With all the discussion going around these forums about the multiplayer in H5:G I noticed one topic has stayed relatively quiet.
I’m talking about the Firefight vs Spartan Ops follow ups.
Firefight has been a solid introduction to Halo in ODST and Reach. Spartan Ops the arguably far less succesful ‘follow up’ to the same concept in H4.
Many would say bring back one of both, my guess being Firefight being most popular.
I’d say: incorporate both into 1 game mode.
Spartan Ops 2.0
The first change that needs to be made is the entire set up of the concept. SO was set up around a few maps that housed 50 missions in an episodic structure. In terms of concept: awesome. In terms of execution: lacking direction, urgency and replay value.
So the first change I propose would be to skip the 50 missions structure and instead give us shorter missions more akin to regular Campaign missions. Most notably: the ‘daytime missions’ of ODST. In other words: missions that are relatively short, but do have a real starting and ending, and a better structure.
Each week should give us a new mission, and each mission should still be accompanied by a cutscene that basically replaces the hub-world of ODST in terms of binding story factor.
Who should be the main character? Well, assuming Locke is going to be a second Campaign character I’d say have our old Spartan IV’s be the main characters again.
By toning down the amount of missions per week, we could get a better focus in the story departement, and more assets and time being spend on making SO-levels that are actually fun to play. Make a season last 2 months, and you’d only need 8 levels. If Bungie could make a game like ODST on a small budget in a short amount of time, the same could be done by 343i to complement H5:G.
Where does Firefight fit in?
Well that solution is really simple.
Each SO level should include 1 (or sometimes 2) area’s that can work as closed off sections that are available as Firefight maps. Similar to how the Firefight maps in ODST were part of the regular Campaign levels, or how Matchmaking maps in Reach were part of Campaign levels.
Regular SO barely has any replay value, because it plays like an unfocused version of FF. By having each level include a stage that is set up perfectly for fighting wave after wave of enemies you could solve the problem of replay value quite easily.
Offer these sections are FF maps in the SO-subsection of the game.
The next suggestion might be a bit of a personal preference, but I liked ODST’s FF a bit more than Reach’ variation. So I’m suggesting a more toned down set of options available for us to set up FF on the available maps.
What else?
Skulls. Hide them in the SO-Campaign and make them available for us in the FF-subsection after finding them in the SO-Campaign.
4-player XBL integration.
New FF maps every week, due to the new SO-level being released.
Why?
SO became too repetative after a while without changing goals. It lacked that replay value FF had. But it did have its cool moments and sure has enough potential to warrant a sequel.
With a little more investment in the whole strucure of the thing you could include that lacking ‘x factor’ by adding Firefight. That way all the investments made to SO wouldn’t be so vain, because you’re giving people more incentives to replay it.
By giving us a more focused story in just 1 level (about the length of ODST daytime levels) the whole SO side story will get more attention and more importance. I personally barely remember what happened in SO. I do vividly remember what happened in the ODST daytime levels.
Giving us new FF maps each week that come straight from the weekly SO levels you’re also keeping people invested in FF more.
All in all, what I’m basically saying in a way is turning SO/FF into a ‘light’ version of what ODST was. I understand that limitations on the budget mean cutting things like all the bells and whisles ODST had like ONI blowing up and the big Covie invasion over New Mombasa in the last level. But the structure of levels life Uplift Resort and ONI Alpha Site is perfect for a weekly offering in terms of leveldesign.
So that’s it: Spartan Ops 2.0. SO and FF combined. Any ideas from you guys are more than welcome!