✅ Subscribe: ruclips.net/user/BenPlaysGames 🖱 Support the channel: www.patreon.com/ben_plays_games I thought a sort of Christmasy Halo analysis video was in order. Tis the season...
I do appreciate the video and quickly mention as a longtime Halo fan and ran through this level multiple times I can assure you this is definitely not the first time you can get into the banshee! The Banshee actually one time was acquired on the first level as I shot an Elite out of it. Although it was not able to be replicated with any sort of consistent pattern I have done it on a few occasions and it just completely changes the entirety of the gameplay when you first land on The Ringworld that is Halo. The next time you can use it is actually on Assault on the Control Room. If you don't trigger the next automation sequence as you're coming through the cave usually a lot of people take this route with the tank in the Marines. But if you get out there is a banshee that an elite has not boarded yet on top of the entrance to the control room where the two Hunters lay below. Again this can be manipulated with a rocket launcher as you will have one and are able to knock it at least on its side or flip it and it will not allow the Elite to board it. Also difficulty was this is by no means easy or repeatable each time. Finally our last two moments is this very level but way sooner than you expect. So the rocket launcher that can be acquired at the top when you exit the installation center of the index candy use to knock the Banshee off from the ledge that is sitting way up top! And the last moment is after you have re climb the hill where the hunters were on the previous level and as you make your way up there is another sequence. Again before this happens there is a ledge and it is the final location where the monitors are hanging out and the last of the three phase pulse generators. With the rocket launcher you will simply creep to the edge of the Hill as you are going up the snow and as soon as the ledge becomes available this Banshee as well can be knocked off. And all of these simulations you will still find the elite hanging out and waiting for his ride not sure what happened! Thank you for the upload and I'm dropping a like for you now!
@@BenPlaysGames i just really like the snowy locale haha. something about forerunner architecture mixed with a chilly, frosty cold is… strangely calming, in a way. The starting area of Halo 3’s mission “Halo” gives the same feeling.
@@yarr_bro I get what you mean. I think it's the music that tops that feeling for me. You have "A Walk in the Woods" in this level too (Unless I'm getting mixed up with Assault on the Control Room) and obviously "Under Cover of Night" that add to that chill and tranquil vibe.
I may be sick for thinking this but since the game fundamentally retreads your steps past the library, I always wanted to see a nighttime mission on The Silent Cartographer post flood release, complete with visages of the ring in the sky box having an ominous green hue and heavy fog surrounding the entire island.
yeah but SPV3 is awful. It's decent for a fan made project, but its way too over designed, too many modern weapons, and just too much is changed to call it a remake of CE.@@batterysurf
Even though it's a "retread" of Assault on the Control Room, I actually find it kind of enjoyable. I just wish it, like Quarantine Zone in Halo 2, had a Scorpion tank. It'd make things FAR easier.
I think having the indoor section, which is more varied than Assault on the Control Room's to begin with, then the larger scale encounters as opposed to the other way round really helps with pacing. Should have mentioned that now I think about it!
there is one if you play through SPV3 on Legendary. (If the scorpian tank survives to the end of the valley segment on Assault on the control room, it will be waiting for you when you come back during Two Betrayals)
As a younger kid I used to get confused between this mission and assault on the control room and when I stopped playing for a bit and picked it up I kept back tracking on the assault room mission several times before I realized
@@4T3hM4kr0n You can also get a Scorpion on Two Betrayals in Ruby's Rebalanced CE, you just have to complete a certain secret side mission near the second pulse generator. If so, you'll get the tank right at the start of Final Run.
I could understand the criticism for the retread aspect if it wasn’t for the fact that the encounters are completely different on each level. The addition of the flood to the scene makes the combat completely different. I think its a great way to showcase how dangerous the flood is with them posing a problem to the player and the covenant at the same time. I love this mission.
With the anniversary this is the only level I consistently do anniversary graphics because of that tunnel because then you can actually see the rockets coming
I think having some Marines on this level would’ve really helped it. Give one last hurrah to our favourite boys in green. That, and it would narratively connect to Fohamers death. Cause as it is now, if you played Halo CE for the first time, you’d think the marines were wiped out after 343 guilty spark. It creates this jarring feeling when out of no where at 3/4 through the final mission, Fohamer comes outa nowhere. Ruby of Blue I think did a great job in his rebalance of Halo CE in this regard.
The inclusion of marines would have been awesome! My guess is that adding another faction into the mix would have been an extreme amount of work, I'd imagine balancing/playtesting the level was a bit of a nightmare to begin with.
@@BenPlaysGamesthat might be why Ruby of Red only included them at the entrance of the control room. Although I could see a situation they could be included as small holdouts throughout as you fight your way to the generators. It might be a little retread of Fohamer collecting marines in Halo, but could still have a unique feeling. As now your helping what may be the last signs of humans off the ring in order to escape. Without marines, using a vehicle like the worthog in this level isn’t worth it. Without a coop partner, you have to stop, get out, get in the gunner seat and be a sitting duck. It’s why most people use the ghost.
I've heard that apparently they did originally plan to have marines at the beginning of the level, who would have held the control room since you left, but unfortunately due to the time restraints they didn't have time to properly include them as well as doing all the necessary adjustments to them for the level, while instead it was easy and simple to put a couple of covenant encounters instead
@@ryanelliott71698 Well Ruby added the UNSC at this spot simply because it makes more sense than what Bungie did. MC broke a standing order by leaving Cortana inside the master control room. The Covenant literally were right outside the room, so it always baffled me on why the Covenant did not capture Cortana. I know it's possible that 343 left Sentinel's outside to protect the room but even he did not know Cortana was inside there so Ruby's logic which I agree with 100% is that when E419 picked up MC to take him to Keyes, they would of left a squad in the control room for basic defense. He basically was patching a hole that Bungie created that no one really talks about which I give him props for that. The UNSC was basically on it's last nerve and the Flood showing up destroyed them so I get why Bungie had zero UNSC presence in this level but on Assault on the Control Room, you did abandon a two Squads of Marines behind with a tag for them to be picked up so you can work in something that they were never recovered and you pick them up along the way or did what Ruby did.
@@cosmictreason2242 That's the best thing you came up with. You can look at a damn computer and see a drive is installed because as you failed to pay attention to. That Cortana sits on a drive that MC puts into his helmet similar to a flash drive. And 343 who knows Zero Four like the back of his own program should be able to glance at a holographic board and see the drive attached.
Amazing mission. It's one of those missions that despite being sooo long I really wouldn't have minded it lasting longer. Outdoor fight followed by some indoor CQ and then vehicle combat and then a lovely 3 way battle 🔥. Also incredible music throughout
@@BenPlaysGames yeh that's what I was thinking as well. I guess it's nice that the last fight towards the wraith has I think 3 spawns of enemies at least on legendary where you have the normal wave followed by a second invisible elite wave and the hunter wave which makes it last a little longer but yeh once you get out that tunnel the mission is really at its peak
This level is halo at its best for me. It throws everything at you and nails the sandbox feel. There's so many ways to deal with each section too if you get overwhelmed.
I'll forever be a massive fanboy of 343 Guilty Spark and The Silent Cartographer, but Two Betrayals has definitely gone up in my estimations having spent a lot of time with it this week.
while understanding it’s shortcomings, i’ve actually always had the unpopular opinion of loving this mission. there’s so many ways you can approach this level with all of the variety, it plays a little differently each time. great video as always Ben, and also, Under Cover of Night is one of the greatest songs of all time lol.
