Finally completed Halo Infinite Campaign - my 2 STARS (out of five) review

[TheKiltdHeathen]

@ShinoKeiyakusha

That’s ridiculous considering Halo: CE had more when it released.

Halo: CE certainly had more biomes, I suppose. Though I could get technical and distinguish between areas on Infinite’s landmass that have marshlands, plains, highlands, and barren wastelands. But content-wise? No.

Halo: CE had 8 weapons (5 UNSC, 3 Covenant), two grenade types, and 5 vehicles (2 UNSC, 3 Covenant - including Shade turret).
Halo Infinite has (including variants) 12 vehicles (7 UNSC, 5 Banished - including Shade Turret), 49 weapons (17 UNSC, 26 Banished, 6 Forerunner), 4 grenade types, and 4 types of Equipment.

I would very much wager with more to come.

@ShinoKeiyakusha

you’re saying the story shows the Covenant and Flood being easily defeated?

Absolutely. At the time of Halo 3, we’re told about the planetary destructions, but we never see it. From what we’re shown, it’s not really evident that the Covenant is that much stronger. The biggest evidence of that is the opening of Halo 2, but even that invasion force is punked very quickly. And we never really see the full power of the Flood; they take over High Charity as all the leadership abandons the city and leaves it for dead.

So yeah. For what we’re shown, the defeat of the Covenant and the Flood is laughably pathetic.

@ShinoKeiyakusha

As for why it matters, that should be obvious.
Why would you want to spend so much time going around a boring map?

Whether or not the map is boring or not is highly subjective. As I’m sure many can guess, I don’t find the map boring at all. I don’t need a Snow Level or a Lava Level to take interest in the area that I’m exploring, and despite a relative similarity Infinite’s map does offer areas that are both unique and rich in implied story for those who care to see them.

@ShinoKeiyakusha

The story of what happened before Master Chief arrived is told almost entirely through audio logs rather than cutscenes.

Actually, no. That story is told through Cortana’s memories (cutscenes and gameplay moments) and from what Fernando tells the Chief (cutscene). The stories told in the Audio Logs are either a minor prologue (evacuation of the Infinity) or complete side stories (the Spartan Logs, which will be explored more in an upcoming book, and various UNSC logs of minor events). The main storyline is told entirely through cutscenes and in-game moments.

[KatnissOnFire96]

Original Post: click at your own discretion

Summary

I wouldn’t even bother replying to the heathen guy I’m like 99% sure that he is payed to shill for this game on the forums

[TheKiltdHeathen]

If only. 343i probably pays way more than my current job, and I’d love to move to the PNW.

Weird salt for being 99% wrong, Carolina. Sorry I won’t debate opinions with you.

[ShinoKeiyakusha]

@TheKiltdHeathen

Halo: CE certainly had more biomes, I suppose. Though I could get technical and distinguish between areas on Infinite’s landmass that have marshlands, plains, highlands, and barren wastelands. But content-wise? No.

I’m not saying it had more content.
I’m saying that it had more biome variety.

@TheKiltdHeathen

Absolutely. At the time of Halo 3 , we’re told about the planetary destructions, but we never see it. From what we’re shown, it’s not really evident that the Covenant is that much stronger. The biggest evidence of that is the opening of Halo 2 , but even that invasion force is punked very quickly. And we never really see the full power of the Flood; they take over High Charity as all the leadership abandons the city and leaves it for dead.

That’s true.
We’re still shown more of the UNSC actually struggling and losing ships and other vehicles than in Infinite though.

@TheKiltdHeathen

Whether or not the map is boring or not is highly subjective. As I’m sure many can guess, I don’t find the map boring at all.

That’s like saying vanilla isn’t boring.
You might like vanilla, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t boring.

@TheKiltdHeathen

The stories told in the Audio Logs are either a minor prologue (evacuation of the Infinity ) or complete side stories (, and various UNSC logs of minor events).

If I’m correct, they explain certain events Master Chief encounters.

@TheKiltdHeathen

the Spartan Logs, which will be explored more in an upcoming book

Where was it said that there will be a book about that?

