My Final Thoughts on Halo 4 Multiplayer

Games Other Halo
1

Let me start off by saying that I’m a young male, and a casual gamer. I am the intended audience of a game featuring armoured warriors, guns, explosions, and hot virtual A.I. After all the years in development, Halo 4 should be the game that I wanted to get, and I did.

Man do I feel like a sucker. After enjoying the hell out of EVERY Halo game (including Halo Wars) and even reading the books, my fanboy level was so large, it could beat the Prophet’s shield like a drum. I was sure that I would be enjoying Halo 4 for years to come, convinced that someone could super glue my disk-tray shut and as long as Halo 4 was in it, I’d be happy till Halo 5 came out.

On paper, Halo 4 had everything I wanted from a new Halo game. I even had the ability to make my Spartan specialize in a certain type of combat, just like in the books! I spent the months leading up to November completely bored with any other game I owned, for all I wanted was Halo 4.

Then I actually got the game. My first week with it was amazing, but soon thereafter I found that my favorite aspects of Halo were actually missing, and for once I actually didn’t want to play a Halo game in my free time.

The multiplayer was terrible.

For once I couldn’t play most of the maps with my friends when we would hang out, split screen lagged like a Japanese-hosted Lost Planet match. It was actually more fun to play Halo when my buddy wasn’t next to me, and that was such a kick to the Chief.

Then came the lack of accomplishment, I simply had no joy when I did good in a game of Halo. I got 40 kills in one game in the Mantis and I just felt like a -Yoink-. 343 seemed to think that the casual gamer doesn’t like a challenge, but they forgot that without a challenge there’s no sense of accomplishment. Halo 3 was challenging, and it was awesome to feel my skills improve. What fun is it to get 30 kills if you know it was simply because you managed to got a binary rifle from a dice roll when your opponent got Plasma grenades? I mean what fun is winning a game of soccer against a chicken? Sure you’ll do good, but that’s not fun.

Not even gonna go on about what a freaking crutch the DMR is, man that gun pisses me off. STAY IN REACH YOU FREAKING POS OP GUN!

Then there’s the Warthog. I cannot tell you how much I loved being a Warthog driver. I sacrificed my k/d to help my teammates PWN and it was the best thing ever. Now the beautiful Warthog has been turned into bacon. Thin, microwavable Cosco-bacon. It was with the Warthog that I saw the fatal flaw in the loadout system when the loadouts are simply not balanced. Vehicle play when everyone has plasma pistol +plasma grenade? Nada, zilch.

I guess I don’t even know why I’m writing this. I guess I just feel really let down by my favorite franchise. I really hope those people that Halo 4 catered to stuck around, cause you lost me 343. I’d like to actually meet these people who Halo 4 was meant to be played by, those people who like playing chess against frogs, or racing turtles. I guess they must like Halo 4.

Closing thoughts: I really wish that 343 could make Halo into Halo again. The tools are there, and it seems like they have no problem talking, but some big problems doing. With some tweaks, Halo 4 could be challenging and enjoyable again. Meanwhile I’m watching Halo die before my eyes and I’m wondering if 343 really cares as long as I already bought Halo 4 and their map pack pass. Go back to the roots 343, this branch is dying.

2

I know what you’re saying, but I also know that 343 is trying. They brought us the “X” markers. Not well, but whatever. They brought the ranking system. They brought us good smaller maps. They ARE listening to the feedback of the community, and it’s helping. When Halo 5 comes out, it will already have the things it needs to do incredibly well. Halo 4 is already becoming SOOOO much better. Just wait for a little while longer. Let ranks sink in. It will be much more of a challenge.

3

I still think it’s funny that people call overpowered things crutches. Does a person using crutches far outstrip a “normal” person while walking? Nope. The person using crutches is at an extreme disadvantage. How silly then to call the DMR a crutch. I think of it more as a steroid shot.

4

Life is change.

And Halo is continuously changing with each iteration.

This Halo needs to be Halo again is facile.

It will never be Halo:CE again.

Just like Street Fighter IV will never be Street Fighter again…

5

> I know what you’re saying, but I also know that 343 is trying. They brought us the “X” markers. Not well, but whatever. They brought the ranking system. They brought us good smaller maps. They ARE listening to the feedback of the community, and it’s helping. When Halo 5 comes out, it will already have the things it needs to do incredibly well. Halo 4 is already becoming SOOOO much better. Just wait for a little while longer. Let ranks sink in. It will be much more of a challenge.