I totally agree with you, Assault on the control room and Two betrayals are 2 of my favourite missions in Halo. The ambience/mood, combat situations, MUSIC and much more including all the different ways you can choose to engage makes the missions replayable… over and over again. I do understand how people might dislike the repetitiveness in some areas but I actually like it somehow. These missions are always the first to come up in my mind whenever someone mentions Halo ❤
I know I gave you a hard time with my previous comment but you nailed this video. Two Betrayals is in my opinion the best Halo mission in the franchise and blows Assault on the Control Room out of the water. For me it gets top marks in practically every important category in a Halo mission; -Level design -Music -Atmosphere -Weapon variety -Enemy variety -Vehicle combat -Faction on faction combat -Spectacle -Story
4:03. This is one of my favorite atmospheric moments in the whole franchise, it gives me such a cold winter night vibe. To this day I’ll listen to Under Cover of Night otw home in the winter and it’s perfect. So cool to hear we share the same opinion Ben! Great vid as always!
I love this mission. In my video on Halo I talked a lot about how getting to come back to this terrain helps you really feel connected to the Ring, and of course I mentioned the repetition of Under Cover of Night here as why that is THE song of CE.
No matter how much this level pisses me off, everything is forgiven when you go out that tunnel and you see the title card "final run" while under the cover of night plays, it's peak video game feels
Under Cover Of Night and A Walk In The Woods from Combat Evolved are outrageously good tracks. I love a lot of the series' music, but there's just something about those two.
"I'm pretty sure I can pull it from your suit without permanent damage" Never really picked up on that bit before but that's 100% the reason for "...and don't even get me started on the power supply." In the Armory on Cairo
When Under Cover of Night started playing as I was soaking in the snowy landscape of the mission - that was the exact moment I fell in love with the game.
Loved the intro to this level and how truth and reconciliation kicks off as you open the door to the outside. It's a breath of fresh air (figuratively on literally) after being through the fog choked swamp and cramped interior of 343 guilty spark and the dimmly lit flood infested interior of the library. I also love the tone shift in the level as you progress and see the covenant and flood duking it out (on several segment I'll actually just run past the covenant or weaken them to the point where I can run past since I know killing them only gives the flood more bodies to spawn from). Best tone shift is when "under cover of night plays" after exiting the tunnels. Matches perfectly the desperation and helplessness with the covenant position fighting and getting utterly overwhelmed. Then to top it all off theres the ending with "Devils monsters" music and covenant troop composition implying that this is their final defensive line in the valley (and possibly their command post) leading to a hard and desperate last stand. It is EXCELLENT subtle storytelling.
Why wait when you can have it right now: ruclips.net/video/DpDrm7z8rBc/видео.html I've a set of playlists, one for each Halo, which keeps track of the missions I've covered - I keep them up to date and in order, and there's a pretty good chunk of them now!
This was my favorite mission in Halo:CE. ‘Under Cover of Night’ my favorite and most fitting song of Halo:CE. Covenant vs. Flood vs. Sentinels vs. you. Night mission. The ambience. The scenery. It seemed to have everything, but a tank and a time limit. Just a well rounded mission imo.
My favorite level in CE by far. The encounters are programmed brilliantly in this one. So many fun and unique battles, all the weapon options, and the only level that requires Banshees to win.
I had forgotten how great this level was until I played with my daughter on original hardware a few weeks ago (her first playthrough). It has such great atmosphere, and the outdoor battles are truly epic. I too see it very differently now than I did before this recent play through.
That's awesome Joel - I'm not a parent quite yet but one of the big things I'm looking forward to is showing them all the old games I loved. And having a second pair of hands in the house for multiplayer, of course.
I really enjoyed this level. The wide open expanse, the variety of weapons and factions, and the night setting made it feel like the pinnacle of combat evolved for me. Nice video.
Any thoughts on the peculiar dialogue during the beginning cutscene? Guilty Spark to Chief: “But you already knew that. I mean, how couldn’t you?” “Why would you hesitate to do what you have already done?” “Last time you asked me, if it were my choice, would I do it? Having had considerable time to ponder your query, my answer has not changed. We must activate the ring.” It’s my understanding that Bungie always intended for the forerunners to be our ancient ancestors, and it seems this might hint at that, but guilty spark is addressing chief specifically.
You're on the money that it's a suggestion that humans are descended from forerunners. In the library he also exclaims, whilst addressing you, that he's pleased some of his makers survived to reproduce. To the point that he seems to be addressing the chief personally, I think it's just a little quirk that he has. He seems to consider everybody as belonging to a faction and being typical of that faction. The forerunners are his makers, the now descended humans are reclaimers, the covenant are all meddlers... Etc etc. The fact that he addresses the chief as if he were the very same who activated the ring the first time is just evidence of his heritage -forerunner.
I remember the prevailing theory online shortly after Combat Evolved's release was that the forerunners were human. That was what I too believed at the time, as there were just too many examples like those you've highlighted implying that to be the case. I definitely think that's what Bungie had in mind too, until things began to shift around the time of Halo 3, where you had the terminals suggested the forerunners weren't human at all. But at least early on in the franchise, I think the plan was for them to be ancient, super advanced humans.
Regardless of whether you run with the Forerunners are separate or they are human canon: it‘s not unreasonable for the AI to assume people knew about the flood and how to fight them.
As you mentioned the music used well, when you walk out onto the parallel bridges and Covenant dance starts to play, it gave me shivers on my recent playthrough.
There are so many moments like that in Combat Evolved, where I remember the music as much as anything in the encounter. The bridge sequence being one of them. I've been listening to Covenant Dance loads recently too, so have used it in so many videos I've put out over the last month or two.
I don't mind the fact that CE has lots of "retread" levels. To me, it gives the story an interesting symmetry that helps add to the Flood's character. We already saw the control room before the flood got there, but then we go back at night and now the flood are tearing the covenant apart. And ending the game in the same place you started (The Pillar of Autumn) made it really feel like the end
Retreads aren't necessarily bad, I think the length of them is a bit off in Combat Evolved though, which makes them back half feel perhaps a touch drawn out compared to the very pacy first half.
Because its not retread, Halo CE is open world, is the same world but different map, different routes to inaccesible places that the first time you get here, to make the player the feeling of the reality changed, now there are no marines and when you realice it, under cover of night extended song plays.
cloaked in blackness was such a banger. I remember coming out of the forerunner structure hearing this song for the the first time like it was yesterday.
4:26 I think you can actually get in a banshee earlier in the game if you kill an elite before it gets in one, but I can't exactly remember what level it was in (might of been Assault on the Control Room).
You can, and you can get another by using rockets to shoot one off a platform above you during it too. However, as this is the first level where it's really intended and built into the design of the mission, I kept the line in there.
Funny thing is, I figured out how to get the Banshee at the end of Assault on the Control Room my very first time playing Halo when I was 12, and for the longest time didn't even realize you were meant to do the whole thing on foot like a schmuck. I had found the active camouflage a couple rooms before, and took advantage to run past all the enemies like the winmpy kid I was. It lasts just long enough to get close to the banshee before the Covenant realize you're there, and then it's a race against the Elite for who gets wings.
I remember booting up 2 betrayals on the anniversary version on my old 360, for some odd reason, my favorite section of the entire level was walking up the ramp in time to see the flood engaging with the elites off screen while ‘covenant dance’ starts playing, I would replay that specific checkpoint so many times, trying out new strategies to see how differently things could play out, leaving 2 elites alive for the flood to ambush, let the flood kill the gold elite for me, or bring the rocket and blast everything, starting 3 way fights, and from that point on, I usually end up playing the level all the way through, because why not ahahah
My first ever experience playing Halo was this level. Specifically it was the final arena where the covenant are entrenched on the opposite side of the canyon as you. That's also when I heard the flood theme for the first time & that stuck with me, sucks they never brought that peace back. The final sequence after the underground bridge is one of my favorite sections of any halo game
Man, THE most memorable moment of all of CE for me is the moment when Under Cover of Night plays as soon as you enter the field full of Covies and Flood. The "Final Run" subtext is perfect, and is, once again, the most memorable part of CE for me.
