How I feel about SWAT

Games Other Halo
1

In halo reach I played SWAT only cause there were no nades or armour lock that so often made gameplay in other modes a pain in the -Yoink-.
I’d end up with 20-30 kills a game. In halo 4 I’m even having a hard time getting top 3.

Here’s what I don’t like about new swat:

Bloom

The main reason is that there’s barely any bloom at all.I know everyone complained about bloom in reach, even I did, but I realized that bloom made the difference between a good and a bad player. Sure bloom was random at times and I yelled alot at my tvscreen. But now it’s just too easy to get them headshots.All you need to do is shoot and if you miss just keep shooting. In reach you had to learn to pace your shots which is not needed in halo 4.
The pistol in halo 4 is a joke. In reach most people sucked with it, and that gave skilled player an advantage. The bloom effect made you miss like every shot after the 2 first. Skilled player would shoot 2 shots, then wait a little bit longer before starting shooting again to minimize the bloom effect. Bad players would just spam shots and if they were lucky they’d get a generic kill but usually not a head shot.
The pistol in halo 4 is way too easy to use, and I believe the hit box is really big (I’ve only used the pistol once or twice in halo 4, but I got some headshots that shouldn’t have counted as headshots)Since there’s barely any bloom it’s possible to spam around the head.

Battlerifle

I never played SWAT in halo 3 cause I enjoyed the other game modes more. In reach I hated armour abilities so that’s why I only played SWAT. Which means I’m used to the DMR and not the BR in SWAT.
The BR removes the skills from SWAT. Anyone can get an easy kill with BR by just spraying around. With the DMR you need to shoot at the right timing, with BR all you need to do is aim somewhat close to his head and just shoot and mess about with the right stick.
Yesterday I got my first killtrocity in halo 4. But I didn’t get that great feeling from reach where even an overkill felt good. The reason was that all I had to do was to spray with BR and turne the right stick left and right. I got a triple kill with the first burst, and then needed 2 bursts for the remaining 3 kills. There was no skill in that at all, and I didn’t feel like I accomplished something great. I felt sad that it was so easy and any noob could’ve done it as well.

Teamplay

Teamplay WITHOUT mics. Most ppl don’t use mics or would rather be in a party with their friends only. I prefer being in a party with just my friends. Sometimes we’re only 2 ppl, which means we have no way to communicate with the other members of our team. Reach solved this problem by adding indicators. A yellow indicator meant that your teammate was shooting. An orange meant that they were being shot, and a red X meant they were dead. This was crucial for me to know in order to get a high kill score. Halo 4 removed this completely so there’s no way to tell if the enemy killed my friend in this exact spot 10 seconds from now. So I don’t know if I should be more on my guard or if I can relax and reload. this has made me go hide in corners everytime I reload cause I have no control and don’t have the slightest idea where the enemy is. It also slows down gameplay alot since now it’s harder to know where the enemy is and you will have to walk around the map searching for them. Sometimes I walk around for minutes without seeing a single enemy, which brings us to

Maps

The halo 4 maps are horrible for SWAT. They aren’t fun at all. They have a slow gameplay, and usually all you do is walking around in circles looking for the enemy. They are all like Zealot in reach. You walk around aiming just waiting for the enemy to walk into your crosshair. Sometimes you take a sneakpeak into the middle of the map, then back to bussiness. In reach it was okay since it was only one map, in halo 4 I feel like most of them slows down gameplay and you put in to much time searching for the enemy. In reach there was always places that had an advantage, and every team wanted to be there, meaning the fights would be there. There was no walking around searching for enemies. You always knew they would go for that one spot, but you never knew which way. Like in swordbase, you knew they would be at the top of one of the elevators, and you had 4 options getting there if the enemy owned the spot. There was actually tactics in reach SWAT. Usually owning the high ground spot ended up in a victory and that’s why everyone wanted to own the spot. I enjoy haven cause it’s easy to see your enemy. On the other hand it’s also so easy to get instaspawnedkilled.

