The time has finally come. Halo 4 is nigh upon us, and it seems like the days can't drag themselves out any longer. Anticipation buzzes across data streams, as loyal fans and newcomers alike read, watch, and share news of the game. The chance to return to the Master Chief's boots is one that's been five years in the running, but oh, will it be worth it.

Realizing that Halo 4 is an incredible hype-machine, and worthy of it, no doubt, I also realize that there may be those out there who will be jumping in with no prior knowledge of what makes Halo so special: the lore. In reality, something I think many people don't acknowledge is that the Halo universe is one of the most richly detailed stories - while there are those who pledge allegiance to Star Trek, Star Wars, or Mass Effect, the history that is found within Halo's universe surpasses much of what Mass Effect did, and rivals those of classic sci-fi epics. Unfortunately, the general public has not had the opportunity to truly understand all of this from just the games - instead, those who are genuinely interested must read the books, watch the Legends anime, view the comics, and educate themselves by alternative means.  In an attempt to remedy this, I'm amassing a several-page venture into what can be considered a "Crash Course" of the original trilogy's storyline, and the outward fiction that isn't necessarily detailed through the games.

Why is this valuable to you, might you ask? Easy, to any newcomer who has played or been interested in these games in the past, this is a great way to run down everything, and make the upcoming trilogy that much more exciting and immersive. To those who already consider themselves  Halo fans, but perhaps aren't on the same level of unhealthy fandom of people such as I, this will hopefully improve your intimacy with 4's campaign, and make your time in Eridanus System-II that much more worthwhile. Let's jump in, shall we?