ToastBombHalo has uploaded an interesting commentary on how to mentally approach Halo 4 when you spin it for the first time in your Xbox. Here’s the video:
I thought that was really refreshing. Coming at Halo 4 as if it is a brand new game, really try to take in every aspect of the experience. And by doing so, your mind becomes opened to new possibilities and directions.
I feel that too often, we the community have tried to shoehorn the Halo Experience into a carefully defined box that allows no room for innovation. By approaching our thinking about Halo in this way, we may be limiting ourselves. We also have been trying to recreate an experience that was unique for its time, whenever that was, and anytime you attempt to do that, you set yourself up for disappointment.
It’s like the concept of diminishing returns. Eat one donut and it’s the best thing ever. Chase it with the second identical donut and it’s almost as good, but you remember how great the first one was, so you try and chase it with a third which makes you feel kinda icky. Finally you eat a 4th because you want that experience of the first back so badly, but you end up yarking all over your shoes.
We’ve been chasing old experiences. NOTHING will replace Halo CE split screen and LAN. It was the first time anyone has done something like that on consoles. Halo 2 was the first XBox live game and NOTHING will replace that experience. This post is getting a bit longer than I thought it would but the point is that I think we need to look at Halo 4 with a completely fresh perspective in order to do it and ourselves proper justice.
Well put. Some people won’t change their mind regardless, but you made some valid points.
This has been my exact thought process for the entirety I’ve know about this game. I never once have looked at something and been, “oh well that sucks” because I haven’t had a chance to experience this new Halo and I reserve my judgement.
Every Halo I’ve had unique experiences and fond memories: Halo:CE had an awesome campaign; H2 will always have some of my favorite maps (I would argue H2 had the best MP maps); H3 was the culmination of all things Halo imo, with its beautiful ending to the story and highly addicting multiplayer; Halo Wars was a fresh new take and I loved all the sweet vehicle variety; H3:ODST had an amazing story, one of the best Halo campaigns imo; Reach gave me tons of Armor to choose from and Invasion (I will admit Reach was my least favorite, but only because I found the campaign a little disappointing save “Long NIght of Solace” and the MP changed entirely too much with TUs and other crap).
I’m ready for my next Halo experience, and H4 looks very, very promising
Video makes a lot of sense. An example of concepts from it would be something like how some Halo 3 players went to Reach when it came out and the game mechanics were totally different. It was still Halo but with additions of AA, loadouts, bloom, etc. it made the game play out differently. In other words, some players went into Halo Reach with Halo 3 mechanic expectations. A part of why some players just don’t like Reach was because they were used to Halo 3 mechanics and preferred that.
I had a lot of frustration playing Reach because I was stubborn of believing in the Halo 3 mechanics when I was playing Halo Reach. An example of this would be something like “he’s supposed to die when I ____ this or that”. Playing like that eventually got me nowhere and I just kept repeating the same mistakes over and over while not learning from them.
I’m not saying Reach was the best Halo game by any means necessary but I believe that an open mind and focusing on how to improve your skills is much better than being frustrated and not learning from your mistakes. Simple concept but can be very effective.
P.S. I’m just a decent player but I can be good when I need to.
All I say is, If you’re gonna complain about other games like Cod having little to no change, you can’t complain about things that YOU don’t like because its new.
>7:51
>NOPE
Before you question my attention span, I’m trying to download some stuff for Black Mesa: Source, and Steam estimates it’ll take me hours yet.
‘Why are you on Waypoint, then?’ you ask.
‘Shut the -Yoink- up.’ That’s why.
> >7:51
> >NOPE
>
> ‘Shut the -Yoink!- up.’ That’s why.
That’s not how you make friends.
OT: neat little insightful video. Thanks for sharing.
It’s really remarkable what this series has been able to do over time. It has deep engrossing gameplay, rich multiplayer, and awesome storyline and lore. It is remarkable that there are so many fans that care and want a great game. They just have to caution themselves that they don’t want and expect the SAME game.
Very great wisdom in that video. I’m trying to do that, I’m working on getting all the Halo Campaign’s done on Legendary and I’m mixing in Batman Arkham City so I’m having a beginners look a lot because I’m switching back and forth between all these games.
