: I guess I just prioritize consistent visuals because I feel lack of
: consistency with the look of something can have almost as big of an impact
: as the consistency of the narrative itself. Many of these redesigns are
: "visual plot holes," so to speak.

I do see where you're coming from there. It's just not a perspective I happen to share with you. I wouldn't have noticed the redesign of the Forward Unto Dawn if it hadn't been pointed out. Granted, the Covenant ship redesigns are obvious, as is the new Warthog and Scorpion and Wraith. It just doesn't bother me (other than just not liking some of the designs as much as the old ones).

Let's not forget that Bungie did the same thing 343i has done. The Master Chief's armor changed between every game, and we got the same lazy explanations ("Oh, it's a new model."), but people didn't complain about it then. They completely changed the design of the Banshee for Reach (which admittedly did get quite a bit of flak, if I remember correctly).

I guess I just take it for what it is: a combination of improved technology and 343i wanting to put their personal stamp on Halo.

I agree with your Star Wars points. For all it's flaws, the prequel trilogy did an amazing job from a design standpoint of making all the technology look like it predated the original trilogy and keeping a coherent design language. I'm just not sure it's fair to compare a movie to a video game in that regard. Lots of games change designs of things between iterations. I'm okay with the design of ships and weapons and armors being fluid, as long as there is a good resemblance. The assault rifle, for instance, hasn't looked the same in any two Halo games, but it's still obviously the assault rifle. I think the same can be said for all the stuff 343i has designed. That's still obviously the Warthog, or obviously the Wraith, or obviously a Jackal, etc.