Yea when that “under cover of night” kicks in, it really fills you with this sense of urgency for the story overall. You feel aware of the importance of what your doing to stop spark and it makes you like “damn we gotta stop this” I love it! However my personal favorite track in CE is in this mission, “covenant dance”. I feel like that track sums up the feeling of this great 4 way of covenant vs flood vs sentinels with you kind of caught in the crossfire of all 3. I love it lol!
As it happens, I used that track in this video which reminded me how much I like it. So, I stuck it into the The Maw's video as the first bit of music. It's an absolute banger!
Ruby’s rebalanced does a good job of sprucing up this level. Marines making a final stand guarding the control room, forehammer giving you one last tank during “final run”, better telegraphing of rocket flood, and alternate paths to get banshees
I found your channel through your video on 343 Guilty Spark as I just bought the master chief collection a few weeks ago and played halo for the first time, great content by the way. When I reached this part of the campaign the reuse of the same map just in reverse bored me a little but what pissed me off was the rocket flood, I spent like 20 minutes on one of the bridges because one of those guys kept blasting me to kingdom come. I had no problem with them in the library but their pressence in this mission is a bane on my existence, solid mission nonetheless.
Welcome aboard dude, appreciate you checking my stuff out! I agree too, the rocket flood are awful and there are so many of them dotted about the place during Two Betrayals. There's a sequel to them in Halo 2 as well, the beam jackal.
@@BenPlaysGames There's rocket Flood in Halo 2 as well, and because the Halo 2 rocket launcher can lock onto vehicles and aircraft they're even worse than the CE rocket Flood.
That relieve in in the first playtrough when you come out of the library and see the covenant.... my god. i remember me and my friend, both 8 y/o, were so happy, that we didn't kill them and only went after the flood, imagine the covenant as our friends.
I see you've finally come around! I wrote a (surprisingly long) comment on your ranking video a year ago explaining why Two Betrayals was my favorite, and a year later you have similar reasoning to my comment as to why you like it now!
Cheers Luke! It's been a slow-ish year but would never dream of complaining. I remember when I started I said to my flatmate that I'd be happy getting 200 views on my first video, so for the channel to be where it's at now is pretty amazing to me.
This mission really has a special place in my heart, not just because of the gameplay but the whole nighttime snowy canyon atmosphere is so cozy Btw I haven’t commented on your recent videos because I didn’t want MW2022 spoiled for me
@@BenPlaysGames Exactly! I first played that level on anniversary graphics (I know that's a stupid thing to do but I was a lot younger at the time) and I can clearly remember thinking it was set during the day
Oh Man! I am so glad you are doing this one. I am doing a legendary trilogy playthrough right now(Working on H2 Sacred Icon as I type this). I rarely replayed Two Betrayals, but I thoroughly enjoyed it this time around. I loved going up against the Covenant in the "Circular Rooms" ( as you called them on your AoTCR analysis) with the CE Shotgun. I loved how the Elite Majors would run away from me instead of flanking me as they usually did. I always struggled with the wraith and elites at the bottom of the tower at the begining. But I realized on this playthrough that I could trigger the spawnpoint for the wraith, and if I was prepared, an elite major would spawn out of thin air above it before boarding it, so I could snipe him and only have to deal with the covenant on foot. On the back half of the level my banshee despawned, so I couldn't use it to push a ghost through the broken door at the big chasm room. I walked back to the warthog at the bottom of that cliff and used it to push the ghost through to the backhalf of the level. This made that last fight much easier(I always hated doing it on foot) Looking forward to playing through this one again. This level is criminally underrated and gets too much flack for its reuse of a previous level's geometry.
I definitely agree on the lighting. Halo 2 anniversary has similar issues, albeit less prominent. The lighter areas do mess the mood, however I can't really complain about it because I remember lots of levels in classic lighting that made me unable to see a thing which caused more frustration than setting a mood. I think it would help if 343 would turn down the lighting, but to a certain point where at least your visibility isn't completely crushed. And complete darkness with just your flashlight indoors, that's fine by me, but if you're outside and you can barely see a banshee in front of you, that shit just sucks
This was always a favourite level. My friend & I would play this on legendary co-op constantly. The scale & weapon variety meant 2 playthroughs were never the same. We would spectate the flood v covenant battles as they unfolded around us before piling in ourselves. The intensity of this level turned me into the halo player I am today.
Doing the repetitive rooms in these two levels stealthy makes it infinitely more enjoyable. Each room is designed to work with the stealth mechanics, and even if you're briefly spotted, all the cover and hiding spots allow you to stay hidden and clear the room.
7:14 For me, the last room before getting back outside here is one of the most unsettling moments. It's just a limited number of unarmed flood combat forms, all if which are converted marines. The soundtrack is low-key and creepy. It's not too challenging so I'm sure many people just breeze through it, but after many plays it hit me what the game design might be trying to tell you with this strange change of pace. Specificly I realized that this is right by the spot where you left the marine squad behind in Assault on the Control Room. What if the untold story here is that their promised evac never came, and they were holed up in that room until, with their ammunition exhausted, they were overrun by the Flood. I don't know whether that really makes sense with the story's timeline, but it could still be what some of the level designers had in mind.
1 thing i always found interesting. In that battle at 9:19 for whatever reason there is Special Forces/Spec ops grunt on the shade turret. despite the fact they are mentioned in the next level...i always found it odd. just this lone Spec ops grunt. Always assumed it was an oversight.
That second phase generator thing on legendary is a pain. My check point had me doing this with only 1 health. Flood everywhere with loads of rocketiers in the room. Absolute madness.
I just don't get the how playing Two Betrayals is any way a chore. I must have played the damn thing a few hundred times by now and it's a staggering good time
I quite like the level. It's definitely not my favourite, but I really enjoy the part where you're coming down from the tower, that you get to fight in a banshee and some of the big, chaotic outdoor sequences. And I also think it has a great atmosphere. I think it drags a little bit in places, but overall I'd say it's a pretty good level. Putting aside the fact that it's kind of a repetition of "Assault on the Control room" I think it's definitely enjoyable overall.
Because of your comment that Two Betrayals has every weapon in the game in it I came to a realization about another reason why the Flood make missions in the 1st 3 Halo games so much better or at least more interesting from a gameplay perspective. That being because due to their nature as a more interesting take on zombies they enrich the gunplay environment of missions by pitting you against every different weapon type in the game instead of just 1 like you would be when fighting the covenant which also gives a more immersive form of weapon acquisition for the human made weapons instead of needing to find them in crates/basically being given to you or off dead allies you earn them off of defeated enemies which I think makes their acquisition feel more impactful and earned for the player. Just an interesting perspective on the Flood as a gameplay element that I never really realized or considered before.
Okay, I’m just gonna go ahead and say it: the “Final Run” segment of Two Betrayals has always given me the most frustration in a playthrough of CE. Especially the part at the end where you have to get past a bunch of the toughest enemies in the game to hijack another Banshee.
I’ve always found it hilarious that the entire premise for this mission is based on Cortana assuming there might be alternative ways to fire the Ring, and not one piece of media has ever indicated you can fire the Halo array without an Index. Even better, Halo Wars 2 revealed you can just turn the thing off, from the Control Room, making these last 3 levels seem really damn superfluous in hindsight. On a more serious note, I always admired how Bungie tried to work within their limitations by being creative, so that even when they reused a level, they changed the parameters or sandbox so that it felt different. I think Two Betrayals is one of the finer examples of that.
On repeat playthroughs for this video, I found myself enjoying it way more than I expected it. It probably could do without the indoor sections being so long, like Assault on the Control Room, but the back half is really, really good.
That logic that Cortana gave also did not make sense to me either because if she was learning everything about the ring, then she would know that only the Ark can by pass the firing requirements for each ring. So I was wondered if this was her being paranoid by the off chance it could still fire somehow OR because Bungie changed the story from what we got from what it was supposed to be which at this point, Cortana was supposed to go rampant and 343 tags along trying to save you from her at this point if this ended up becoming an oversite. Because when I first played Halo, it still didn't make sense to me to destroy the ring on that logic alone unless she thought doing that would kill the Flood.
