Halo 5 monthly updates mostly disappointing..

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

Now that the Halo 5 updates have been officially confirmed to be finished https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/rtx-recap minus a few updates to WZFF that 343I has confirmed… I must say for the most part, I found them to be very disappointing and lack luster. When 343I first announced they were doing free updates for Halo 5, my friends and I were to be frank, pretty blown away that Microsoft/343I were doing this. We have all been fans since Halo 1. We thought this was a brilliant move on there part to help bring Halo back into the fold so speak.

Now, I still absolutely love the idea of free monthly updates/DLC for Halo and think it’s a great idea, but the content that was given to us on Halo 5 was IMO mostly very disappointing and lack luster as I stated earlier. This content included:

  • Terrible remixed arena maps that just felt like…well…remixes, and not new at all! I’m sorry but remix maps is one of the worst idea’s ever IMO …and to be honest, kind of screams lazy… If your going to put all this time into remixing a map, why not just put all that time and effort into making a whole new map instead!! (As a side note not related to this topic, I feel Halo 5 has the worst, most boring, non memorable maps in any Halo game ever! This needs to change for Halo 6! The variety that Halo 2/3 maps gave us, heck even somewhat Halo 4, was amazing!! Go back and look at the popular maps from those games 343I… heck if you want, ask us why we think they are. Also bring back interactive environments for Halo 6, like you did for H2A (shooting chucks of ice down to kill a guy, activating a huge shield in the middle of a map etc. was not only amazing to see, but was incredibly FUN to do!)

  • REQs for things that we already had 3,4 or even 5 different version of. This includes anything from Vehicles, to Helmets, to Armour etc…

  • Game modes (Playlists) that should of been there from the start or a long time ago

  • Emblems in general being in REQ packs is a horrible idea!! Make them unlockable throw achievements and commendations and such (Also all emblems from past Halo games should be unlocked off the bat!!)

  • and to me one of the biggest things was Forge maps that were made by the amazing forge community NOT 343I, being included as part of the 20 new maps we were going to get. You have to be kidding me 343I!?!?!?

Playlists like Doubles and especially BTB got thrown to the curb in Halo 5 IMO. I don’t mind forge maps being in playlists, but for 1) The whole playlist being forge maps is just not acceptable!! and frankly is a joke!!! and 2) If you are going to do this, then don’t include forge maps as part of the monthly updates. Just release them on some random day or something to us and say “here, enjoy these maps made by the forge community!!” or make a forge community playlist that is just forge maps!! …oh wait, I guess you did that more less …low blow I know, sorry lol :stuck_out_tongue:

Personality I understand why playlists and game modes like Infection and Griffball weren’t there off the bat, but 343I should of TOLD US that they will not be in the game when it launches and those modes are being made by the forge community so it’ll be x time when they come. Not let people guessing and constantly asking if we are even getting those modes.

Again, WZFF I can pretty much understand why it wasn’t there off the bat, BUT at the same time it really should of been. People have been asking for FF to come back for years now…343I you knows this. Instead of focusing on there new warzone mode of PvPvE and there breakout mode (which IMO doesn’t deserve it’s own permanent playlist) they should of been focusing on making a PvE mode aka FF and modes like say an objective playlist instead. There is a huge amount of people who like PvE, we all know this… heck, 343I own numbers for WZFF have even show this. It doesn’t come as a shock to anyone that WZFF is doing well. They failed to recognized this big time IMO. Hopefully for Halo 6 they will have FF and a few other modes in right off the bat and they have learned there lesson.

I feel like the only things that these monthly updates did well was:

  • changes to the UI, especially to the post game report (which I’m sorry but anyone who has played Halo in the last 10 years, could of told you that it should of been this way off the bat!)
  • And Forge mode. Forge mode to me is amazing (and I’m not even a forger fyi) It is one thing that I can understand and think is neat how 343I keep adding to it every month. So hats off to you guys and girls here.

I feel if Halo 5 came out today as it was right now, it would be doing so much better! Not that it’s doing terrible, but why settle for ok or good, when something could be amazing. If Halo 6 is going to have these kinds of free monthly updates again, as much as I hate saying in a way, I’d rather spend money on real DLC for things like brand new developer made maps for example then what he got in Halo 5.

