: "That was the one interesting part of the story - you could imagine Master Chief waking in the future to find a different place than the one he left, with people who're stunned to meet a hero from history. Instead, he wakes up four years later and faces off against a threat that - let's be honest here - doesn't seem all that more dangerous than the last one."

That was something I didn't like much about Halo 4. The world isn't that different and nobody's amazed to see him. They're just like: "Oh hey, it's the Chief guy. Let's crack some lame jokes. Clear an LZ for us, will ya?" Why would they cut it?

Which is odd, because the original version of the Infinity cutscene had some sense of awe.

WOUNDED MARINE #1: It's one of the Spart- wait a...
The shock of the Chief's appearance hits them one after another. The Marines stand there, jaws on their chests.
WOUNDED MARINE #2: (in shock) XO! You better see this!
LASKY: Berger, if this is another exploding plant, I swear I'm going to tell your whole platoon how you really broke that leg.
WOUNDED MARINE #3: Uh, sir?
LASKY: OK, whatcha got-
Lasky looks up - sees the Chief.
LASKY: Holy Crap.
MASTER CHIEF:(saluting) Sir.
It takes Lasky a whole second before he remembers to return the gesture.
LASKY: Master Chief. (beat) No disrespect, but... aren't you kind of... dead?