Halo 5 Gameplay: A Compromise

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

I’ve been thinking a while and have been looking over some Halo 3 stuff online for nostalgia’s sake. And it got me to wondering about what’s next in Halo 5, gameplay wise.

Now, it’s pretty clear here that we have a split in the community. On one hand, you have the people who prefer the classic Halo gameplay (set weapon spawns and timers, no sprint, etc.) and those who prefer the new Halo gameplay (Ordinance Drops, Sprint, Loadouts, etc.)

Both groups have their merits. But with this kind of split, what can we do appease both groups? Well, I say we split the gameplay up into two sections. Classic and Current.

This would mean that before anyone will choose a playlist, they need to choose which gameplay they prefer and then that gameplay’s playlists will be chosen next.

Classic gameplay will always have these constants:

  • No Sprint
  • Set weapon spawns
  • No loadouts
  • No Perks
  • No Personal Ordinance Drops

Current gameplay will be more tricky to decide in terms of what goes in and what stays. Do we want to refine the gameplay in Halo 4? Keep it? Replace it? I don’t know so I’ll let you guys put your opinions in. But it MUST different from the Classic gameplay. And it obviously must be fun for all. IMHO, the current iteration we have in Halo 4 is pretty fun as it is but perhaps we can spruce it up a little. I’d say keep everything except for these:

  • Active Camo (Lets make this a map pickup again. Works just like in Halo 3.)
  • No Plasma Grenade loadout option (These are map pickups again as well.)

Also, let’s get back to the map sizes in Halo 3 as well, Sprint be -Yoink!-. But how are we going to do Campaign? Well… I think Halo 4 did the gameplay for Campaign well so let’s just go with that setup:

  • No perks
  • No loadout
  • Armor Abilities
  • Sprint

Alright, that should cover everything. But there are a couple serious problems with doing this though. One is time. It might take more time to balance everything, gameplay wise. Now that there’s two gameplay experiences to account for. This issue may not arise though, as perhaps what is balanced, like weapons for example, in the Current gameplay might be balanced for Classic gameplay as well. Another is player counts. We don’t want to keep splitting up the players and doing so once is already bad enough. However, there’s already such a rift that I don’t think it will matter and it will be nothing but beneficial at this point.

2

My response to this is a thread I made a while back, called ‘“Cater To Infinity AND Traditional Fans”’.

But in the event that you don’t check it, I am basically against the idea that the game can simply be split between Infinity and traditional gameplay in a way which could make both sides happy, and is realistic for 343 to achieve.

3

> My response to this is a thread I made a while back, called ‘“Cater To Infinity AND Traditional Fans”’.
>
> But in the event that you don’t check it, I am basically against the idea that the game can simply be split between Infinity and traditional gameplay in a way which could make both sides happy, and is realistic for 343 to achieve.

Sorry, I missed it.

Well, here’s the thing. Bungie has already laid out the blueprint for Classic gameplay. All 343 would have to do is implement it. Also, I fear we might have to do this as fans on either side are just not willing to budge. I think there’s room for both style of gameplay.

Traditional fans simply want what I listed above taken out. It would not be hard to satisfy them. Infinity fans like what’s already been done. That can be reimplemented with ease. So, in the end, 343 can implement all this rather easily and it wouldn’t be hard to get right.

The outcome of this is a little unsure though.

4

> Sorry, I missed it.
>
> Well, here’s the thing. Bungie has already laid out the blueprint for Classic gameplay. All 343 would have to do is implement it.

It’s not simply a problem of whether or not they could implement it.

Maps are designed differently for both styles of gameplay. Do we get 10 each? That’s more work than usual. Do we get 5 each? That isn’t an appropriate amount to sufficiently support gameplay.

An over abundance of playlists would be necessary to support both sides equally. It would mean double the usual amount of playlists.
This is double the workload for 343, and is not practical in a situation where player fragmentation is a serious problem to begin with.

> Also, I fear we might have to do this as fans on either side are just not willing to budge. I think there’s room for both style of gameplay.

Not willing to budge is meaningless in this context. At the end of the day, someone is going to be disappointed, whether they are willing to budge or not.
I continue to see no realistic way that 343 can create a Halo which makes all sides happy.
I think they should do what should always have been done, and keep consistent with the original core gameplay while moving forward.

5

I have also made similar post and have posted many times, so here is another.

What I think the Next Halo Games needs to please everyone and also be a great game.

Halo 5 needs to evolve from Halo 3 and have an improved version of the REACH UI and Match Finding Options and improved JIP.

Halo needs to return to the Classic Arena Shooter that made it so great and so popular to begin with.

> Halo worked for a specific reason, which is due to the way it played. This is based off of the movement speed, optimal battle ranges, the size of the maps, locations of weapons on the maps, equality among players. These are but examples of what made Halo so unique and great. Halo 4 destroyed them all by removing or completely destroying these aspects of the game. Sure, it can be argued that Reach started this trend, which is true, but it’s entirely 343i’s fault for continuing Reach’s legacy.

There are many good features in REACH and Halo 4 that should be kept and implemented but also needs to evolve for the next Halo.
The main issue with Halo now, is where is it heading. We have many people that want to see it return to a Static Loadout with Weapons on maps, no Loadouts, AA and Perks.
Then there are people who love these features, and want these to remain. Then there are those who like the old, but still want the new, and like to see a hybrid of both that is much better balanced to what we have now.

Halo is currently at a crossroads on what direction to take. I just wish we had some indication on what road 343 were taking. As then we could give 343 proper feedback.

Below is the key things I think need to be addressed for the next Halo to be successful and please most fans.

