If you havent seen it yet, here it is:
To make this clear, this is an analysis of the trailer, and before you respond, read this in its entirety.
I have played every single Halo game to date, 100% all except Halo Wars. And I am severely disappointed by this footage.
First of all, most prominent in the video is that sprinting as a default armour ability makes a return. Not only this but boost dodging seems common place also. Already, with the way the boosting and movement works, parallels to Call of Duty: AW are apparent. As well as this, a “ground pound” move was featured. Seriously. Some of you say this is “innovative” or “going in a new direction”, I say this is just ripping off another franchise. What was also made apparent was that ADS (aim down sights) is now available for ALL guns, even those that dont even have sights, e.g the assault rifle. This isnt needed, it simply isnt. Was there a need for ADS in previous games? No. Was it not implemented because of limitations, obviously not. ADS IS NOT NEEDED IN HALO.
Next, the weapon designs; even if you want to defend the ADS and armour abilities, you cannot defend objectively bad aesthetic design. Case in point, the energy sword. Its chunky, WAY too chunky and doesnt resemble the energy sword at all. It seems to me it was only changed for the sake of being changed, not any aesthetic value. Let alone the fact that it takes up half the screen space. As well as this, the normal guns have undergone a massive overhaul, not only to become unrecognizable save for the AR, but to look blocky, unappealing and badly designed. Added onto this the announcer seems like he’s finally called it in for the lines, theyre pathetically delivered.
This links on to my next gripe, why are the Spartans talking? You can hear them in the video congratulating eachother on kills, and calling out enemies in generic, bland voices. Why? This wasnt needed. Halo 1, 2, 3, 4, Reach all didnt have talking MP Spartans. Why? BECAUSE THEY WERENT NEEDED. The fact it is implemented and done poorly further shows this hamfisted attempt at a Halo game.
Finally, armour customization, it has been revealed to us that armour customization has been stripped back to simply sets of armour for Spartans, not individual pieces. Again, Im asking why. Why was this important facet of the MP experience, and it has been removed. Im not saying that armour customization was always great, (I shudder to remember 4’s) but at least it was always my Spartan.
I dont want to hear that custom classes make a return, its just furthering the assimilation of HALO=COD
I hope that from this lengthy rant Ive shown why what we’ve been shown is a spit in the face for Halo fans. Most of it seems derivation from Halo just for the sake of NOT being Halo, in order to get a wider audience. And thats what all this is isnt it? Appealing to a wider demographic from a sales perspective. Im not going to get this game, nor MCC, nor an Xbox One because of the trend this shows. As well as the fact that it has been confirmed that theyre dropping the numbering for Halo when they roll out new games, i.e more games. Called Halo:whatever. May as well call them Halo: Call of Duty
If youve read this far, thanks. I dont want to see this taken down from the forums, I want all fans to read this, I recreated an account just to post this. Chief isnt dead. But this is certainly sending him on his way.