I love the slugfest missions, but for the weirdest reason. Long before I knew what Halo was, I saw the Megabloks Scorpion in a store and read the description that it was “perfect for grinding across alien worlds.” For some reason that phrase stays in my mind during these sorts of missions.
4:13 The music here is very similar to what was used in the cocain cowboys movies, and it's always hit different. Didn't realize it was cause it was super similar to a sound I heard as a kid
4:23 actually there's a few ways you can get into a banshee in the 5th mission Assault on the Control Room, like 2 or 3 different ways and the easiest way is to be quick at a certain part of the mission, quite easy.
Not to sound like a broken record, but like I said about Attack on the Control Room: combat encounters in CE are so fun that Bungie just put a whole lot of them in here! In fact, I while I love the whole level, I think maybe the round rooms and bridges might be my favorite part of this level! I also unironically love the rocket flood in this level. They‘re kinda like mini-bosses (think Hunters!). I particularly love the ony in the hallway, always looking forward to it! As for your frustration with the tunnels, I strongly disagree that it‘s bad that you can‘t beat it with any strategy. One of the things I love so much about CE is that it often forces you to switch up your strategy and find a way forward (at least on higher difficulties). It‘s kinda like a combat puzzle! Anyway, I agree with you more than I disagree! Thanks again for delivering yet another excellent Halo level analysis! They‘re always fun to watch!
It's really really easy to dodge those rocket flood down that tunnel. All you have to do is not stop moving or dive into them. Idk why you stated circling. The one place where rocket flood are the most annoying is at the second generator where once you destroy the generator 3 or more come out the door with rockets
I have played Halo since the start, out of all the games and all the levels Two Betrayals is my favorite. The Covenant vs Flood sections, the only CE level with ATA combat, the feeling of it’s you vs the world to me is awesome.
3:30 I just flew down with a banshee, I might have fought my way up it for the kicks a few times but because the sandbox allowed me other options, I took them.
Let's clarify; This mission is the first time you get to use a Banshee *IF you're too slow to stop the Elite on the bridge from getting into the Banshee in Assault On The Control Room*. 💪💪
@@CatmanFS It's a great little loophole, especially if you're playing on Legendary. Which is all I ever play Halo on, especially CE since it's not absurdly difficult like Halo 2.. 😂
6:32 Oh that is why I get stuck n them so easly and I always like this as a flood level... Although Halo 3's Floodgate is my favoite flood level as atmosphere of a flood onslaught is perfect and I just like it start to finish.
I think that thing you said about the level probably being made to be played both ways might be a little on the mark because if you can get a banchee before the tunnel in Aotcr the areas that you go to in this level are still there (though the doors are locked of course
@@BenPlaysGames Thank you for reading the comment in the good spirit it was in :) I have to say for many of the reasons you listed I think 2 betrayals is one of the more memorable parts of CE
As much as it sounds likes “your first developed video game”, I love how mirrors CE’s campaign is aside from 343 Guilty spark, the library, and silent cartographer. It’s very much driving the point, just because it feels familiar, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily safer.
How to avoid the rocket flood in the end of tunnel effectively (even on legendary), just move forward and think like they don't exist.(It works for me but your mileage may vary)
Hey BPG do you know that this is the only mission in halo combat evolved campaign that all UNSC weapons are all together well the others mission have some of them absent.
i’ve always forgiven this level for being a backtrack because 1. lots of games at the time reused old level geometry, eg timesplitters, 2. they couldn’t have picked a cooler level to repeat, and 3. this is the quintessential halo level. if i wanted to show someone how a 20+ year old game is worth playing, it’s silent cartographer and this level i am showing them
7:18 I've never heard something be referred to as "mustard" before. I'm not sure what you mean by it. My first guess was that visibility is bad? Or that the rest of the level is a "mixed bag" (or 50/50). Anyways, I agree, rocket flood are awful either way. Excellent review :)
I always thought the back tracking on the later levels was a design decision made to save disk space. By reusing level assets the maps could be higher quality if lower in quantity. That said, designing levels where the gameplay is different based on the direction of travel is really interesting.
You WOULD be riding a banchee for the first time only if you hadn't managed to snag one on the snow bridge towards the end of assault on the control room before they took off.
The best part of Halo CE is how they design the levels. You are shown how the Marines fight the covenant, how flood and covenant are different enemies and then showing the sentinels are another faction by the covenant sentinel fight at the start of Two betrayals.
4:24 technically you can use a banshee in AOTCR on the rock bridge if you kill the elites before they get in the banshees i always tried to kill them so i could use the banshees early it makes the last neck of that mission a lot easier and quicker if you can just fly to the end
You can also shoot one down from a platform earlier on towards the end of the tank section. It definitely can be driven earlier on, but I consider Two Betrayals to be its 'official' introduction as a pilotable vehicle.
I'm late to comment on this, but you definitely can get a Banshee on Assault on the Control Room. If you're quick enough you can grab one and fly it to the Control Room, skipping the final interior section and climb up the pyramid.
You definitely can, but I meant in terms of it being properly introduced - multiple people have said similar, so I should have been more specific for sure.
What’s funny is that cod still doesn’t have these large ai vs ai battles and it’s a newer franchise the only exception would be mw2. The only other game series that I can think of that has this kind of three way brawl is gears of war.
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I thought a sort of Christmasy Halo analysis video was in order. Tis the season...
I do appreciate the video and quickly mention as a longtime Halo fan and ran through this level multiple times I can assure you this is definitely not the first time you can get into the banshee! The Banshee actually one time was acquired on the first level as I shot an Elite out of it. Although it was not able to be replicated with any sort of consistent pattern I have done it on a few occasions and it just completely changes the entirety of the gameplay when you first land on The Ringworld that is Halo. The next time you can use it is actually on Assault on the Control Room. If you don't trigger the next automation sequence as you're coming through the cave usually a lot of people take this route with the tank in the Marines. But if you get out there is a banshee that an elite has not boarded yet on top of the entrance to the control room where the two Hunters lay below. Again this can be manipulated with a rocket launcher as you will have one and are able to knock it at least on its side or flip it and it will not allow the Elite to board it. Also difficulty was this is by no means easy or repeatable each time. Finally our last two moments is this very level but way sooner than you expect. So the rocket launcher that can be acquired at the top when you exit the installation center of the index candy use to knock the Banshee off from the ledge that is sitting way up top! And the last moment is after you have re climb the hill where the hunters were on the previous level and as you make your way up there is another sequence. Again before this happens there is a ledge and it is the final location where the monitors are hanging out and the last of the three phase pulse generators. With the rocket launcher you will simply creep to the edge of the Hill as you are going up the snow and as soon as the ledge becomes available this Banshee as well can be knocked off. And all of these simulations you will still find the elite hanging out and waiting for his ride not sure what happened! Thank you for the upload and I'm dropping a like for you now!
Halo Is NOT A Slugfest!
You know, this mission oddly feels relaxing to me. The scenery, the quiet landscape, it’s all very tranquil.
You're made of sterner stuff than me then haha, I find a lot of it quite moody... in a good way.
@@BenPlaysGames i just really like the snowy locale haha. something about forerunner architecture mixed with a chilly, frosty cold is… strangely calming, in a way. The starting area of Halo 3’s mission “Halo” gives the same feeling.
@@yarr_bro I get what you mean. I think it's the music that tops that feeling for me. You have "A Walk in the Woods" in this level too (Unless I'm getting mixed up with Assault on the Control Room) and obviously "Under Cover of Night" that add to that chill and tranquil vibe.
Tranquil? You mean besides the ravenous zombies, right?
As we gun down enemies with a shotgun
I may be sick for thinking this but since the game fundamentally retreads your steps past the library, I always wanted to see a nighttime mission on The Silent Cartographer post flood release, complete with visages of the ring in the sky box having an ominous green hue and heavy fog surrounding the entire island.