Instaspawn

This is probably what I hate most about the halo 4 SWAT. The most fun I could have in reach SWAT was when I got an extermination. It was kinda the goal of every game, to get the exterm. The instaspawn removes the chance to get extermination. I mean I got a killtrocity in a matter of seconds and yet that was no exterm since they respawned instantly. Also I can’t count how many times I have died, respawned and then just sprinted back to the place I died and killed the same enemy knowing where he was cause he had no chance at all to get away from the place. And I’ve been killed the same way countless of times as well. I usually try to get away from my spot as soon as I kill someone cause now there’s killcam so they will know where I was standing. But because of the instaspawn I usually get killed trying to avoid getting killed. The killcam is great though, it makes it harder to camp.

Sounds

This isn’t really a big problem. But the main reason I got good at SWAT in reach was that it was easy to hear if someone walked behind you, or if someone used the lift over in that corner, or if they used the lift behind you. I think it’s way harder to rely on the sounds in halo 4. Although I did notice a difference using headphones. But in reach I didn’t have to use headphones to hear if someone was walking behind me. But like I said this isn’t a big issue

So basically, what I’m saying is that they have made SWAT too easy for new players that there’s no way to divide skilled players with bad players. Spray around with BR and you will get as many kills as someone who has played swat only for years.

Your opinions?

P.S here’s a video to show you that I do really know what I’m talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NmSS8ZLWsQ

2

Here’s what I think as an avid Reach-SWAT player.

No more bloom:
Thank God it is gone! I understand that it would theoratically make the difference between good and decent players. But bloom was way too random. In the kind of short, highly violent bursts of action you have in SWAT, you simply can not pace the DMR so that you avoid bloom entirely. I have lost countless kills simply because my reticle wasn’t completely back into starting position, even if it SHOULD have been kills.

BR:
That’s just your preference man. You like to use the DMR, do it. You can cover larger distances, waste less ammo. BR is fine however, especially for the closer combat. I’d rather have the BR over a pistol any day.

Teamplay:
Well, you’re late to that party…
Teamplay was a standard thing in EVERY H2 match. Ever since H3 and the introduction of party chat, communication has gone.
People simply have become selfish online. They play for their own gain, not to serve the goal of the team and to cover teammates.

Insta spawn:
I really like it. Brings back the fast paced action. Definately no game breaker for SWAT.

Maps:
Somewhat agree. I mean, you can’t tell me that Reach map inside the Corvette (the giant circle) was a great map. SWAT there really boiled down to Sword Base and that map with the Sabre.
In Reach the maps are about equal in terms of being suited for SWAT imo. Harvest should be added to it. And we could use some more symetrical Forge maps. But I wouldn’t call it a step down.
Besides, the quality of maps has been down ever since the launch of H3…so I’m really over that point anyways. But yeah, that Backwash-esque map (the one with the animals in the tanks) is just horrible for anything other than Flood and shouldn’t be in SWAT.

Sounds:
Well, that might be because of that loud bark of the DMR. But if you listen closely, you can easily tell where if people are close thanks to the louder sounds of boots on the ground.

I simply don’t play SWAT that much anymore because Infinity BTB is a lot more fun in my opinion. But it isn’t a step down to me.

3

The main problem I have with SWAT is that the NET problems make the gamemode unplayable in many situations, as a lag of some milliseconds make the difference.

The maps aren’t the best ones, yes, specially in Heaven you just walk zoomed and shot every time you see a player passing in the aiming.

About the Instant Spawn I would say that it’s not too bad. What makes it feel terrible is that the respawn places are too much stupid. Many times the enemies respawn in a place, you kill them, and a second later they are almost exactly behind you. And for opposite many times you get respowned where all the enemies are already looking, getting killed pretty instantly.

