343, Guardians can save Halo.

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

I mean it, 343.

After months and months of extensively playing Halo 4, acquiring all the weapons, getting over 20000 kills, and spending hours forging some of my greatest maps ever, I was left dissatisfied. I promised myself that I would never buy another Halo again unless there was a beta (or at least a basic demo) that I was satisfied with available for individual download or through another Halo game. Even after all of the good things you did to desperately improve the experience as much as possible (I absolutely LOVED the champions DLC and Ricochet), I ultimately stopped playing the game because Halo 4 still felt fundamentally broken and incomplete to me.

Now we are in a situation similar to that of 2012 in which a numbered game is finally coming out again, only this time, the stakes are much higher. This time around, the last main Halo game had a population and reputation worse than that of Reach, which was more or less a side-game. Furthermore, we, the community, have been promised several times since November 2012 that you are listening to us, 343. For the sake of one of the most influential game series of all time, you have got to keep this promise.

Halo 4 was a game that had so much anticipation, yet so much wasted potential. It could have been the greatest game in the franchise, but hundreds of thousands, possible millions, of people were disappointed. It seems, however, that Halo 5 has just as much potential as its predecessor. So 343, I ask-no, beg of you, do not waste this potential, and do not ignore the community again.

Don’t change fundamental aspects of Halo’s gameplay again just to “modernize” it; many people don’t want its uniqueness to be completely taken away. I’m not asking for a complete regression to only one style of gameplay (arena), but please don’t force such controversial gameplay on the community again.

Don’t gut customs, Forge, and theater again. With their inception of these three things, Bungie, intentionally or not, spawned a very large community dedicated to just making maps, games, and movies with their friends. Halo 4’s custom lobbies were so poorly built that this entire group of people was just left in the dust…including me. Two things that contributed to the longevity of Halo were its matchmaking and iconic custom modes-maybe if these modes had their pinnacle in Halo 4, there wouldn’t be such a bad taste in so many peoples’ mouths.

I may seem like I only like what Halo had before Reach, but that’s far from the truth. I want to see as much new stuff as the next guy, as long as it doesn’t fundamentally change the core gameplay, isn’t there just for the sake of change, and doesn’t alienate such a large group of people.

343, you have another chance to captivate millions of people again with Halo 5: Guardians. Don’t screw this up.

2

Guardians can save Halo.

Guardians can also kill Halo.

343, don’t let Halo die because it wandered off the map.

3

Agreed.

As much as I hate Halo 4, I feel slightly relieved after reading about Halo 5: Guardians.

However, I will NOT buy the game unless I see proof that the values of old Halo have returned.
If they mention that perks are still there, along with PODs and even loadouts, I am going to pass for the first time in Halo history.

Fool me once, shame on you…

4

> Agreed.
>
> As much as I hate Halo 4, I feel slightly relieved after reading about Halo 5: Guardians.
>
> However, I will NOT buy the game unless I see proof that the values of old Halo have returned.
> If they mention that perks are still there, along with PODs and even loadouts, I am going to pass for the first time in Halo history.
>
> Fool me once, shame on you…

i’d be ok with reach-like or very restrictive loadouts but the rest i agree with you on. i hated halo 4’s multiplayer, it was the first halo multiplayer i didnt like and while i’m willing to cut them some slack on one bad game with ideas i didnt like. i won’t be doing that again if i see the multiplayer stays on the same path. that being said i’m very excited about this game and i cant wait to hear more, unless they give me a reason not to be.

5

I would cry if the game satisfies the critics and fans alike don’t mess this up 343i.

6

I really hope they go back to their roots and try to get the halo formula right but at the same time making a game that is new and fresh

7

Yeah it’s pretty much do or die with this game. If it fails then say bye bye to Halo.

8

343 has seemed earnest about receiving feedback all throughout Halo 4’s life cycle. I hope the time Microsoft gives them is enough for this new addition to the franchise, and a new engine could make or break the whole thing. Halo 4 had a lot of amazing things, a lot of controversial things, and a lot of disappointing things, and I like to think we made it pretty clear which were which. I have faith for this game; 343i got their feet wet in what it feels like to make a Halo game, and now they really get to test their mettle.

This is for all the marbles.

9

Halo 4 Sold over 9 million copies? Save what game?

10

Halo 5: Guardians is like the Halo Array
It can be used to destroy the Halo Universe,
or save it…

11

> Halo 4 Sold over 9 million copies? Save what game?

The game that failed to sustain a healthy population for more than seven days.

12

All of this complaining about Halo 4 and subtle threats towards 343i regarding H5 Guardians has me extremely confused.
I’ve been seeing comment after comment that essentially contradicts itself. Basically, everyone first blasts 343 for adding new elements and demands a full return to “classic” Halo, then proceeds to beg 343 to be original and introduce new game play features.
They were trying new things with Halo 4, people! Don’t tell 343 to change Halo’s gameplay, then threaten to quit Halo if they change anything! You’re not making sense.
Honestly, I don’t think any decision 343 makes will ever be received well by hardcore fans. If they change absolutely nothing and stick to bare-minimum CE game play, people get upset and say they’re not being fresh enough. If they introduce new features, they’re bashed for “ruining” Halo. It’s a lose-lose situation all around.

