Halo 5 has been enjoyable so far. It’s different from classic Halo but it’s not revolting like Halo: Reach’s multiplayer or Halo 4’s multiplayer. When I first started playing I felt like I was playing Halo 2 with the addition of what more recent FPS games are doing. I would tread carefully however because the classic Halo formula worked and it worked well. With that said, here’s what I think so far and hopefully others will chime in too!
The Good
- A Halo 2-esque Feel While Adapting - let’s face it, Halo 2 is a wonderful game and it’s what all other Halo multiplayers are held up to thanks to the fact it was the first on Xbox LIVE. Otherwise we’d be comparing everything to Halo: CE. With that said, the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta actually feels like Halo 2 once you get past the Sprint, Clamber, and Ground Pound abilities. And the controls. Yes, the aim down sights is a little jarring at first and I was like “WTF” but once you get used to it in a Halo game it does feel like something that should belong.- The Pace - speaking of Halo 2, Halo 5 so far has a decent pace much like Halo 2 did.- Abilities aren’t horridly tacked on like in Halo: Reach and Halo 4 - They don’t seem to break the multiplayer so far. Being able to scale openings has created new ways to flank the enemy that has an area locked down. Most people I’ve seem complain about this usually think in 2 dimensions (read: Wrath of Khan) and don’t realize I can now get in through the windows too.- The Always Questionable Sprint Is Not So Questionable - Though this could have been placed in the above point I felt it needed its own. Sprint is a good way to get to your team and stay together. Sprint is not a good way to charge into the enemy or escape. I don’t think you can sprint backwards and any person dumb enough to turn their back to an enemy in Halo while retreating should be instantly assassinated. No really, let’s make that a feature! If you turn you back to retreat you’re asking for trouble.- Grenades Galore - I like nuclear grenades. Halo 4’s grenades were pathetic and Halo: CE grenades were overkill. These grenades pack a punch and don’t have the horrible targeting of the Halo 3 grenades. More Halo 2 I say.- Weapon Design - At first I was like “what did you do to my precious battle rifle” but the designs of the BR and DMR are growing on me. They do have to evolve after all. Guns do in real life anyways.- Map Size - I’m more of a BTB and objective person but even with that said, Halo 5 seems to be getting map size down right for the aforementioned Spartan abilities. Did Midship get bigger? At least it still feels like Midship minus that hole in the middle. Was that always there or was that something they decided to put this time around? It’s been so long since I played Midship. - The Menu - Much better than Halo 4 but that’s not saying much. It’s a lot better than Halo: MCC also but that’s still not saying much.- Return of the Postgame Lobby - Thank God. It was in Halo: MCC for a few weeks and disappeared. It’s been in Halo since like Halo 2. No excuses for why MCC doesn’t have it but at least Halo 5 does.- Graphics - The game looks gorgeous so far.The Bad
- The Controls - I’m sorry but “RB” for Melee and “LB” for Grenades in Halo is so strange. Of course, I can’t fault the fact that there are so many new things to do but the only reason I place this in the “bad” column is that I keep throwing grenades when I want to switch them, I have no idea how to zoom the sniper beyond the 4x zoom, I keep boosting when I want to melee, and it took me countless games to figure out how to switch my grenade type when I wanted to. A little “hey, this how you do X” would be nice with such radical changes to the control scheme.- Why Is My Spartan Dead Silent - It’s odd when I hear every other Spartan talking but mine doesn’t say a word. I know the other players can hear it but if you are going to have Spartans talk in multiplayer, do it it properly. If my Spartan says thanks for saving her or his butt to another Spartan, I should hear that like everyone else. - The Assault Rifle - It’s become to powerful. - The Magnum - When I can spam the magnum to kill a decent BR or DMR opponent, something’s wrong. - Where Is Thou Music - When I start searching in matchmaking, there’s no music. It all falls dead silent. Now I don’t know if this is because it’s the beta build or what but I would prefer some sort of ambient music compared to dead silence. - Slayer Mode Description - “Control power weapons to dominate the enemy team!” Really? Am I the only one who sees something wrong with that. Yes, power weapons may play a part in winning but that isn’t always true. Halo 2: Anniversary had a better description for it. What’s next? CTF: “Steal the enemy flag and beat them with it to dominate the enemy team!”?The Ugly
- Empire - The worst map in a Halo game. Ever. And there have been some pretty bad ones. There’s no real way to orient yourself aside from stepping outside to one of the sniper spawns.- SMG - What. The. F*ck. That thing is like a turret. Or a Battlefield LMG. - Two Can Keep a Secret If One of Them Is Dead - I totally stole that from Pretty Little Liars. Nevertheless, having Killcams in Slayer seems fine but I wouldn’t want to see them in objective games. Ever.- Where’s My Spartan - I like the pregame and postgame Spartan scene but I feel the gamertag should be displayed above or below each Spartan like GTA:V does with the characters. And please, for the love of God, let there be something other than that endgame clap scene in the final game.- Snipes - Seriously? I don’t mind that the Spartan talks but “snipes?” What are they, a bunch of frat boys or adolescent kids. I’m sure others will have more to add as the beta continues…