I hope someone from 343 reads this. I am a huge Halo fan, i love halo from the first time i played Combat Evolved, all those years ago on my cousins Xbox. I have had all the Halo consoles, still have all the games and have read all the books etc, but enough about me. Ive got a few ideas for Halo 5 multiplayer.
Im sick of everyone trashing this game or that game or 343. There is nothing from it but whinging. What we need as Halo fans and gamer’s is ACTUAL constructive ideas that will assist 343 developers make Halo 5 the game we all want and love, something that IS Halo.
I understand that things progress and i think other Halo vets should open their mind a bit. I wouldn’t want Halo 5 to be like another Halo game as it would be the same thing. We need it to grow and progress for it to get new people involved so we can all enjoy it. But in saying that, it should still keep the Halo feeling, the reason after all is why we play Halo and not COD.
Instead of writing up a list of things the old Halo games had, the the new one should have, or whinge about how i dont like this, or that, i wrote a little list of things i believe could be added to the game and things i think should be taken out of the game. Each item will have an explanation. This is all my opinion, but after looking through many threads and loving the Halo universe as much as i do, i know many others feel these opinions. So here we go.
THINGS HALO 5 ‘SHOULD’ HAVE
Learning to use individual weapons, learning the skill, taking the time to practice
One of the biggest changes i noticed was the moment you start using any weapon its just point and shoot. It takes very little skill. I understand why 343 went this way, to get new players up to speed quicker. Thats all well and good but it actually takes away from the fun that is Halo online. The practice you need and the skills you need to learn for each weapon is the thing that keeps bringing people back time and time again. There is nothing better than learning to pace your shots and not panic while under fire, only to kill your opponent 1 V’s 1, because you have put the time and effort in to learn. This i would say is the biggest thing Halo 5 needs. It sounds like a sacrifice, but it is not. I know as a gamer its the challenge and the learned skill that many of us chase.
Power weapon drops and vehicles
Another thing that makes playing online fun, is learning the environment/map. It does actually take a bit of time to fully learn the map and stumble upon the power weapons. I think Halo 5 should loose Ordnance drops (more info later) and instead add more power weapons to the maps. Also get rid of the arrows and ghost weapon icon above the drops. This causes players to take time and study maps. It also rewards the brave, in that dash to the good weapons, which sometimes have interesting little skirmishes. I think some weapons, which really make Halo, should make a return. Plasma Launcher comes to mind as it take a bit of skill and some luck to actually use. Also what happened to the energy sword and Wraith? Some of the things that make Halo so unique are the weapons and vehicles that either dont, or rarely make an appearance.
Better interactive lobby
This may seem like a small thing, but you spend a bit of time there waiting. Something half interactive that evokes emotion, like looking at the destroyed planet in the Reach lobby would be very nice. Just a little touch but one i know people would notice and remember.
THINGS HALO 5 ‘SHOULD’ LOOSE
Ease of play-ability
As i said above in the weapon skill point, this is actually a negative for the game. I really believe this is the biggest thing that changed Halo. Many have said we dont want COD, dont try to compete, you simply cant. But what we want is Halo, we love it and that alone will bring people to the game.
Ordnance drops
I understand why 343 added this. It does add a fun element to the game. Its good. I enjoy it, i also think it takes away from the Halo experience. The problem is the negatives for it outweigh the positives. You no longer need to learn the map or become very proficient with your normal load out weapon. It makes the game alot easier and doesn’t reward skill. A few grenades here, a few kills in a vehicle and boom, rewarded with a few free kills (power weapons/upgrades). It goes along the same line of ease of play-ability. Give us more power weapons, but in map not available as rewards to everyone who scores some points.
Put all the different game times as map selections in the more favorite playlists
This will simply compact all the players up a bit more. Swat, Infected/Flood, BTB and Slayer are always the most popular. Put the different types in there to get more players in each lobby which speed up load time and more variety in game. Still have the other game types but maybe loose half of them out of their own lobby and instead chuck them in as map selections. I have noticed the last Halo 4 update headed this way where Regicide and CTF and in the BTB maps. Thats a really good step.
Support upgrades
I think you will notice a common theme here. Ease of play-ability. Keep the armor abilities as its a fun element that doesn’t have a huge impact as each ability has a negative, but loose the other upgrades. Its too many, KISS (keep it simple stupid). There is enough variety and choice, too much can be over whelming and the balance can be shifted your way too easily.
So thats it, over all i am really happy with the job 343 have done and the effort they put into it. These, i guess are only minor tweaks but things that will bring the fans back. I play Halo 4 still daily and i like it. Its not as good as other Halos were but i see it as a good step in the right direction.
George