MCC Chronological Playthrough Guide

Intro
This guide covers the order of games to play and when to watch terminals for a chronological play through. This guide is by no means the definitive way to play chronologically, as if you look around you will find other guides that have you play games or specific levels in different orders. I didn't find one that covered when to watch terminals, so I created my own.

Overview
When it comes to terminals I took a more conservative approach, holding off on viewing terminals to avoid them spoiling certain story elements that you would have found in game.
This covers all of the MCC, I know some individuals may only be interested in the Bungie era of games, so while there aren’t many changes you need to make if you aren’t playing Halo 4, I will mark down terminals you will likely want to skip.

Game Timeline

• Halo Reach
  
• Halo CE
  
• Halo 2 and Halo ODST
  
• Halo 3
  
• Halo 4

As seen above, Halo 2 and Halo ODST are mostly concurrent games. After the third level of Halo 2, Metropolis, the story of ODST begins. In this guide I do not have you switch games midway through.

Terminals can be viewed From the main menu options: Extras > Videos

The earliest game in the timeline. For Reach, you mostly get to play it normally, until the very last cutscene.

Skipping the ending speech of Reach
At the end of the campaign in the level Lone Wolf, there is an ending speech after the scene skips to the future. I suggest skipping this scene for now as it does call out the results of events for later games.

I will mark in this guide when to view the rest of the speech.

Graphics: Original
For Halo CE, I recommend old graphics, I agree with the community in that is captures the atmosphere of Halo CE the best.

Halo CE is our first game with terminals. Below lists which terminals to watch after each level. Do note not all Halo CE terminals are viewed during your Halo CE play through. These will be viewed later.

Play through the game as normal.

Terminal Viewing, all terminals should be viewed at the end of the level.

Terminals
Level 6 - Guilty Spark

• Terminals 1 and 3

Level 9 - Keyes

• Terminal 9

Level 10 - Maw

• Terminal 10

Graphics: New
I recommend new graphics, as for levels that share the same setting as ODST do look more alike in the newer graphics than with the older graphics.

Terminals
Unless specified all terminal numbers are for Halo 2 Terminals. All terminals should be viewed at the end of the level.

Cairo Station

• 1
  
• 15

Outskirts

• 2

Metropolis

• 3

The Arbiter

• NONE

The Oracle

• CE 11 (Skip if you do not plan on playing Halo 4)
  
• 4
  
• 5

Delta Halo

• 6

Regret

• 7

Sacred Icon

• 8

Quarantine Zone

• 9

Gravemind

• 10

Uprising

• 11

High Charity

• 12

The Great Journey

• 13
  
• 14

Play through as normal, there are no terminals to watch for this game.

Play the game as normal, there are text terminals, but they are not considered for this guide.

To wrap up the bungie era story.

Go Back To Reach
Watch the Final speech of Reach that was skipped.

Guilty Spark's Story
Finish the CE terminals to learn more about Guilty Spark.
Terminals: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Halo 4, you have two choices, keep the background of the antagonist more a mystery until the end, or learn about them as you progress.

More Mystery
Only watch the first terminal after the first level. Watch the remaining terminals after finishing the game.

Learn as you go
Watch each levels corresponding terminal after finishing it.

Spartan Ops takes place after Halo 4's story. Play through it as normal.