So What Makes Halo, Halo?

Community General Discussion
1

This is honestly just a question I want to pose to the community. This is not meant as a hate thread, not a rage thread, not a complain thread. Just a question. I want to make sure that is clear in this battleground of a forum.

So, what do you define as making the game Halo? I know the game has the word ‘Halo’ on the box, and the Master Chief, that much is obvious. What else do you consider the mark(s) of a Halo game?

For me, the gameplay, specifically the ‘same starts’, pickups, elements of jumping/platforming and map control are key. I liked the simplicity. Very basic mechanics and setups that created diversity in their many applications. Complexity through simplicity. It’s easy to learn, hard to master. This part of me is really, really worried at the new additions, especially in light of the specialization reveal.

And obviously, the Chief, the rings, the mysteries of the Forerunners and ferocity of the Covenant are part of that as well. I especially liked the unique environments, in both campaign and multiplayer, that were fun to explore and look around. This part has no problems with the new stuff. Well, maybe the helmets…

Both parts of this are key to me.

I think this is a big dividing factor on these forums. Some people consider specific elements of the gameplay key to the series threatened by new additions. I’m one of them. Those people tend to make the concerned threads. Others have different definitions that don’t mind the new, and embrace it as fresh air for the series. We have different definitions that impact our perception of the new stuff.

If you take anything from this thread, be it that we all like this game. We all have different views and want to address our outlook on what we expect from the next title with ‘Halo’ in the name. We might not all understand the impression everyone else gets from all the new stuff, but that doesn’t warrant a license to flame or berate others.

So, what do you think makes Halo the game and story it is?

2

The story :3

3

Halo is whatever you want it to be, simple as that.

4

Generally I define halo as a FPS with equal spawns, where map control and team work are crucial, has a simple combat system consisting of your gun,melee and grenades.
With that said it would look like Halo 4 isn’t what I would generally define as a Halo game but I’m still gonna pick it up on day 1 and pray that it changes my definition.

5

I will tell you what makes Halo for me in a edit to this post. Give me about 10 minutes

What is Halo to me?

Halo to me is a game my friend showed me back in 2006 at the prime time of Halo 2 xbox live. Halo is competitive arcade style fps that to me revolutionized shooting games on the console, without it I would still be a RPG fanboy. What makes Halo what it is, is the level of balance that the older games had. The better player ALWAYS won. It took time and hard work to learn the finesse to the game.

In a nutshell. Halo consists of 2 teams of 4 with equal skill starting weapons, competing for power weapons and power ups on a balanced map. The team that wins is the one who did a better job controlling these crucial things and team shotting. In a perfect game you should never have to face a battle alone if your working as a team. Also the maps were built to have power positions that players would compete for. Pink Tower on Midship/Heretic, Snipe 3 on Guardian, Rocket Room on Chillout, Ring 2 on Sanctuary etc etc…

But, that’s just Halo to me. Apparently the developers don’t believe in those ideas anymore

6

Above all else Halo is Halo because it is a fps that has brought a story on a scale that is bigger than even the stories of some of the biggest rpgs like the elder scrolls series. The balanced multiplayer is an added bonus and is really fun but the campaign and story is what halo is known and made for and is what will keep me coming back no matter how much it changes.

7

-Having a “shield”
-Equal starting weapons
-Map control
-Skill-based ranking system
-Large skill gap
-Battle Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Rocket Launcher… Beam Rifle :slight_smile:
-Competitive
-Teamwork

Oh yeah,

and jumping really high.

8

what makes halo halo is just the universe, the lore, the experience, exploring new worlds new planets, but in muliplayer just the competitive race against your opponents and time to see who is the better spartan warrior

9

Golden Triangle.

The story is a plus, but without the Golden Triangle, there is no story.

10

Halo is… you, the gamer.

Good night everybody.

11

halo to me is always about making my own experience. i have more options. i can make my own maps and how i want to play.

12

> The story :3

This campaign and the universe are what make halo halo! Multiplayer is just a extension of campaign. To me the way I see multiplayer for what is in each halo game is not the matchmaking because that will run its strive and die but more for the custom games and other modes. And so far every with every halo I do put it and play either lan or split screen with friends. But the reason I am getting so pumped for halo 4 is that campaign. Tieing in with the books, starting a new trilogy and having master chief back with a forerunner focus :smiley:

13

Us the fans, the Community, and the awesome Sandbox!

14

An FPS where every player starts on an equal footing and lets their skill decide the outcome of the match.

not predetermined dice rolls.

