Wow I was a bit late on the Halo 4 train, but better late than never. Anyway after completing the game I feel compelled to give a few thoughts, just personal opinion on Cortana:
- I respect the view that some people don't want Cortana's return (and by that I mean like the old days, not just flashbacks or references). But I don't see her return in future Halo games as 'ruining the game'. Ever since Halo: Combat Evolved it has always been about Chief and Cortana. Yes we have a lot of other characters too, but the hero that saved the day was Master Chief. And Cortana saved him more than I could count lol (the dialogues in Halo 4 proved this). I think 343 Industries did a fantastic job to 'elaborate' on her 'feelings' for Chief, which Bungies left openly implied in the original trilogy.
- Totally agree with LANK3Y's post above. We have all the 'nice coincidence' settings for Chief to set on his course seeking both Halsey and Cortana. Just a wild guess but Dr. Halsey is extremely intelligent albeit shrewd and manipulative woman to me, so I don't see why she can't 'recover' Cortana or has a 'backup copy' of her hidden somewhere.
- Probably deja vu but I see a lot of similarity between 343's Halo plots and Bioware's Mass Effect 3 now ), especially with all dramas surrounding the Didact and his Composer (Synthesis anyone? ). Oh I so want to see Cortana's 'resurrection' as a sexy combat android