In conclusion, we all like the idea of free DLC/monthly updates 343I (going out on a limb here but assuming we all like free… lol) but IMO you have a lot of work to do too these updates to make people excited for every single one of them. Nothing gets people going more I feel then hearing “New maps coming later month” (and they are actually NEW maps!)

2

Updates won’t be every single month going forward but they did say there will be more updates, just not every month.

3

Who would expected this kind of updates back in the days… I mean, every time they emphasized “New REQs” (which are not even new), it was embarrassing to be a Halo fanboy and depressed me.

4

So Halo 5s DLC has as many new maps as Halo 3 and Halo Reach, plus remixes, plus forge canvases and thats lazy? You must hate Reach’s DLC then? Less content and you had to pay for it.

> 2533274815533909;1:
> and to me one of the biggest things was Forge maps that were made by the amazing forge community NOT 343I, being included as part of the 20 new maps we were going to get. You have to be kidding me 343I!?!?!?
>
> Playlists like Doubles and especially BTB got thrown to the curb in Halo 5 IMO. I don’t mind forge maps being in playlists, but for 1) The whole playlist being forge maps is just not acceptable!! and frankly is a joke!!! and 2) If you are going to do this, then don’t include forge maps as part of the monthly updates. Just release them on some random day or something to us and say "here, enjoy these maps made by the forge community!!"

Care to tell us where you got this number, because they initially promised 15 maps as DLC then raised that to 18, not 20. Also, Thats 13 with more confirmed even without counting the 7 cartographer maps.

New maps (6)

  • Battle of Noctus (Warzone)

  • Torque

  • Tyrant

  • Skirmish at Darkstar (Warzone)

  • Attack on sanctum (Warzone)

  • Prospect (Warzone Assault)
    Remix maps (5)

  • Riptide (Fathom remix)

  • Overgrowth (Plaza remix)

  • Stasis (Torque remix)

  • Molten (The Rig remix)

  • Urban (Noctus remix) (Warzone Assault)
    Forge canvases (2)

  • Ascendance

  • Tidal
    Cartographer maps (7)

  • Deadlock

  • Recurve

  • Basin

  • Guillotine

  • Antifreeze

  • Entombed

  • Grifball Court
    As for BTB but (and sorry to bring up Reach again) but Reach had 2 dedicated BTB maps, both made in forge. And as for Halo 5 the 6 BTB maps released as part of the updates were commissioned by 343 and made by the cartographers, they weren’t just random maps 343 picked up, On that topic 343 has since added another 6 in just the method you described.

5

<mark>This post has been edited by a moderator. Please refrain from making inappropriate comments.</mark>
*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

Your girlfriend told me that she was disappointed…

6

> 2533274844984484;4:
> So Halo 5s DLC has as many new maps as Halo Reach, plus remixes, plus forge canvases and thats lazy? You must hate Reach’s DLC then? Less content and you had to pay for it.
>
>
>
>
> > 2533274815533909;1:
> > and to me one of the biggest things was Forge maps that were made by the amazing forge community NOT 343I, being included as part of the 20 new maps we were going to get. You have to be kidding me 343I!?!?!?
> >
> > Playlists like Doubles and especially BTB got thrown to the curb in Halo 5 IMO. I don’t mind forge maps being in playlists, but for 1) The whole playlist being forge maps is just not acceptable!! and frankly is a joke!!! and 2) If you are going to do this, then don’t include forge maps as part of the monthly updates. Just release them on some random day or something to us and say "here, enjoy these maps made by the forge community!!"
>
>
> Care to tell us where you got this number, because they promised 15 maps as DLC not 20. also, Thats 13 with more confirmed.
>
> New maps
>
> - Battle of Noctus (Warzone)
> - Torque
> - Tyrant
> - Skirmish at Darkstar (Warzone)
> - Attack on sanctum (Warzone)
> - Prospect (Warzone Assault)
> Remix maps
>
> - Riptide (Fathom remix)
> - Overgrowth (Plaza remix)
> - Stasis (Torque remix)
> - Molten (The Rig remix)
> - Urban (Noctus remix) (Warzone Assault)
> Forge canvases
>
> - Ascendance
> - Tidal
>
> As for BTB but (and sorry to bring up Reach again) but Reach had 2 dedicated BTB maps, both made in forge. And as for Halo 5 the 6 BTB maps released as part of the updates were commissioned by 343 and made by the cartographers, they weren’t just random maps 343 picked up, On that topic 343 has since added another 6 in just the method you described.