For the weapons, there is nothing wrong. Br - Mid range DMR - Long range. it’s skill also to learn using the right weapon on the right map. on Heave the BR wins always, on complex the DMR is a must.
Playing with a long range weapon on a small map doesn’t mean that the other weapon is OP, but that you can’t learn to adapt to the situation… (same for who uses the BR on complex)

4

I think SWAT as a gametype is a joke and takes little skill at all, given that each encounter should be one bullet in duration and retaliation is limited, obviously.

Also, the DMR ruins SWAT, not the BR. The burst is a little advantage but the range and autoaim of the DMR far exceeds the BRs strengths.

5

Honestly, I completely agree. No bloom=Bullet spam until the enemy dies. And the BR just implement kills the game. In the few swat games I’ve played in halo 4, I was literally the only person using a DMR, and I would always get bullet spammed by the other guy using a BR. Reach swat took skill to play, and the spawning time made the game much more balanced, unlike the new instaspawn.

6

> The main problem I have with SWAT is that the NET problems make the gamemode unplayable in many situations, as a lag of some milliseconds make the difference.
>
> The maps aren’t the best ones, yes, specially in Heaven you just walk zoomed and shot every time you see a player passing in the aiming.
>
> About the Instant Spawn I would say that it’s not too bad. What makes it feel terrible is that the respawn places are too much stupid. Many times the enemies respawn in a place, you kill them, and a second later they are almost exactly behind you. And for opposite many times you get respowned where all the enemies are already looking, getting killed pretty instantly.
>
> For the weapons, there is nothing wrong. Br - Mid range DMR - Long range. it’s skill also to learn using the right weapon on the right map. on Heave the BR wins always, on complex the DMR is a must.
> Playing with a long range weapon on a small map doesn’t mean that the other weapon is OP, but that you can’t learn to adapt to the situation… (same for who uses the BR on complex)

I 100% approve this message! Especially the first bit about lag. Seems like every game I’ve been put in recently, I’ve been slightly behind.

7

> I think SWAT as a gametype is a joke and takes little skill at all, given that each encounter should be one bullet in duration and retaliation is limited, obviously.

SWAT rewards initial accuracy/reaction time rather than sustained accuracy of other playlists

It definitely does take skill, although a different kind

8

The audio is atrocious (not just in SWAT, but I’ll list why the sound in SWAT sucks). The Battle rifle often sounds like gears grinding, the DMR in third person sounds like a toy, and the whisper of a bullet going through flesh is your only confirmation of a kill (if that).

This game is too damn quiet…

9

SWAT is pretty much all I play. Dont know why but Im far better at SWAT then any other playlist and I usually rack about 20 kills per game. I think its the most fun also and I was a big H3 player and didnt like h4 until I realized how fun SWAT was again

10

I always enjoyed teaming up with my friend and playing SWAT in Reach, mostly because the SWAT playlist helped me adapt into getting better with precision weapons in general.

When we jumped into playing SWAT on Halo 4, it took me some time to adjust and to adapt to the new game. Last week i had some trouble, but this week (especially today) i managed to hit my stride and feel comfortable like i did when i played Reach.

I totally understand your thoughts though and they are all certainly valid in one way or another. I would recommend finding a friend to team up with in SWAT, because from my experience having a partner (even if it’s just one) can go a long way in helping you overcome some of the obstacles you may encounter.

As for my opinion, i hope they integrate more maps into the SWAT playlist soon, because the few current maps are beginning to get boring and very repetitive a bit too quickly.

11

I totally agree for the bloom

Bloom helped me a lot and spamming bullits didn’t help for quick kills
A lot of people didn’t liked it but it balanced the DMR.
The reach DMR was a good and balanced weapon.

Als I think swat needs a 3-5 second death timer.
Because I get spawn killed a lot. (spawn>2steps>death)

12

What makes me laugh in SWAT is when you get a double kill, then you get capped, then you re-spawn before the multi-kill timer expires, and kill another dude for you’re triple or more. That cracks me up so much.