SPV3 has a version of the silent cartographer where it similar to what you have described.
yeah but SPV3 is awful. It's decent for a fan made project, but its way too over designed, too many modern weapons, and just too much is changed to call it a remake of CE.@@batterysurf
Even though it's a "retread" of Assault on the Control Room, I actually find it kind of enjoyable. I just wish it, like Quarantine Zone in Halo 2, had a Scorpion tank. It'd make things FAR easier.
I think having the indoor section, which is more varied than Assault on the Control Room's to begin with, then the larger scale encounters as opposed to the other way round really helps with pacing. Should have mentioned that now I think about it!
there is one if you play through SPV3 on Legendary. (If the scorpian tank survives to the end of the valley segment on Assault on the control room, it will be waiting for you when you come back during Two Betrayals)
As a younger kid I used to get confused between this mission and assault on the control room and when I stopped playing for a bit and picked it up I kept back tracking on the assault room mission several times before I realized
@@4T3hM4kr0n You can also get a Scorpion on Two Betrayals in Ruby's Rebalanced CE, you just have to complete a certain secret side mission near the second pulse generator. If so, you'll get the tank right at the start of Final Run.
I could understand the criticism for the retread aspect if it wasn’t for the fact that the encounters are completely different on each level. The addition of the flood to the scene makes the combat completely different. I think its a great way to showcase how dangerous the flood is with them posing a problem to the player and the covenant at the same time. I love this mission.
With the anniversary this is the only level I consistently do anniversary graphics because of that tunnel because then you can actually see the rockets coming
I can get onboard with that given the issues I had with it!
I think having some Marines on this level would’ve really helped it. Give one last hurrah to our favourite boys in green. That, and it would narratively connect to Fohamers death. Cause as it is now, if you played Halo CE for the first time, you’d think the marines were wiped out after 343 guilty spark. It creates this jarring feeling when out of no where at 3/4 through the final mission, Fohamer comes outa nowhere.
Ruby of Blue I think did a great job in his rebalance of Halo CE in this regard.
The inclusion of marines would have been awesome! My guess is that adding another faction into the mix would have been an extreme amount of work, I'd imagine balancing/playtesting the level was a bit of a nightmare to begin with.
@@BenPlaysGamesthat might be why Ruby of Red only included them at the entrance of the control room. Although I could see a situation they could be included as small holdouts throughout as you fight your way to the generators. It might be a little retread of Fohamer collecting marines in Halo, but could still have a unique feeling. As now your helping what may be the last signs of humans off the ring in order to escape.
Without marines, using a vehicle like the worthog in this level isn’t worth it. Without a coop partner, you have to stop, get out, get in the gunner seat and be a sitting duck. It’s why most people use the ghost.
I've heard that apparently they did originally plan to have marines at the beginning of the level, who would have held the control room since you left, but unfortunately due to the time restraints they didn't have time to properly include them as well as doing all the necessary adjustments to them for the level, while instead it was easy and simple to put a couple of covenant encounters instead
@@ryanelliott71698 Well Ruby added the UNSC at this spot simply because it makes more sense than what Bungie did. MC broke a standing order by leaving Cortana inside the master control room. The Covenant literally were right outside the room, so it always baffled me on why the Covenant did not capture Cortana. I know it's possible that 343 left Sentinel's outside to protect the room but even he did not know Cortana was inside there so Ruby's logic which I agree with 100% is that when E419 picked up MC to take him to Keyes, they would of left a squad in the control room for basic defense. He basically was patching a hole that Bungie created that no one really talks about which I give him props for that. The UNSC was basically on it's last nerve and the Flood showing up destroyed them so I get why Bungie had zero UNSC presence in this level but on Assault on the Control Room, you did abandon a two Squads of Marines behind with a tag for them to be picked up so you can work in something that they were never recovered and you pick them up along the way or did what Ruby did.
@@cosmictreason2242 That's the best thing you came up with. You can look at a damn computer and see a drive is installed because as you failed to pay attention to. That Cortana sits on a drive that MC puts into his helmet similar to a flash drive. And 343 who knows Zero Four like the back of his own program should be able to glance at a holographic board and see the drive attached.
Amazing mission. It's one of those missions that despite being sooo long I really wouldn't have minded it lasting longer. Outdoor fight followed by some indoor CQ and then vehicle combat and then a lovely 3 way battle 🔥.
Also incredible music throughout
Definitely would have liked everything post the indoor stuff to have gone on longer. Absolutely love all the battles out on the snow.
@@BenPlaysGames yeh that's what I was thinking as well. I guess it's nice that the last fight towards the wraith has I think 3 spawns of enemies at least on legendary where you have the normal wave followed by a second invisible elite wave and the hunter wave which makes it last a little longer but yeh once you get out that tunnel the mission is really at its peak
This level is halo at its best for me. It throws everything at you and nails the sandbox feel. There's so many ways to deal with each section too if you get overwhelmed.
I'll forever be a massive fanboy of 343 Guilty Spark and The Silent Cartographer, but Two Betrayals has definitely gone up in my estimations having spent a lot of time with it this week.
yup superb level in every way
while understanding it’s shortcomings, i’ve actually always had the unpopular opinion of loving this mission. there’s so many ways you can approach this level with all of the variety, it plays a little differently each time. great video as always Ben, and also, Under Cover of Night is one of the greatest songs of all time lol.
I totally agree with you, Assault on the control room and Two betrayals are 2 of my favourite missions in Halo. The ambience/mood, combat situations, MUSIC and much more including all the different ways you can choose to engage makes the missions replayable… over and over again. I do understand how people might dislike the repetitiveness in some areas but I actually like it somehow. These missions are always the first to come up in my mind whenever someone mentions Halo ❤
I know I gave you a hard time with my previous comment but you nailed this video.
Two Betrayals is in my opinion the best Halo mission in the franchise and blows Assault on the Control Room out of the water.
For me it gets top marks in practically every important category in a Halo mission;
-Level design
-Music
-Atmosphere
-Weapon variety
-Enemy variety
-Vehicle combat
-Faction on faction combat
-Spectacle
-Story
4:03. This is one of my favorite atmospheric moments in the whole franchise, it gives me such a cold winter night vibe. To this day I’ll listen to Under Cover of Night otw home in the winter and it’s perfect. So cool to hear we share the same opinion Ben! Great vid as always!
I love this mission. In my video on Halo I talked a lot about how getting to come back to this terrain helps you really feel connected to the Ring, and of course I mentioned the repetition of Under Cover of Night here as why that is THE song of CE.
Cool, off to bed in a sec mate but have added it to my watchlist to check out tomorrow with my morning coffee!
@@BenPlaysGames 🙏 Do please let me know if it rings true. And I apologize in advance for the singing.
No matter how much this level pisses me off, everything is forgiven when you go out that tunnel and you see the title card "final run" while under the cover of night plays, it's peak video game feels
Agree 100%, that walk up the hill to the massive battle is so, so good.
Honestly one of my favorite levels from CE.
It has every weapon, all the enemies, and there's also that massive battle at the end.
Love that you appreciate "Under The Cover Of Night" as much as I do. That track is incredible.
Under Cover Of Night and A Walk In The Woods from Combat Evolved are outrageously good tracks. I love a lot of the series' music, but there's just something about those two.
"I'm pretty sure I can pull it from your suit without permanent damage"
Never really picked up on that bit before but that's 100% the reason for "...and don't even get me started on the power supply." In the Armory on Cairo
nice catch
@@CatmanFS Thanks, it's due to undiagnosed autism that manifests in me being able to quote a worrying amount of Halo 2's dialogue
When Under Cover of Night started playing as I was soaking in the snowy landscape of the mission - that was the exact moment I fell in love with the game.
Loved the intro to this level and how truth and reconciliation kicks off as you open the door to the outside. It's a breath of fresh air (figuratively on literally) after being through the fog choked swamp and cramped interior of 343 guilty spark and the dimmly lit flood infested interior of the library.
