills or voices from an emerging Proto-Gravemind to cause unease. An infected Spartan 4 could even serve as an unstoppable boss for the ODST to avoid, similar to Nemesis inResident Evil 3, making this hypothetical spin-off a truly terrifyingHalogame.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
