One of the best things I liked about Halo: CE Anniversary was the “Bandana” skull. Unlimited ammo/grenades made things interesting. It totally changed how I played the game, especially if you also turn on “Grunt Funeral” lol.
I not only really, REALLY want Skull Hunting in Halo 4 (terminals alone aren’t quite as fun as far as I’m concerned, and they’re usually easier to find), but I also want the “Bandana” skull to come back. Yes, it’s cheap, but I usually play Halo campaigns thusly:
First time: On “Normal” or “Heroic”, just to be less preoccupied with tough battles and focus more on story.
Second time: On “Legendary”, to challenge myself.
Third time: Usually after a long period of playing multiplayer, and just want to revisit the story again, so on “Normal” or even “Easy” if I’m feeling lazy enough.
“Bandana” would make the third play through more fun, because it drastically changes how you play through the campaign (i.e. keep the sniper rifle though parts of the game you otherwise wouldn’t, etc.). It’s cheap, but it’s also pretty fun from a lot of perspectives. And as an optional adjustment, and one that you would have to go and hunt/look for to be able to use it, I see it as an awesome reward! I’d even be happy if they only made it “findable” on Legendary, and put it somewhere in a really tough-to-find/get-to spot, therefore making the reward all the sweeter.
ALSO!
Bring back the “Sputnik” skull! It was amazing, 'nuff said.
> One of the best things I liked about Halo: CE Anniversary was the “Bandana” skull. Unlimited ammo/grenades made things interesting. It totally changed how I played the game, especially if you also turn on “Grunt Funeral” lol.
>
> I not only really, REALLY want Skull Hunting in Halo 4 (terminals alone aren’t quite as fun as far as I’m concerned, and they’re usually easier to find), but I also want the “Bandana” skull to come back. Yes, it’s cheap, but I usually play Halo campaigns thusly:
>
> First time: On “Normal” or “Heroic”, just to be less preoccupied with tough battles and focus more on story.
> Second time: On “Legendary”, to challenge myself.
> Third time: Usually after a long period of playing multiplayer, and just want to revisit the story again, so on “Normal” or even “Easy” if I’m feeling lazy enough.
>
> “Bandana” would make the third play through more fun, because it drastically changes how you play through the campaign (i.e. keep the sniper rifle though parts of the game you otherwise wouldn’t, etc.). It’s cheap, but it’s also pretty fun from a lot of perspectives. And as an optional adjustment, and one that you would have to go and hunt/look for to be able to use it, I see it as an awesome reward! I’d even be happy if they only made it “findable” on Legendary, and put it somewhere in a really tough-to-find/get-to spot, therefore making the reward all the sweeter.
>
> ALSO!
>
> Bring back the “Sputnik” skull! It was amazing, 'nuff said.
The skulls would need to actually need to be “HIDDEN”. I liked using the Sputnik skull from H2 to launch myself outside of maps and stuff. Use this tactic in hiding your skulls so you need to find one or 2 and use them before you can access other ones. Kinda Metroid-style in acquiring items that allow access to others. That would increase Campaign replayability.
Edit: To not confuse people, make the Sputnik skull the 1st or 2nd skull you find and have it’s traits be required to get to the other skulls hidden way out of the way from the normal beaten path.
> It would be cool I’ll admit. But at this point it’s just wait and see when it comes to skulls in this game.
>
> I’m curious to see what new ones they’ve come out with.
We already know skulls are in the game, so that much is awesome. But I’ll be very, VERY disappointed if they’re just simply “there” from the get-go, and don’t require you to find them first. Skull hunting adds so much replay value, as do terminals. Halo: CE Anniversary had both, I think given the time spent on Halo 4, and the fact that skull finding has been a staple of the main Halo trilogy since Halo 2 (and now, with CE: Anniversary, ALL the main trilogy games have it), it would be silly not to have it in Halo 4.
But I agree: I’m interested to see any new skulls available, if any. I see no reason why more game-modifying elements can’t be brought in. They don’t exactly dominate memory-wise, so why not have more than 12 or 13? Why not 15 - 20, if there are enough good ideas for them?
