Dear 343,
I’m not giving up on this game but I for one am disappointed about the whole matchmaking portion. I don’t really play campaign that much. I bought my Xbox One just for Halo. Yes it came with Sunset Overdrive but I still don’t even play it. So far, I bought an Xbox One just to watch Netflix and some other apps on it. Ridiculous. Yes I know the game can be played but it’s not the same game I remember at all. I know there have been multiple and multiple threads with the same complaints on them. I’m hoping someone is reading them and keeping track of the complaints and see if these can be fixed. I’m so tired of only getting to play 3 games per hour though. It’s not even worth my time. I’m not a kid or a college kid anymore. I don’t have all the time in the world. My time is divided between work and taking care of my family. When I finally do get that free hour to play, I get so frustrated trying to even play this game. I don’t want to keep repeating what others complain about but I want you to understand where I’m going with this letter. I have 2 major complaints. I know one will finally be fixed when it’s all said and done but the other really needs to be looked at for future purposes and maybe you can fix this problem during this MCC era.
My main problem with this game is that the “magic” of Halo 2 is lost….COMMUNICATION. This was my biggest fear when I heard the announcement of MCC. And just like Reach and Halo 4, it came true. I know you guys know it too. After playing the BETA for Halo 5, you guys tried to add more communication to the game by having the AI call out locations of the other team and stuff. But after a while it got stale and just became part of the game with the boring voices.
When Halo 2 came out, it was a blast. The Xbox Community was thriving. Everyone had a headset on. There was trash talking back and forth, discussion of strategies, teamwork and just normal conversing on the headsets. If some kid became annoying or a random guy with music playing in the headset, all you had to do is mute him. It was never quiet at all. But now, it’s just pitiful to play Halo 2. So not only am I able to play 3 games per hour, the game has also become so quiet and boring. REALLY QUIET. It’s really depressing seeing this great game fail in this era because everyone is so antisocial. Even Halo 3 there were still a lot of people socializing on the headset. I actually feel weird being the only one with a headset still calling out the other team.
Which brings me to one wish I would like to see added in MCC & H5. Halo 3 had this option where you can find games with people that use their headsets. All you had to do what click on the option. This needs to be implemented in MCC and H5. Halo needs communication. You guys know it too. That’s why you added the AI in Halo 5 to use specific call outs. This game is so much more fun when others have a headset and communicate. I know the last time I played (2-3 weeks ago) we were losing, I had to beg my teammates to put their headsets in….they did, communication and teamwork was established. The game turned around and we won the game. Yes, I can always just play Halo with my real friends but almost all of them have jumped off the Halo bandwagon since Reach and Halo 4. Of course they all bought MCC but after our 1st couple of attempts to even party up and trying to find a game, they don’t want to waste their time anymore. Anyone that really played Halo 2 should remember how fun and alive the Xbox live community was. A lot of people on my friends list were from the Halo 2-3 days. I just don’t understand why people even bother playing a team game or even a ranked game with no headset. I can understand why you don’t need it in COD because everyone is a run & gun or a camper. I’m so tired of watching someone die, respawn and go straight back to the other team by themselves and die again. Why not respawn and go towards a teammate or regroup?
Maybe you can add a free cheap headset when you sell Halo 5. Maybe this can get the Halo community thriving because this is embarrassing. I know Bungie is laughing non-stop at this broken game right now.
My 2nd problem is Objective game types. I cannot believe you guys don’t even have an objective playlist. SERIOUSLY, who was the person that decided this?? Yes, I know if I play Classic Halo 2, I have a chance of getting an objective game but it’s usually in the 3rd slot and always gets out voted by a BR Slayer. But come on man, NO Team Objective with a heavy dose of CTF as a main playlist? Preferably 1 Flag CTF. This is where communication is definitely needed and I’m just baffled that this playlist isn’t even there from the start. I’ve read that 343 are made up of ex-Bungie guys and they love Halo. I’m starting to believe this is false. Because a real fan would have known that an objective playlist was needed. A real fan of Halo 2 would have made sure that this would work amazingly. I know Bungie probably would have told MS that this game will not come out until a BETA was made to make sure everything works properly. From what I read, Bungie wasn’t a YES MAN company. They had ideas and held out until MS finally gave them what they wanted. 343 dropped the ball by rushing this out instead of being patient and doing a BETA to make sure everything works properly.
I’ve been a fan of Halo for a very long time. I have played for nonstop days back in the golden era of Xbox Live. Like I’ve said, this is depressing. This has tarnished the Halo name. Will I be back for Halo 5? I’m 50/50 at the moment. If it’s the same as the BETA, probably not and if I decide to buy it….it might be used from Gamestop. Even though I enjoyed it for a little bit, it too became quiet and boring just like Reach, H4, & MCC. You seriously need to think how to make Xbox Live livelier. You can get all the info you want from the BETA but the main info you need, will never show up. How many players play without a headset compared to players that use theirs? My guess is 80% don’t use one and 20% do. Can you figure out how to lump that 20% together? I’m glad you handed out a free month of Live, only to have it be a waste because of 3 games per hour. Now my account has expired and even at $40 I still debate whether it’s worth it at the moment. My Wii U gets more game playing usage from me compared to the X1. I know some people are on party chat during the game but most people just don’t use it. I wish you guys could figure out how to get the community alive again because pumping out another halo with a boring community will be the same as Reach, Halo4 and this and just another reason why people say Halo sucks and it’s getting hard to defend the name.
Refresh your memory on why Halo 2 was so good please and check out this 6 minute video. It put a smile on my face watching it. I really miss the days when the community was amazing.
Sincerely,
a Halo Vet