I am looking for feedback on how I have my review structured, while simultaneously giving SOME feedback to 343 Industries early. As I estimate I won’t be done for another few weeks. So giving some now will be great. The review is copy and pasted from Google documents. Keep in mind, it’s severely incomplete, and some wording can be improved. I do consider the way someone writes/types an artstyle.
Campaign, Story, and it’s Environment
The Good:
• Master Chief’s armor looks great.
• Master Chief’s shoulder armor actually looks good now unlike how terrible it was in Halo 4 and 5.
The Bad:
• Split screen and Co-op are not available at release for campaign.
The Neutral:
Multiplayer, Gameplay, Sandbox Content, and Overall Content
The Good:
• The Brute Chopper finally returned.
• The Spike Grenades returned.
• The Grappleshot is very fun to use. I’ve wanted one in Halo since Halo: Reach after thinking of new ideas for armor abilities. My main reference since then was Lost Planet.
• The classic artstyle has returned. It isn’t overdetailed and busy like the previous one.
• The Battle Rifle looks great again.
• The Cindershot weapon is fun to use. I like it.
• Bots are finally in Halo. I have wanted the aspect of playing multiplayer by myself in Halo just like the classic Star Wars: Battlefront games. And this is close to it.
The Bad:
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 1]The aiming is the worst in the series. Worse than Halo C.E. and Halo 5. This is the number one issue affecting gameplay that needs to be fixed immediately. It makes the game not fun to play. It feels as if aim assist is non-existent. In order to keep the reticle on the target (or try to), I have to have the sensitivity really low, but that causes me to not react quickly enough from other directions. In the previous games, my sensitivity was between 3 and 5. I have it below 2 in this game. SOLUTION: Imitate the aiming of Halo 2, Halo 3(without the lead your shots mechanic), Halo 4, or the universal option on Halo: T.M.C.C. This game is unbearable otherwise.
• Halo Infinite has an in-game predatory ‘macrotransaction’ store.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 2-A]The in-game store’s prices are overpriced by at least 75% to 80%. SOLUTION: Decrease the prices to a consumer friendly, collector friendly, artistic friendly (customizing is fun for artists outside of Forge) price. Perfect example 1: The $20 bundles (Zvezda Armor Bundle) are the wrong price and should be $3 or $4 maximum which is their correct value. At this price, three of these bundles ($9 to $12) would equate to a map pack. Three maps, three armor sets. This, like everything else, will help fund the free maps better than what was planned as more people will be purchasing more. Perfect example 2: The $15 bundles (A259 Collection Bundle) are also the wrong price and should be $2 or $3 maximum which is their correct value (unlike the Sentinel’s Blades Bundle which should be $1 or $2). More examples: The $10 bundles (Enigma Bundle) should be $1 or $2 (the Pineapple Heaven Bundle is definitely valued at $1), the $5/$7/$8 bundles (Cibi Blue Team Emblem Bundle) should be $1 or $2, and the Boost and Swap Pack should be $1. Perfectly priced as all things should be. I can see myself trying to obtain as much as I can with these prices… if it’s all available permanently.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 2-B] The in-game store items are up for a limited time. Once an item is in the store, it should stay permanently so that there will be no fear of missing out. SOLUTION: Have the Featured tab show what is new for the day or week (as is what the meaning of Featured is), then have separate tabs for what was previously featured. If nothing is new to put into Featured, then rotate popular Bundles back in from the other tabs.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 2-C] The in-game store layout/UI looks like something from Fortnite and other Free-to-play games. It also reminds me of Fallout 76. I don’t want a ‘Halo 76’. SOLUTION: Halo-fy the way the store looks. The Exchange on Halo: T.M.C.C. is a good start, especially with the blue background.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 2-D] Based on accidentally given out info, the overall price to obtain everything in the store for the Heroes of Reach Arc is estimated to be over $1,000. That’s unacceptable. Make that 3 or 4 times a year per Arc and it is beyond unacceptable. SOLUTION: In addition to the solution in ALPHA 2-A, having a full Arc Bundle would be a great idea. Whether it is implemented at the beginning of the Arc, or end, it will be beneficial. It will work as follows: Purchasing the Heroes of Reach Arc Bundle will grant owners everything that was in the store during the specific Arc for one low, affordable price. This and every Arc Bundle will be available indefinitely. The price… I think $60 (a friend says $40) will be acceptable. For when they are available: If in the beginning of the Arc, owners will automatically unlock the shop items as they come available. If at the end, players can purchase some items early (which generates bonus revenue beyond the $60) as people will want things immediately instead of over 3 to 4 months later. This will allow collectors an affordable way of getting everything overtime, and 343 Industries a better overall revenue intake in addition to the $10 for each Reward Path per Arc.