NOTE: This is not a general Halo 4 topic, it’s Capture the Flag specific. Also, I am aware that settings (including matchmaking settings) are highly customisable, so things can and hopefully will change.
What do you (the community) think of the Changes made in the current Capture the Flag game-type?
I think that Capture the Flag (CTF) is less enjoyable in Halo 4. Don’t get me wrong, 343 have introduced some good ideas, dual wielding the flag with a pistol is one and having a timer above a ‘dropped flag’ is another. However, for every good idea, there is a bad one.
Here are (what I consider to be) the bad additions:
1. Automatic flag pickup.
- This is a terrible addition. An example of why came when I was playing CTF on Ragnarok. My team-mate had brought the enemy flag about 50% of the way, so I took the man cannon to the middle to contest it. I dropped the first of three enemies, my team mate took out another, before going down to the last of the three. So it was just me and him, I was just edging it when I accidentally picked up the flag. Obviously I lost the fight because I had the flag and my secondary (which was a plasma pistol for vehicles) out, instead of the DMR. It’s a minor annoyance I know, but in these situations, it’s a major irritation.
2. The inability to drop the flag.
- Really? I can only assume this was… dropped (no pun intended) because of the constant announcements… you know… ‘‘Flag taken’’ – ‘‘flagged dropped’’ – if this is the case, surely there were better ideas thrown about than this? I mean, make it so the announcements have to be 5 seconds apart, or just remove his voice altogether, the last one is obviously drastic, but less so that not being able to drop the flag.
My three specific reasons for disliking this are;
a) You cannot throw the flag to a team mate.
b) Moving the flag is slower.
c) You feel defenceless (despite the pistol) against any half decent player.
Again, it sounds minor, but combine it with the 1. and certain situations, it really does become annoying.
3. An indicator above your head when carrying the enemy flag.
- This (for me at least) is the worst of the three. By a mile! It completely ruins a stealthy approach. That game-style has been eliminated. Back in the day I would hold the flag in the enemy base (thus confusing them) and wait for some sort of transport. Now they’d just see I’m waiting there and train their sites on the door. How is that fair? It’s like having a ‘kill me’ sign above your head. If the enemy isn’t aware of your presence and location, that’s their problem and more importantly, that’s the point.
NOTE: I am aware that Promethean Vision would counter this, but wetwork (surely what a stealthy player would use) would counter that… So don’t try and counter me 
I really don’t like this ‘COD inspired’ version of CTF and it feels like my favourite game-type has been ruined. To me, CTF is Halo, objective Halo at least. Now it feels like a shadow of its former self.
So what do you guys think? Do you prefer the new Halo 4 version of CTF? or do you prefer the CFT that the previous games offered? I would be really interested in hearing what people think.
Personally, I hope there is a title update that rectifies these issues and returns CTF back to how it was… with the addition of pistol/flag holding and flag return timers.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I appreciate it. Dale.