HALO5 Review 14yr Vet competitive player viewpoint

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

I am writing a Halo 5 review today, because I have unlimited knowledge and experience playing competitive multiplayer games and especially Halo in general. I have been playing Halo’s multiplayer competitively online before Xbox live was even available. In 2001 when Halo 1 was released there was a free program called Xbox connect that allowed you to play Halo 1’s multiplayer online through system link using a computer. You would use your Xbox and PC (with Xbox connect software installed) to connect to people all around the world to play Halo 1 online.

(My Experience w Halo)

  • Played Halo’s multiplayer competitively for 14 years
  • Great understanding of competitive side of first person shooters
    +Great understanding of what makes Halo more competitive and skilled
    +MLG event experience and Local tournament experience

I am writing a review today from a competitive multiplayer point of view. You always have two types of Halo players the competitive player and the casual player. The competitive player sees the skill involved in games and does everything in their power to keep getting better. A casual player plays the game just to have fun and doesn’t care about getting better and does not mind dying a lot.

Now, I have played all the Halos for many years, and one reason why Halo has been so popular among hardcore competitive players is because of the skill level it takes to be good at Halo. From Call of duty, to all other first person shooters, Halo has always been a game with a major skill gap and that’s a good thing. When a competitive multiplayer game has a big skill gap, a lot more skill is involved to become good or great in a game. To become a legend in Halo you truly have to be very skilled to be successful. For example, in call of duty my young nephew can pick up the controller hit some buttons and kill someone. In Halo he cannot and noobs struggle more in Halo than in any other first person shooter on consoles that is played competitively. I am not saying anything bad about other first person shooters or Call of duty I like all types of games and they all take tremendous amount of skill, but my greatest and most knowledge experiences with competitive multiplayer is with Halo.

** (One thing you need to know Before Reading Review) **
Halo 1 <Skill Gap> Unbelievable, Competitive players that were Noobs/Beginners had the longest learning curve to become good or skilled.
<Multiplayer was tailored and designed perfectly for competitive players>
Halo 2 <Skill Gap> Unbelievable, Competitive first person shooter Noobs/Beginners had the longest learning curve to become good or skilled.
<Multiplayer was tailored and designed perfectly for competitive players>
Halo 3 <Skill Gap> Good, started tailoring multiplayer towards competitive and casual players more.
Halo Reach <Skill Gap> Good, tailored multiplayer towards competitive and casual.
Halo 4 <Skill Gap> Good, tailored multiplayer towards competitive and casual.

Halo 5*<Skill Gap> Much better started tailoring multiplayer towards competitive side of players more again, and the game once again takes much more skill to become good or skilled in the game.

Halo 5’s multiplayer positives
+Radar
Making the radar only show a player when he is in close proximity increase the skill level dramatically in Halo. When radar shows players a mile away in competitive first person shooters a player is using less skill to locate an opponent. A person is much more aware of what is going on around them when there is no radar, and less skill is involved to locate enemies. It dramatically weakens the player’s sense of what’s going on around them because they have something to assist them in locating opponents, which weakens skills in out maneuvering and out thinking your opponent.

When Halo 1 and Halo 2 were at their prime in competitive multiplayer. A lot of local tournaments would not even allow radar in the game types that were played. From years of experience using radar and not using radar in competitive play, I much more prefer no radar, because when you do not use radar in competitive player you play different and you do not even realize the skill involved in being your own radar. With no radar you your abilities and skills increase, your communication level between teammates increases, and your overall skill level and awareness increase. When I would play in local tournaments or at MLG events sometimes my team would practice with no radar for a while, so we would be in tip top shape going into a tournament.

+Taking out jet pack and other armor abilities.
Halo 1 and Halo 2 already demonstrate why Halo is more skilled without them. Halo in its prime competitively was about teamwork, communication, out maneuvering, out thinking your opponent, and most importantly skill level.

  • Thrust and strafing.
    Halo has a great amount of skill involved in dodging, strafing, and out maneuvering your opponent, and the thrust is the only ability that truly keeps the game balanced. While adding a huge new dimension to the skill level of the game competitively.

+Having three dominate weapons that take skill
The pistol is fantastic brings me back to Halo 1.
The BR is fantastic
The DMR is fantastic
All the weapons to me seemed very balanced, because I can use all three to drop people from all sorts of distances just takes skill.
And for the people who say the assault rifle needs to be nerfed, just get more skill in the game and you can kill anyone with anything in all sorts of ways.

THE NEGATIVE

There online multiplayer needs more game types. Whatever happen to bomb, 1 bomb, 1 flag CTF, and all the other competitively game types?

Now remember, a huge majority of Halo greats got into Halo when Halo 2 was released. True Halo legends and veterans started out playing Halo when Halo CE was released, and there was no online multiplayer on consoles only PCs had good competitive online multiplayer games. Not only have I played competitive first person shooters all my life from PC to consoles, I have played Halo competitively for 14 years now, and have great experience and knowledge when it comes to the competitive side of Halo. I have a great outlook and way of analyzing and breaking down Halo’s competitive side of multiplayer from years of experience and I hope you enjoyed this review.