Sputnik needs to return, and Bandana should as well, definitely. Here are a few I’ve always wanted to see… these would mostly be secondary skulls, so as not to impede “LASO” gameplay too much.
<mark>Super Soldier</mark>: meleeing enemies results in sending them flying
<mark>Bombastic</mark>: Enemies explode if you headshot them (sort of like Grunt Funeral, only no lag between dying and exploding)
<mark>PInt-Sized</mark>: All character/enemy models are 1/2 original size, jump height adjusted to prevent being unable to get to/access certain areas of the campaign
<mark>Incendiary</mark>: bullets cause mini-explosions & fire upon impact (kind of like firing firecrackers/m80s as bullets), same damage as normal, but stuns enemies and creates cool fire/mini-explosion effect
Just some thoughts. Anyone else have any ideas for skulls?
As an option (i.e. campaign scoring), it’d be ok, since it wouldn’t affect LASO (all skulls on).
As a skull, it needs balancing:
-infinite ammo for weapons only, grenades unaffected
-infinite ammo for weapons only, regenerating grenades (a la Halo 3 custom games option)
-periodic infinite ammo (a la Reach Engineer overshields)
-no infinite ammo but kill enemy with ______ to replenish ammo (not by a lot)
> - <mark>Super Soldier</mark>: meleeing enemies results in sending them flying
> - <mark>Bombastic</mark>: Enemies explode if you headshot them (sort of like Grunt Funeral, only no lag between dying and exploding)
> - <mark>PInt-Sized</mark>: All character/enemy models are 1/2 original size, jump height adjusted to prevent being unable to get to/access certain areas of the campaign
> - <mark>Incendiary</mark>: bullets cause mini-explosions & fire upon impact (kind of like firing firecrackers/m80s as bullets), same damage as normal, but stuns enemies and creates cool fire/mini-explosion effect
>
> Just some thoughts. Anyone else have any ideas for skulls?
Some nice ideas you have there.
First two sound like spiritual successors to Halo 2’s skulls Sputnik and Grunt Birthday Party, both of which positively affected gameplay compared to the dumbed down Cowbell and GBD seen in Halo 3/ODST/Reach.
> Skull hunting yes. Bandana skull no. It made LASO runs far too easy.
Bandana isn’t part of “LASO” though, if I remember correctly. Sure, it’s a skull, but it’s not a required skull for LASO.
Besides, “The Library” is still ridiculous hard on Legendary with both the “Bandana” and “Boom” skulls on. Not nearly as hard as without them, granted, but if you want to challenge yourself: don’t turn them on. They’re “OPTIONS”, not requirements.
> > I have bad memories of mixing Cowbell and Grunt Funeral…
> >
> > starts sobbing Why the hell did I think it was a good idea?
>
> You mean the Boom Skull? Yes, it was ridiculous…
Yes. That one. But still. On levels like PoA, TaR, and even AotCR, it was a pain
> > I’m having one hell of a time trying to keep Keyes alive right now because of the Grunt Funeral Skull so no.
>
> So turn it off?
>
> It’s a secondary skull, not needed for LASO runs. None of the secondary skulls are actually part of “LASO”.
LASO means legendary all skulls on. Including secondaries. IF secondaries didn’t count then people could run around without blind and that would make it much easier.
> > Skull hunting yes. Bandana skull no. It made LASO runs far too easy.
>
> Bandana isn’t part of “LASO” though, if I remember correctly. Sure, it’s a skull, but it’s not a required skull for LASO.
>
> Besides, “The Library” is still ridiculous hard on Legendary with both the “Bandana” and “Boom” skulls on. Not nearly as hard as without them, granted, but if you want to challenge yourself: don’t turn them on. They’re “OPTIONS”, not requirements.
You really don’t understand LASO’s do you? LASO legendary ALL skulls. if you can just “turn off” a skull that you don’t like then its not a LASO. plain and simple. If your going to do a LASO run you do all skulls or you don’t do a LASO.
