Audio logs: the most under-appreciated addition

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

As I watched the footage of campaign, one of the most positive things to stand out to me were the audio logs. If that first sentence didn’t tip you off: SPOILERS AHOY.

In the gameplay I watched, I saw 4 or 5 audio logs. These added some context to the action for the most part, as well as one particularly hilarious log which was one of a swords of sanghellios complaining that watching this tunnel is a waste of time… which was found next to the corpse of an elite with a sword sticking out of it. My favorite, however, has to be the one near the corpse of an elite found at the beginning of mission 8 which chronicles the final fight of the elite. It reminded me of Metroid Prime 2 in that you would often find the bodies of Luminoth with descriptions of who they were and how they died scribbled out as their last journal entry.

What makes these so great is that they allow you to decide your own level of involvement in the story. If you want to turn off your brain and just shoot at things until they die, you may. You don’t have to ask yourself why this body or this weapon is laying where it is, or what went on in this place before it went -Yoink–up. But observant players who find these logs will be given humanizing (sanghellinizing?) touches that help flesh out the galaxy and the greater context of your missions. This avoids the “what was this place supposed to be?” factor that plague many shooters. All too often in Gears of War or Mass Effect, you’ll walk into a room that just conveniently has chest high walls with nary so much as a contrived explanation as to why an apartment would have what appears to be a roadblock sitting in the living room. Or to use an example from the Halo universe, why did the PoA have a 3 kilometer trench filled with precisely nothing? Halo 5’s approach tactfully provides answers to similar questions, but only if you really want to hear them. Not quite as subtle as Half Life, but still, pretty damn good. I’m impressed with what I’ve heard so far and I can’t wait to hear more.

What are your thoughts on the audio logs? Is there anything you would have done differently if you were given the choice?

2

I didn’t read your whole post because I’m trying not to have too much spoiled, but I agree with your core point. It’s great that skulls are back, but those audio logs can really flesh out the story more and give you a reason to explore the incredible environments. It kind of inspires a more methodical approach to the campaign rather than blowing through everything (which you can still do, I suppose). But I’m in agreement, great little addition to the game.

3

I like them. Mainly because I am not forced to open the terribly unstable Halo Channel!

4

> 2535449665894532;3:
> I like them. Mainly because I am not forced to open the terribly unstable Halo Channel!

Christ, don’t remind me. I had to watch most of Halo 4’s terminals on youtube because the Halo channel wouldn’t stop Yoinking! the bed.

5

I don’t mind reading, but it’s not something I want to stop in the middle of gameplay to do. Audio logs that play as I continue through a mission are a godsend.

6

> 2661949065475413;5:
> I don’t mind reading, but it’s not something I want to stop in the middle of gameplay to do. Audio logs that play as I continue through a mission are a godsend.

Which is why I think ODST’s Audio Logs are the best. An extra story that culminates in a big reveal at the end of your (ODSTs) story. Terminals are cool, but as you said, the ability to have it played as I continue is better.