Overview

PREMIERE: September 24, 2025
CREATOR: pTw
ALLOCATION: 1 OF 1 MASTER

A Lesson in Patience: I want to apologize for screwing up the release of this video. The version you are about to watch has been updated to include basic gameplay and SFX audio, the colors of the video have been enhanced, and the video is sharper and of higher resolution than the previous upload. I’m sorry I had to re-upload 3 times to get this right guys. It was a massive lesson in taking my time on things and being patient. I am extremely embarrassed about this whole thing.

Audio Clarification & Project Gratitude

The audio for this montage was mastered and enhanced by Jynx. Big shout out and thank you to Jynx for mastering the soundtrack to this video and some of the gameplay and SFX audio.

Hey everyone, pTw here—if you’re reading this, the video is live. First, a huge thank-you to Inxy and Phurion for trusting me with this project. It’s been a challenge lately to find a real project—one where someone personally reaches out for my editing. For context: I never charge for montage editing. While I’m committed to monetizing these videos as gaming art, commissions don’t reflect their true value, and no one could realistically pay what these edits are worth. I do them for free because I believe in the art form.

Gameplay, Selection, & Logistics

The gameplay featured here is from 2013—nearly 13 years old today. The variety and creativity of these clips blew me away. I didn’t choose the most technical or high-skill kills—there are no multi-kill medals beyond a killtacular—but you’ll find unique plays and an incredible range of moments. I still have half the clips left, and I’ll be talking to Inxy and Phurion about making another video using the remaining footage.

Originally, about 70 clips were submitted. After carefully reviewing each one, I narrowed it down to around 25, prioritizing cinematic value and interesting angles. This was initially intended to be a tri-edit with Inxy, Phurion, and Eastman, but at Inxy’s request, it became a dual montage.

The Three-Month Editing Process

All clips were unnamed and out of order, so organizing them alone took nearly two months. I watched and matched every single angle, then upscaled the footage using Topaz AI from 60fps to 120fps. I had to re-render everything due to format issues, which unfortunately introduced some ghosting in certain clips—something I hope to mitigate in post.

In total, I spent about three months editing this video, not including the time spent organizing and converting footage. This is also the first Halo montage I’ve created that incorporates AI—enabling some cinematics that would’ve been impossible otherwise.

AI Usage Philosophy

I want to be clear: I’m pro-AI when it’s used as a supporting tool, not a replacement for real editing work. AI contributed maybe 15% of this project (at most), and even those AI-assisted scenes were carefully refined and integrated. Every frame you see was intentionally crafted—I didn’t just drop in AI renders for shock value.

My hope is to show the right way to integrate AI creatively. Pure AI-generated montages don’t interest me. I poured countless hours into rotoscoping, stitching scenes together, test rendering, and seeking feedback. So please don’t dismiss this as “AI slop”—this video represents hard work, passion, and experimentation.

Handmade Visual Architecture

Overall, I’m extremely proud of how this project turned out. And yes—the Rule #5 datamosh effect is handmade, not AI. It took about two hours to perfect. The credits smoke scene uses a hidden After Effects plugin called CC Time Blend FX—super cool effect.

Massive thanks again to Inxy and Phurion for trusting me with this project. I’d love to collaborate on another one. And a special shoutout to Flexurindex for the breathtaking thumbnail—it’s a digital Mona Lisa built from a single screenshot I sent him.

PROJECT SURRENDER HERE.

Provenance Technical Manifest

Creative Software SuiteAdobe After Effects, Topaz AI

Capture Engine EnvironmentHalo 4 Creative Engine / 2013 Clip Archive

Project Labor Inversion~ 3+ Months Production

Target Visual Grid Setting720p @ 29.97 FPS // Filmic Aesthetic Master