Summary
Halo Infinitewas the first real attempt the series had ever made to go open-world, and while it definitely wasn’t perfect, it was a pretty solid first go. Along with a relatively entertaining, albeit forgettable story,Halo Infinite’s single-player modecame packaged with a fully explorable open world, containing a slew of side activities that mostly fit the game’s universe fairly well. With plenty of rewarding unlockables to find and a great grappleshot traversal system,Halo Infinite’s world was fun to explore for a good few hours, and its slew of Easter eggs definitely reinforced that.
From an album featuring the infamous Craig Brute meme to secret buttons that unlock rewards like a Rockethog and an aerial bombardment to a Mr. Meeseeks box ripped right out ofRick and Morty,Halo Infinitehas a ton of Easter eggs and referencesbaked into its open-world. But of allHalo Infinite’s references and hidden details, there’s one that warrants further explanation, and 343 Industries has still not given fans any concrete answers. The mystery in question is Locke’s helmet, and whether the character is truly dead like the reference suggests.
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Halo Infinite’s Locke Reference Still Needs to be Explained
A little while beforeHalo Infinitecame out, a number ofHaloMega Construx sets hit store shelves. Presumably intended to release alongside the game, the numerous delaysHalo Infinitesuffered meant that these sets came out before fans could get their hands on the game’s campaign, and as such, one set ruined one big surprise. OneHalo InfiniteMega Construx set contained a figure of a Brute leader named Hyperius, and on his shoulder fans could seemingly spot the helmet of Agent Jameson Locke, thesecond playable character inHalo 5: Guardians.
This set leak immediately sparked a ton of fan theories about where Locke had been before the events ofHalo Infinite, and if he would end up dying in the then-upcoming game. WhenHalo Infiniteeventually released, fans inevitably encountered Hyperius during the campaign, and it turned out that the Mega Construx leak was true, with Locke’s Spartan helmet and chestpiece being clearly visible on the Brute leader’s shoulder. ButHalo Infinitedidn’t actually give fans any answers at all.
Jameson Locke is not inHalo Infinite, and 343 Industries hasn’t officially confirmed his whereabouts. It’s currently still unknown exactly how Hyperius got his hands on Locke’s helmet and chestpiece. 343 hasn’t confirmed if Locke made it Zeta Halo in the first place, if he’s dead, or if he somehow survived Hyperius' ambush. Many fans believe that Locke could have escaped from Hyperius by faking his death, simply leaving his armor and helmet and making a break for it. But while fan theories are good, they only get players so far.
It’s pretty important that 343 Industries actually answers this question clearly. While Locke was a divisive part ofHalo 5: Guardians, the character himself wasn’t actually all that bad, and his appearance in subsequent novels has gone a long way in making him a new fan-favorite character. If 343 leaves Locke’s fate in its current place, then that’s doing a major disservice to both the character and fans, as it would mean not the protagonist is never even granted an on-screen death. If 343 left things as they are now, then it would feel pretty lazy and lackluster, which would weaken the overarching 343Halonarrative even more than it already has been with all ofHalo Infinite’s retcons and changes. Hopefully, Locke gets a more concrete send-off in some futureHalo InfiniteDLCor sequel.
Halo Infiniteis out now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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