So since I got Reach (in 2011) I slowly started appreciating the graphics in this game. I do kind of agree that Reach looks better graphically than Halo 4 in terms of detail on basically everything when you start looking at objects up close. I also like how the DMR weapon model looks in this game. Looks more visually appealing than the DMR in Halo 4. But anyways about the motion blur in this game, I actually don’t mind it. In fact it makes the game look more realistic especially while you’re sprinting while holding the DMR (since there’s a ridiculous amount of detail on the gun). Just a personal opinion. But what does everyone else think? I know that my topic seems really late but like I said it did take me a long while for the graphics to kind of grow on me, especially since this is a game released in 2010 and the Xbox 360 is an ageing piece of hardware. I want to know what everyone else (who still plays Reach) thinks about Reach’s graphics in general.
It’s a visually stunning game…couldn’t agree more. I see many posts in comparison threads favoring Reach over 4, but giving 4 the edge in graphics. I think they’re just throwing 4 a bone, so as to not completely lambast the game. Not only are the graphics and details done better than in 4, character movement and animations are superior as well. I think the blur effect was done on purpose, to smooth over the sudden shifts when moving. It’s a nice touch.
At first, I thought the graphics in Halo 4 looked really good, and it still is. However, since I’ve been playing Reach a lot more lately (Since I already leveled up to 130SR in Halo 4 and now focusing on becoming an Inheritor Rank), I’ve really started to like the graphics, details, movement, etc. much more in Reach. It just seems more realistic, while Halo 4 looks a bit too bright and “alien-like” (Hard to explain that one). I feel like that Reach shows what Bungie wanted Halo to look like from the beginning and I love it. Especially the elites. They look awesome in Reach!
Plus, when you want to make a machinima, Reach gives you a lot of options, customizations, and smooth movement to your character (Especially when you don’t want a weapon). I wish 343i had that fixed in Halo 4 when you lower your weapon, but that’s another topic.
Anyway, I still do like Halo 4, but Reach wins it for me.
I definitely agree. Everyone seems to think that because Reach is older the graphics are worse but nothing is further from the truth.
I love the look of Reach. I played the demo before I could afford the game and was blown away by the increase in detail from Halo 3 to Reach. Even little things, like the grenade twisting & spiraling when you toss it.
HOWEVER: I like taking screenshots … lots of 'em … and sharing them on the forum here, and Halo 4 is tops. Especially in lighting and having proper looking Mark V armor (I don’t know why they changed it in Reach).
HOWEVER AGAIN!: I can’t take screenshots in the campaign, have Elites or any Covenant or Prometheans … for that (save for the prometheans) I use Reach.
Yes Reach was the best in every way when it came to graphics.
The only good thing about Halo 4 graphic’s were the use of Dynamic lighting but the texturing on Halo 4 was pretty bad while Reach texturing was a lot better in general.
Halo 4 even messed up the proper designs by ignoring the established designs of the covenant while Reach kept to the original designs.
> Yes Reach was the best in every way when it came to graphics.
> The only good thing about Halo 4 graphic’s were the use of Dynamic lighting but the texturing on Halo 4 was pretty bad while Reach texturing was a lot better in general.
>
> Halo 4 even messed up the proper designs by ignoring the established designs of the covenant while <mark>Reach kept to the original designs.</mark>
Did it? Look at a Jackal in Combat Evolved then in Reach. Or a Phantom in Halo 2 vs one in Reach. Or an Elite in Combat Evolved vs Halo 3. Bungie was doing the same thing, just not as drastically. They wanted to make Halo look a bit less cartoonish
and a bit more mature … plus canonically, the Covenant Remnant is made up of other varying species (Jackals from other worlds like Darwin’s Finches if you will) and they used armor, weapons, and ships that pre-date the Human / Covenant War.
It’s not the same Covenant and it’s old equipment.
I think Halo: Reach was criticized pretty harshly during its “lifespan.” And unfortunately I would consider myself one of those critics. Because it wasn’t Halo 3, people seemed very upset. However, looking back, that song keeps playing in my head: “you don’t know what you’ve got 'till it’s gone.”
The graphics… They really were top-notch. I mean I can’t really dog on Halo 4 because I thoroughly enjoy it and I think that while the graphics are unique to each game, that both are good. But… Still. Being a screenshot artist on Halo: Reach and Halo 4 has given me innumerable chances to explore the maps and the armors and everything because frankly I get more enjoyment from taking pictures of the games than playing matchmaking. 
The armor is crisper. The outside of the maps aren’t too pixelated. Everything seemed to ooze detail. And for that I wish I had appreciated Reach more when I played it.
But… Hey. It was 343’s first try. I think they can only improve from here on out.
