Arbiter (Halo)

General CVG character
name= The Arbiter


caption=The Arbiter in "Halo 2".
series="Halo" series
firstgame="Halo 2" (2004)
voiceactor=Keith DavidThe position of Arbiter is a fictional ceremonial and political rank bestowed upon special Covenant Elites in the "Halo" universe. In "Halo 2", the rank is bestowed upon a disgraced Elite as a way to atone for his failures during the game ' and the novel '. Although the Arbiter is intended to die serving the High Prophets, he survives both his missions, and subsequent betrayal by the Prophets. Learning the Prophets' plans would doom them all to extinction, the Arbiter allies with the Covenant's enemies—humanity—and stops the ringworld Halo from destroying all sentient life. The character is one of two playable characters in "Halo 2" and its 2007 sequel "Halo 3".

The appearance of the Arbiter in "Halo 2" and the change in perspective from the main human protagonist Master Chief to a former enemy was a plot twist developer Bungie kept highly secret. The name of the character was changed from 'Dervish' after concerns about reinforcing a perceived U.S. versus Islam allegory in the game's plot. Award-winning actor Keith David lends his voice to the character in both "Halo 2" and "Halo 3".

The Arbiter has appeared in three series of action figures and other collectibles and marketing in addition to appearances in the games. Bungie intended the sudden point of view switch to a member of the Covenant as plot twist that no one would have seen coming, but the character in particular and the humanization of the Covenant in general was not evenly praised by publications. "Computer and Video Games" derided the Arbiter's missions as "crap bits" in "Halo 2". Conversely, IGN lamented the loss of the Arbiter's story in "Halo 3" and missed the added dimension the character provided to the story.

Character design

The Arbiter is voiced by Keith David, a New York voice actor. On voice acting, David noted that he enjoys voicing complicated characters who have a past. To make an impact with voice acting, he says, is difficult – you are "either a good actor or a bad actor." [cite video |people= David, Keith, et al|year2= 2007|title= Mass Effect Voice Acting Interview|url=http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/5725/Celebrity-Voice-Overs/ |format=fla |medium= Documentary|publisher=Bioware |location= |accessdate=2007-11-07 |time= |quote= (in English).] David is not a frequent video game player, but stated that he has become more known for his work as the Arbiter than for his film and other voice roles. [cite news|author=Reuters|date=2008-01-31|title=For Some Actors, Video Games Are a Career Path|work=PC Magazine]

The Arbiter changed very little during development, with the Covenant Elite models already designed and developed for "Halo: Combat Evolved". The only substantial differentiation between the Arbiter and other Elites is the ceremonial armor seen in early concept sketches and which appeared in the final product.cite book |last= Trautmann|first=Eric|title=The Art of Halo|year= 2004|publisher= Del Ray Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-47586-0 |pages=74] During "Halo 2"'s early developmental stages the character's name was "Dervish", [cite web|author=Staff| url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=154549| title=The A-Z of Halo 3| work=Computer and Video Games| date=2007-01-11| accessdate=2007-11-07] a name from the Sufi sect of Islam. Out of context, Microsoft Game Studios' "geocultural review" consultants found nothing wrong with the name. However, as Tom Edwards, a consultant who worked with Microsoft during the review noted, "within the game’s context this Islamic-related name of 'Dervish' set up a potentially problematic allegory related to "Halo 2"'s plot -- the U.S.-like forces (Master Chief/Sarge) versus Islam (the religious Covenant, which already had a 'Prophet of Truth' which is one synonym for Mohammed). Since this incident was not long after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the sensitivity to the name remained high, and the character's name was changed to the "Arbiter".cite web|author=Kumar, Matthew|date=2008-04-09|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=17985|title=Q&A: Englobe's Edwards Talks Gaming's 'Geocultural Risks'|publisher=Gamasutra|accessdate=2008-04-01]

In an interview with MTV, Bungie’s content manager, Frank O’Connor, noted that the inclusion of the Arbiter as a playable character in "Halo 2" was supposed to be a "secret on the scale of a Shyamalan plot twist" and explains that Bungie was able to keep the public uninformed about this until the game's release, to the point that O'Connor never even considered including it on the weekly development updates posted at Bungie's webpage.cite web| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1536929/20060721/index.jhtml?headlines=true| author=Totilo, Stephen| title=Despite Death Treats, 'Halo 3' Developer Keeps Secrets Close To The Chest| publisher=MTV| date=2006-07-24| accessdate=2007-11-11] O'Connor also stated that Bungie "had some other things that were secrets within secrets" and claimed that there was material related to the Arbiter that was kept secret during the development of "Halo 3" because "There is an aspect of the Arbiter's character that is still secret to this day and will remain so for a good reason."

