It’s a good thing that the playlists have been streamlined to increase population density and I especially like the fact that each objective gametype has it’s own playlist. However there seem to be huge flaws in the current playlist and gametype situation.
Missing Playlists
Doubles - unique skill based gameplay with much fewer random factors, very fun as a pair.
Extraction - we have a gametype with no playlist, why?
non-regicide FFA - while regicide looks like a good gametype, FFA slayer, oddball and KOTH has been an important part of most previous Halos.
SWAT - not a personal favourite, but it had a massive population in Reach, but is missing
Sniper - same situation as SWAT
Grifball - Huge fan favourite, but lacking a playlist
Complete lack of attempt at competitive playlist (at least Bungie tried with Arena)
I’m fine with a streamlined experience so long as people’s favourite ways to play Halo are not removed.
Missing Gametypes
Race, Assault, Territories, VIP, Invasion (and invasion slayer variant), Stockpile, Head Hunter, Halo ball, Juggernaut and 3 Plot are all gone. I might have been ok with them not being in matchmaking because a playlist for each would have made the whole thing very cluttered. But to completely remove them from the game reduces a huge amount of customisability and custom game options.
Although in the past Halo games have removed gametypes (Halo 2 removed race, Halo 3 removed 3 plot and Halo Reach removed VIP) this was always 1 or 2 gametypes and more were added. However 10 gametypes have been removed and 4 have been added in Halo 4. While the gameplay mechanic for Halo 4 look awesome, I’m disappointed by this lack of features.
EDIT: I forgot 3 flag, CTF slayer and that slayer variant with kill powerups.