To be honest, I was always cautiously optimistic for Halo 4 after Reach however that took a turn for the worse when they announced the MP features in Jan/Feb which read like it was from a call of duty game to me. Well after finally getting the game earlier today, I can safely say that Halo is back and it’s really really good.
I can’t help though but think that 343i have pulled off the impossible with this game being so good. This is from a MP perspective at least and honestly, about a few hours in I was telling my friend that I was getting bored and was probably going home soon. Well after “just one more game” for three hours straight, Halo is back and it’s as addictive as ever… how on Earth did 343i pull it off?
First off they had Reach to deal with… that was a pile of putrid filth (MP wise) which will forever tarnish the series. Bungie really took a steaming crap all over the Halo brand with this one and 343i had the tough decision of deciding what to include from Reach into Halo 4 to please Reach fans but at the same time please fans of the older Halo games. Well they accomplished this perfectly by pretty much taking everything that made Reach, Reach and molding it into features that belong in a Halo game. I’d say it’s pretty safe to say that Halo 4 is the game Halo Reach should have been.
They then have Microsoft to deal with. I’m sure some semi clueless execs saw the success and the estimated sales figures of the call of duty series and asked the question “why can’t our Halo be as popular as that?” Not to mention Halo is Microsoft’s biggest gaming IP and after the mixed reception Reach had received, they were probably breathing down 343i’s necks every step of the way of the creation of Halo 4.
They then have the MLG crowd to contend with. Now I wouldn’t consider myself a part of that crowd however I value competitive merits in multiplayer components of games more than anything. I think the game still has quite a bit of work to do but I’m sure almost everyone can see the potential is there to make this into a great competitive title. The announcement of skill based rankings coming is HUGE and a giant leap in the right direction.
Anyway, going to remove my tongue from 343’s behinds but still, after about five hours with the mp, I’m a converted fanboy.
