Halo 4 Has a Lack Of Aesthetic Maps

Games Other Halo
1

Dont get me wrong here , I like Halo 4 , it’s not my favourite that will always remain with CE but I like it and I think it is a good game.

This is where my only real major complain about Halo 4 is quite frankly it has a lack of aesthetic maps.

Exclude the Reach built in maps and go to halo ce - 3 maps and reach’s dlc. You’ll see some truly amazing and stunning maps. I’m not saying Halo 4’s maps are bad or are unplayable I’m just saying they lack character and beauty.

There are some maps I really like , like Haven and Harvest. But the vast majority lack any real beauty.

Ill provide a link to some Halo CE - Reach maps that look stunning then provide some Links to Halo 4 maps that have essentially no character. No disrespect meant here , 343 made a good game . The maps are just the main issue I have with this game .

Some Halo ce - Reach maps that were full of character and were visually beautiful :

condemned : http://www.hughsnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Halo-Reach-Condemned-5.jpg

ghost town : http://www.straferight.com/photopost/data/630/GhostTown1_Large.jpg

terminal : Bungie.net

standoff : http://www.gameandplayer.net/images/inset/inset2_07_1219_heroicdlc.jpg

see what i mean there all so visually beautiful and full of character , now lets have alook at some halo 4 maps :

adrift : halo4nation.com

vortex : http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/8e/bf/8ebf1445d3944715863148e1243ecb4d.jpg

abandon : halo4nation.com

meltdown : http://i2.minus.com/iVTLpfL6ISOgJ.png

see how bland and dull they are, I really hope the next 2 map packs are better

once again no disrespect 343 great game with alot of effort put into it, i am just giving my only disapointing thing about Halo 4

2

There is a gross lack of contrast. And colors are very muted. It is very disappointing considering how pretty the campaign was.

3

> There is a gross lack of contrast. And colors are very muted. It is very disappointing considering how pretty the campaign was.

Agreed they are all so dull and yeah the colours just dont stand out. The campaign was beautiful i agree but the maps online just are just meh . Halo has always had my favourite maps out of every game I have ever played but Halo 4’s are just lifeless to me

4

The problem is not exactly asthetic besides the Halo 4’s maps lack of detail it’s because the DMR, i mean most of asthetic itens on past Halo games like creates, Jersey barriers and fusion coils served like a barrier or a trap and this disturbes the DMR players so they cleaned the map, but i will tell something is the DMR got out with the AA Halo will be Halo again

5

> > There is a gross lack of contrast. And colors are very muted. It is very disappointing considering how pretty the campaign was.
>
> Agreed they are all so dull and yeah the colours just dont stand out. The campaign was beautiful i agree but the maps online just are just meh . Halo has always had my favourite maps out of every game I have ever played but Halo 4’s are just lifeless to me

Let’s not forget about the level of interactivity on maps of Halo pass.

Stalactites on Waterworks. The train on Terminal. The abundance of fusion coils. The bridge and door on Zanzibar/Last Resort. The teleportation maze on Chiron TL-34. Etc etc.

6

> The problem is not exactly asthetic besides the Halo 4’s maps lack of detail it’s because the DMR, i mean most of asthetic itens on past Halo games like creates, Jersey barriers and fusion coils served like a barrier or a trap and this disturbes the DMR players so they cleaned the map, but i will tell something is the DMR got out with the AA Halo will be Halo again

i think the dmr is overpowered but I believe it could be easily fixed with a nerf . I am talking about the beauty of maps as colours, where they are set like in a city or in a scientific study base . The colours are so dull it depresses me

7

> Let’s not forget about the level of interactivity on maps of Halo pass.
>
> Stalactites on Waterworks. The train on Terminal. The abundance of fusion coils. The bridge and door on Zanzibar/Last Resort. The teleportation maze on Chiron TL-34. Etc etc

.

It’s much easier to just create large, open terrain and throw random structures on it than it is to make actually unique maps.

8

> > The problem is not exactly asthetic besides the Halo 4’s maps lack of detail it’s because the DMR, i mean most of asthetic itens on past Halo games like creates, Jersey barriers and fusion coils served like a barrier or a trap and this disturbes the DMR players so they cleaned the map, but i will tell something is the DMR got out with the AA Halo will be Halo again
>
> i think the dmr is overpowered but I believe it could be easily fixed with a nerf . I am talking about the beauty of maps as colours, where they are set like in a city or in a scientific study base . The colours are so dull it depresses me

Oh sorry, but don’t you think that if they puted some itens like i’ve mentioned they at least will camouflage his flaws because if you see Valhalla you will see the same things that you complain about Halo 4 but on Valhalla there are weapons creates turrets that makes the map a little bit alive

9

Considering the UNSC Infinity serves as a training vessel you would expect some visually stunning maps to be simulated and all being drastically different.

