So there has been this constantly running debate about new and old Halo, and which we should keep.
Trying to have both in the same game via playlists usually doesn’t work out, as we wind up with sub-par games and playlist populations take a major hit. So that kind of gives me an idea, what if 343i started making two running Halo franchises:
The traditional numbered Halo franchise would play more similarly to Halo CE-3. We would play as Spartan or Elites with fast movement, high jumping, no sprint, dual wield, and our spawning loadout would not be customizable, rather akin to Gears of War 3, you can pick your primary and secondary weapons when you are respawning. Primary weapon choices would be BR, Carbine, or LR. And Secondary would be SMG, Plasma Rifle, or a dual-wieldable Promethean Automatic weapon. You would also get one of any grenade of your choice.
Armour Abilities would be placed on Maps as opposed to spawned with (though it is possible to set them up off spawn in Customs). As well there would be no Ordinance Drops, all weapons, powerups etc. would spawn on the map. And the Maps themselves would be designed with a more classic “Arena” feel, where map architecture, sightlines, and gameplay are focused on before aesthetics and story.
The second Halo franchise would be a continuation of the Halo 3: ODST saga. In the Campaign we would continue to play as the Rookie, in multiplayer we would play as Humans or Jackals. The gameplay would be a lot more CoD, or Battlefield-like keeping most of the functions that were added to Halo Reach and Halo 4 to attempt to emulate the success of the CoD franchise. We would move more slowly, but have the ability to sprint short distances. We would not jump as high, and would only be able to single wield. Loadouts would be fully customizable including a much more varied selection than appeared in Halo 4, Primary Weapons would let us choose ARs, Silenced SMGs, BRs, DMRs, Storm Rifles, Spikers, Carbines, Needle Rifles, Suppressors, Sentinel Beams, and Light Rifles. Secondary Weapons would offer Magnums, Automag Pistols, Plasma Pistols, Maulers, and Boltshots. We would get one of any grenade (which would include Incendiary and Spike grenades). And we would even get some appropriate Armour Abilities for non-Spartan characters to choose from, and Tactical Packages/Support Upgrades would return.
As opposed to spawning weapons on the map, all power weapons would be earned in Ordinance Drops. The maps would be larger and more complex. Designed to feel more like real places than the ones in the main arm of the franchise.
To keep the game from being too fast paced, precision weapons would need to damage a player’s helmet before being able to headshot him. Requiring 2 headshots from a BR, DMR, LR, or Magnum to kill, or 3 headshots from a Carbine, NR, Boltshot or Automag. As well, body armour would protect against 4 body shots from most precision weapons, 6 from a Carbine, etc proportional to weapon fire-rate/damage.
In the Multiplayer, we could have our armour customization replaced with the ability to choose appearances based on the different Marines, ODSTs, and types of Jackals throughout the game.
I think this could make all the difference in the world. Not only would this help both parties get exactly what they want out of the Halo franchise. But it also means that 343i would have the ability to focus their games specifically on one type of gameplay or the other during the entire development cycle of each game. This means that the quality of both styles of gameplay will have the most possible potential to be great. And not limited by custom options or weapons balanced specifically to play one way or the other. And the games won’t feel like a jumbled mess like Halo 4 did, since it was trying to be too many things at the same time.