Role

Presented in "Halo 2", the rank of "Arbiter" is bestowed upon a Covenant Elite by the Covenant leadership—the High Prophets—during a time of "extraordinary crisis". [Truth: Quite so. Here rests the vanguard of the Great Journey. Every Arbiter, from first to last. Each one created and consumed in times of extraordinary crisis. - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = The Arbiter] The Arbiter acts as the "Blade of the Prophets", undertaking highly dangerous missions to preserve the Covenant. According to one High Prophet in "Halo 2", every Arbiter created has been killed in their completion of these tasks. [Prophet of Mercy: The tasks you must undertake as Arbiter are perilous, suicidal. You will die, as each Arbiter has before you. - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = The Storm] A shrine to these warriors lies in the Mausoleum of the Arbiter, located on the Covenant's capital ship "High Charity".A previous Arbiter can be seen in the second trailer for Halo Wars, commanding Covenant forces pursuing a Forerunner relic. This Arbiter is not the same as the Arbiter seen in Halo 2 and 3 due to the time difference, occurring around 20 years before that Arbiter was appointed.

Appearances

"Halo 2"

The Arbiter in "Halo 2" was previously an Elite Supreme Commander, having commanded the Fleet of Particular Justice, which destroys Reach and follows the "Pillar of Autumn" to Alpha Halo in '. A Prophet orders the "Autumn" not to be destroyed outright, lest the sacred ring be damaged; this hesitance allows the humans to land on the ring, coordinate a resistance, and ultimately destroy the ring to stop the spread of the parasitic Flood. [cite book |last= Dietz|first= William|title=|year= 2003|publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-45921-0|pages=6] In ', the 2003 novel by Eric Nylund, it is revealed the Commander is also the one who loses the "Ascendant Justice" to the Master Chief and UNSC survivors from Halo, which in turn leads to the annihilation of a Covenant fleet around the "Unyielding Heirophant". The High Prophet of Truth decides to bring the Commander to trial. [cite book |last= Nylund|first= Eric|title=|year= 2003|publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-46781-7 |pages=340]

In "Halo 2", still reeling from the destruction of the sacred Forerunner ring, the Covenant High Council turns on the Supreme Commander, declaring him a heretic, stripping him of his rank, [Prophet of Regret: Noble Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough. Make an example of this bungler! The Council demands it! / Prophet of Truth: You are one of our most treasured instruments. Long have you led your fleet with honour and distinction, but your inability to safeguard Halo was a colossal failure. - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = Heretic] and branding him with the "Mark of Shame" in front of a large crowd. Though his public execution is soon to follow, he is spared by the High Prophets; [Prophet of Truth: The Council decided to have you hanged by your entrails and your corpse paraded through the city. But ultimately the terms of your execution are up to me. - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = The Arbiter] realizing he is no heretic, the Hierarchs give the disgraced Commander a chance to lead troops once again and regain his lost honor by becoming the Arbiter; faced with few other options, the Commander accepts. [Arbiter What use am I? I can no longer command ships or lead troops into battle. / Prophet of Truth: Not as you are. But become the Arbiter, and you shall be set loose against this heresy with our blessing. [...] / Arbiter What would you have your Arbiter do? - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = The Arbiter]

Like the Arbiters before him, the Prophets expect the Arbiter to die early in his tour of duty, completing his "death sentence", but instead the Arbiter manages to destroy a nest of Heretics, retrieving a Forerunner "Oracle" in the process. The Arbiter is then sent to retrieve the "Sacred Icon" from the Library on Delta Halo, in order to activate the ring and bring about the "Great Journey". [Prophet of Mercy: With appropriate humility, we plied the Oracle with our questions, and it with clarity and grace has shown us the key. / Prophet of Truth: You will journey to the surface of the ring and retrieve this Sacred Icon. With it we shall fulfill our promise. - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = Sacred Icon] Though he retrieves the Icon, the Arbiter is betrayed by the Chieftain of the Brutes, Tartarus; Tartarus reveals that the Prophets have given him and his race "carte blanche" to massacre and replace the Elites in the Covenant caste system. [Tartarus: Excellent work Arbiter. The Hierarchs will be pleased. / Arbiter: The Icon...is my responsibility. / Tartarus: Was your responsibility. Now it is mine. A bloody fate awaits you and your incompetent race. And I, Tartarus, Chieftain of the Brutes, will send you to it. / Arbiter: When the Prophets learn of this they will have your head. / Tartarus: When they learn? Fool. They ordered me to do it. - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = Quarantine Zone] Though the Arbiter is believed dead, he is rescued - along with his nemesis, the Master Chief - by the Flood intelligence Gravemind. Gravemind convinces the Arbiter that the Great Journey in fact spells doom for his race, and sends him to stop Tartarus from activating the ring. [Gravemind: This one's containment...and this one's Great Journey are the same. Your Prophets have promised you freedom from a doomed existence. But you will find no salvation on this ring. Those who built this place knew what they wrought. Do not mistake their intent, or all will perish as they did before. / Master Chief: This thing is right. Halo is a weapon. Your Prophets are making a big mistake. - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = Gravemind] In the process of stopping the Brute, the Arbiter and his Elites forge an alliance with the humans Miranda Keyes and Avery Johnson, and ultimately the Arbiter slays Tartarus, halting the firing of the ring. The unexpected shutdown of Halo triggers a standby sequence, which the Arbiter learns from 343 Guilty Spark has made all the Halo installations ready to fire remotely from the Ark. [343 Guilty Spark: Fail-safe protocol. In the event of an unexpected shutdown, the entire system will move to standby status. All remaining platforms are now waiting for remote detonation. / Miranda Keyes: Remote detonation? From here? / 343 Guilty Spark: Don't be ridiculous! / Sergeant Johnson: Listen Tinkerbell, don't make me... / Miranda Keyes: Then where would someone go to activate the rings. / 343 Guilty Spark: Why the Ark of course! / Arbiter: And where, Oracle, is that? - cite video game| title = Halo 2| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = The Great Journey]

