A large number of gamers were upset after the recent Halo Infinite campaign gameplay demo showcased rather underwhelming graphics compared to other next-gen titles; however, one Brute's appearance has redeemed Halo Infinite, and his name is Craig. Craig the Unamused Brute appears in the gameplay demo for only a few seconds before being taken out by Master Chief, but the few moments of screen time were enough to win over the hearts of gamers all over the internet.
The Xbox Games Showcase and quite a few Halo fans voiced their disappointment with how the game looks graphically. Many viewers stated that the game looked similar to 2007's Halo 3 and that they expected more from the next generation of Halo and the Xbox Sereis X. Even comparing the design of enemies and of the environment to the most recent franchise titles reveals a massive decline in graphical quality.
However, from the rough came a diamond, and that diamond's name is Craig. Craig first makes his entrance into the He is a Banished Brute who drops from the sky out of a drop pod and attempts to take on Master Chief one-on-one. Sadly, Craig meets his demise less than a minute later when Chief's forearm makes with his face. During Master Chief's melee animation viewers are given a clear look at Craig's beautiful, unamused face, and this quick glimpse was enough for the internet to fall in love. On Twitter and Reddit's dedicated Halo communities, memes of the new poorly rendered "character" have been spreading like wildfire, such as these:
Craig's status as an internet sensation is a bit complex. He is famous because he is ugly, but the ugliness of the game is why fans have expressed their disdain for Halo Infinite's seemingly current-gen visuals. Yet Craig has somehow risen above that hate and has become a beloved meme. His rise to stardom was realized within 343 Industries, and Halo Community Director Brain "Ske7ch" Jarrard tweeted asking to know more about Craig, also requesting that other Twitter s send him Craig memes.
It's sad to know that Craig's backstory may never be told. After all, his fleeting moments on screen were the last moments of his life... or were they? Halo has been known to add silly easter eggs into their games such as the last grunt and the birthday grunt skull. Who's to say that they won't put an homage to Craig in Halo Infinite, especially now that a key member of 343 has acknowledged his presence.
Source: 343 Industries, Brian Jarrard
