So…Halo 5 gameplay is out…hmmmmmmm
I kind of feel like the Monty Python sketch I saw recently,
the Halo 5 beta came out of nowhere, caused devastation and then ran off again. I haven’t really been paying attention to Halo 5 (or for that matter any Halo) news for a while now. So you can imagine my surprise when I saw the most recent gameplay. About a year ago when I was still on the forums, I was bashing Halo 4 (before and after release) for AA, perks and the ordinance drops. But then I was briefly banned for posting a gif of brain blessed laughing (as a response to someone’s comment - my bad) so I took a break, which extended into me leaving the forums. Seeing as Halo 5 has come around I thought I’d come back for a while and discuss some of the mechanics in a calm, sensible manor.
Sprint: In halo 4 sprint destroyed maps and allowed players to escape fire. Has this been fixed? Well now everyone has unlimited sprint which may sound nuts but this does mean the maps can be designed accordingly - this does mean small 4v4 maps like guardian will never be seen again. As for escaping fire, sprint has improved in that regard. Shields don’t recharge which makes no sense in the lore and could become annoying but it is an interesting mechanical challenge - do you want shields or distance between your enemy? Overall sprint probably better and certainly more interesting
Ordinance Drops: GONE, thank goodness
AA/perks: GONE, same as above
Movement enhancement: I feel bizarrely positive about these changes, and how they link with sprint. The only one I have real concern over is the stabilizers (if you zoom in mid air you hover). I don’t always want to hover when I zoom in falling. I also foresee people evading around corners when their shields drop. Everything else seems to make sense with lore and we will have to play the beta before we see how balanced they are. - Just found out that stabilizers have a toggle so thats fine
Smart Scope: Well its basically the normal Halo 3 scope but with ADS. Scope out is back which is great I hated flinch. All weapons now have a zoom and the gun model now restricts sight - It reminds me of what I thought ODST would be like. Smart scope makes more sense in the lore but it does feel decisively like CoD/Titanfall/blacklight. Still I support scope out and that alone puts smart scope above flinch. Overall we will see but I’m not convinced yet.
Loadouts: Nothing really revealed. Without AA and persk most of the stuff I hated about Loadouts is gone
Most importantly of all, they have a beta: Which is essential after Halo 4 - it is clear 343 are listening but only time will tell how well they’ve done.
Halo is evolving but it doesn’t feel like a sequel to Halo 3 but instead it feels like the baby between advanced warfare and Halo 4. It may be fun but will it be Halo? Until then Halo MCC!!!
Better to be red, than to be dead