I will add more negatives later

Thanks for your time Jacob

2

I agree. We need the old game types back and more playlists.

3

removing all the armor abilities has made the game less fun it’s boring every body having to use the same ability

Jet pack would of made rocket rumble better

4

> 2533274962122285;3:
> removing all the armor abilities has made the game less fun it’s boring every body having to use the same ability
>
> Jet pack would of made rocket rumble better

No.

5

> 2533274962122285;3:
> removing all the armor abilities has made the game less fun it’s boring every body having to use the same ability
>
> Jet pack would of made rocket rumble better

This is the problem with modern games… they’re not good. They’re loaded with gimmicks, which get stale quickly.

Halo 2 had no abilities at all, yet it never got boring because it wasn’t about OMGWTFBBQ I can do this and that?! That’s so rad!
It was about how the matches played out. Every match was a chess game, it it was addicting. It was all about fundamentals, mixed with creativity. Creative players won.
That’s gone.

6

I definitely think halo 5 finally found a way to freshen up the game with out detracting from halo’s core. Best since halo 3 IMO.

7

> 2717573882290994;5:
> > 2533274962122285;3:
> > removing all the armor abilities has made the game less fun it’s boring every body having to use the same ability
> >
> > Jet pack would of made rocket rumble better
>
>
> This is the problem with modern games… they’re not good. They’re loaded with gimmicks, which get stale quickly.
>
> Halo 2 had no abilities at all, yet it never got boring because it wasn’t about OMGWTFBBQ I can do this and that?! That’s so rad!
> It was about how the matches played out. Every match was a chess game, it it was addicting. It was all about fundamentals, mixed with creativity. Creative players won.
> That’s gone.

Not true: thrust, hover/groungpound, and even clambering has added a dynamic that allows players to be more creative with map movement and how they fight their targets. That’s definitely not gone.

Reason nobody liked Jet packs on a competitive level was because it changed how you used the map and how the map’s are designed taking away the creativity in that regard. I have played games with Jet packs in competitive multiplayer, like Red Faction for example, where it actually does work and makes use of it as a juke move but the maps are more 1-dimensional so it doesn’t deter from map movement any. When it was introduced in Halo I felt it could add some dynamics but everyone didn’t start with the same ability and like I mentioned it kinda changed how maps were played.

8

14 year vet as well, I like Halo 5’s fresh and new direction.

9

Stop posting your resume and bow long you have ayed the series. No one cares and it doesn’t make hour opinions anymore valid than the next person. I agree with you though.

10

> 2717573882290994;5:
> > 2533274962122285;3:
> > removing all the armor abilities has made the game less fun it’s boring every body having to use the same ability
> >
> > Jet pack would of made rocket rumble better
>
>
> This is the problem with modern games… they’re not good. They’re loaded with gimmicks, which get stale quickly.
>
> Halo 2 had no abilities at all, yet it never got boring because it wasn’t about OMGWTFBBQ I can do this and that?! That’s so rad!
> It was about how the matches played out. Every match was a chess game, it it was addicting. It was all about fundamentals, mixed with creativity. Creative players won.
> That’s gone.

Yes x1000.

It used to be about the team work and winning with coordinated skill. It was about controlling the power weapons and maps (something no game offers to the extent of the early Halos). It was the team work and competition that was fun not the flashy armor abilities. I think the sprint and the thruster pack just speed up the game without giving people an unequal advantage and that is awesome!

11

I thought this was a troll post, at first. But then I realized you’re probably actually being serious…

12

> 2760465307323250;7:
> > 2717573882290994;5:
> > > 2533274962122285;3:
> > > removing all the armor abilities has made the game less fun it’s boring every body having to use the same ability
> > >
> > > Jet pack would of made rocket rumble better
> >
> >
> > This is the problem with modern games… they’re not good. They’re loaded with gimmicks, which get stale quickly.
> >
> > Halo 2 had no abilities at all, yet it never got boring because it wasn’t about OMGWTFBBQ I can do this and that?! That’s so rad!
> > It was about how the matches played out. Every match was a chess game, it it was addicting. It was all about fundamentals, mixed with creativity. Creative players won.
> > That’s gone.
>
>
> Not true: thrust, hover/groungpound, and even clambering has added a dynamic that allows players to be more creative with map movement and how they fight their targets. That’s definitely not gone.
>
> Reason nobody liked Jet packs on a competitive level was because it changed how you used the map and how the map’s are designed taking away the creativity in that regard. I have played games with Jet packs in competitive multiplayer, like Red Faction for example, where it actually does work and makes use of it as a juke move but the maps are more 1-dimensional so it doesn’t deter from map movement any. When it was introduced in Halo I felt it could add some dynamics but everyone didn’t start with the same ability and like I mentioned it kinda changed how maps were played.