So 2 maps. Halo 5 had 2 completely original, brand new Arena maps.

7

> 2547348539238747;6:
> > 2533274844984484;4:
> >
>
>
> So 2 maps. Halo 5 had 2 completely original, brand new Arena maps.

As DLC? yes… The same as Reach and only 1 less then Halo 3. One of which dropped almost 10 months after Halo 3s release, we are less then 9 months post Halo 5s Launch.

Halo 3
Heroic DLC (Desember 2007, 3 months post launch)

  • Standoff (BTB)

  • Rat’s Nest (BTB)

  • Foundry (Forge Canvas)
    Legendary DLC (April 2008, 7 months post launch)

  • Avalanche (BTB)

  • Blackout (Arena, Remake)

  • Ghost Town (Arena)
    Other (July 2008, 10 months post Launch)

  • Cold Storage (Arena, Remake)
    Halo Reach
    Noble DLC (November 2010, 2 months post Launch)

  • Breakpoint (Invasion)

  • Tempest (BTB)

  • Anchor 9 (Arena)
    Defiant DLC (March 2011, 6 months post Launch, Made by Certain Affinity and 343i not Bungie)

  • Highlands (BTB)

  • Condemned (Arena)

  • Unearthed (Firefight)

8

> 2533274876257384;2:
> Updates won’t be every single month going forward but they did say there will be more updates, just not every month.

I’m just quoting them in what they said in there weekly update. I just read some updates will be happening to WZFF.

9

> 2535456165221911;3:
> Who would expected this kind of updates back in the days… I mean, every time they emphasized “New REQs” (which are not even new), it was embarrassing to be a Halo fanboy and depressed me.

I know what you mean… :frowning:

> 2533274844984484;4:
> So Halo 5s DLC has as many new maps as Halo 3 and Halo Reach, plus remixes, plus forge canvases and thats lazy? You must hate Reach’s DLC then? Less content and you had to pay for it.
>
>
>
>
> > 2533274815533909;1:
> > and to me one of the biggest things was Forge maps that were made by the amazing forge community NOT 343I, being included as part of the 20 new maps we were going to get. You have to be kidding me 343I!?!?!?
> >
> > Playlists like Doubles and especially BTB got thrown to the curb in Halo 5 IMO. I don’t mind forge maps being in playlists, but for 1) The whole playlist being forge maps is just not acceptable!! and frankly is a joke!!! and 2) If you are going to do this, then don’t include forge maps as part of the monthly updates. Just release them on some random day or something to us and say "here, enjoy these maps made by the forge community!!"
>
>
> Care to tell us where you got this number, because they initially promised 15 maps as DLC then raised that to 18, not 20. Also, Thats 13 with more confirmed even without counting the 7 cartographer maps.
>
> New maps (6)
>
> - Battle of Noctus (Warzone)
> - Torque
> - Tyrant
> - Skirmish at Darkstar (Warzone)
> - Attack on sanctum (Warzone)
> - Prospect (Warzone Assault)
> Remix maps (5)
>
> - Riptide (Fathom remix)
> - Overgrowth (Plaza remix)
> - Stasis (Torque remix)
> - Molten (The Rig remix)
> - Urban (Noctus remix) (Warzone Assault)
> Forge canvases (2)
>
> - Ascendance
> - Tidal
> Cartographer maps (7)
>
> - Deadlock
> - Recurve
> - Basin
> - Guillotine
> - Antifreeze
> - Entombed
> - Grifball Court
> As for BTB but (and sorry to bring up Reach again) but Reach had 2 dedicated BTB maps, both made in forge. And as for Halo 5 the 6 BTB maps released as part of the updates were commissioned by 343 and made by the cartographers, they weren’t just random maps 343 picked up, On that topic 343 has since added another 6 in just the method you described.

