Bungie introduces Reach's Noble Squad

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 December, 2009

Only Spartans have the answer.

Microsoft and Bungie have confirmed that Halo: Reach will see multiple Spartans defending the planet Reach against Covenant invasion.

As illustrated by a sexy new trailer, Reach introduces you to the six-strong Noble Squad, who plan to get all "winter contingency" on the naughty invaders.

Unlike previous Halo trailers, including those for this year's Halo 3: ODST, the Reach teaser is quite cold and grim, suggesting a shift in tone.

Microsoft's press release accompanying the trailer said that the planned multiplayer beta will take place in "spring 2010". The beta will be open to anyone who bought ODST.

'Bungie introduces Reach's Noble Squad' Screenshot 1

However, Kotaku reports that a recent Child's Play auction lot for a visit to Bungie said winners would get to play the beta "before it goes live to the public", before suggesting dates up to the end of April - the implication being we probably won't play the Reach beta until May at the earliest.

Should still be good, of course. Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg said last week that he expects Reach to be the biggest game of 2010.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Sunyavadin #1 2 years ago

    Oooh. I've been wondering when we'd see something on this. My regular LAN buddies are putting aside a weekend when it comes out to play the entire series in chronological order.

  • Negotiator #2 2 years ago

    Eurogamer will Digital Foundry be doing a tech analysis of the trailer, I wanna know what's going on under the bonnet of this new graphics engine. It sure does look impressive.

  • Teamallstar #3 2 years ago

    Nobody does it quite as well as bungie!

  • effinwooly #4 2 years ago

    Cue the bitter PS fanboys

  • matrim83 #5 2 years ago

    @effinwooly I can fill in while they get here.

    Am I the only one who thinks Halo is overrated?
    That looks like Halo 2.5.
    Oh look another generic FPS.
    Blahblahblahblah.....

  • Beano #6 2 years ago

    Let's hope I will not be Halo: Reach-around ;)

  • Murton #7 2 years ago

    Negotiator: what would be the point of a tech analysis of target renders and FMV? A tech analysis of a trailer is going to tell you nothing about the game itself, you'll have to wait until DF gets their hands on some game code, which means either when the beta is released or they get a copy for review.

    Besides, Reach is essentially another Halo 3 expansion so I would expect the DF report to read just like it did for ODST, ie pretty much the same tech as Halo 3, I very much doubt there'll be anything in there we haven't already seen many times before.

  • Beano #8 2 years ago

    "Eurogamer will Digital Foundry be doing a tech analysis of the trailer, I wanna know what's going on under the bonnet of this new graphics engine. It sure does look impressive. "

    Don't forget the big difference between the Halo 3 "in-game" annoncement trailer and the final sub-HD product. As Murton writes, let's wait for some code which actially runs the game and not just a suspect trailer.

  • GooseUK #9 2 years ago

    just have to say, this does actually look identical to ODST, same lighting engine, it just apears to have better post production effects...Still, i thought halo 3 and ODST looked great so I dont' personally have any complaints. Maybe they have managed HD this time?

  • kapowaz #10 2 years ago

    @Murton: on what basis are you concluding that this is “essentially another Halo 3 expansion”? There are several (admittedly subtle) clues within the trailer that would imply this isn't the same engine; something which confirms comments that were made by an alleged private beta tester with leaked images a few weeks ago.

    Given the advanced state of development this game is in (beta in less than 6 months?), another team must have been working on this concurrently with ODST, possibly even with new tech as part of their remit. This is supposedly Bungie's last Halo game, and we know that they're working on some other (still secret) non-Halo project. It seems unlikely that they're intending to use the Halo 3 engine for all these projects — they'll have to retire the old warhorse eventually.

  • Wolverfrog #11 2 years ago

    I'm quite the Halo eccentric, so here's my take on the trailer.

    I reckon we play as a Spartan III, as seen in Ghosts of Onyx. Jorge, the British Spartan in the trailer -- when he sees the protagonist for the first time -- says "Didn't think anyone survived Pegasi, sir."

    Pegasi Delta was a moon in a UNSC system, where a Covenant refinery was situated. In 2545, an entire battalion of Spartan III team Beta was sent out on a suicide mission to take out this refinery. The mission was a success, but apparently every Spartan III in team Beta died bar two, Tom and Lucy.

    However, since they're at another planet when Reach is attacked, this implies one more Spartan III survived, and has now been sent to link up with a squad of Spartans at Reach. At the beginning of the trailer, you see him looking at his MJOLNIR helmet uncertainly, as he has probably never worn one before; Spartan IIIs use a different, cheaper armour system named SPI usually.

    PS - Graphics looks amazing!

    The engine has changed A LOT, as you can see with this comparison between the trailer graphics and ODST graphics.

    http://i47.tinypic. com/k9fj7k.jpg
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 11:49

  • RedSparrows #12 2 years ago

    'Besides, Reach is essentially another Halo 3 expansion'

    whut
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 13:12

  • Rich72 #13 2 years ago

    wasn't a small team working on ODST while the bulk were working on the new games? I don't expect anything ground breaking in terms of engine but I have no doubt that it will be much improved.

    Game play on the other hand, will be as excellent as ever.

    Mark me down for a copy.

  • Rich72 #14 2 years ago

    and no doubt Bungie's other new game will be the continuation of Master Chief & Cortana's story. Yes, I would like something new but I'd be disappointed not to know their story. I hope MS don't get left the reins with that one. I wouldn't trust anyone else.

  • sneetch #15 2 years ago

    I'm hoping it's a typo and it's actually the Nobel Squad, a number of Nobel laureates sent on a deadly mission each with their own skills to offer.

    Although the Peace and Literature laureates may not bring much to a shooter the Nobel Physics, Chemistry and Advanced Ass-Kicking laureates would be awesome. ;)

  • olgaolgalila #16 2 years ago

    Let see the progress in near future. Noble squad is a nice team for me.
    accessories