I’m sure we’ve all seen the jump pack that Master Chief was equipped with in the Halo 4 Launch Trailer. Many have come to the conclusion that it would be available for almost regular multiplayer, much like the jet pack in Reach. But I think that it’s use is going to be confined only to a certain portion of gameplay in the final product, and that sort of gameplay is space battles and Zero G combat.
A large amount of the community has been asking for more expanded use of space battles in not just Campaign, but also in multiplayer. Though I am not an avid supporter of Reach, I absolutely fell in love with piloting an aircraft above planet, and so did a majority of Halo players. That this was not implemented into multiplayer game modes was a huge disappointment, which is why I expect to see space combat in Halo 4, since 343 seems to cater to the community’s wants and needs.
But I am thinking of the Spartan vs Spartan combat, instead of ship to ship battle. Let’s just say that you get out of your, for example, Sabre while flying in space. You are left with nothing to do but float and sputter (lol reference), unless you have a jump pack equipped. This device could be activated for Zero G movement only, which means that the player could only use said equipment in space. You don’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere while a large scale space battle is taking place, so why not use your jump pack to slowly maneuver your way back to your command ship where you can have the chance to contribute to the fight in an aircraft this time. I think this would enhance the player’s sense of freedom in the open environment of space, and, really, what harm could the player do to large space craft with just, say, an AR?
Now the second reason of how this could be used is with player vs player combat. For those of you who have watched the Halo 4 Concept Art Trailer, I hope you recall the part when various pieces of wreckage are floating about just outside the entrance to the shield world. If you do, great, and, if you don’t, you might want to take a look to see what I’m going to be talking about.
So, I am hoping for a multiplayer map of this particular scene; a map, in which, we’ll be able to fight in player vs player combat within the mess of debris. In this map, we’ll be able to use, wait for it, our jump packs! Could you imagine activating your jump packs and propelling yourself into a rouge, randomly turning object, landing on it, and using your jump pack again to move on to the next one until you reach your enemy on the other side if the “map”? Personally, I think this would be an amazing and fun way play Slayer just for this map.
Basically what I’m saying is that the jet pack, or, what I call it, the jump pack, should only be included in Zero G environments where, if 343 has taken any hints at what it’s community wants, space battles would be conducted. This would bring a new experience in player vs player engagements and mix up the gameplay of a match where you would primarily be trapped in a vehicle.
343, please take this into consideration! It would be a fun, new way for players to enjoy the amazing gameplay the Halo community has known to come and love.