I’ve been thinking about this, and the more I think about it, the better of an idea it seems. So what am I talking about? I’m talking about putting away your weapon and using your fists. All you have to do is simply hold the Y button down to bring 'em out. Now, let me first say that this is NOT a fully developed idea from me. There might very well be some balance issues I’m missing here.
There would be a delay of course to prevent people from switching instantly during a firefight. This way, when you bring someone’s shields down with gunfire or grenades, you can still go in for the kill with a melee bash as usual instead of being frustratingly blocked because your opponent immediately switched to melee.
Now let’s say you have them out. At this point, there’s a bunch of things 343 can put in for gameplay options. The biggest additions that I’m thinking about though are blocking and grabbing. Blocking is pretty straightforward. It will be mapped to the reload button and will allow you to block all melee strikes. (except ones from the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer of course) You’ll be able to block at any time except of course during animations where you’re getting assassinated or what have you.
Now on to grabbing. Currently I’m thinking about pressing both the reload and the trigger button to do one. So how will grabbing work? Well, while you can simply hold down the block button to block melee attacks, a successfully timed grab will nullify that melee attack and let you respond with an unblockable melee attack of your own. A counterattack. At that point, your opponent will be stunned for a second which leaves you with just enough time to finish him off with another melee strike.
HOWEVER, if he has melee out too at the time of the stunning, while he will still be stunned from the counterattack, he will be still able to grab and block. If AA’s will be returning, he will still be able to use those as well. I’m also thinking of being able to grab and beat the smaller enemies in the campaign and also being able to do so for players with a custom games option that will default to false of course.
Again, this is all rather rough draft, but I’m sure we could make this work. It would make for fun customs, awesome campaign moments, and some cool matchmaking brawls.
Somehow, this screams both FINISH HIM! and COMBO BREAKER!
It definitely changes the game in terms of melee, which is rather dull right now. This is a concept I’d have to see in action to judge.
Halo is a shooter. Integrating mechanics that have nothing to do with shooting (or replace it altogether) would be a failure.
Yeah, it’d be cool if we could incorporate every cool feature from every game ever into one amazing mega-game, but game design doesn’t work like that.
I’d rather not have it be a part of regular gameplay.
In other words: not a fan of being able to put away guns and draw fists.
Back in the post H2 days I did promote a similar idea on the B.net forums. I believe in custom games we should just be able to change the settings to start without a weapon.
That way you can essentially create boxing matches, but also create games in which you have to hurry and look for weapons at the start of the match.
As far as regular Matchmaking: Not that well suited.
As far as Campaign: Like idea above, just in some scripted parts.
> Halo is a shooter. Integrating mechanics that have nothing to do with shooting (or replace it altogether) would be a failure.
>
> Yeah, it’d be cool if we could incorporate every cool feature from every game ever into one amazing mega-game, but game design doesn’t work like that.
What happened to the golden triangle of Guns, Grenades, and Melee? If you ask me melee has got as much stock in the player’s offensive abilities as guns, and it’s the needs something new the most of those 3 weapons. This has everything to do with a shooter, if nothing counts but guns that we shoot, then melee and grenades may as well be removed.
> What happened to the golden triangle of Guns, Grenades, and Melee? If you ask me melee has got as much stock in the player’s offensive abilities as guns
I agree. That’s why just like there’s one way to fire a gun (pull the trigger), there is one way to melee (press the button).
> > What happened to the golden triangle of Guns, Grenades, and Melee? If you ask me melee has got as much stock in the player’s offensive abilities as guns
>
> I agree. That’s why just like there’s one way to fire a gun (pull the trigger), there is one way to melee (press the button).
There is a variety of guns, there are a variety of grenades, one would assume a variety of melee wouldn’t be far off.
> There is a variety of guns, there are a variety of grenades, one would assume a variety of melee wouldn’t be far off.
Depending on the weapon you’re using, there are a variety of animations, speeds, and damages (Brute Shot, Energy Sword, Gravity Hammer) available for melee.
> I’d rather not have it be a part of regular gameplay.
> In other words: not a fan of being able to put away guns and draw fists.
It actually won’t change the regular gameplay too much if at all. Movement speeds will be the same as normal and people will obviously see when you have melee out so they can completely avoid you and gun you down if you try any of that nonsense. And as I said, there will be a delay when switching to melee. It’s mainly there for Customs and Campaign TBH.
> I agree. That’s why just like there’s one way to fire a gun (pull the trigger), there is one way to melee (press the button).
Assuming you’re a fan of Halo 3, where does equipment come into play there? How about vehicles? (SPOILER: They don’t.) And again, let me remind you that this will not actually change the usual gameplay very much if at all.