First of all i like what the game looks like.
I like how 343 tries to go back to the bungies’ old roots.
But things are missing. In order for 343 to be able to reach its absolute sandbox, work on the game mechanics is required.
I understand that this is a first test. But still want to bring up things that did not really meet my sense of play.
Game physics in general felt quite shaky, im not completely sold on the movement.
- Sprint:
I think sprint is unnecessary as you run 5-10% faster, would have rather seen an increase in your usual speed by 5-10% increase and removed sprint to maintain the real Halo feeling where ramp boost and trickjumps were a thing.
- Gravity hammer:
The game physics needs to be worked on, it felt like they were too big a delay when you swung, and if gravity hammer is to be used as part of the sandbox that 343 is looking for, things need to be done. It needs more bounce, faster response and a more comfortable feeling. (also when u hit beatdown button with it I wanna see the classic hit with the bottom of the hammer).
- Sniper Rifle:
Sniper is an important part of Halo and has always been.
I do not like the idea of a heavy sniper, i want the sniper more simple and look more light weight.
The sniper felt wrong every time I zoomed in.
The first zoom phase needs to be reduced. And what the sight looks like in zoom is something I do not like. (same with commander and BR scope)
And with that said, I think most sights need a rework. (think most weapons have too high of a zoom).
Assault Rifle:
Really happy with how it is and feels, basically the only weapon I drove with.
Battle Rifle:
Also happy with how it feels, the only thing I would have liked different is a different sight in zoom as mentioned.
Grenades:
I think the grenades should bounce more closely, a large part of previous Halos has been to throw the grenade into the ground up close so that it bounces perfectly in the opponent’s face.
Menu:
The menu is good and simple.
Do not like what the store looks like or what battlepass looks like, I know that 343 can make both the store and the battlepass more interesting and more creative.
Also think the armor hall is poorly built, was not at all fun to choose colors etc as they felt too complicated.
Think it would have been better to have the armor hall more like Halo Reach and how you scrolled thru armor in that game.
Simple, easy to find and easy to change.
Medals:
Medals need to be bigger, didnt even care much bout what medals i did get, cuz i didnt pay attention to it.
HUD:
Keep the hud as simple as you can, change the position of the nade and equipment count in the top left instead of the bottom right. might increase the size of the score HUD just a little bit or change it to bottom right.
So overall it is necessary to work more on game physics, people like ragdoll, moving details, and that things you can not predict should be able to happen in the game and right now they feel a bit narrow and monotonous.
The simplest in a game can often be the best.
It might be the sprint that make you feel less free in the game, and to make a good sandbox out of this you need better weapon mecanics and a better more free movement.
I have played halo since Halo CE, and the halo’s i have liked the most are H2, H3, H5, so dont call me a halo 3 fanboy because of my sprint input, I want the best for this game and I wanna keep this alive longer then Halo 4 and 5.
We want Halo to be Halo.