Everyone tells 343i to make changes without disturbing the “core gameplay”. What exactly defines “core gameplay”? You have to step away from old game mechanics if you want new features, believe it or not.
Frank O’Connor and the 343 team have promised great things. I’m sure they will deliver. Halo 4 was their first project ever; it was bound to have flaws, but it was still a pretty good game (the story was better than any Bungie campaign). With H5 Guardians, we’ll find out 343’s true potential.

13

> I’ve been seeing comment after comment that essentially contradicts itself. Basically, everyone first blasts 343 for adding new elements and demands a full return to “classic” Halo, then proceeds to beg 343 to be original and introduce new game play features.

I think you are misinterpreting the situation.

A lot of people want change(and rightfully so), but these changes have to respect the roots of Halo. While things like POD, perks etc. are certainly new and fresh they weren’t respecting the aspects of Halo that made Halo Halo.

As far as gameplay goes Halo 2 added dual wielding and Halo 3 added Equipment. While being new changes they stayed true to “classic Halo formula”. Personally this is what I want. A competitive baseline(equal starts and opportunity) but with features that I haven’t seen before to create something new and exciting - Just like Halo 2 and 3 did.

14

> All of this complaining about Halo 4 and subtle threats towards 343i regarding H5 Guardians has me extremely confused.
> I’ve been seeing comment after comment that essentially contradicts itself. Basically, everyone first blasts 343 for adding new elements and demands a full return to “classic” Halo, then proceeds to beg 343 to be original and introduce new game play features.
> They were trying new things with Halo 4, people! Don’t tell 343 to change Halo’s gameplay, then threaten to quit Halo if they change anything! You’re not making sense.
> <mark>1. Honestly, I don’t think any decision 343 makes will ever be received well by hardcore fans. If they change absolutely nothing and stick to bare-minimum CE game play, people get upset and say they’re not being fresh enough. If they introduce new features, they’re bashed for “ruining” Halo. It’s a lose-lose situation all around.</mark>
>
> Everyone tells 343i to make changes without disturbing the “core gameplay”. <mark>2. What exactly defines “core gameplay”?</mark> You have to step away from old game mechanics if you want new features, believe it or not.
> Frank O’Connor and the 343 team have promised great things. <mark>3. I’m sure they will deliver.</mark> Halo 4 was their first project ever; it was bound to have flaws, but it was still a pretty good game (the story was better than any Bungie campaign). With H5 Guardians, we’ll find out 343’s true potential.

  1. Could not agree more.

  2. From what I hear it has to do with predictability, equal starts, the “magic 3” (weapons, melee and grenades) and the number 50.

  3. It does not matter what they will deliver. They will hate what ever it is.

15

It seems like 343 is learning from their mistakes, but I’m still not getting my hopes up. Halo’s multiplayer quality (in my opinion) just decreases with each sequel.

It’d be nice for them to nail it though. Could be the reason for a lot of people to buy an Xbox One.

16

Still “Halo” doesn’t need saving. It could use modifications from the previous title. But “Saving” Is a bit of a exaggeration.

17

> As far as gameplay goes Halo 2 added dual wielding and Halo 3 added Equipment. While being new changes they stayed true to “classic Halo formula”. Personally this is what I want. A competitive baseline(equal starts and opportunity) but with features that I haven’t seen before to create something new and exciting - Just like Halo 2 and 3 did.

I wouldn’t consider dual wielding and equipment changes.
Fundamentally they changed nothing. They added nothing new nor did they had a significant impact on the gameplay as that they could actually change something. Dual wielding and equipment were gimmicks, not changes.

Moving from hitscan to projectiles was a change.
Armor Abilities (the concept of abilities/advantages at spawn) were a change. Though poorly implemented.

When you want to change something, want to achieve actual progress, you take established core elements and redefine or improve them. You don’t keep things as they are and simply add new stuff because that will eventually result in something like Halo 4 in the long run.

The “Halo formula” isn’t something that is said in stone and dictates how things have to be designed. It is a concept.
It contains ideas, guidelines and directions but not a blueprint.
“Classic Halo” was just one successful execution of said concept. It isn’t the concept itself though.

18

I’m not sure where you have been, but the Halo Community has been in disarray after the last 2 games. It’s everywhere, not just on the forums. It needs saving, if not, then that means less Xbox Ones and a weak population consisting of new players that will more or less leave to another game, very loyal fans that can’t let go, and those fans that truly believe Halo 4 was great lol.

That essentially is what Halo 4 looks like as of now. This is indeed the last straw, unless they happen to prove themselves even later in the future, which shouldn’t have to happen. The community is in need of hope now.

19

Interesting how you say its an uber failure… yet it was one of the best games yet? Have you even tried the single player content? you keep mentioning all these Failures and your love of… /gasp (multiplayer content) yet the Campaign wasn’t mentioned once!

Try the Single player before you judge a game to be a failure. if you haven’t tried ANY single player content through out any halo game, then i suggest you go back and play through the single player campaigns through the previous games before trying halo 4. Also i’d check out the Forward unto Dawn web series movie.

The game was far from a failure. (but then again you can only shoot the guy in the gold mask so many times before it gets boring ‘Multiplayer’) :stuck_out_tongue:

20

> > Halo 4 Sold over 9 million copies? Save what game?
>
> The game that failed to sustain a healthy population for more than seven days.

Halo made sales yes, but as others have said, it could not sustain a good population. Sales do not mean its a good game, it just means people will buy it.