[TheKiltdHeathen]

@ShinoKeiyakusha

I’m saying that it had more biome variety.

Realistically, the only biome that CE has over Infinite is snow. There are areas of what we’ve seen of Zeta Halo that are more marshlands, even though they’re not “spooky deep south swamps with fog to hide geometry”.

@ShinoKeiyakusha

We’re still shown more of the UNSC actually struggling and losing ships and other vehicles than in Infinite though.

Not exactly. In Infinite, we have the loss of the Infinity, the Mortal Reverie, and several other unnamed frigates. The Infinity itself is a huge blow, as that is the strongest Capital Ship the UNSC has. We also see the loss and capture of several military bases (the FOB’s), and a plethora of UNSC gear and vehicles. We also have numerous UNSC personnel listed as KIA during the first part of the mission. We’re shown quite a bit of loss in Infinite.

Contrast this with Halo 2, where we really only see the loss of an unnamed cruiser, the Athens and the Malta.

@ShinoKeiyakusha

That’s like saying vanilla isn’t boring.
You might like vanilla, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t boring.

It’s still entirely up to opinion. On the example though, have you ever had read vanilla? Not the imitation stuff. It is anything but boring.

@ShinoKeiyakusha

If I’m correct, they explain certain events Master Chief encounters.

They don’t. The only relevance that the Master Chief has in any of the audio logs are a brief inclusion in evacuating Captain Lasky, and conversation with Dr Halsey prior to deploying the Weapon against Cortana. Which happened before the first cutscene.

@ShinoKeiyakusha

Where was it said that there will be a book about that?

It’ll be in Halo: The Rubicon Protocol. The synopsis given is: "an upcoming Halo novel by Kelly Gay, following surviving members of the United Nations Space Command as they mount a resistance against the Banished following their ambush by them in late 2559."

[ShinoKeiyakusha]

@TheKiltdHeathen

Realistically, the only biome that CE has over Infinite is snow.

I think it actually rains too in one of the levels.

@TheKiltdHeathen

Contrast this with Halo 2 , where we really only see the loss of an unnamed cruiser, the Athens and the Malta .

Halo 2 was supposed to have more of a “there’s a war going on” atmosphere from what I remember (there was a video with CE showing that), but it ended up being a lot more plain.
It still felt more eventful than Infinite though.

@TheKiltdHeathen

It’s still entirely up to opinion. On the example though, have you ever had read vanilla? Not the imitation stuff. It is anything but boring.

Not sure what you mean, but if it’s just a taste difference, a banana split would be more interesting.

@TheKiltdHeathen

They don’t. The only relevance that the Master Chief has in any of the audio logs are a brief inclusion in evacuating Captain Lasky, and conversation with Dr Halsey prior to deploying the Weapon against Cortana. Which happened before the first cutscene.

Okay.

@TheKiltdHeathen

It’ll be in Halo: The Rubicon Protocol . The synopsis given is: "an upcoming Halo novel by Kelly Gay, following surviving members of the United Nations Space Command as they mount a resistance against the Banished following their ambush by them in late 2559."

I see.

[TyroneRundaGang]

Just wanted to randomly throw my 2 cents in here. I think the best mission in the Halo Series has to be New Alexandria in Halo Reach. Seeing the covenant glass the city during the mission and buildings collapsing before your eyes is truly spectacular. Even a decade later that mission still gives me chills

[honkeytonkstomp]

This is the best campaign for years, when the main story has bene completed however you are left repeating the same thing over and over again. The story was absolutely unreal though

[Mageslime]

@HBNDonut

The story - or lack thereof. Man it just sucked. Predictable. And nothing happens

This, what did 343i even do. Read at your own risk;

Cortana is dead, so from halo 4 nothing has changed. We just confirmed she sacrificed herself. How? we don’t know, bet it looked cool off screen.
Halsey is able to use the rest of flash clones brains to make more Smart AI’s. Great and we are left with a cliff hanger regarding the weapons name.
We “meet” new Spartan’s who are just canon fodder. The others we’ve encounter in other games and lore are referenced in Audio logs and dialog from enemies hinting at what might of happened. No idea what happened to the rest of the spartan companies on the Infinity.

