Challenge Names 101

Lately there have been some challenges with interesting names that make me chuckle. It occurs that not everyone knows where these names come from (and perhaps I’m missing something on some as well) so this post will be an ongoing record of name etymologies.

Light Fuse, Run Away – Kill X enemies with grenades in a multiplayer Matchmaking game

For anyone who missed it, the finale to Halo: Combat Evolved is one of the best final episodes of any game. The second chapter is called Light Fuse, Run Away, and has you [SPOILER INCOMING] in the engine room of your crashed ship, The Pillar of Autumn, opening the manifolds that cover the engine and throwing grenades or rockets in. The point being to cause a ‘wildcat destabilisation’ of the engine, so it explodes and destroys the first Halo.

T-Hug It Out– Kill X enemies with close quarters combat in a multiplayer Matchmaking game

I take this as being from Entourage, the awesome character Ari Gold uses it mostly in the first couple of seasons to try an make everything cool with people. The T- makes it ‘Thug It Out’, as you’re doing less hugging and more elbow-to-the-face-ing.

Now I have a Machine Gun– Earn X kills with automatic weapons in multiplayer Matchmaking

From one of the great Christmas movies, Die Hard. John McClane manages to take out two guys, and sends the body of one strapped to a chair down to the terrorists in the lobby, with ‘Now I have a machine gun too, Ho Ho Ho’ written on his jumper.

Return of the Mack – Kill X Elites in Campaign today on Normal or harder

This was a song by Mark Morrison, a 90s UK rapper. It also refers to ‘mack daddy’, a term for a superior male.

Pod Kettle Black – Kill 10 Elite Drop Pods in The Long Night of Solace

From the old expression ‘the pot calling the kettle black’, used to refer to someone being hypocritical.

(Heroic) Demon – Kill X Elites in Firefight Matchmaking on Heroic or harder

Demon is the Elite’s name for the Master Chief from Halo: CE onwards, and often used in the Halo universe to refer to Spartans or skilful people. Heroic is usually attached to this as it needs to be completed in Heroic difficulty.

J.H. Death Machine – Kill X enemies in Firefight Matchmaking with the Grenade Launcher

Josh Hamrick is a gameplay designer for Bungie, as his Twitter account says he made the weapons in Reach go bang.

You Want This, Don’t You? – Earn X kills with precision weapons in a multiplayer Matchmaking game

I’m sure this is a reference to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – the achievement for DMR kills is ‘An Elegant Weapon’, as Obi-Wan Kenobi says ‘an elegant weapon, for a more civilised age’, which would tie into wanting one. [SPOILER INCOMING] The Emperor is taunting Luke that he is about to destroy the Rebel Alliance, and knows Luke wants to take up his Lightsaber (that the Emperor has next to him) and strike him down, even though doing so would be giving into anger and rage. Great stuff.

On the Sixth Respawn… – Complete a Firefight Matchmaking game with fewer than 5 deaths

Possibly a reference to the Biblical tale of the creation of the world. On the sixth day, God creates man in his image.

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts – Win X games in multiplayer Matchmaking this week

A reference to Friday Night Lights, apparently a speech and phrase often used to pep up the players and motivate them.

I Need Some Ammo – Complete a Campaign mission on Heroic or harder with the famine Skull on

In an advert for Halo 2, and in one of the cutscenes, Master Chief says ‘I need a weapon’. It’s now become a phrase generally for being macho and fighting. The famine skull means you only get 50% ammo on weapons you pick up, hence ‘need some ammo’.

One Spartan Army – Kill X enemies in Firefight Matchmaking

A concept in films and books (and particularly games) about being a skilful/well trained soldier.. One Spartan Army is usually used when you need to kill a lot of enemies, particularly in Firefight. (Thanks to Chris for clarifying my mis-remember of Army of One!)

There Are Many Like… – Kill X enemies with precision weapons in the Campaign today

This is from the Rifleman’s Creed as used in the US Marine Corps. In the film Full Metal Jacket the soldiers ‘pray’ about their rifle, saying ‘there are many like it, but this one is mine’. (Thanks to Kav for the confirmation and link)

The T.G. Opposition – Kill X enemies in Firefight Matchmaking with the Shotgun.

Another internal Bungie reference about Tyson Green, a senior designer at Bungie. According to Josh ‘Tyson goes with shotgun like chocolate goes with peanut butter.’

Sticky Icky Icky – Earn 5 sticky grenade Kills in a multiplayer Matchmaking game

I believe this is a reference to good marijuana made infamous by the rapper Snoop Dogg. The credit might be a reference, as 420 is a common weed reference, and 1625 would be 425 in military time. (Thanks to ZanyMex for the find).

Sweep the Leg – Perform an assassination in a multiplayer Matchmaking game

In the classic film ‘The Karate Kid’ the evil Sensei directs his figher to sweep the leg of our hero Daniel LaRusso continually during a fight to continually harm his injured leg.

This is How We Do It – Complete 9 Campaign missions on Heroic

Quite simply, This Is How We Do It is a song from 1995 by Montell Jordan.

There are more names that I don’t know, and probably mean something – Just Hold On, Chaddlesby’s Justice, Cook ’em Clean ’em to name a few. If you know the reference to something I’ve not listed, or want to add something to one of the above, please add it to the comments and give us a link to something of the background.