10

> > > There is a gross lack of contrast. And colors are very muted. It is very disappointing considering how pretty the campaign was.
> >
> > Agreed they are all so dull and yeah the colours just dont stand out. The campaign was beautiful i agree but the maps online just are just meh . Halo has always had my favourite maps out of every game I have ever played but Halo 4’s are just lifeless to me
>
> Let’s not forget about the level of interactivity on maps of Halo pass.
>
> Stalactites on Waterworks. The train on Terminal. The abundance of fusion coils. The bridge and door on Zanzibar/Last Resort. The teleportation maze on Chiron TL-34. Etc etc.

I fully agree i remeber dreading the train on terminal if i was in a firefight near it i used to make the enemy walk into is if he was close enough . Fusion coils were great to , could use them tactically . everything you listed there was great

11

My problem is that few of them really play well, look good or do any real credit to the game.

A bit of a pity.

12

I really miss one way CTF on Zanzibar when you could open the door rush in with your warthog load that thing up and then drive away to victory. Anyway I agree with your view that the maps lack any real beauty. Almost every map in Halo 3 I would get distracted looking at the scenery despite playing on that map hundreds of times previously. Wow I miss Halo… Here is hoping that Halo 5 goes back to the basics.

13

> > > The problem is not exactly asthetic besides the Halo 4’s maps lack of detail it’s because the DMR, i mean most of asthetic itens on past Halo games like creates, Jersey barriers and fusion coils served like a barrier or a trap and this disturbes the DMR players so they cleaned the map, but i will tell something is the DMR got out with the AA Halo will be Halo again
> >
> > i think the dmr is overpowered but I believe it could be easily fixed with a nerf . I am talking about the beauty of maps as colours, where they are set like in a city or in a scientific study base . The colours are so dull it depresses me
>
> Oh sorry, but don’t you think that if they puted some itens like i’ve mentioned they at least will camouflage his flaws because if you see Valhalla you will see the same things that you complain about Halo 4 but on Valhalla there are weapons creates turrets that makes the map a little bit alive

Yh that would be cool crates and other things aswell , I always loved Halo for it’s wide variety of maps . Now they just dont stand out . Fusion coils would be a great return

14

> I really miss one way CTF on Zanzibar when you could open the door rush in with your warthog load that thing up and then drive away to victory. Anyway I agree with your view that the maps lack any real beauty. Almost every map in Halo 3 I would get distracted looking at the scenery despite playing on that map hundreds of times previously. Wow I miss Halo… Here is hoping that Halo 5 goes back to the basics.

Couldnt agree more Halo 3’s maps were beautiful and I still believe Halo 2 has the best multiplayer maps of any game to date

15

> > > > The problem is not exactly asthetic besides the Halo 4’s maps lack of detail it’s because the DMR, i mean most of asthetic itens on past Halo games like creates, Jersey barriers and fusion coils served like a barrier or a trap and this disturbes the DMR players so they cleaned the map, but i will tell something is the DMR got out with the AA Halo will be Halo again
> > >
> > > i think the dmr is overpowered but I believe it could be easily fixed with a nerf . I am talking about the beauty of maps as colours, where they are set like in a city or in a scientific study base . The colours are so dull it depresses me
> >
> > Oh sorry, but don’t you think that if they puted some itens like i’ve mentioned they at least will camouflage his flaws because if you see Valhalla you will see the same things that you complain about Halo 4 but on Valhalla there are weapons creates turrets that makes the map a little bit alive
>
> Yh that would be cool crates and other things aswell , I always loved Halo for it’s wide variety of maps . Now they just dont stand out . Fusion coils would be a great return

I am very glad that you openned this topic because the DMR and AA have a direct connection with this issue actually the problem it’s not the colour is the clean map due the use of DMR, Example: if you see Complex inside the buildings except for the Grav Lift one the have a rich amount of detail but if you go outside there is nothing besides dead bodies, some ordinance and veichles and if you ask why the answer is clear its to the DMR plaer go to the top of the building and make others run to inside of buildings and the camo campers are in every building so this is why i want to remove the DMR and replace the AA for the equipments of Halo 3 but i need people to help me in this figth

16

I agree with your points. There just not creative enough either. I’d like some interactive ones as well. They aren’t all that appealing either.

For me I just think it’s more so that I don’t like the Art design in this game. I mean the Campaign had some interesting designs. Ex: When you get to the place with circle surfaces on top and lower level floor, fight only Covies with camo. Even the maps in Spops ep.6 looked better than anything multiplayer has offered. Specifically mission 2 and the one where you fly banshees in the cave.

Another personal thing I dislike are the fat pipes like on Complex or any other place. They look bland and textureless

17

If I were to change anything in future maps, it would be this:

-Stop relying so much on forerunner shapes and design; the look is cool when used sparingly. But it feels overused, just like translucent effects were used and abused on windows and mac os
-don’t have so much ‘grey’ in the maps (I’m looking at YOU vortex, meltdown, longbow, crimson map pack…)
-more maps inside spaceships, or cities inspired by blade runner, total recall - classic Sci-fi etc.
-add more vibrancy to the color palette (this is the OP’s main point, and I agree(
-allow more interactivity with the environment ala terminal, Zanzibar etc

18

For the most part, the maps lack contrast and look a bit industrial-wastelandish. I I think I’ve spent too much time concentrating on the game to notice the aesthetics though ^_^;;;

19

Needs more contrast.