Here’s my post flight thoughts about what I believe should be implemented before the December launch.
1. Post Match Intermission: Starting the next match should continue searching with an intermission like in Halo MCC. Otherwise, I am forced to close the challenge progression, then close the scoreboard, then click “Play” to begin the next match. If AFK is a worry for that, add an input detection during the intermission. If a button isn’t pressed during intermission, then they get kicked to the home screen.
2. Post Match Statistics: Post match stats screen just doesn’t seem to be it. It’s nothing like the previous Halo’s and it seems counter-intuitive to show me my stats ONLY. I like to see friends stats and compare them to mine and it’s just not possible to do on one screen. You have to move to a friend to realize that you forgot what your own stats may have been in the meantime. This would only get worse with more friends with stats to view. We are not even allowed to click on a player and either report or simply view their gamercards. I hope that’s because it’s the beta test.
3. Emblem Customization: Not sure what the final customization options will be, so some of this may be addressed already. When customizing your emblem and nameplate, the app does not allow for those features to be changed in the iOS app. I see others with their nameplates/service tags/emblems changed, and after some googling, have led me to the app which does not support that feature, so I must be missing something. The game itself has it greyed out, for those that are viewing this thread that may not remember/know.
4. Halo Waypoint Web App: When customizing the spartan in the Halo Waypoint website, it should be easier to navigate back a ‘menu’. If you go to change your helmet, then change it, moving back a menu to change your visor is not easy to find. You can either refresh the website, or scroll up to the small text that takes you back. IMO, there should be a clear ‘back button’ to take you to the previous menu.
5. Radar Issues?: Maybe it’s the reduced radar size fooling me, but it seems (on rare occasions - like 5% of the time) enemies will run right up to me and their blip will not show on radar, regardless of being in melee distance. They will only then show up after shooting or a melee.
6. CHALLENGES: We should be able to pick and choose which 4 challenges we want to track from the list of 7 we are dealt. If I have CTF challenges in my reserves while one that is currently active is also CTF, it would be nice to progress those at the same time. With every player having randomized challenges every week, it would be nice to hop on with a buddy and knock out our CTF challenges…then Strongholds…then PvP/etc. Otherwise, we are forced to split into different game modes and play separately on our challenges.
7. Grappling the Flag: Grappling the flag shouldn’t result in being able to throw the flag ACROSS THE ENTIRE MAP. It should either bring it to you only, or throw it a couple vehicle lengths in front of the player.
8. Helmet and Visor Differentiation Images: In the Armor Hall, the helmet and visor images need to be different. I have to read the description of each to know which is which.
9. Pushing the Flag with Vehicles: I believe this isn’t showing up at launch from what I’ve heard from others, which is the vehicles being able to push the flag. With how quickly a ghost is, matched with the armor it has, one could push the flag across the map in a matter of seconds. The Razorback would literally be a pointless vehicle if this was the case.
10. BTB Random Vehicle Drops: The vehicles that get dropped in by Pelicans are a really cool way to add ‘life’ to the match. My gripe is the vehicle selection. I do not think ghosts and warthogs should appear as often as they do. They are already present in the map spawn, so pick some vehicles that aren’t map specific spawns.
11. Player Progression: I don’t know why there wasn’t player progression added to the game. Even if it means nothing right now, I would like to be able to feel a sense of progression while playing the game. Challenges are one way to feel that, but the feeling goes away after completion.
12. Sense of Accomplishment: Last thing… The battle pass needs to have some way to gain currency back. I understand it not showing in the flight as it wouldn’t make much sense, or isn’t implemented yet. If I purchase a season at $10, I should be able to make either most of it back, or all of it. If the biggest Free-to-Play game (Fortnite) can accomplish this (the pass cost about $10, and you earn about $13 back), there’s no reason for it not to be in Halo Infinite. I will not spend $40/year on cosmetic content.
All in all, I really enjoyed the flights these past few weeks, and to me it feels like Halo again with modern additions. Still not a fan of the insane movement combos, but I think I will find myself playing this game much longer than Halo 5. Only time will tell on how some new additions will play out as it still is too early to know how game-breaking something could be. Keep up the good work and December cannot come soon enough!
If this was read by anyone, 343i or other players in the community, thanks for taking the time to read it!