So I saw Kiki/343 is considering expanding Halo to different genres. Here is my idea.
We never get to see the cities or inhabitants of the Halo universe. We never see the New York/Captial Cities of powerful nations. We never see the toll the War takes on the citizens. We never see the politics between nations/factions/species.
I would like a more personal impactful story based around the idea that the gov’t. is using this war as a way to gain more control over its citizens and the citizens don’t notice or respond until it is too late since they are busy living their lives.
For example kidnapping kids and turning them into spartans. Show things like this how the gov’t. is taking advantage of its citizens. Eventually an extremely covert group of rebels forms with many members inside gov’t. itself which makes them even more fanatic and mistrustful. Maybe there are scientists doing bad experiments on those suspected of being a rebel.
You start as a member of the gov’t. who believes the rebels are wrong but eventually sees they are right and switches sides. The game should highlight the deceit and mistrust that is rampant among those in the gov’t. and the citizens. For instance maybe you decide to help the rebels and think you are working for them but really it is a group masquerading as the rebels under a politician hungry for more power. Also ask questions like how all the advanced technology can make the world more dangerous. Meaning how will this help the gov’t/rebels/terrorists?
How do the rebels know they can trust each other? How do you decide who to help get put into power or how to change the gov’t?
Halo 4 is all about large open areas with enemies scattered about. I think this should focus on more cluttered maps and more natural enemies. I could easily see stealth playing a big part of this game similar to Splinter Cell/Hitman but more natural. Meaning you aren’t really an assassin but a normal member of the rebels. Therefore you must be covert but you don’t have years of training. That isn’t a big deal but I would like to see you guys really try to innovate a fresh new take on combat for this title since you are in a completely different situation (not a spartan). So naturally you would approach combat differently.
I think the game should be really cinematic with a bunch of powerful characters. Maybe there are multiple main characters? I would say almost treat this like a show. The goal of this would be to show a completely different side to the Halo universe than what we see with MasterChief but some easter eggs would be cool! Make it really personal/emotional/impactful. Maybe it will makes us question how technology could threaten/empower our future.
So the pros of this would be that you could expand the Halo franchise popularity by appealing to people who like different types of games. You can expand the Halo universe and the plot. You can show us cities and things we would never get to see with MasterChief. You can have free reign to innovate a new fresh approach to combat that will not upset long-time Halo fans. You can get more people interested in the universe with a story that is fresh and easy to follow. You reinvigorate interest in the franchise with a totally different Halo experience.
Finally, considering this turns out well you now have 2 franchises based on Halo which makes it an even bigger deal in gaming and will both cross-promote each other. They will both drive interest in each other. Oh and 343 can finally leave their mark on the Halo universe with no restraints!