But the camber thrust and hover jump are shared equally. You know they can do it. Second all those moves are little movement differences. A little help on a jump run faster float in the air for a second. They are not game changers like the stupid jet pack or random invisibilty. Everyone has an equal shot at power ups and power weapons now.

13

> 2533274793616507;11:
> I thought this was a troll post, at first. But then I realized you’re probably actually being serious…

Many of us have the same level of experience, but I don’t mind his horn a little :wink: Outside of that he makes good points. I hope people start investing time into h5 like h1-h3 again. I think this game advances the franchise well while reviving the old halo dymamic.

14

> 2603643534586909;8:
> 14 year vet as well, I like Halo 5’s fresh and new direction.

Ditto

15

14 year vet as well but I wouldn’t say at a competitive level, halo 5 is definitely a great game and I like the new direction and how balance the multiplayer is and I agree there needs to be more map and gametypes. halo 5 has so much potential 343i just needs to get the content out faster.

-yoink- 14 years? where did time go (._.)

16

> 2535425443303083;12:
> > 2760465307323250;7:
> > > 2717573882290994;5:
> > > > 2533274962122285;3:
> > > > removing all the armor abilities has made the game less fun it’s boring every body having to use the same ability
> > > >
> > > > Jet pack would of made rocket rumble better
> > >
> > >
> > > This is the problem with modern games… they’re not good. They’re loaded with gimmicks, which get stale quickly.
> > >
> > > Halo 2 had no abilities at all, yet it never got boring because it wasn’t about OMGWTFBBQ I can do this and that?! That’s so rad!
> > > It was about how the matches played out. Every match was a chess game, it it was addicting. It was all about fundamentals, mixed with creativity. Creative players won.
> > > That’s gone.
> >
> >
> > Not true: thrust, hover/groungpound, and even clambering has added a dynamic that allows players to be more creative with map movement and how they fight their targets. That’s definitely not gone.
> >
> > Reason nobody liked Jet packs on a competitive level was because it changed how you used the map and how the map’s are designed taking away the creativity in that regard. I have played games with Jet packs in competitive multiplayer, like Red Faction for example, where it actually does work and makes use of it as a juke move but the maps are more 1-dimensional so it doesn’t deter from map movement any. When it was introduced in Halo I felt it could add some dynamics but everyone didn’t start with the same ability and like I mentioned it kinda changed how maps were played.
>
>
> But the camber thrust and hover jump are shared equally. You know they can do it. Second all those moves are little movement differences. A little help on a jump run faster float in the air for a second. They are not game changers like the stupid jet pack or random invisibilty. Everyone has an equal shot at power ups and power weapons now.

No. There are now too many options, so it becomes impossible to predict anything.
No matter what you do, it’ll probably work because it’s impossible for the opponent to properly prepare.
Sprint just allows a lone wolf to run into your stronghold like nothing. It’s just not the same.

17

I like the review, felt it was fair without whining about what’s there, and what’s not.

Personally, while I play, “serious” I don’t take it serious to the point where I’d want sprint, clamor, or slide removed (I believe you were saying thrust is good which I’d agree).

I don’t believe the majority of the population does either.

Having the the option to remove it in custom, or MLG play is fine by me, or even an MLG playlist like Reach had.

Thanks for sharing I found this beneficial.

18

The abilities don’t work well right now… they can make the game new and refined with them but they failed. They shortened the radar and its too easy for players to use spartan charge (noob charge) from behind and even from the front they can still kill you, its so annoying that dumb -Yoink- ability is. The radar should be small but not when you have that ability. Maps are too small in general and especially for these abilities and their design is mainly horrid. Ground pound is pretty easy to use but I don’t care about it until someone gets trolly with it… Slide and sprint speed up the gameplay and can either hurt or help the player, so you have to use them right and if you don’t, you die. Clamber is forced as -Yoinking!- -Yoink- in this game, you can’t jump or crouch jump usefully anymore, you have to -Yoinking!- clamber everywhere and its annoying especially when it’ll get you killed pretty easily if you’re spotted doing that or punched while doing it in gametypes like swat and breakout. Thrust is way too easy to use too, people just dodge bullets like no other and the kill that I was going to get is gone and there’s no way to adapt because its not like you can shoot faster.

This game isn’t halo and the thing is kids can just push buttons and get kills nowadays but still 343 pushes competitive ranking in every damn playlist… This isn’t Halo, even Reach was more like Halo, damn this game and 343… we’ve given them 3 chances.

19

> 2535429089645794;9:
> Stop posting your resume and bow long you have ayed the series. No one cares and it doesn’t make hour opinions anymore valid than the next person. I agree with you though.

Wow you’re advanced -Yoinking!- stupid jesus christ