There are many things I wish were different in the H5 beta (sprint, for example), but there are only two I feel strongly enough about to merit a post. One is a gameplay item (SmartScope) and the other is an immersion one (sound design). So the big one first.
When SmartScope was first seen on the early videos leading up to the beta, lots of people (including myself) posted that it was likely to be a cosmetic change to the zoom mechanic. This was reinforced by statements from 343i that there was “NO hipfire penalty” associated with SmartScope. That statement was false. There is a hipfire penalty: increased spread. Simply restating that as a SmartScope bonus does not change the fact that weapons behave differently when scoped than when unscoped. While this existed to an extent with precision weapons in the past, the rather small accuracy benefit was more than offset by the limited FoV and slower aiming speed at ranges inside the unscoped RRR.
SmartScope is very different. The AR is now quite powerful well outside its traditional niche, meaning it can be effective at ranges previously reserved for precision weapons. Using the AR effectively in the past required some ability to close range without taking much damage, and some skill in maintaining the reticle on target in close quarters with both the shooter and target moving rapidly. Using the AR at longer ranges required burst firing and an aim as good as that required by precision weapons to have any utility. SmartScope largely eliminates both of those requirements. ARs are now much closer to the precision weapons in terms of how they are used, and the distinction between them that added depth to previous Halos is missing.
I don’t mind the new animation (prefer the old one, though), nor do I mind the ability to scope with automatics. What I do mind is that - contrary to what 343i publicly stated - there is a hipfire penalty associated with SmartScope, and the presence of that penalty substantially reduces the depth of the multiplayer.
Remember that there are only 3 things that fundamentally distinguish Halo from the modern generic FPS:
- No hipfire penalty.
- Long killtimes with default weapons (1 - 2s).
- Even starts.
With SmartScope, you’ve changed the most important distinguishing characteristic.
343i: Please reconsider this decision. Keep SmartScope if you want, but eliminate the hipfire penalty associated with it . . . the very same penalty you told us initially did not even exist.
When it comes to sound design, the H5 beta is just too much. Jeff’s announcements are now comically over-the-top. Absolutely everything gets announced, and the medal proliferation associated with that dilutes the meaning of obtaining medals. Announcing power weapons 30s out is too far, and having multiple announcements about them is too much. The Spartan chatter adds no information - it’s just noise - and much of it sounds hoaky anyway. On top of the other added noises - audible hit markers, aural indication that charge can be used, etc. - there is so much attempting to be communicated via sound that the important information gets washed out.
Please change the H5 sound design. Please. Have Jeff redo some of the announcements. Eliminate the trash medals (and the announcements associated with them). Eliminate most of the power weapon announcements (one or two within ~5 - 10s of respawn is fine . . . but no more). Eliminate the Spartan chatter. Eliminate audible hit markers and top speed sounds.
Please keep sounds to the background map soundtrack, shields, basic announcements, and player actions. The H5 sound is just way too much.
That’s it for me for feedback. For the rest, others have already covered it, and if I agree, I will leave comments to that effect in their threads.