"Halo 3"

While the Arbiter remains a playable character in "Halo 3" during co-op (the second player in a game lobby will control him), the game's story never switches the point of view to the Arbiter, as was done in "Halo 2".cite web |url = http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack |title = The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3 |accessdate = 2007-08-02 |author = Smith, Luke |date = 2007-07-31 |publisher = Bungie.net ] For much of "Halo 3", the Arbiter assists human forces in their fight against both the hostile Covenant forces and the Flood, including multiple instances of humans who are being tortured and killed by the Brutes. He makes a number of bitter remarks concerning the Prophets and the Covenant during gameplay. After the Flood arrive on Earth, he is the one that advises Ship Master Rtas 'Vadum not to glass the entire planet, but rather only the local area of infestation. [Rtas 'Vadum: Did you not hear? Your world is doomed. A Flood army, a Gravemind, has you in its sights! You barely survived a small contamination. Lord Hood: And you, Ship Master, just glassed half a continent! Maybe the Flood isn't all I should be worried about. Rtas 'Vadum: What!? a single Flood spore can destroy a species, where it not for the Arbiter's council, I would have glassed your entire planet! - cite video game| title = Halo 3| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2007| platform =Xbox 360| version = | level = Floodgate] Later, on the Ark, he confronts the Prophet of Truth as he lays dying, becoming infected by the Flood. After a brief exchange, he kills the Prophet by plunging an energy sword through his chest. [Prophet of Truth: Can you see Arbiter? The moment of salvation is at hand... your kind never believed on the promise of the sacred rings. [...] Arbiter: I will have my revenge on a Prophet, not a plague! [...] Prophet of Truth I am Truth, the voice of the Covenant! Arbiter: And so you must be silenced. - cite video game| title = Halo 3| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2007| platform =Xbox 360| version = | level = The Covenant] Shortly thereafter, he comes to the assistance of the Master Chief during his rescue of Cortana from the Gravemind. During the escape from the new Halo, the frigate he and the Chief are in is damaged, with his portion of it crashing on Earth. He attends a ceremony on Earth afterwards, honoring the dead. After the memorial the Arbiter leaves Earth with the rest of the Elites for their own home planet, free from the influence of both the Covenant and the Flood.Rtas 'Vadum: Things look different, without the Prophets' lies clouding my vision. I would like to see our own world. To know that it is safe. / Arbiter: Fear not. For we have made it so. - cite video game| title = Halo 3| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| date = 2007| platform =Xbox 360| version = | level = Halo]

Cultural impact

Merchandise

Following the release of "Halo 2", Joyride Studios released an Arbiter action figure. This particular model was reviewed as a "great translation of the source material into plastic".cite web| url=http://www.armchairempire.com/action-figures/arbiter.htm| title=Action Figure Reviews - Arbiter (Halo 2)| author=Omni| publisher=The Armchair Empire| date=2006-03-03| accessdate=2007-12-03] The figure's dimensions were in proportion with other figures released by the studio, and the level of detail in the armor and weapons was described positively, but reviewers found fault with the neck articulation and design. Other aspects mentioned were its compatibility with the Master Chief's action figure and its durability. Several models of the Arbiter are featured in the Halo ActionClix collectible game, produced as promotional material prior to the release of "Halo 3". McFarlane Toys was given the task of developing a "Halo 3" line of action figures, and a sculpt of the Arbiter was released in the second series of figures after the game's release. [cite web|author=Plunkett, Luke|date=2007-12-27|url=http://kotaku.com/338711/the-next-halo-3-figure-is-keith-david|title=The Next Halo 3 Figure Is Keith David|publisher=Kotaku|accessdate=2008-08-01] A large-scale, non-articulated Arbiter figure is also being produced by McFarlane as part of the "Legendary Collection". [cite web|author=TMP International|date=2008-04-25|url=http://spawn.com/news/news3.aspx?id=13359|title=12-inch Master Chief and Legendary Collection in Stores Fall 2008|publisher=McFarlane Toys|accessdate=2008-07-27]