15

> This is honestly just a question I want to pose to the community. This is not meant as a hate thread, not a rage thread, not a complain thread. Just a question. I want to make sure that is clear in this battleground of a forum.
>
> So, what do you define as making the game Halo? I know the game has the word ‘Halo’ on the box, and the Master Chief, that much is obvious. What else do you consider the mark(s) of a Halo game?
>
> For me, the gameplay, specifically the ‘same starts’, pickups, elements of jumping/platforming and map control are key. I liked the simplicity. Very basic mechanics and setups that created diversity in their many applications. Complexity through simplicity. It’s easy to learn, hard to master. This part of me is really, really worried at the new additions, <mark>especially in light of the specialization reveal</mark>.
>
> And obviously, the Chief, the rings, the mysteries of the Forerunners and ferocity of the Covenant are part of that as well. I especially liked the unique environments, in both campaign and multiplayer, that were fun to explore and look around. This part has no problems with the new stuff. Well, maybe the helmets…
>
> Both parts of this are key to me.
>
>
> I think this is a big dividing factor on these forums. Some people consider specific elements of the gameplay key to the series threatened by new additions. I’m one of them. Those people tend to make the concerned threads. Others have different definitions that don’t mind the new, and embrace it as fresh air for the series. We have different definitions that impact our perception of the new stuff.
>
> If you take anything from this thread, be it that we all like this game. We all have different views and want to address our outlook on what we expect from the next title with ‘Halo’ in the name. We might not all understand the impression everyone else gets from all the new stuff, but that doesn’t warrant a license to flame or berate others.
>
> So, what do you think makes Halo the game and story it is?

Specializations have nothing to do with gameplay, they give you exclusive armor and emblems.

16

> Specializations have nothing to do with gameplay, they give you exclusive armor and emblems.

By the reveal I’m including the mods that were announced at the end of each specialization’s unlock path. They are given after armor and emblems, according to the article. Sorry for being unclear.

Honestly, I’m finding these answers to be interesting. Thanks for the responses, guys!

17

that halo feel…

It’s hard to describe but I know some of ya guys know what I’m talking about.

The fun.

18

The story, but from a gameplay perspective, it would be the fact that everyone starts on a even playing field and players are forced to quickly adapt to what even the enemy team has to offer. Ranging from a light infantry weapon to a bigass tank. You almost never know what exactly is going to happen. Its the almost completely random possibilities that can happen at any given moment that makes halo.

Like Splazering a banshee and getting a tipple kill, then going to theater and seeing the broken pieces of said banshee splattered the enemy team.

19

> > This is honestly just a question I want to pose to the community. This is not meant as a hate thread, not a rage thread, not a complain thread. Just a question. I want to make sure that is clear in this battleground of a forum.
> >
> > So, what do you define as making the game Halo? I know the game has the word ‘Halo’ on the box, and the Master Chief, that much is obvious. What else do you consider the mark(s) of a Halo game?
> >
> > For me, the gameplay, specifically the ‘same starts’, pickups, elements of jumping/platforming and map control are key. I liked the simplicity. Very basic mechanics and setups that created diversity in their many applications. Complexity through simplicity. It’s easy to learn, hard to master. This part of me is really, really worried at the new additions, <mark>especially in light of the specialization reveal</mark>.
> >
> > And obviously, the Chief, the rings, the mysteries of the Forerunners and ferocity of the Covenant are part of that as well. I especially liked the unique environments, in both campaign and multiplayer, that were fun to explore and look around. This part has no problems with the new stuff. Well, maybe the helmets…
> >
> > Both parts of this are key to me.
> >
> >
> > I think this is a big dividing factor on these forums. Some people consider specific elements of the gameplay key to the series threatened by new additions. I’m one of them. Those people tend to make the concerned threads. Others have different definitions that don’t mind the new, and embrace it as fresh air for the series. We have different definitions that impact our perception of the new stuff.
> >
> > If you take anything from this thread, be it that we all like this game. We all have different views and want to address our outlook on what we expect from the next title with ‘Halo’ in the name. We might not all understand the impression everyone else gets from all the new stuff, but that doesn’t warrant a license to flame or berate others.
> >
> > So, what do you think makes Halo the game and story it is?
>
> Specializations have nothing to do with gameplay, they give you exclusive armor and emblems.

Ok ok I’m sorry to sound rude here. But what -Yoinking!- rock are you living under?!

20

> Generally I define halo as a FPS with equal spawns, where map control and team work are crucial, has a simple combat system consisting of your gun,melee and grenades.
> With that said it would look like Halo 4 isn’t what I would generally define as a Halo game but I’m still gonna pick it up on day 1 and pray that it changes my definition.

Yeah thats what we enjoyed for the last 10 years. TBH I got a bit bored of it, it was just the time to make some changes.