Halo 5 will probably need two playlist to keep everyone happy.

PLAYLISTS:

You need to have 2 Main Playlist, which are then split into Ranked and Social Playlist.

Ie:
Classic

  • Ranked (Friendly Fire On / JIP Disabled)
  • Social (Friendly Fire Off / JIP Enabled)*
    Infinity
  • Ranked (Friendly Fire On / JIP Disabled)
  • Social (Friendly Fire Off / JIP Enabled)*
    This would allow everyone to enjoy the Halo they want to play.

Classic would be an evolved version of Halo 3.

Infinity would be an evolved version of Halo 4.
Maybe an option for no Ordnance as well for the REACH lovers.

Each of course would have any new vehicles and weapons that have been created for the new Halo game.

LOADOUTS:

The Sandbox would be the same for both. Only real changes are:
Classic:

  • No Loadouts
    No AA (Equipment Only)
    No Ordnance
    No Perks
    Sprint (TBA)
    Weapons Spawn on Map
    Infinity:
  • Loadouts
    AA
    Ordnance
    Perks
    Sprint

Other changes
De-Scope to return and Flinch be removed.

MAPS AT LAUNCH:

I think Halo 5 requires about 20 maps at launch will be sufficient.
Map Types Required for Launch:
6 Small
6 Medium
6 Large
2 Very Large (Forge World Size)

And Fire Fight Maps to work with Match Making maps. Not to be new maps.

This may seem to be many maps, and a lot of work for 343i, but if half of these maps were evolved remakes of the best Halo maps. Then the hard work is already done. This would give Halo 5, 10 new maps and 10 remakes. Even 5 new maps and 15 remakes would be great.

Player Increase to 32, for Massive BTB and evolved Invasion/Dominion Playlist.

INTERACTIVE MAPS:

We also require Maps to be Interactive. Maps are one of the most important things about Multi-Player. And a game with bad maps, will not play well. I believe Halo Maps needs to have more interactive maps like those of Halo 2 and Halo 3.

The Interactive Maps in Halo 2/Halo 3 were one of the reasons that made these 2 games so great.
CTF on Halo 3 Highground was hard, unless you could open the gate, which made it more easy. This gave the map another objective that needed to be defended and attacked.

The train on Terminal was a blast, as you watched the enemy drive off with the flag in the warthog, only to see it get splattered by the train. Even those in the warthog got a massive laugh out of it.

These interactive environments have all been lost since REACH and need to return. Look at what Dice is doing with BF4 (Evolution Maps). They Look bloody amazing and changes how the game is played.

I love to see more maps that have the following items that can be activated or deactivated:
Light Bridges
Elevators (That can fit a Tank)
Teleporters
Gates
Shield Doors
Auto Turrets / Base Defences etc

For example, Imagine a base up high, and at the front of the base is a large Elevator. You have the base pretty much covered, and the enemy is not having much luck breaking through your defences. The controls to the elevator are in your base, and left unguarded. The enemy teams works together and placed a Scorpion on the Elevator and sneak someone into your base to activate the elevator switch.

Then the Elevator comes up, with the enemy team and they have a Scorpion Tank. All Hell breaks loose. The game has changed or because someone activated a switch which activated the elevator. This would be awesome. And be great to see these elements available in FORGE.

I would like to see more gates that could be open and closed. The main interactive environments in Halo 2/3 were one way. Once activated, they remained open, except for Halo 2 map Containment.

Containment was a great map. The map had a Main Gate at both bases and when the switch for the gate was activated, you only had 30 seconds before it would close again. This created many great fights at the gate and the gate controls, as once you saw your gate open, you knew the enemy would be making an attack. You could also activate the gate as a diversion, as people mostly thought you would enter from the gate, but you sneak in around the side. This was a great map, and probably one of the best Halo maps made.

With the new Xbox One, 343 should be able to add many new and interesting Interactive Environments that were in Halo 2 / Halo 3.

Halo 5 needs to be great, and return Halo to the # 1 spot on Xbox Live, because we all know it deserves to be there.

6

> It’s not simply a problem of whether or not they could implement it.
>
> Maps are designed differently for both styles of gameplay. Do we get 10 each? That’s more work than usual. Do we get 5 each? That isn’t an appropriate amount to sufficiently support gameplay.
>
> An over abundance of playlists would be necessary to support both sides equally. It would mean double the usual amount of playlists.
> This is double the workload for 343, and is not practical in a situation where player fragmentation is a serious problem to begin with.
>
> Not willing to budge is meaningless in this context. At the end of the day, someone is going to be disappointed, whether they are willing to budge or not.
> I continue to see no realistic way that 343 can create a Halo which makes all sides happy.
> I think they should do what should always have been done, and keep consistent with the original core gameplay while moving forward.

This would indeed be double the work but 343 is getting to be so large that I believe they may be able to handle it. Not to mention the new and expanded capabilities of both the Xbox One and Xbox Live.

Halo used to be about pushing boundaries. Doing something new, powerful, and exciting. Back before Halo 3 came out, would you have believed that Bungie would have been able to fully develop and support Theater, Forge, and File Sharing all at once? I would have been doubtful about it all but they pulled it off and pulled it off amazingly.

Perhaps Halo can surprise once again. Or should I say, perhaps 343 can surprise us like Bungie did all those years ago. We can only hope.

> I have also made similar post and have posted many times, so here is another.
>
> snip

The playlists are a little lacking but I see where you’re going.

But yeah, interactive maps were pretty amazing in Halo 3 as well. But there’s a place for static maps as well.