First off, I never said forge was lazy in anyway… 343I has done an amazing job with forge in Halo 5. Secondly from what I recall I didn’t hate reaches DLC, but I didn’t play reach much because I lost interest in that game as a whole. I honesty don’t recall.

I honesty don’t recall now how many maps they said before Halo 5 came out. I’d have to look it up. So you might be right… but whatever the # is it doesn’t matter. It could of been 5, 10 or 25 maps, makes no different. That wasn’t my point at all so maybe you missed it.

I know the BTB maps were commissioned by 343 and made by the forge community, trust me lol Yes and the the maps 343I have added to BTB have been once again, more forge maps made by the forge community, not 343I. Again, I think you missed my point from earlier. I said I don’t want nor think it’s right, that forge maps to be counted as free maps from 343I when 343I didn’t make them.

10

> 2533274844984484;7:
> > 2547348539238747;6:
> > > 2533274844984484;4:
> > >
> >
> >
> > So 2 maps. Halo 5 had 2 completely original, brand new Arena maps.
>
>
> As DLC? yes… The same as Reach and only 1 less then Halo 3. One of which dropped almost 10 months after Halo 3s release, we are less then 9 months post Halo 5s Launch.
>
> Halo 3
> Heroic DLC (Desember 2007, 3 months post launch)
>
> - Standoff (BTB)
> - Rat’s Nest (BTB)
> - Foundry (Forge Canvas)
> Legendary DLC (April 2008, 7 months post launch)
>
> - Avalanche (BTB)
> - Blackout (Arena, Remake)
> - Ghost Town (Arena)
> Other (July 2008, 10 months post Launch)
>
> - Cold Storage (Arena)
> Halo Reach
> Noble DLC (November 2010, 2 months post Launch)
>
> - Breakpoint (Invasion)
> - Tempest (BTB)
> - Anchor 9 (Arena)
> Defiant DLC (March 2011, 6 months post Launch, Made by Certain Affinity and 343i not Bungie)
>
> - Highlands (BTB)
> - Condemned (Arena)
> - Unearthed (Firefight)

Halo 3 also had all the Maps you got from ODST OR you bought them separately. Not everyone bought ODST to get those maps. Half of my friends didn’t touch ODST with a 10 feet pole because they didn’t care about it, they just want to Halo 3 Maps so they bought them separately. The only reason bungie put the maps in with ODST is because if they didn’t, no one in there right mind would of bought that game for 40 bucks without those maps. I like ODST, but it’s not really a full game per say… So Halo 3 had a lot more because you have to count those maps as well.

11

> 2533274815533909;10:
> > 2533274844984484;7:
> > > 2547348539238747;6:
> > > > 2533274844984484;4:
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > So 2 maps. Halo 5 had 2 completely original, brand new Arena maps.
> >
> >
> > As DLC? yes… The same as Reach and only 1 less then Halo 3. One of which dropped almost 10 months after Halo 3s release, we are less then 9 months post Halo 5s Launch.
> >
> > Halo 3
> > Heroic DLC (Desember 2007, 3 months post launch)
> >
> > - Standoff (BTB)
> > - Rat’s Nest (BTB)
> > - Foundry (Forge Canvas)
> > Legendary DLC (April 2008, 7 months post launch)
> >
> > - Avalanche (BTB)
> > - Blackout (Arena, Remake)
> > - Ghost Town (Arena)
> > Other (July 2008, 10 months post Launch)
> >
> > - Cold Storage (Arena)
> > Halo Reach
> > Noble DLC (November 2010, 2 months post Launch)
> >
> > - Breakpoint (Invasion)
> > - Tempest (BTB)
> > - Anchor 9 (Arena)
> > Defiant DLC (March 2011, 6 months post Launch, Made by Certain Affinity and 343i not Bungie)
> >
> > - Highlands (BTB)
> > - Condemned (Arena)
> > - Unearthed (Firefight)
>
>
> Halo 3 also had all the Maps you got from ODST OR you bought them separately. Not everyone bought ODST to get those maps. Half of my friends didn’t touch ODST with a 10 feet pole because they didn’t care about it, they just want to Halo 3 Maps so they bought them separately. The only reason bungie put the maps in with ODST is because if they didn’t, no one in there right mind would of bought that game for 40 bucks without those maps. I like ODST, but it’s not really a full game per say… So Halo 3 had a lot more because you have to count those maps as well.