That’s exactly what I think, just check out this video, ranks do appear to be working.

Things will improve over time, while I don’t think its happening no where near as fast enough as it should be, and many features should have been in there from day one, at least it hasn’t been left to die by 343, they are trying to help Halo 4 and help us.

6

People forget Halo 2 and Halo 3 had problems and were hated on by “fans”. They were not considered “great” Halo games 6 months after release either. Reach needed a MASSIVE TU before it was even considered good by Halo standards. Each Halo has been a disappointment to some degree. Personally I feel Halo 4 is just as good as any Halo and it IS getting better.

That being said 343 seems to have ignored the fans by releasing a game influenced by BF and COD. We didnt ask for perks and custom loadouts. Why Camo is an AA still baffles me. They even admitted at GDC that the plan was to diminish the skill gap. It feels like Halo 4 was made by people who were bad at halo 2 and 3.

343 needs to understand HALO FANS want a challenge not hand holding and gimmicks.

7

> I know what you’re saying, but I also know that 343 is trying. They brought us the “X” markers. Not well, but whatever. They brought the ranking system. They brought us good smaller maps. They ARE listening to the feedback of the community, and it’s helping. When Halo 5 comes out, it will already have the things it needs to do incredibly well. Halo 4 is already becoming SOOOO much better. Just wait for a little while longer. Let ranks sink in. It will be much more of a challenge.

My problem is that they aren’t dealing with the real issues with the core gameplay. Sure, not having an X on death made communication harder, but when vehicle gameplay is completely destroyed? That’s a far bigger issue to me than getting a boltshot nerf, or the death X back.

It seems like 343 is so set on standing by their changes that they won’t admit that something simply doesn’t work. Random ordnance drops and not having preset weapons respawns simply hurt the core Halo gameplay, yet I have a feeling they will never outright change this because they “want to leave their mark” on Halo.

It’s hard to admit when a decision is plain-old wrong, but it needs to be done. I only thought their weapon spawning system would work before the game was released because they made it sound like every player would know where power weapons were dropping beforehand, in fact I could swear they said that, saying that it would encourage map movement. That feature is now only available to people with a specialization, when it should be the default. The specialization to see weapon drop locations beforehand should be switched to simply give an even earlier warning to those players.

My biggest gripe is just the fact they stay silent on these issues. If I could just hear then say that they know they screwed over vehicle gameplay, or ruined the skill gap, maybe I’d have some hope it would change. But for now it simply seems as if they’re too caught up with saving face.

8

> I still think it’s funny that people call overpowered things crutches. Does a person using crutches far outstrip a “normal” person while walking? Nope. The person using crutches is at an extreme disadvantage. How silly then to call the DMR a crutch. I think of it more as a steroid shot.

It’s both. A crutch because it allows terrible players to do far better than they should, and a steroid shot because it allows already good players to destroy. It isn’t good either way. Reminds me of the pre-patch FAMAS for BF3, that thing was insane.

9

> People forget Halo 2 and Halo 3 had problems and were hated on by “fans”. They were not considered “great” Halo games 6 months after release either. Reach needed a MASSIVE TU before it was even considered good by Halo standards. Each Halo has been a disappointment to some degree. Personally I feel Halo 4 is just as good as any Halo and it IS getting better.
>
> That being said 343 seems to have ignored the fans by releasing a game influenced by BF and COD. We didnt ask for perks and custom loadouts. <mark>Why Camo is an AA still baffles me</mark>. They even admitted at GDC that the plan was to diminish the skill gap. It feels like Halo 4 was made by people who were bad at halo 2 and 3.
>
> 343 needs to understand HALO FANS want a challenge not hand holding and gimmicks.

Me too. And Jetpack…

10

> I still think it’s funny that people call overpowered things crutches. Does a person using crutches far outstrip a “normal” person while walking? Nope. The person using crutches is at an extreme disadvantage. How silly then to call the DMR a crutch. I think of it more as a steroid shot.

I think everyone thinks of it more as a device to let less capable people compete with those who are better, but even that’s not really true. All the good players use DMR when given the chance. No one “good” would give up a free tactical advantage.