After you complete the campaign nothing changes. New bad guy? Dead. New species that are immune to the rings. Bullets can kill them.

But most importantly… Why do we have extra upgrade cores after we collected them all. What the **** is the point of it

[HBNDonut]

I swear all of 343’s writing is being done by a 9 year old girl who loves horse riding and kittens, with no prior knowledge to Halo.

[HBNDonut]

@ShinoKeiyakusha

Active camo and overshields actually looked more “gamey”.

Not when they are just sitting there not glowing or outlined, they look fine. Most things look great when they are not glowing or outlined, really adds to immersion as opposed to the HUD vomit of having a needler icon for all your UNSC weapons. You like that do ya?

[ShinoKeiyakusha]

As I said, I think they could’ve made more immersive ways to refill ammo, but the ammo boxes are more immersive than a large cube, pyramid or glowing ball of mist placed on the ground.

Also, I’m not sure what you mean by a Needler icon for UNSC weapons.

[BetaBlueNumber2]

tbh sounds like you just suck

[HBNDonut]

For me, all of the magic Kinetic ammo boxes had a needler icon floating above them.

[RX873811]

Record an unedited clip of you beating the last boss on legendary, with the pause menu screen that shows your gamer tag name here and legendary difficulty+no skulls, and without cheesing or using exploits. I’ll wait…

[ShinoKeiyakusha]

@HBNDonut

For me, all of the magic Kinetic ammo boxes had a needler icon floating above them.

It’s actually a bullet with wind or fire around it (I’m not sure what the aura-like part around it is called actually, but it’s to show it’s for kinetic ammo).

[HBNDonut]

@RX873811

Record an unedited clip of you beating the last boss on legendary, with the pause menu screen that shows your gamer tag name here and legendary difficulty+no skulls, and without cheesing or using exploits. I’ll wait…

I’m not going to waste my time doing this. The game sucks. If I ever want to see the story again, Youtube is fine for re-living the Infinite Story because nothing happens that is better played out in a game…

My gamertag is HBNDonut, you can check that I beat the game on Heroic. You can also check my MCC achievements and see that I’m only missing a few LASO achievements.

[HBNDonut]

@ShinoKeiyakusha

It’s actually a bullet with wind or fire around it (I’m not sure what the aura-like part around it is called actually, but it’s to show it’s for kinetic ammo).

Fair. Looks like HUD vomit either way. The design is lazy too. It’s literally a box with the lid shut. Makes as much sense as having a huge map with 3 FOBs really close together for no reason. All copy pasted FOBs too like, what did 343 do for 5 years?

[ShinoKeiyakusha]

@HBNDonut

Looks like HUD vomit either way.

The HUD looks okay to me.

@HBNDonut

The design is lazy too. It’s literally a box with the lid shut.

I guess they could’ve added an opening animation.

@HBNDonut

All copy pasted FOBs too like, what did 343 do for 5 years?

It was said that they tried to do too much and had to cut a lot of content from the game.
That said, the bases being duplicated reminds me of the ones in Breath of the Wild and The Phantom Pain…

[HBNDonut]

@ShinoKeiyakusha

It was said that they tried to do too much and had to cut a lot of content from the game

This is no excuse for the price tag. The campaign is definitley not worth $60 as a standalone product. It’s really not.

Recently I’ve been aiming for 100% in GTA San Andreas, which is an old game but a huge open world packed with 3 fully detailed cities which are full of almost entirely unique features on every single street. The game takes forever to grind 100% but somehow it manages to break that grind up into fully digestible unique scenarios. I feel like Infinite didn’t even try to do that just some enemies pasted over a mostly featureless landscape. The hexagons are so lazy looking when you think that people made thousands of shops signs, dozens of vehicles, dozens of weapons, all sorts of toys, designed 100 hours of unique missions with scripting and plotted routes and dialogue and everything else, tonnes of things to do and see in the open world, its amazing that 343 tried to do too much and still produced so little… like what happened… how did so much go unfinished?