8 Video Game Spin-Offs That Broke EVERYTHING

The original Halo throws players right into the action.

The human colony of Reach has been destroyed, precious AI Cortana has been salvaged and Master Chief needs to get out of dodge. There are references to Reach in the games and it’s important for a few reasons, one of which being that it was where John-117 and his SPARTAN crew grew up and got their training.

When Bungie stepped away from the series, they did so at a high point by crafting one last spin-off entry.

For the wider audience, Halo Reach was a chance to see the events leading up to the first game play out and actively take part in saving and delivering Cortana. However, die hard fans of the franchise already had a telling of these events that was in danger of being overwritten. Eric Nylund’s The Fall of Reach novel was published before the first game even dropped and had a totally different take on these crucial events.

In the book, the Covenant’s attack on the planet is framed as a surprise, catching Master Chief and his compatriots off guard and the battle lasts something along the lines of an hour. In the game, it happens across a great many days. In the book, the Pillar of Autumn ship is already in the air when the attack begins. In the game, racing to the ship so that it can leave with Cortana is one of the final objectives.

The plot inconsistencies were such an issue for fans that the book was rereleased in 2010 with some changes, and even then is still the topic of debate today.