13

Bullet Magnetism kills it. You have the reticle anywhere around their head and it’s an auto head-shot.

14

Go play Reach if it’s so much better and get out of my SWAT. Also learn to call out targets.

15

I didn’t play SWAT in Reach, but it’s pretty much the only thing I play since I don’t like how crazy Infinity Slayer is. The DMR is not under powered to the BR, because every map has its long sight lines where the DMR will beat the BR every time.

Instant respawn should be fixed to maybe like a 2 or 3 second respawn timer. I always feel so cheap getting killed bottom middle Haven then getting a revenge so quickly.

Abandon needs to be removed. I have watched an enemy respawn on that map and been killed by them so many times it ain’t even funny.

Add some symmetrical forge maps and SWAT would be perfect.

16

I just don’t play SWAT. It’s plain stupid. I call it CoD Halo. It gets the immense amount of camping from CoD, spray and lucky headshots and put into Halo.

17

> Here’s what I think as an avid Reach-SWAT player.
>
> No more bloom:
> Thank God it is gone! I understand that it would theoratically make the difference between good and decent players. But bloom was way too random. In the kind of short, highly violent bursts of action you have in SWAT, you simply can not pace the DMR so that you avoid bloom entirely. I have lost countless kills simply because my reticle wasn’t completely back into starting position, even if it SHOULD have been kills.
>
> BR:
> That’s just your preference man. You like to use the DMR, do it. You can cover larger distances, waste less ammo. BR is fine however, especially for the closer combat. I’d rather have the BR over a pistol any day.
>
> Teamplay:
> Well, you’re late to that party…
> Teamplay was a standard thing in EVERY H2 match. Ever since H3 and the introduction of party chat, communication has gone.
> People simply have become selfish online. They play for their own gain, not to serve the goal of the team and to cover teammates.
>
> Insta spawn:
> I really like it. Brings back the fast paced action. Definately no game breaker for SWAT.
>
> Maps:
> Somewhat agree. I mean, you can’t tell me that Reach map inside the Corvette (the giant circle) was a great map. SWAT there really boiled down to Sword Base and that map with the Sabre.
> In Reach the maps are about equal in terms of being suited for SWAT imo. Harvest should be added to it. And we could use some more symetrical Forge maps. But I wouldn’t call it a step down.
> Besides, the quality of maps has been down ever since the launch of H3…so I’m really over that point anyways. But yeah, that Backwash-esque map (the one with the animals in the tanks) is just horrible for anything other than Flood and shouldn’t be in SWAT.
>
> Sounds:
> Well, that might be because of that loud bark of the DMR. But if you listen closely, you can easily tell where if people are close thanks to the louder sounds of boots on the ground.
>
> I simply don’t play SWAT that much anymore because Infinity BTB is a lot more fun in my opinion. But it isn’t a step down to me.

DMR needs bloom its now a noob weapon and overpowered because it can be spammed at any range and kill

18
  1. The game’s sandbox is built for normal gametypes, not party gametypes like SWAT and Grifball.
  2. Everyone starts with no shields and you get a headshot weapon. What are you complaining about? That it’s not easier?
19

In swat, the BR is way to easy to get a kill with, so i got some xp using challenges, then use DMR all the way, it is boss. i like the idea of walking around in circles, kinda just like haven… besieds, when i play with my friends on any halo game, we have so many laughs because of glitches, amazingness, or how much the other team sucks, so i’m fine with the swat, just not the BR, it sucks, to easy to get a kill with.

20

I like to play on Complex and circle the open outside areas with a DMR or stand atop one of the buildings and, crazy as it sounds, I often have the highest score of the game. SWAT is all about knowing what gun to pick (DMR=long range, BR=close range, Magnum=near shotgun range) and having quick reflexes, a sharp eye, and dead calm.