ODST came out 2 years after Halo 3 though, thats 24 months, we aren’t even 9 months after Halo 5 yet. So you really can’t use those 6 maps in comparisons at this point.

12

There is going to be more Forge updates and more community maps being added in.

13

> 2533274844984484;11:
> > 2533274815533909;10:
> > > 2533274844984484;7:
> > > > 2547348539238747;6:
> > > > > 2533274844984484;4:
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > So 2 maps. Halo 5 had 2 completely original, brand new Arena maps.
> > >
> > >
> > > As DLC? yes… The same as Reach and only 1 less then Halo 3. One of which dropped almost 10 months after Halo 3s release, we are less then 9 months post Halo 5s Launch.
> > >
> > > Halo 3
> > > Heroic DLC (Desember 2007, 3 months post launch)
> > >
> > > - Standoff (BTB)
> > > - Rat’s Nest (BTB)
> > > - Foundry (Forge Canvas)
> > > Legendary DLC (April 2008, 7 months post launch)
> > >
> > > - Avalanche (BTB)
> > > - Blackout (Arena, Remake)
> > > - Ghost Town (Arena)
> > > Other (July 2008, 10 months post Launch)
> > >
> > > - Cold Storage (Arena)
> > > Halo Reach
> > > Noble DLC (November 2010, 2 months post Launch)
> > >
> > > - Breakpoint (Invasion)
> > > - Tempest (BTB)
> > > - Anchor 9 (Arena)
> > > Defiant DLC (March 2011, 6 months post Launch, Made by Certain Affinity and 343i not Bungie)
> > >
> > > - Highlands (BTB)
> > > - Condemned (Arena)
> > > - Unearthed (Firefight)
> >
> >
> > Halo 3 also had all the Maps you got from ODST OR you bought them separately. Not everyone bought ODST to get those maps. Half of my friends didn’t touch ODST with a 10 feet pole because they didn’t care about it, they just want to Halo 3 Maps so they bought them separately. The only reason bungie put the maps in with ODST is because if they didn’t, no one in there right mind would of bought that game for 40 bucks without those maps. I like ODST, but it’s not really a full game per say… So Halo 3 had a lot more because you have to count those maps as well.
>
>
> ODST came out 2 years after Halo 3 though, thats 24 months, we aren’t even 9 months after Halo 5 yet. So you really can’t use those 6 maps in comparisons at this point.

Ok I’ll give you that it came out a lot later, but you really think we’re going to get new original maps for halo 5 in the next 15months? I doubt it… but I guess we’ll have to wait 15 months and see… lol

Even still, IMO Halo 3 5 original maps that came out in the first 10 months are far better in every way then Halo 5 2 maps that they have put out…

14

> 2533274848011469;12:
> There is going to be more Forge updates and more community maps being added in.

Most likely yes, and that’s good in all but… ya… I have a feeling you read my topic title and just replied to that and didn’t read anything I wrote :stuck_out_tongue: if so, apologies.

15

> 2533274815533909;14:
> > 2533274848011469;12:
> > There is going to be more Forge updates and more community maps being added in.
>
>
> Most likely yes, and that’s good in all but… ya… I have a feeling you read my topic title and just replied to that and didn’t read anything I wrote :stuck_out_tongue: if so, apologies.

I did read but that is really all I wanted to say.

16

Remixes are not as lazy as you might think. It took 343i two weeks, two, to make Truth, a remake of Midship from Halo 2. It’s not just “Let’s spend three hours messing with this map and call it something new” They also have to make sure the map’s changes work.

While Eden, Regret, and Stasis may have simply be “Change the weather/terrain/time of day, remove these things, add those things, and do this other thing” I found Overgrowth and Riptide to be true “remixes” are there similar areas? Yes. But does the map look very different from it’s counterpart? Oh yes it does.