I love the graphics on Reach - especially Winter Contingency.
I’m from Scotland and I’ve been to areas in the North-West Highlands that you’d swear the designers visited - or at least seen photos of.
Same rocks, same brown and green landscape, same twisted trees and extremely similar jagged mountains that seem to touch the sky (no split peak, though).
As I said on another thread, I like soldiers to look like soldiers and that’s another plus for Reach - the armour looks scored and scuffed, dull and well-used.
I’m a Reach fan-boy. (There, I’ve said it!)
> I love the graphics on Reach - especially Winter Contingency.
> I’m from Scotland and I’ve been to areas in the North-West Highlands that you’d swear the designers visited - or at least seen photos of.
> Same rocks, same brown and green landscape, same twisted trees and extremely similar jagged mountains that seem to touch the sky (no split peak, though).
>
> As I said on another thread, I like soldiers to look like soldiers and that’s another plus for Reach - the armour looks scored and scuffed, dull and well-used.
>
> I’m a Reach fan-boy. (There, I’ve said it!)
To be fair, the Spartans in Halo 4 are wearing brand new Gen II armor, so you wouldn’t expect much wear & tear. In fact, the only helmet I can think of with rough details is the Mark V, especially on the vents up close.
The Spartan III’s armor took a lot more of a beating than the Spartan IV’s, so the clean look of Halo 4’s armor makes sense.
That’s funny you mentioned Winter Contingency looking like the Highlands of Scotland, because it reminded me of South-Eastern Ohio, near the Appalachian mountains … of course, we are roughly on the same longitude. And my Scotch-Irish ancestors stayed in this region for that very reason. (“Martini” is not my actual surname, lol)
> > Yes Reach was the best in every way when it came to graphics.
> > The only good thing about Halo 4 graphic’s were the use of Dynamic lighting but the texturing on Halo 4 was pretty bad while Reach texturing was a lot better in general.
> >
> > Halo 4 even messed up the proper designs by ignoring the established designs of the covenant while <mark>Reach kept to the original designs.</mark>
>
> Did it? Look at a Jackal in Combat Evolved then in Reach. Or a Phantom in Halo 2 vs one in Reach. Or an Elite in Combat Evolved vs Halo 3. Bungie was doing the same thing, just not as drastically. They wanted to make Halo look a bit less cartoonish
> and a bit more mature … plus canonically, the Covenant Remnant is made up of other varying species (Jackals from other worlds like Darwin’s Finches if you will) and they used armor, weapons, and ships that pre-date the Human / Covenant War.
> It’s not the same Covenant and it’s old equipment.
The point I’m trying to make is Bungie kept a consistency that looked right but Halo 4 broke this. I know the Covenant was made up of several factions but there was always a general theme that made the designs very similar plus the texturing in H4 just wasn’t as good, the Elite skins always bugged me how bad they looked in H4 while I never had any issues with the Elite textures in any Halo game before 4, even Spartan Assault did a better job and the different variety’s of Elites felt more natural while H4 changes felt forced.
> It’s a visually stunning game…couldn’t agree more. I see many posts in comparison threads favoring Reach over 4, but giving 4 the edge in graphics. I think they’re just throwing 4 a bone, so as to not completely lambast the game. Not only are the graphics and details done better than in 4, character movement and animations are superior as well. I think the blur effect was done on purpose, to smooth over the sudden shifts when moving. It’s a nice touch.
Yeah, and the lighting system was the star of the show in Halo 4.
I prefer the hunters in h4 to the previous designs… scrap the rest.
Jackals, grunts and,most of all,elites looking like dinosaurs is not my taste
To my eye Reach maintained a consistent quality, lets say 7/10.
Halo 4 varied a lot, say 4…10 /10.
Halo4 has issues with details like the clouds not moving, the stars not twinkling, vehicle displays not animating… some of the backs of building and environments had low textures, poor animations, poor draw distances. Whereas Bungie had an eye for detail.
The beginning of the Halo4 campaign is amazing (inside the Forward Unto Dawn). But once you begin to explore and see larger environments things unravel. I think they miscalculated their graphics budget.
Overall the variation in quality in Halo 4 had a jarring effect on me.
Yeah I actually prefer Reach’s graphics, I can’t explain it but Halo 4’s graphics just don’t seem as good to me.
I’ll accede that the graphics are better in Reach in that they’re more realistic, but I prefer the art style of Halo 4. It feels like an evolution of Halo 3’s.
I agree in some way as well just halo reach has better grahics i guess
Halo Reach was more refined and well done. Bungie did a brilliant job unlike 343.
Hard to say ‘better’, but I prefer Reach’ environment, art style, spartan looks, animations.
Nevertheless I’m also glad to have H4 and it’s specific look every once in a while.