Critical reception

The reception of the Arbiter as a playable character in "Halo 2" was mixed; former Bungie content manager Frank O'Conner described the Arbiter as the most controversial character Bungie had ever created. [cite web|author=SCI FI|url=http://gameroom.mlgpro.com/view/zyiJ5z9YWvg.html|title=Sci vs. Fi - "Halo 3" Documentary|publisher=Major League Gaming|accessdate=2007-10-05|date=2007-10-02] The character was described as a "brilliant stroke of a game design" because it provided an unexpected story line but also offered the player new options by allowing stealth gameplay.cite web| author=McLain, Alex | year=2007|url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo2/spotlight14.htm| title=The Big One| publisher=Microsoft Corporation| accessdate=2007-10-20] Several publications enjoyed the added dimension added to the Covenant by having the Arbiter as a playable character. [cite news|author=Davenport, Misha|date=2004-11-08|title=Superior sequel has a surprise in store|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=47]

Alternatively, publications like Gamespot thought that while the Arbiter and Covenant side added "newfound complexity to the story", it distracted the player from Earth's fate; [cite web|author=Kasavin, Greg|date=2004-11-07|url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/review.html?page=2|title="Halo 2" for Xbox Review|publisher=Gamespot|accessdate=2007-10-20] a panel of "Halo 2" reviewers argued that though the decision to humanize the Covenant by the introduction of the Arbiter was welcome, the execution in-game was lacking.cite web|author=Staff|year=2004|url=http://www.teamfremont.com/reviews/Halo2.shtml|title=Team Freemont: Halo 2 review|publisher=Team Freemont|accessdate=2007-09-05] The missions where the player controls the Arbiter were described as "anything but easy" and occasionally "boring", due to the lack of human weapons to balance the gameplay. A review performed by "Computer and Video Games" described the time that the player controls the character as " [those] crap bits when you play as an alien Arbiter" and listed this as one of "Halo 2"'s flaws. [cite web| author=Porter, Will| url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=164526| title=PC Reviews: Halo 2| publisher=Computer and Video Games| date=2007-06-06| accessdate=2007-10-22] Reviewer Jarno Kokko said that while he did not personally dislike playing as the character, the idea of "people disliking the concept of playing on the other side in a game that is supposed to be the 'Master Chief blows up some alien scum' show" was a plausible complaint.cite web| author=Kokko, Jarno| url=http://www.yougamers.com/reviews/4722_halo_2_for_windows_vista/| title=Review: Halo 2 for Windows Vista| publisher=yougamers.com| date=2007-06-18| accessdate=2007-11-08]

The reception of the Arbiter's elimination as a main playable character in "Halo 3" was similarly mixed. Hilary Goldstein of IGN decided the change took away the "intriguing side-story of the Arbiter and his Elites", in the process reducing the character's role to that of "a dude with a weird mandible and a cool sword".cite web| author=Goldstein, Hillary| url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p1.html| title=Halo 3 Review| publisher=IGN| date=2007-09-23| accessdate=2007-10-20] Likewise, Steve West of Cinemablend.com stated that the one important event in the game for the Arbiter would be lost on anyone for whom "Halo 3" was their first game in the series.cite web|author=West, Steve|date=2007-09-27|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Xbox-360-Halo-3-Campaign-Review-6543.html|title="Halo 3" Campaign Review|publisher=cinemablend.com|accessdate=2007-10-10] On the opposite end of the spectrum were reviewers like G4tv, who argued that the Arbiter was more likeable, not to mention more useful, as an AI sidekick instead of the main player.cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1609/Halo_3.html|title=G4 - Reviews - Halo 3|author=Robinson, Scott|date=2007-09-25|publisher=G4tv|accessdate=2007-11-12] In a list of the top alien characters in video games, MSNBC placed the Arbiter at the number four ranking. [cite web|author=Smith, Ken|date=2008-08-05|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26016023?pg=5#games_top5_080805_Aliens|title=Top 5 best aliens in video games|publisher=MSNBC|accessdate=2008-08-07]

References

External links

* [http://halostory.bungie.org/story/arbiter.html Arbiter Story Page] at Halo.Bungie.Org