I also love the tone shift in the level as you progress and see the covenant and flood duking it out (on several segment I'll actually just run past the covenant or weaken them to the point where I can run past since I know killing them only gives the flood more bodies to spawn from). Best tone shift is when "under cover of night plays" after exiting the tunnels. Matches perfectly the desperation and helplessness with the covenant position fighting and getting utterly overwhelmed.
Then to top it all off theres the ending with "Devils monsters" music and covenant troop composition implying that this is their final defensive line in the valley (and possibly their command post) leading to a hard and desperate last stand. It is EXCELLENT subtle storytelling.
Can't wait for you to talk about Keyes! The second half is brutal on Legendary
Why wait when you can have it right now: ruclips.net/video/DpDrm7z8rBc/видео.html
I've a set of playlists, one for each Halo, which keeps track of the missions I've covered - I keep them up to date and in order, and there's a pretty good chunk of them now!
@@BenPlaysGames Well that's just even better. Thanks Ben!
This was my favorite mission in Halo:CE. ‘Under Cover of Night’ my favorite and most fitting song of Halo:CE. Covenant vs. Flood vs. Sentinels vs. you. Night mission. The ambience. The scenery. It seemed to have everything, but a tank and a time limit. Just a well rounded mission imo.
My favorite level in CE by far. The encounters are programmed brilliantly in this one. So many fun and unique battles, all the weapon options, and the only level that requires Banshees to win.
The music choices in this level are top tier for sure. Love the content as always!
Cheers pchurch! Been listening to the Combat Evolved soundtrack today while working through my morning emails.
I had forgotten how great this level was until I played with my daughter on original hardware a few weeks ago (her first playthrough). It has such great atmosphere, and the outdoor battles are truly epic. I too see it very differently now than I did before this recent play through.
That's awesome Joel - I'm not a parent quite yet but one of the big things I'm looking forward to is showing them all the old games I loved. And having a second pair of hands in the house for multiplayer, of course.
Vastly underrated level, one of the best.
I really enjoyed this level. The wide open expanse, the variety of weapons and factions, and the night setting made it feel like the pinnacle of combat evolved for me. Nice video.
Any thoughts on the peculiar dialogue during the beginning cutscene? Guilty Spark to Chief:
“But you already knew that. I mean, how couldn’t you?”
“Why would you hesitate to do what you have already done?”
“Last time you asked me, if it were my choice, would I do it? Having had considerable time to ponder your query, my answer has not changed. We must activate the ring.”
It’s my understanding that Bungie always intended for the forerunners to be our ancient ancestors, and it seems this might hint at that, but guilty spark is addressing chief specifically.
The modern theory is that Spark believes Chief is the Iso-Didact.
@@thechaotictyrant I heard that too but I wonder what bungie was thinking when they wrote that in 2001, before there was the idea of the Iso-Didact.
You're on the money that it's a suggestion that humans are descended from forerunners. In the library he also exclaims, whilst addressing you, that he's pleased some of his makers survived to reproduce.
To the point that he seems to be addressing the chief personally, I think it's just a little quirk that he has. He seems to consider everybody as belonging to a faction and being typical of that faction. The forerunners are his makers, the now descended humans are reclaimers, the covenant are all meddlers... Etc etc. The fact that he addresses the chief as if he were the very same who activated the ring the first time is just evidence of his heritage -forerunner.
I remember the prevailing theory online shortly after Combat Evolved's release was that the forerunners were human. That was what I too believed at the time, as there were just too many examples like those you've highlighted implying that to be the case. I definitely think that's what Bungie had in mind too, until things began to shift around the time of Halo 3, where you had the terminals suggested the forerunners weren't human at all. But at least early on in the franchise, I think the plan was for them to be ancient, super advanced humans.
Regardless of whether you run with the Forerunners are separate or they are human canon: it‘s not unreasonable for the AI to assume people knew about the flood and how to fight them.
As you mentioned the music used well, when you walk out onto the parallel bridges and Covenant dance starts to play, it gave me shivers on my recent playthrough.
There are so many moments like that in Combat Evolved, where I remember the music as much as anything in the encounter. The bridge sequence being one of them. I've been listening to Covenant Dance loads recently too, so have used it in so many videos I've put out over the last month or two.
I don't mind the fact that CE has lots of "retread" levels. To me, it gives the story an interesting symmetry that helps add to the Flood's character. We already saw the control room before the flood got there, but then we go back at night and now the flood are tearing the covenant apart. And ending the game in the same place you started (The Pillar of Autumn) made it really feel like the end
Retreads aren't necessarily bad, I think the length of them is a bit off in Combat Evolved though, which makes them back half feel perhaps a touch drawn out compared to the very pacy first half.
Because its not retread, Halo CE is open world, is the same world but different map, different routes to inaccesible places that the first time you get here, to make the player the feeling of the reality changed, now there are no marines and when you realice it, under cover of night extended song plays.
cloaked in blackness was such a banger. I remember coming out of the forerunner structure hearing this song for the the first time like it was yesterday.
4:26 I think you can actually get in a banshee earlier in the game if you kill an elite before it gets in one, but I can't exactly remember what level it was in (might of been Assault on the Control Room).
Yeh that's assault in the control room
You can, and you can get another by using rockets to shoot one off a platform above you during it too. However, as this is the first level where it's really intended and built into the design of the mission, I kept the line in there.
Funny thing is, I figured out how to get the Banshee at the end of Assault on the Control Room my very first time playing Halo when I was 12, and for the longest time didn't even realize you were meant to do the whole thing on foot like a schmuck. I had found the active camouflage a couple rooms before, and took advantage to run past all the enemies like the winmpy kid I was. It lasts just long enough to get close to the banshee before the Covenant realize you're there, and then it's a race against the Elite for who gets wings.
the tunnel on legendary was a chore. Damn rocket flood.
Bastards, the lot of them.
I remember booting up 2 betrayals on the anniversary version on my old 360, for some odd reason, my favorite section of the entire level was walking up the ramp in time to see the flood engaging with the elites off screen while ‘covenant dance’ starts playing, I would replay that specific checkpoint so many times, trying out new strategies to see how differently things could play out, leaving 2 elites alive for the flood to ambush, let the flood kill the gold elite for me, or bring the rocket and blast everything, starting 3 way fights, and from that point on, I usually end up playing the level all the way through, because why not ahahah
My first ever experience playing Halo was this level. Specifically it was the final arena where the covenant are entrenched on the opposite side of the canyon as you. That's also when I heard the flood theme for the first time & that stuck with me, sucks they never brought that peace back. The final sequence after the underground bridge is one of my favorite sections of any halo game
Man, THE most memorable moment of all of CE for me is the moment when Under Cover of Night plays as soon as you enter the field full of Covies and Flood. The "Final Run" subtext is perfect, and is, once again, the most memorable part of CE for me.
Yea when that “under cover of night” kicks in, it really fills you with this sense of urgency for the story overall. You feel aware of the importance of what your doing to stop spark and it makes you like “damn we gotta stop this” I love it! However my personal favorite track in CE is in this mission, “covenant dance”. I feel like that track sums up the feeling of this great 4 way of covenant vs flood vs sentinels with you kind of caught in the crossfire of all 3. I love it lol!
As it happens, I used that track in this video which reminded me how much I like it. So, I stuck it into the The Maw's video as the first bit of music. It's an absolute banger!
@@BenPlaysGames INDEED
I love these deep dives you do. There’s a lot on the internet but I like you point of view.
Cheers Been, appreciate you checking them out dude!
Ruby’s rebalanced does a good job of sprucing up this level. Marines making a final stand guarding the control room, forehammer giving you one last tank during “final run”, better telegraphing of rocket flood, and alternate paths to get banshees
Those multi faction battles were really good and it’s something that 343 appears to ignore
I'm ready for the Flood to return...