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 3-A] The Challenges and their implementation is terrible. Many are too specific and too hard. The way how it’s tied to leveling up is counter-intuitive to match objectives. It is to the point where I only go for the challenges and nothing else just as intended by the Challenge system. SOLUTION: Simplify the challenges and make them easier. Examples: Change (Earn 5 Killing Sprees/Multikills) to (Earn 10 different medals). Change (kill 3 Choppers) to (kill or get 3 kills with any vehicle). Change (kill X enemies with a specific power weapon) to (kill X enemies with any power weapon). And change (kill a Scorpion tank) to (Congratulations! The match spawned a Scorpion tank or Wraith) The only challenges that should be specific are getting kills with starting weapons. Every challenge should also be possible to obtain in Bot playlists. No more Pvp requirements(event challenges can be the exception but still need to be simple and fun as the above examples). Halo: T.M.C.C. seems to have the best challenge set up. Take inspiration from that (outside of winning matches, sprees, and multikills).
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 3-B] A challenge you swap can reappear later (specifically earn 5 Killing Sprees in Fiesta can return as a capstone challenge). SOLUTION: Make it to where if a player swaps a challenge, that challenge’s chance of returning is SIGNIFICANTLY reduced to return for that player.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 3-C] The Capstone challenge can not be swapped. Peerless Warrior: Get 5 Killing Sprees in Fiesta is such a terrible challenge that it reveals the need to swap Capstone Challenges as well. SOLUTION: Add the ability to swap Capstone Challenges, or make them less stressful. Kill 100 Spartans or Play X amount of matches sounds acceptable.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 3-D] The Daily Challenge has a cap of 50 (this info is from the second beta week). What if someone wants to play more than 50 matches and get rewarded? What if someone can play 55 matches one day, but none the next day? SOLUTION: Remove the cap.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 4] The motion tracker’s range is too small. This is another major issue negatively affecting gameplay, making it not fun. Enemies can be on you too quickly by the time you immediately look away from it and die as a result. It also does not account for lazy eye, especially when everything the left eye sees is blurry. This also supports the need for HUD customization. The motion tracker is 18 meters but it does not seem like it at all. SOLUTION: Increase the motion tracker range back to 25 meters like how it was before Halo 5. And make sure it actually is 25 meters otherwise a 30 meter range will have to suffice.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 5] The new outline system introduces new problems which includes: Split second decision making with conflicting colors and outlines. Accessibility issues for individuals hard coded with Red vs. Blue in their mind. You are always on the same team color. The reticule is tied to it and can potentially not be red when looking at an enemy. And more. SOLUTION: Add a toggle to bring back Red vs. Blue. The snake must be Red team. Add a toggle for outlines to go with it as well. Add a separate color choice for the reticule.
• [PRIORITY ISSUE: ALPHA 6] The H.U.D. layout is actually bad. In the since everything, but the small motion sensor, got cluttered into one corner. And the style of the bottom right area doesn’t fit Halo. The layout also negatively affects gameplay. Even the weapon part went from showing symbols to numbers. I read the symbols as a picture faster than numbers (this has to do with right brain hemisphere people focusing on the artistic side of things, and the left hemisphere being more mathematical). SOLUTION: Add new accessibility options that include the following: Move grenades back to the top left with unique symbols. Move the equipment icon back to right, above the motion sensor. Move the weapons back to the top right WITH a toggle for either symbols or numbers for the ammo (but the symbols MUST be unique per weapon like in Halo C.E., 2, 3, and 4; as this was an issue Halo: Reach had). In addition the ability to move whatever to any corner would be great. Having the option to move the motion sensor with the equipment icon above it to the bottom right corner would be perfect for my eyesight.
