So, Halo has stepped it up in terms of feeling more like you are looking out from behind the Chiefs visor, but I think the game that has pulled this off the best was Metroid on Gamecube (haven’t tried the Wii variants, but I don’t imagine they are any different). As you ran, the camera bobbed so realistically, it was placed higher, so you felt as tall as Samus, as you ran by steam vents, you’d get condensation on your glass, if it rain, you would get rain drops running down your visor. I wish they could do this in Halo…and if you shot your grapple hook and swung, you really felt the motion of the arm extending and the motion of swinging. I appreciate the stomping effect if you jet pack extremely high and land, but for some reason, that effect only kicks in when your shields are about to take on some damage, it should be noticed at even 5-8 foot drops in terms of sound, maybe not so much that “sticking” effect, since Chief could probably handle a 12 foot drop fee of any jarring.
I always hoped they would bring those cool effects to Halo when I played the Metroid Prime on the Wii back in 2007. Such subtle touches that really do a lot for immersion.
They are still toying with the Engine in general, and there are some Metroid developers that work for 343i, probably one of the driving forces behind the more realistic motions and Visor appearances.
I know the Engine is capable of doing little effects like that, and I have seen the environments themselves have added effects like never before seen. I know full well Halo 5 will be glorious graphically, and will be on the next Xbox and capable of handling anything that can be thrown at it in terms of effects and immersion ;).
I think they held back on effects some due to the 360 being limited in some ways, and performance was the most important aspect in general, but I love your ideas as well :).