11

> > I know what you’re saying, but I also know that 343 is trying. They brought us the “X” markers. Not well, but whatever. They brought the ranking system. They brought us good smaller maps. They ARE listening to the feedback of the community, and it’s helping. When Halo 5 comes out, it will already have the things it needs to do incredibly well. Halo 4 is already becoming SOOOO much better. Just wait for a little while longer. Let ranks sink in. It will be much more of a challenge.
>
> My problem is that they aren’t dealing with the real issues with the core gameplay. Sure, not having an X on death made communication harder, but when vehicle gameplay is completely destroyed? That’s a far bigger issue to me than getting a boltshot nerf, or the death X back.
>
> It seems like 343 is so set on standing by their changes that they won’t admit that something simply doesn’t work. Random ordnance drops and not having preset weapons respawns simply hurt the core Halo gameplay, yet I have a feeling they will never outright change this because they “want to leave their mark” on Halo.
>
> It’s hard to admit when a decision is plain-old wrong, but it needs to be done. I only thought their weapon spawning system would work before the game was released because they made it sound like every player would know where power weapons were dropping beforehand, in fact I could swear they said that, saying that it would encourage map movement. That feature is now only available to people with a specialization, when it should be the default. The specialization to see weapon drop locations beforehand should be switched to simply give an even earlier warning to those players.
>
> My biggest gripe is just the fact they stay silent on these issues. If I could just hear then say that they know they screwed over vehicle gameplay, or ruined the skill gap, maybe I’d have some hope it would change. But for now it simply seems as if they’re too caught up with saving face.

I completely agree. They made mistakes pertaining to the core gameplay, and they just don’t want to admit it. Then there are the things they just plain left out that they’re fixing right now.

But for Halo 4 to be good and play like Halo, a lot of things they introduced in this game have got to go, and they won’t do that… Hell, the maps are too small and confined for any real BTB gameplay anyway, Personal Ordnance is their pride and joy, and so are Custom Loadouts.

12

> People forget Halo 2 and Halo 3 had problems and were hated on by “fans”. They were not considered “great” Halo games 6 months after release either. Reach needed a MASSIVE TU before it was even considered good by Halo standards. Each Halo has been a disappointment to some degree. Personally I feel Halo 4 is just as good as any Halo and it IS getting better.
>
> That being said 343 seems to have ignored the fans by releasing a game influenced by BF and COD. We didnt ask for perks and custom loadouts. Why Camo is an AA still baffles me. They even admitted at GDC that the plan was to diminish the skill gap. It feels like Halo 4 was made by people who were bad at halo 2 and 3.
>
> 343 needs to understand HALO FANS want a challenge not hand holding and gimmicks.

Halo 2 and 3 may have had a few hipster haters but the population numbers were never effected. Halo 4 is the first time people have actually stuck to their word and stopped playing. That is a sign that people truly hate this game.

13

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*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

Hey come take a look at the Halo 4 video I posted on my channel http://www.youtube.com/user/MrDanboy55667?feature=mhee

14

> I mean what fun is winning a game of soccer against a chicken? Sure you’ll do good, but that’s not fun.

Ha! Good. This x10.

15

> > People forget Halo 2 and Halo 3 had problems and were hated on by “fans”. They were not considered “great” Halo games 6 months after release either. Reach needed a MASSIVE TU before it was even considered good by Halo standards. Each Halo has been a disappointment to some degree. Personally I feel Halo 4 is just as good as any Halo and it IS getting better.
> >
> > That being said 343 seems to have ignored the fans by releasing a game influenced by BF and COD. We didnt ask for perks and custom loadouts. Why Camo is an AA still baffles me. They even admitted at GDC that the plan was to diminish the skill gap. It feels like Halo 4 was made by people who were bad at halo 2 and 3.
> >
> > 343 needs to understand HALO FANS want a challenge not hand holding and gimmicks.
>
> Halo 2 and 3 may have had a few hipster haters but the population numbers were never effected. Halo 4 is the first time people have actually stuck to their word and stopped playing. That is a sign that people truly hate this game.

Could it be Halo’s former population numbers were due to it having very little competition? Halo 2 wasnt up against multi-platform shooters. Halo 3 saw its population fall when COD became popular. I personally know people who stopped playing Halo 3 for COD4 and have not been back. Does that mean COD4 is better than Halo 3? In my opinion, No. People who left are the REAL casuals and were not true fans IMO. I’m not going to abandon Halo 4 because I dont like Camo or a few maps. I have more issues with COD and BF3.

I rather stay and fight for change. Now we have a TU that allows for weapon tweaking, a somewhat competitive playlist,Griffball, a few Forge maps in MM, Forge Island. Fact is Halo 4 is getting better.

Besides you don’t understand what I’m saying. Halo 2 and Halo 3 were hated for the same reasons Halo 4 is. The same old “Halo is ruined” argument was said for Dual Wielding and Equipment.