Hellow everyone, devs.
(Please mind the unstructured and free flowing nature of this type. I am typing on a phone after being disappointed with reveal.)
Its been a mixed bag of reactions and expressions from the community on the reveal today.
I would like to being with my experiences. As a designer we learn to be sensitive to our emotions and feelings as we live an created experience like a game in this case.
When we started I was really excited with “taking inspiration for halo ce” motto.
The very sudden burst in action at the very start was jumpy to say the least. It felt in action, no time to take a look. Just go go go.
Then when the pilot started complaining… it felt strange. No one jumped to chief in the past like this. This was unfamiliar.
Hatch opens and aesthetics look plastics. I cant find a better word but there just is that to aesthetics. It lacks that detail, those play of light and shadow, that grit amd wear. everythings looks clear like it just came out of packaging.
Then as the hud comes up. I get a shock. Thats what we call it a shock. When you change something sho much that it loses its resemblance to original. There always needs ro be a balance of known experience and new ones so people can relate. Which is why the shock. Guns top right. Period. Thats how it has always been. It was a big shock to my eyes actually. This immediately made it feel unfamiliar as i couldnt draw my past experience to it. Anyways. Moving on.
Wait that infinity broken down into peices? Looked like it. Curious indeed
The further we go… i was already disoriented so the rest just smoked by me. I couldnt process i had to rewatch.
I would not call it a good first experience.
Now.
I would like to say having re watched it. There are things that are unpolished. And need to be addressed.
Graphics (aesthetics)
I mean yes halo ce and 2 and 3 also look somewhat plastic but there is an difference. When you look at the composition you dont think plastic. Even today. But put this right next to halo ce classic graphics. There is an element of plasticity in this. I feel it has to do we lack of grit and detail. Attention to detail is important.
Open world. I understand where this inspiration is coming from. Even i was curious as a kid to explore on mission 2 halo. I combat evolved. I like the idea now that i think about it openly. My initial irritation was not at the concept but the execution. It was like ever other generic game. I felt it went too far.
Rebalancing.
I feel this is a real issue in 343. They have a really hard time balancing a lot of things. I suggest take a look at sony games. Very well balanced. Look at more japanese games on sonys systems. I find that 343 often overshoots. Even xbox does. I feel you guys see an lead and direction and go all the way. There is very little middle ground or sweet spot.
A lack of balance.
Pandemic.
I can understand how it can have hampered this showing. Perhaps you guys had much more planned but i never happened and you managed to pull this of is a surprise to me. It did felt rushed to me.
Everything was apparently in motion and quick. Very little time given to weapons and objects to be seen. Only vistas were given few calm moments. Rest everything was like trying its best to not come into notice. To avoid long eye contact. Perhaps because its not complete? Maybe i am wrong. But i have seen this trend in xbox side of things. Rock, electric music, quick short frames with dun dun dah music and everything in quick successions. To much pumping up everything. Again. A lack of balance. Its more inclined towards this side. Other side exist too but this is the general mood i get from them all the time lately.
I am not a big fan of it personally. I respect balance and other emotions equally.
Gameplay.
Honestly… it too early to judge or form an impression.
I would really like to ignore what i saw today and get actual released state before making the final verdict.
But i must say. The presentation was not great. It felt rushed, killed all the hype i came in with, gave too little of past experiences to relate to well. I domt think the balance is right between new and old. Very little old here.
Please the hud. Its just not right. Weapons top right.
Guns. Yet again. Very unfamiliar. The basic function is same but i have a really hard time trying to look at something and know what it really is. Its evolved too much towards new look. Particularly the blue plasma rifles.
Brute weapons are new and like h2. They are over saturating effects visually. Accepted. I never liked the over saturating particles anyways so no saying bad here. Its what it is supposed to be.
The open world is… i am not sure. Its too early to make a final call. I feel confused. Uncertain. We need more to say anything really. I feel todays reveal should not be judged upon critically. We should respect that team had worked even in difficult times to make something.
I am a designer i know what that feels like. To be crippled by external environment. So i completely understand 343 here. Been there.
I hope visuals are rebalanced and hud is fixed. And we need more clarity on open world. It too little info. And it not good if too much delay is given. It can go bad. Many are not comfortable with this. It needs clarification.