I found your channel through your video on 343 Guilty Spark as I just bought the master chief collection a few weeks ago and played halo for the first time, great content by the way. When I reached this part of the campaign the reuse of the same map just in reverse bored me a little but what pissed me off was the rocket flood, I spent like 20 minutes on one of the bridges because one of those guys kept blasting me to kingdom come. I had no problem with them in the library but their pressence in this mission is a bane on my existence, solid mission nonetheless.
Welcome aboard dude, appreciate you checking my stuff out! I agree too, the rocket flood are awful and there are so many of them dotted about the place during Two Betrayals. There's a sequel to them in Halo 2 as well, the beam jackal.
@@BenPlaysGames There's rocket Flood in Halo 2 as well, and because the Halo 2 rocket launcher can lock onto vehicles and aircraft they're even worse than the CE rocket Flood.
That relieve in in the first playtrough when you come out of the library and see the covenant.... my god.
i remember me and my friend, both 8 y/o, were so happy, that we didn't kill them and only went after the flood, imagine the covenant as our friends.
I see you've finally come around! I wrote a (surprisingly long) comment on your ranking video a year ago explaining why Two Betrayals was my favorite, and a year later you have similar reasoning to my comment as to why you like it now!
I remember it mate - think some of it must have buried itself deep in my subconscious!
I love your videos. So disappointed they aren't getting the views you deserve. I hope its still worth your while making them.
Cheers Luke! It's been a slow-ish year but would never dream of complaining. I remember when I started I said to my flatmate that I'd be happy getting 200 views on my first video, so for the channel to be where it's at now is pretty amazing to me.
This mission really has a special place in my heart, not just because of the gameplay but the whole nighttime snowy canyon atmosphere is so cozy
Btw I haven’t commented on your recent videos because I didn’t want MW2022 spoiled for me
I really like it too - it's why the anniversary version of the level drives me so mad too. It's super light everywhere for no reason whatsoever!
@@BenPlaysGames Exactly! I first played that level on anniversary graphics (I know that's a stupid thing to do but I was a lot younger at the time) and I can clearly remember thinking it was set during the day
Oh Man! I am so glad you are doing this one. I am doing a legendary trilogy playthrough right now(Working on H2 Sacred Icon as I type this). I rarely replayed Two Betrayals, but I thoroughly enjoyed it this time around. I loved going up against the Covenant in the "Circular Rooms" ( as you called them on your AoTCR analysis) with the CE Shotgun. I loved how the Elite Majors would run away from me instead of flanking me as they usually did. I always struggled with the wraith and elites at the bottom of the tower at the begining. But I realized on this playthrough that I could trigger the spawnpoint for the wraith, and if I was prepared, an elite major would spawn out of thin air above it before boarding it, so I could snipe him and only have to deal with the covenant on foot. On the back half of the level my banshee despawned, so I couldn't use it to push a ghost through the broken door at the big chasm room. I walked back to the warthog at the bottom of that cliff and used it to push the ghost through to the backhalf of the level. This made that last fight much easier(I always hated doing it on foot) Looking forward to playing through this one again. This level is criminally underrated and gets too much flack for its reuse of a previous level's geometry.
When you fly through that tunnel with the rocket flood, if you stay relatively high and just go straight through, they won't shoot you.
I definitely agree on the lighting. Halo 2 anniversary has similar issues, albeit less prominent. The lighter areas do mess the mood, however I can't really complain about it because I remember lots of levels in classic lighting that made me unable to see a thing which caused more frustration than setting a mood. I think it would help if 343 would turn down the lighting, but to a certain point where at least your visibility isn't completely crushed. And complete darkness with just your flashlight indoors, that's fine by me, but if you're outside and you can barely see a banshee in front of you, that shit just sucks
3:32 to 4:20 feels like you took the words right out of my head
This was always a favourite level. My friend & I would play this on legendary co-op constantly. The scale & weapon variety meant 2 playthroughs were never the same. We would spectate the flood v covenant battles as they unfolded around us before piling in ourselves. The intensity of this level turned me into the halo player I am today.
Doing the repetitive rooms in these two levels stealthy makes it infinitely more enjoyable. Each room is designed to work with the stealth mechanics, and even if you're briefly spotted, all the cover and hiding spots allow you to stay hidden and clear the room.
I also sepremely enjoyed this, stealth is a mechanic in this game that was sorely underappreciated... WRAGH WRARGH WRAHG GAAARRRRRRRRR
7:14 For me, the last room before getting back outside here is one of the most unsettling moments. It's just a limited number of unarmed flood combat forms, all if which are converted marines. The soundtrack is low-key and creepy. It's not too challenging so I'm sure many people just breeze through it, but after many plays it hit me what the game design might be trying to tell you with this strange change of pace. Specificly I realized that this is right by the spot where you left the marine squad behind in Assault on the Control Room. What if the untold story here is that their promised evac never came, and they were holed up in that room until, with their ammunition exhausted, they were overrun by the Flood.
I don't know whether that really makes sense with the story's timeline, but it could still be what some of the level designers had in mind.
1 thing i always found interesting. In that battle at 9:19 for whatever reason there is Special Forces/Spec ops grunt on the shade turret. despite the fact they are mentioned in the next level...i always found it odd. just this lone Spec ops grunt. Always assumed it was an oversight.
That second phase generator thing on legendary is a pain. My check point had me doing this with only 1 health. Flood everywhere with loads of rocketiers in the room. Absolute madness.
I just don't get the how playing Two Betrayals is any way a chore. I must have played the damn thing a few hundred times by now and it's a staggering good time
This is my favorite level in CE. You get to feel like you’re caught in the middle of a large-scale battle
I quite like the level. It's definitely not my favourite, but I really enjoy the part where you're coming down from the tower, that you get to fight in a banshee and some of the big, chaotic outdoor sequences. And I also think it has a great atmosphere. I think it drags a little bit in places, but overall I'd say it's a pretty good level. Putting aside the fact that it's kind of a repetition of "Assault on the Control room" I think it's definitely enjoyable overall.
u are srsly under rated
ur content is on the point and just top quality
I remember legit crying over those rocket flood blowing my banshee up in the tunnels as a kid. 😂😂😂
Because of your comment that Two Betrayals has every weapon in the game in it I came to a realization about another reason why the Flood make missions in the 1st 3 Halo games so much better or at least more interesting from a gameplay perspective. That being because due to their nature as a more interesting take on zombies they enrich the gunplay environment of missions by pitting you against every different weapon type in the game instead of just 1 like you would be when fighting the covenant which also gives a more immersive form of weapon acquisition for the human made weapons instead of needing to find them in crates/basically being given to you or off dead allies you earn them off of defeated enemies which I think makes their acquisition feel more impactful and earned for the player. Just an interesting perspective on the Flood as a gameplay element that I never really realized or considered before.
Okay, I’m just gonna go ahead and say it: the “Final Run” segment of Two Betrayals has always given me the most frustration in a playthrough of CE.
Especially the part at the end where you have to get past a bunch of the toughest enemies in the game to hijack another Banshee.
I’ve always found it hilarious that the entire premise for this mission is based on Cortana assuming there might be alternative ways to fire the Ring, and not one piece of media has ever indicated you can fire the Halo array without an Index. Even better, Halo Wars 2 revealed you can just turn the thing off, from the Control Room, making these last 3 levels seem really damn superfluous in hindsight.
On a more serious note, I always admired how Bungie tried to work within their limitations by being creative, so that even when they reused a level, they changed the parameters or sandbox so that it felt different. I think Two Betrayals is one of the finer examples of that.
On repeat playthroughs for this video, I found myself enjoying it way more than I expected it. It probably could do without the indoor sections being so long, like Assault on the Control Room, but the back half is really, really good.
