LONG POST
Hey everyone. I’d like to start by saying Halo 4 is a sick game so far. In this post I have compiled a few things I feel need to be addressed, or at least considered. I must say that I am a pretty competitive player, so these issues will definitely lean towards competition rather than casual game play. Many of the issues I have involve simple customization issues, rather than game-changing flaws. Please let me know your thoughts, this is not a rant, but more of an open discussion.
SPAWNING:
I’d first like to address respawning. Drifting from every other Halo to date, H4 has introduced the power to spawn instantly. This is all fine and dandy, as players can now get right back into action much faster. However, it is this in which my problem arises.
A respawn time greatly increases the gravity of dying. A quality team will ‘set up’ on a map, holding various choke points and watching eachothers back. A single death in previous halo’s would free up this position for several seconds: just enough time for the other team to push and capitalize on the 3v4, thus breaking the setup. However, with instant spawn, this power play is entirely diminished. The dead player can spawn almost immediately, and if lucky, can even clean up his still-weak killer.
I am fine with keeping instant spawn in the game, but the thing that baffles my mind is the lack of alteration in custom gametypes. Simply adding an” instant spawn: on/off” switch would fix this. I would also like to see the respawn time implemented in slayer pro, but the ability to toggle the option must come first.
Another slight issue I have regarding death is the lack of death-indicator. Why is there no red “X” where my teammate died? This was such a integral part of multiplayer. Anybody can help their team simply by saying “weak on my X!” Also, seeing 3 red Xs on your screen meant you are the last alive and should probably be careful. Most importantly, the red X gives an idea of where the hell the other team may be. This is crucial on larger maps, especially with new players who don’t know where to go. I am really bewildered on why this was removed.
WEAPONS:
Idle weapon mechanics (weapon spawns, despawns, and pickups) are another slight issue I have noticed. Personally, I find myself constantly running out of ammo. Even with the ammo perk, I still find myself running around with no ammo in either weapon, scrounging the ground hoping there is something available for me to use. In previous halos, all weapons were littered around the map. There of course would be the Rockets, Snipers and other power weapons, but there were also smgs, ARs and BRs around simply for ammo. In H4, besides the occasional power weapon lying about, primary ammo is obsolete. I haven’t tinkered with forge (is it even in the game? Genuine question), so placing BR/DMR drops may not be a problem, but I would like to see respawning primary weapons around the map.
Something I’ve also noticed about weapons is how they react when dropped by a dead player. The despawn times seem random. Sometimes a gun may disappear in just a few seconds, while others are around for upwards of 30. Does anybody know anything about this? This further contributes the ammo problem.
FLAGS:
Next is flag carrying. I am not sure if I like the shoot-while-running mechanic. It is a nice touch in the game for sure, but from a competitive standpoint it brings forth some things to consider. In previous games, the flag carrier was of utmost priority. To effectively capture flags consistently, a team would have to protect this hopeless carrier. Now he has some defense, which is fine, but definitely takes away some of the importance of protection.
The one thing that really bothers me about flag mechanics is the inability to throw the flag. I didn’t play much Reach Flag, but I know in H3, flag-running was a very important skill, especially in competitive game play. By repeatedly tossing out the flag and picking it up, a carrier could move the flag across the map much faster. Also, by being able to drop the flag, a carrier could drop and shoot with their weapon. Some may say that the shoot-while-running fixes this, but not entirely. If a player with rockets decides the pickup the flag, the rockets become a complete waste. In Halo 3 I could run the flag, drop it quickly to fire off a rocket, and resume my duty. This element is gone. Flag throwing also adds an extra dimension to objective capturing. Countless times in previous halos I’ve thrown a flag from the ground to a higher position, completely eliminating the longer path to capture. This passage between teammates provides a tactical dimension which is also lost.
Hopefully an option to enable flag-dropping can be implemented, it is such a useful thing. It just blows my mind that if you accidently pick up the flag, you MUST capture it or die. Have a power weapon? Sorry, it’s useless if your flag-running teammate next to you dies and you pick it up.
SPRINTING:
Last is sprint. All I ask is for an option to disable it. The combination of instant spawns and sprinting can make the game way too crazy and hectic. The ability to enable/disable provides a nice option for custom gamers, and can also help slow down the game a bit if instant spawning cannot be mended.
Issue shoudl be addressed