Personally, I loved health packs in the original Halo and Reach.
While I love Halo 2 and 3, I don’t like the feeling that all I have to do in a bind is sit behind cover for a couple seconds and then be all healed up. Having that sense of urgency to get my health back up in a firefight just adds an element of epicness to the game. Because your shield will only get you so far.
I would really love to see a return of the health system in future Halos and it would be great to hear everyone else’s thoughts on this.
Edit: I just found out that it has been confirmed that health packs will not be in Halo 4. I would still like to hear your opinions on the system itself though.
I love both the health pack oriented games (Halo 1, ODST and Reach) as well as the ones without health packs (Halo 2 and 3), and I’m happy with whatever route they chose to take, which seems to be more of the Halo 2/3 route.
This fits in better with the faster gameplay of Halo 2, 3 and most likely 4. Having healthpacks would take the focus away from fighting (even if just a bit) and put it more towards looking for heath packs.
I preferred the Halo games with Health Packs. When you were low on Health, even on Normal, you had to take your time. You had to think out your plan of attack, as opposed to the Rambo gameplay style that Regenerating Health has pushed on us.
I remember on my first playthrough on Halo CE, I only had one one health bar left, and I was at that run-way area filled with both Flood and Covenant in Two Betrayals. I stayed back most of the time and picked off the enemies from a range and frequently hid behind cover whenever my shield’s energy fell below a tolerable amount. When I actually made it past that area, I felt like I earned that next checkpoint and the resupply that quickly followed.
Now, Reach has limited regenerative health, which is fine with MP, but it’s really unnecessary in the Campaign. I mean, in Reach, they handed out ammo and Health packs like crazy. I still love Reach, but I felt like I got too many resupply. Almost every time you had a skirmish, they would give you a rack of AR and DMR ammo afterwards.
> I preferred the Halo games with Health Packs. When you were low on Health, even on Normal, you had to take your time. You had to think out your plan of attack, as opposed to the Rambo gameplay style that Regenerating Health has pushed on us.
>
> I remember on my first playthrough on Halo CE, I only had one one health bar left, and I was at that run-way area filled with both Flood and Covenant in Two Betrayals. I stayed back most of the time and picked off the enemies from a range and frequently hid behind cover whenever my shield’s energy fell below a tolerable amount. When I actually made it past that area, I felt like I earned that next checkpoint and the resupply that quickly followed.
>
> Now, Reach has limited regenerative health, which is fine with MP, but it’s really unnecessary in the Campaign. I mean, in Reach, they handed out ammo and Health packs like crazy. I still love Reach, but I felt like I got too many resupply. Almost every time you had a skirmish, they would give you a rack of AR and DMR ammo afterwards.
That’s exactly what I am talking about! It’s that feeling that really played a part in making CE my favorite Halo. It felt awesome having to plan out stuff and be rewarded with epic victories!
And while Halo 3 and 2 did have their epic moments, I didn’t feel my actions carried as much weight to them which made it feel less like I earned it (that’s assuming I even won).
Health Packs, though a cool concept, it exceedingly irritating. How many times have you felt beaten down in Legendary because you NEEDED that damn health pack that wasn’t there? I hope they keep the things out, though this could be my bias of Halo 2/3 online preference kicking in.
> Health Packs, though a cool concept, it exceedingly irritating. How many times have you felt beaten down in Legendary because you NEEDED that damn health pack that wasn’t there? I hope they keep the things out, though this could be my bias of Halo 2/3 online preference kicking in.
I can see where you are coming from, but to me it just added to the feeling of intensity and epicness! Plus, it’s Legendary so I don’t exactly go in there expecting to just breeze through xD
> It doesn’t bother me that health bars are gone. I would still like fall damage though.
Thanks for posting.
Though I kinda have to say, without the health system what would be the point? I mean your shields are just going to regenerate without any real damage done.
Health packs to me, promote map movement if they are strategically placed away from good set up locations. If a team is entrenched and difficult to kill, you can wear them down and force them from their camp.
I’m a bit disappointed they won’t be included as they are simply another reason for players to keep moving instead of sitting in one location.
> > It doesn’t bother me that health bars are gone. I would still like fall damage though.
>
> Thanks for posting.