That logic that Cortana gave also did not make sense to me either because if she was learning everything about the ring, then she would know that only the Ark can by pass the firing requirements for each ring. So I was wondered if this was her being paranoid by the off chance it could still fire somehow OR because Bungie changed the story from what we got from what it was supposed to be which at this point, Cortana was supposed to go rampant and 343 tags along trying to save you from her at this point if this ended up becoming an oversite. Because when I first played Halo, it still didn't make sense to me to destroy the ring on that logic alone unless she thought doing that would kill the Flood.
Love this mission. Great video as always man!!!
Cheers Woodsy, appreciate that as always dude!
I love the slugfest missions, but for the weirdest reason. Long before I knew what Halo was, I saw the Megabloks Scorpion in a store and read the description that it was “perfect for grinding across alien worlds.” For some reason that phrase stays in my mind during these sorts of missions.
That's a pretty good way of summing up this and Assault on the Control Room 😂
You ever notice humans are never seen welding rocket launchers yet the flood are
Never actually thought about that. Where did The Flood get them all from?!
It would've been so great if just once in the trilogy we got a four-faction battle between UNSC, Covenant, Flood and Sentinels.
4:13
The music here is very similar to what was used in the cocain cowboys movies, and it's always hit different. Didn't realize it was cause it was super similar to a sound I heard as a kid
The weather seems natural not artificial,
Actually my favorite mission in the game it just hits different
4:23 actually there's a few ways you can get into a banshee in the 5th mission Assault on the Control Room, like 2 or 3 different ways and the easiest way is to be quick at a certain part of the mission, quite easy.
"before you hop in a Banshee for the first time ever in the Halo series"
Unless you snag the one towards the end of Assault on the Control Room!
Two betrayals is the best mission in Halo. I can't get over _Final Run_
on legendary that segment was legendary
Not to sound like a broken record, but like I said about Attack on the Control Room: combat encounters in CE are so fun that Bungie just put a whole lot of them in here! In fact, I while I love the whole level, I think maybe the round rooms and bridges might be my favorite part of this level!
I also unironically love the rocket flood in this level. They‘re kinda like mini-bosses (think Hunters!). I particularly love the ony in the hallway, always looking forward to it!
As for your frustration with the tunnels, I strongly disagree that it‘s bad that you can‘t beat it with any strategy. One of the things I love so much about CE is that it often forces you to switch up your strategy and find a way forward (at least on higher difficulties). It‘s kinda like a combat puzzle!
Anyway, I agree with you more than I disagree! Thanks again for delivering yet another excellent Halo level analysis! They‘re always fun to watch!
It's really really easy to dodge those rocket flood down that tunnel. All you have to do is not stop moving or dive into them. Idk why you stated circling. The one place where rocket flood are the most annoying is at the second generator where once you destroy the generator 3 or more come out the door with rockets
A lack of talent is the easiest way to describe a lot of my gameplay 😂
@@BenPlaysGames 😂 don't worry it's all good.
I have played Halo since the start, out of all the games and all the levels Two Betrayals is my favorite. The Covenant vs Flood sections, the only CE level with ATA combat, the feeling of it’s you vs the world to me is awesome.
It’s the best level in the game, retread or not, so much variety and so many great and memorable battles and scenarios
3:30 I just flew down with a banshee, I might have fought my way up it for the kicks a few times but because the sandbox allowed me other options, I took them.
Let's clarify; This mission is the first time you get to use a Banshee *IF you're too slow to stop the Elite on the bridge from getting into the Banshee in Assault On The Control Room*. 💪💪
my man!
@@CatmanFS It's a great little loophole, especially if you're playing on Legendary. Which is all I ever play Halo on, especially CE since it's not absurdly difficult like Halo 2.. 😂
4:22 the banshee from Assault on the Control Room last outdoor section is gettable (with some luck).
Flood with automatic weapons: Precission 30%
Flood with rocket launcher: Precission 1000%
6:32 Oh that is why I get stuck n them so easly and I always like this as a flood level... Although Halo 3's Floodgate is my favoite flood level as atmosphere of a flood onslaught is perfect and I just like it start to finish.
Love this mission - but the first time in a Banshee for me is getting from the bridge to the control room door in AOTCR!
Under Cover of Night is brilliant.
Me and my friend did this on legendary, there was a lot of screaming.
4:23, you can fly in a banshee if you are fast enough in Assault on the control room too
4:04 Chills every time
I think that thing you said about the level probably being made to be played both ways might be a little on the mark because if you can get a banchee before the tunnel in Aotcr the areas that you go to in this level are still there (though the doors are locked of course
3:41 Ben has footage of a well placed grenade :)
Hahaha if you make enough videos, eventually one will land in the right place 😉
@@BenPlaysGames Thank you for reading the comment in the good spirit it was in :)
I have to say for many of the reasons you listed I think 2 betrayals is one of the more memorable parts of CE
Rocket flood in the death hallway is pain on legendary. I am permanently scarred from this level because of it.
As much as it sounds likes “your first developed video game”, I love how mirrors CE’s campaign is aside from 343 Guilty spark, the library, and silent cartographer.
It’s very much driving the point, just because it feels familiar, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily safer.
@@cosmictreason2242 how could I forget Halo, what an iconic mission
How to avoid the rocket flood in the end of tunnel effectively (even on legendary), just move forward and think like they don't exist.(It works for me but your mileage may vary)
Definitely the correct strategy, but I always want to kill everything. Even if it means I end up playing the section five times 🙈
Hey BPG do you know that this is the only mission in halo combat evolved campaign that all UNSC weapons are all together well the others mission have some of them absent.
i’ve always forgiven this level for being a backtrack because 1. lots of games at the time reused old level geometry, eg timesplitters, 2. they couldn’t have picked a cooler level to repeat, and 3. this is the quintessential halo level. if i wanted to show someone how a 20+ year old game is worth playing, it’s silent cartographer and this level i am showing them
6:55 I've never seen a combat form miss the jump before.
7:18 I've never heard something be referred to as "mustard" before. I'm not sure what you mean by it. My first guess was that visibility is bad? Or that the rest of the level is a "mixed bag" (or 50/50). Anyways, I agree, rocket flood are awful either way. Excellent review :)
Thanks Steven mate! Mustard is slang for good 😉
I always thought the back tracking on the later levels was a design decision made to save disk space. By reusing level assets the maps could be higher quality if lower in quantity. That said, designing levels where the gameplay is different based on the direction of travel is really interesting.
You WOULD be riding a banchee for the first time only if you hadn't managed to snag one on the snow bridge towards the end of assault on the control room before they took off.
The best part of Halo CE is how they design the levels.
You are shown how the Marines fight the covenant, how flood and covenant are different enemies and then showing the sentinels are another faction by the covenant sentinel fight at the start of Two betrayals.
3 Things every wise Halo Players Fear; Jackal Snipers on Legendary, Being Melee’d in Halo 4, and Rocket Launcher Flood.
4:24 technically you can use a banshee in AOTCR on the rock bridge if you kill the elites before they get in the banshees i always tried to kill them so i could use the banshees early it makes the last neck of that mission a lot easier and quicker if you can just fly to the end
Yes but Two betrayals is the first mission where a Banshee is gifted to you
You can also shoot one down from a platform earlier on towards the end of the tank section. It definitely can be driven earlier on, but I consider Two Betrayals to be its 'official' introduction as a pilotable vehicle.
I'm late to comment on this, but you definitely can get a Banshee on Assault on the Control Room. If you're quick enough you can grab one and fly it to the Control Room, skipping the final interior section and climb up the pyramid.
You definitely can, but I meant in terms of it being properly introduced - multiple people have said similar, so I should have been more specific for sure.
What’s funny is that cod still doesn’t have these large ai vs ai battles and it’s a newer franchise the only exception would be mw2. The only other game series that I can think of that has this kind of three way brawl is gears of war.
It's what I was hoping for from Infinite but it never really scratched the itch. Maybe next time...
my favourite mission. HaloCE remains the finest the series has ever been