• Removed the ability to customize your primary and secondary colors individually, while replacing it with the below average armor coating system. SOLUTION: Restructure the coating system to work as follows: Add a base coating for each color from the previous games by default. Then make it to where each armor piece can have it’s own coating applied (Helmet, chest, chest attachment, left shoulder, right shoulder, upper arms, forearms, waist, upper legs, knees, lower legs, and various attachments).
• The chest attachments, utility, and wrist attachments don’t change color. They are boring and colorless. They were colored in Halo: Reach. And the grenadier chest piece is properly colored, but only when a specific coating is applied. SOLUTION: Include them to be colored with whatever color choice you pick.
• The entire idea of the Armor core system is disappointing. From not being able to choose whatever helmet and shoulder you want, to not being able to customize your forearms and legs separately. SOLUTION: Scrap the idea of the armor cores being restrictions, and turn it into a fun way to make MANY custom spartan presets. Think of each one being a different character on your in-universe team that you can roleplay as. And you can create as many as you want (a minimum of 15 if there must be a limit), like forge maps. NEXT: Add the following to be changeable: Chest (like in Halo 4), Waist, Forearms, Upper Arms, Legs, and Techsuite (when applicable). THEN: Allow all Helmets, Shoulders, Chest Attachments, etc. to be compatible. This system could then be the greatest in the franchise, if the other issues are also addressed.
• The Reward Paths are called ‘Battle Passes’. A very Fortnite-y term that should not be used in the Halo franchise. SOLUTION: Edit all instances of ‘Battle Pass’ in Halo to something that properly fits the franchise. Examples and recommendations: Reward Path, Requisition Rewards, Reward Pathway, Requisition Cache, or any combination of those words. “I’ll pass on that term. But you can show me where to fix it.”
• Seasons are once again used to name a story arc, when it is overused. It is used to describe the time of the year, eras of TV shows, and too many other games use it. I think Halo needs to set itself apart in this aspect, like it used to. It’s like how Halo uses ‘Slayer’ instead of ‘Deathmatch’. SOLUTION: Edit all instances of ‘Season’ in this regard to something that sounds Halo-y. Examples include ‘Arc’ and ‘Era’. This can also be applied to Halo: T.M.C.C.
• Extra emphasis on lacking the Magnum and Shotgun weapons. These weapons have been in every single main Halo game since the first. Whether it looked bland in Halo 2 like the Magnum, or terrible in Halo 4 and 5 like the Shotgun; they were logically expected to be in the game at release. SOLUTION: Add them back as soon as realistically possible as free DLC. I recommend using the visuals of either Halo: C.E., 3, or Reach for the Magnum; and the visuals of Halo 2 or 3 for the Shotgun. But make it to where the color of the lights on the Shotgun can be customised like the Mongoose colors in Halo: Reach’s forge.
• Missing Forge at release.
• Missing playable elites.
• Extra emphasis on Dual Wielding not returning. SOLUTION: Bring it back as soon as possible with the following balance designs: 1- Design each Dual Wieldable weapon with the idea to balance them as if they were not Dual Wieldable (Halo 5’s SMG). Then strategically place Dual Wieldable weapons on maps to where players will pick one up and run into each other. Think about the two caves on Valhalla but with one SMG in each. Players will pick them up and will encounter each other soon after. They fight and the winner is rewarded with a normal weapon becoming a power weapon. 2- Add an editable option in gametypes to disable/enable Dual Wielding so that if it does not work as intended, it can still be available everywhere that is not matchmaking. 3- Additionally, in forge, add an option to toggle each individual Dual Wieldable weapon [Example: Dual Wieldable: YES/NO right below Clip Size] in the weapon details forge menu. This means if some weapons work while others don’t with Dual Wielding, it can still be used for some weapons instead of completely disabling it in the gametype options. This forge option could be expanded further by allowing all weapons to have this feature in forge, which will be perfect for Action Sack style gametypes.