And then there’s Molten. I’m still trying to find out how it’s a remix of the Rig. Literally the only place that similar is the BR tower on the Rig and the sniper spawn on Molten. That’s not a remix, that’s a new map

17

The updates weren’t that bad imo… the maps we got were pretty good, torque, and tyrant play great, from a ffa perspective as that is what I play mostly. Also he updates aren’t completely finished they are just done with the “monthly” updates.

18

> 2533274883849234;16:
> Remixes are not as lazy as you might think. It took 343i two weeks, two, to make Truth, a remake of Midship from Halo 2. It’s not just “Let’s spend three hours messing with this map and call it something new” They also have to make sure the map’s changes work.
>
> While Eden, Regret, and Stasis may have simply be “Change the weather/terrain/time of day, remove these things, add those things, and do this other thing” I found Overgrowth and Riptide to be true “remixes” are there similar areas? Yes. But does the map look very different from it’s counterpart? Oh yes it does.
>
> And then there’s Molten. I’m still trying to find out how it’s a remix of the Rig. Literally the only place that similar is the BR tower on the Rig and the sniper spawn on Molten. That’s not a remix, that’s a new map

I actually think Stasis is one of the better remixes, the change visually may be small but the gameplay differences created by the different bases and “left” side are pretty big.

19

> 2533274844984484;18:
> > 2533274883849234;16:
> > Remixes are not as lazy as you might think. It took 343i two weeks, two, to make Truth, a remake of Midship from Halo 2. It’s not just “Let’s spend three hours messing with this map and call it something new” They also have to make sure the map’s changes work.
> >
> > While Eden, Regret, and Stasis may have simply be “Change the weather/terrain/time of day, remove these things, add those things, and do this other thing” I found Overgrowth and Riptide to be true “remixes” are there similar areas? Yes. But does the map look very different from it’s counterpart? Oh yes it does.
> >
> > And then there’s Molten. I’m still trying to find out how it’s a remix of the Rig. Literally the only place that similar is the BR tower on the Rig and the sniper spawn on Molten. That’s not a remix, that’s a new map
>
>
> I actually think Stasis is one of the better remixes, the change visually may be small but the gameplay differences created by the different bases and “left” side are pretty big.

Stasis definitely plays very well, especially Slayer; most people I know like it over the original.

20

> 2533274844984484;7:
> > 2547348539238747;6:
> > > 2533274844984484;4:
> > >
> >
> >
> > So 2 maps. Halo 5 had 2 completely original, brand new Arena maps.
>
>
> As DLC? yes… The same as Reach and only 1 less then Halo 3. One of which dropped almost 10 months after Halo 3s release, we are less then 9 months post Halo 5s Launch.
>
> Halo 3
> Heroic DLC (Desember 2007, 3 months post launch)
>
> - Standoff (BTB)
> - Rat’s Nest (BTB)
> - Foundry (Forge Canvas)
> Legendary DLC (April 2008, 7 months post launch)
>
> - Avalanche (BTB)
> - Blackout (Arena, Remake)
> - Ghost Town (Arena)
> Other (July 2008, 10 months post Launch)
>
> - Cold Storage (Arena)
> Halo Reach
> Noble DLC (November 2010, 2 months post Launch)
>
> - Breakpoint (Invasion)
> - Tempest (BTB)
> - Anchor 9 (Arena)
> Defiant DLC (March 2011, 6 months post Launch, Made by Certain Affinity and 343i not Bungie)
>
> - Highlands (BTB)
> - Condemned (Arena)
> - Unearthed (Firefight)

The nice parts about Halo 3 and Reach’s DLC is that all maps can be played with any gametype (barring Unearthed and Instillation 04). The Warzone maps don’t mean anything if you don’t like Warzone or want to play some custom games.

Lets also not forget about how much support those games have gotten either. Halo 3 kept added the Mythic Map Packs (and updates?) almost up until Reach, and Reach got a couple years and the Anniversary Map Pack.

With “halo” 5, expect either no add ons anymore, or expect to pay for them. Halo 3 and Reach also did launch with significantly more content than their predecessors. Good luck finding anyone who wouldn’t get bored of vanilla “halo” 5 by the end of a week.

Yeah you can say “halo” 5 added more than previous Halo games at the end of 10 months, but Halo 3 and/or Reach still had more content/replayable at those points in time as well.