I’ve struggled to arrive at a place of comfort with the controls. I’m a long time Halo fan, but I’m fine with the changes so long as the focus remains on true competition and skill ranks for those who want them with a separate casual place for those who play for fun.
That said, all of the control schemes make me feel like I’m trying to do five different things at once that simply do not mesh well together - like patting your head and rubbing your stomach simultaneously…only this feels like patting your head, rubbing your stomach, jumping on one leg, dialing a phone, and reciting Shakespeare all at the same time.
I really do like the game, and I’m excited about where it’s headed, but if you feel similarly, 343 needs to know. It’s a struggle just to move smoothly and perform the various abilities smoothly when the emphasis is clearly on trying to create a very smooth environment. I’m not sure if this is a fundamental problem with the game itself and the maps, or if it’s as simple as being able to legitimately customize my controls. Perhaps these abilities just make it impossible to have that smooth feel.
This piece on IGN sums it up very well:
“As for complaints? I have one, but it’s not about ADS or sprint. Instead, it’s the controls. I’ve fought a lot of things in Halo over the years: the Covenant, the Flood, the Prometheans, and other players on Xbox Live. But until I played Halo 5, I’ve never had to fight Halo’s controls. And yet here I was with my first taste of 2015’s biggest Xbox exclusive, and for a series whose calling card is its buttery-smooth feel, I couldn’t get past the fact that I felt like my Spartan-IV had been doused in molasses. I tried cranking the thumbstick sensitivity from the default 5 up to 7, and then all the way to 10, but to no avail. Unlike the other Halo first-person shooters – four of which I’ve been playing extensively of late via The Master Chief Collection – the gamepad in Halo 5 became a barrier between me and the game rather than a natural extension of my hands and brain. I couldn’t line up headshots, aim smoothly, or ultimately have as much fun as I should’ve been having. Several other first-time players I polled after the session felt similarly.”
Thanks for reading.