• Missing the following weapons: Magnum, Shotgun, S.M.G., Spartan Laser, Missile Pod, Flamethrower, Plasma Rifle, Carbine, Spiker, Mauler, Brute Shot, Beam Rifle, Fuel Rod Gun,__, D.M.R, Grenade Launcher, Concussion Rifle, Focus Rifle, Needle Rifle, Plasma Launcher, Sticky Detonator, Saw, Railgun, Storm Rifle, Boltshot, Lightrifle, Suppressor, Scattershot, Binary Rifle, Incineration Cannon, Gauss Turret, Rocket Pod Turret, Hunter Arm, Plasma Caster, Splinter Terret, Silenced S.M.G., Silenced Pistol, Firebomb Grenade, Pulse Grenade, Splinter Grenade, and potential others like the Target Designator. SOLUTION: Return all of these as soon as possible into the same game. The earlier when it was introduced, the higher the priority.
• Missing the following vehicles:
• Missing the following pickups: Overshields (classic cube/orb instant use), Active Camo (classic pyramid/orb instant use), and Custom Powerup.
• Missing the following equipment: Bubble Shield, Power Drain, Trip Mine, Grav Lift, Regenerator, Radar Jammer, Flare, Deployable Cover, Invisibility, and Invincibility.
• Missing the following spartan capabilities: Dual Wielding, Spartan Charge, Stabilizers, and Ground Pound.
• Missing the following gametypes: King of the Hill, Race, Juggernaut, Assault, Territories, VIP, Infection/Flood, Headhunter, Stockpile(classic), Invasion, Dominion, Regicide, Extraction, Ricochet, Warzone, and all of the associated sub-gametypes that come from them.
• Missing the following armor sets:
• The Assault Rifle uses the repulsively ugly, uncurved, detached Halo: Reach design. Specifically, the top front part of the weapon is the problem. It is not perfectly curved, the curved plating doesn’t cover enough, and the ammo counter is too disconnected from the weapon. This is one of the many main problems with Halo: Reach, and it was brought back. The rest of the design is fine. SOLUTION: add a variation of the better looking Assault Rifle (Halo: C.E. or Halo 3) or a skin/filter that changes its appearance.
•[Flight] The Plasma Pistol’s overcharge blast no longer has the EMP effect. SOLUTION: Bring it back as soon as possible or re-enable it if it has been disabled.
• The combination of letters, ‘via’, is used in this game. Specifically: “Unlocked ‘via’ Heroes of Reach Battle Pass” as an example. This combination of letters is repulsive to hear, read, and think in the way it is used. Especially since it had better actual words in its place before the 2010s. I never heard it until the 2010s. It sounds like it would be a noun instead. SOLUTION: Replace all instances of the letter combination with the words: “through”, “through the”, “by”, and “by the”.
The Neutral:
•[Flight] The new vehicle damage system is intriguing and is initially fun to mess around with. Unfortunately, it could prove to be annoying after a while. Time will tell.
Merchandise, Promotions, and Advertisements
The Good:
The Bad:
• The Jazwares-Wicked Cool Toys World of Halo line is the standard size instead of The Spartan Collection being the standard size. The World of Halo line is too small to interact with LEGO Technic action figures (Toa Metru to Toa Inika) and is therefore another Hasbro sized disappointment. The Spartan Collection line is actually close to perfection (due to the size and ease of posing unlike Mcfarlane and Mattel lines) and should be the standard line instead. SOLUTION: Turn The Spartan Collection line into the standard line with more than just spartans, and include vehicles as well. If they were to be closer to perfection, then the Master Chief figure would be 8 inches instead of 7.25 inches with the other figures following in conjunction, but they are fine as is, due to being size compatible with Toa Mata to Toa Metru sized figures. Toa are 7 feet tall on average and Spartans are about the same, so it’s well balanced as all things should be.
• The Jazwares-Wicked Cool Toys lines lack armor swapping features. SOLUTION: Make the figures (Multiplayer figures at minimum) have the ability to swap armor pieces(helmet, shoulders, and knees at minimum) for both lines(The Spartan Collection guaranteed to have it).
• Some promotions to unlock in-game content require cell phones to take pictures of receipts for content. Not everyone has a cell phone or wants one. Solution: Don’t allow promotions to require them and ensure all promotions are simple such as having a code on the product itself.