> Though I kinda have to say, without the health system what would be the point? I mean your shields are just going to regenerate without any real damage done.
Well it won’t work the same, but still even in Reach and CE shields drained before any health was taken off. So basically all it should do is drain your shields now. I just think its stupid that falling from 100ft doesn’t kill you but a bullet or a moving vehicle can.
> > I didn’t see a health bar in the video. There probably will be none and I hope it stays that way.
>
> If I may ask, why don’t you like them?
I don’t think there is any reason to like them.
Barring the fact that it is a dated mechanic, its better for two equal players to fight and the winner able to sit back and recharge their shields to get back in to the rest of the fight.
What happens if the winner of the fight was damaged but had enough time to sit back for a shield recharge and the health didn’t? Now they have to search the map for a health pack, just to run into a stray grenade or a player who just spawned and has fresh mags in his gun and full health AND shielding.
That isn’t a fair fight.
As for Camapign, what are health packs REALLY changing? What is a few health bars that won’t recharge to an enemy AI? A grenade will kill you either way. A power weapon will kill you either way. It adds a mundane and menial task to surviving.
AI intelligence should dictate how a player tackles them, not a pointless handicap like separate health.
> > > I didn’t see a health bar in the video. There probably will be none and I hope it stays that way.
> >
> > If I may ask, why don’t you like them?
>
> I don’t think there is any reason to like them.
>
> Barring the fact that it is a dated mechanic, its better for two equal players to fight and the winner able to sit back and recharge their shields to get back in to the rest of the fight.
>
> What happens if the winner of the fight was damaged but had enough time to sit back for a shield recharge and the health didn’t? Now they have to search the map for a health pack, just to run into a stray grenade or a player who just spawned and has fresh mags in his gun and full health AND shielding.
>
> That isn’t a fair fight.
>
> As for Camapign, what are health packs REALLY changing? What is a few health bars that won’t recharge to an enemy AI? A grenade will kill you either way. A power weapon will kill you either way. It adds a mundane and menial task to surviving.
>
> AI intelligence should dictate how a player tackles them, not a pointless handicap like separate health.
First I would like to thank you for actually giving a well thought out reply. I don’t see that often anymore.
As for an answer to your question, starting with MP: while I see your point, I feel that it is actually a very good mechanic that makes a player think a bit more than just rush. Your scenario is a valid one, but I think the pros of having the system outweigh the cons. It is also a mechanic that is unique and fun (in my opinion). It helps Halo differ from the rest of today’s shooters.
As for campaign, you would be surprised how much of a difference one bar can make.
> > > > I didn’t see a health bar in the video. There probably will be none and I hope it stays that way.
> > >
> > > If I may ask, why don’t you like them?
> >
> > I don’t think there is any reason to like them.
> >
> > Barring the fact that it is a dated mechanic, its better for two equal players to fight and the winner able to sit back and recharge their shields to get back in to the rest of the fight.
> >
> > What happens if the winner of the fight was damaged but had enough time to sit back for a shield recharge and the health didn’t? Now they have to search the map for a health pack, just to run into a stray grenade or a player who just spawned and has fresh mags in his gun and full health AND shielding.
> >
> > That isn’t a fair fight.
> >
> > As for Camapign, what are health packs REALLY changing? What is a few health bars that won’t recharge to an enemy AI? A grenade will kill you either way. A power weapon will kill you either way. It adds a mundane and menial task to surviving.
> >
> > AI intelligence should dictate how a player tackles them, not a pointless handicap like separate health.
>
> First I would like to thank you for actually giving a well thought out reply. I don’t see that often anymore.
>
> As for an answer to your question, starting with MP: while I see your point, I feel that it is actually a very good mechanic that makes a player think a bit more than just rush. Your scenario is a valid one, but I think the pros of having the system outweigh the cons. It is also a mechanic that is unique and fun (in my opinion). It helps Halo differ from the rest of today’s shooters.
>
> As for campaign, you would be surprised how much of a difference one bar can make.
Thanks for the compliments.
There are reasons to have and not have separate health bars/health packs. I’m just expressing my feelings. I always saw them as a nuisance and something that does little to nothing to change how players approach battles. Simply because the AI doesn’t care and will react with aggression either way. It’s always in the way for me, personally.