> > > I’m having one hell of a time trying to keep Keyes alive right now because of the Grunt Funeral Skull so no.
> >
> > So turn it off?
> >
> > It’s a secondary skull, not needed for LASO runs. None of the secondary skulls are actually part of “LASO”.
>
> LASO means legendary all skulls on. Including secondaries. IF secondaries didn’t count then people could run around without blind and that would make it much easier.
> > > > I’m having one hell of a time trying to keep Keyes alive right now because of the Grunt Funeral Skull so no.
> > >
> > > So turn it off?
> > >
> > > It’s a secondary skull, not needed for LASO runs. None of the secondary skulls are actually part of “LASO”.
> >
> > LASO means legendary all skulls on. Including secondaries. IF secondaries didn’t count then people could run around without blind and that would make it much easier.
>
> LASO does not require the blind skull actually…
It did back in halo 3 when LASO runs were just a challenge. In reach after the first LASO was put out on the first level It REQUIRED blind. But after the community complained hard enough bungie made it so when LASO challenges came up blind wasn’t required to complete and get the credits. That is not a true LASO and your a fool for thinking so.
> > > > > I’m having one hell of a time trying to keep Keyes alive right now because of the Grunt Funeral Skull so no.
> > > >
> > > > So turn it off?
> > > >
> > > > It’s a secondary skull, not needed for LASO runs. None of the secondary skulls are actually part of “LASO”.
> > >
> > > LASO means legendary all skulls on. Including secondaries. IF secondaries didn’t count then people could run around without blind and that would make it much easier.
> >
> > LASO does not require the blind skull actually…
>
> It did back in halo 3 when LASO runs were just a challenge. In reach after the first LASO was put out on the first level It REQUIRED blind. But after the community complained hard enough bungie made it so when LASO challenges came up blind wasn’t required to complete and get the credits. That is not a true LASO and your a fool for thinking so.
> > > I’m having one hell of a time trying to keep Keyes alive right now because of the Grunt Funeral Skull so no.
> >
> > So turn it off?
> >
> > It’s a secondary skull, not needed for LASO runs. None of the secondary skulls are actually part of “LASO”.
>
> LASO means legendary all skulls on. Including secondaries. IF secondaries didn’t count then people could run around without blind and that would make it much easier.
Which is why there needs to be better separation of skull classifications. “Blind” shouldn’t be a secondary skull. “Grunt Birthday” should, because it doesn’t affect gameplay positively or negatively. “Bandana” should be secondary, because it makes things easier.
There should be two classes: skulls that make things harder, and skulls that make things easier or just add fun effects/gameplay changes (i.e. Sputnik, Boom/Cowbell, etc.).
> > > > > > I’m having one hell of a time trying to keep Keyes alive right now because of the Grunt Funeral Skull so no.
> > > > >
> > > > > So turn it off?
> > > > >
> > > > > It’s a secondary skull, not needed for LASO runs. None of the secondary skulls are actually part of “LASO”.
> > > >
> > > > LASO means legendary all skulls on. Including secondaries. IF secondaries didn’t count then people could run around without blind and that would make it much easier.
> > >
> > > LASO does not require the blind skull actually…
> >
> > It did back in halo 3 when LASO runs were just a challenge. In reach after the first LASO was put out on the first level It REQUIRED blind. But after the community complained hard enough bungie made it so when LASO challenges came up blind wasn’t required to complete and get the credits. That is not a true LASO and your a fool for thinking so.
>
> http://i.qkme.me/35sbad.jpg
> Seriously dude chill…
LASO’s are a topic i care about. It is upsetting when people like you try to tell me what a LASO is like you know what your talking about. Go hit up tyrant the “founder” of LASO’s. He will tell you just as i did that it means all skulls primary and secondary. Bandana was talked about being removed for the LASO challenges way back when CEA came out. But it stayed and people played by the honor role and didn’t spam nades rockets etc.
