Spartan Ops started off a bit bland at the beginning but as it progressed it got more exciting and the objectives and levels changed. I will have to say this, Episode 3 and Episode 5 were just completely epic! Especially in Episode 3 where you’re fighting off a Covenant fleet with a single Mantis (I play solo). What I also liked is that I could play how I wanted to play. Usually it’s just enemies dropping from a Phantom and see you instantly. In Spartan Ops, I could actually use stealth and pick off enemies unnoticed. That’s what I liked about Spartan Ops.
But will it last forever? Sure, the latest episodes were a blast, but the fact still stands that they’ve been using recycled maps from previous episodes. They’ve also had the tendency to use the multiplayer maps, which was pretty cool. Killing covies on a classic map like Valhalla is always fun. But the point still stands, these missions still have a dull side to it. Press this, press that, get through this level destroy that. The latest Episode has taken a new turn for once. Defense objectives. Not only objects such as generators, but actual NPCs such as the scientist (or Eggheads in Palmer language).
Great changes, but 343 is going to have to do more. From the looks of things, they want Spartan Ops to become something more then just some petty co-op missions. It’s an actual campaign with a story and for it to be shown at the upcoming VGAs it must be something better than what we have been getting.
343, let us fight along side Palmer, or Majestic. Let us fight against Jul Mdama or any other boss, not a boring Elite General with a Fuel Rod Cannon and just a name slapped on him. Create whole new levels made just for Spartan Ops. Core is exclusive to Spartan Ops, I am sure you can do more. We’re not asking for a new level every week, but at least put in some effort instead of some small changes here and there.
I like Halo 4. I like what 343 did. I like Spartan Ops, but in it’s current state, it won’t last. Spartan Ops should have players craving to see what happens next, just like any other good TV show. Who else wants more from Spartan Ops?
I’m waiting for next weeks episode. Spartan Ops isn’t failing. It’s like a mini TV series/extended Campaign of Halo 4. It isn’t going anywhere nor is it failing. Theres about 1-2k people in Spartan Ops per day just about.
The recycled maps are there for a reason, you don’t see any new sets in a Tv series do you? Gallio base is Complex. The area a scientist team is studying is still there because it’s still trasmitting data. That’s the reason for the same maps. Why this is a concept people cannot grasp, I am very unsure of. People aren’t understanding what Spartan Ops is and it’s shameful…
I’m kind of digging it now, to be honest. The story is starting to expand a little bit. It seems that many people are expecting a full secondary Campaign or something, which would make for an entire new game.
I think that it’s a neat way to give some side story as to what is going on in the universe to set us up for Halo 5.
My only gripe? Is that you must be connected to Live to play. Obviously I’m a Gold Member, but I occasionally take my Xbox with me when I travel or go on vacation, so when I don’t have a Live connection I am unable to play.
I also wish that the cinematic episodes were downloaded and stored locally, not streamed from the Internet.
But overall, I like the side storyline and am intrigued to see how far they take it (how many seasons, plot development, etc.).
Agree 100%. And it’s definitely starting to ramp up a bit.
Also, I’ve held off reading the Kilo 5 books based on the reader feedback that it’s a “Halsey-bashing fest” (I freaking love Halsey). Now that I know that its not an author-specific thing, thanks to Spartan Ops, I’m planning to read them once the semester is over with.
I am wondering though, if 343 plans on revealing Librarian in Spartan Ops, or if that’ll be saved for Halo 5? Not dogging Spartan Ops, but it seems a bit “small” of a environment to bring in someone as pivotal as The Librarian… Just a thought.
I don’t know if any other game has done this sort of thing before. This is uncharted territory. It’s my understanding that all the episodes currently promised have not been completed yet. Some might even be going through some rewriting right this minute. Anything could happen.
Maybe more chapters per episode? Maybe less but longer chapters? Maybe a 32 player chapter? They could try anything at least once, and if something doesn’t work we’ll never see it again. Obviously what DOES work will keep coming back until it doesn’t work any more. I can’t think of a better platform to try things out with.
I only wonder what they’re going to charge us for the next batch?
Yes, I will agree. Spartan Ops has been doing better, but there hasn’t been any major changes that make it less repetitive.
I understand the concept of “It’s like a TV show so it will have the same set” but that doesn’t change the fact that this is still a video game. 343 should still have the ability to bring new things to the table.
I don’t know, Spartan Ops seems too repetitive. 343 uses the same maps over and over and just dumps enemies on you. I am sick of Palmer or Miller constantly going more enemies! The only thing that keeps me playing it is the Episodes. I get excited and go to play SO. Turns out look it is the exact same map as last time with different enemies! It also kind of annoys me that almost every single elite has a fuel rod cannon/sword. Anyway SO is alright, but it could be so much better.
> Spartan Ops started off a bit bland at the beginning but as it progressed it got more exciting and the objectives and levels changed. I will have to say this, Episode 3 and Episode 5 were just completely epic! Especially in Episode 3 where you’re fighting off a Covenant fleet with a single Mantis (I play solo). What I also liked is that I could play how I wanted to play. Usually it’s just enemies dropping from a Phantom and see you instantly. In Spartan Ops, I could actually use stealth and pick off enemies unnoticed. That’s what I liked about Spartan Ops.
>
> But will it last forever? Sure, the latest episodes were a blast, but the fact still stands that they’ve been using recycled maps from previous episodes. They’ve also had the tendency to use the multiplayer maps, which was pretty cool. Killing covies on a classic map like Valhalla is always fun. But the point still stands, these missions still have a dull side to it. Press this, press that, get through this level destroy that. The latest Episode has taken a new turn for once. Defense objectives. Not only objects such as generators, but actual NPCs such as the scientist (or Eggheads in Palmer language).
>
> Great changes, but 343 is going to have to do more. From the looks of things, they want Spartan Ops to become something more then just some petty co-op missions. It’s an actual campaign with a story and for it to be shown at the upcoming VGAs it must be something better than what we have been getting.
>
> 343, let us fight along side Palmer, or Majestic. Let us fight against Jul Mdama or any other boss, not a boring Elite General with a Fuel Rod Cannon and just a name slapped on him. Create whole new levels made just for Spartan Ops. Core is exclusive to Spartan Ops, I am sure you can do more. We’re not asking for a new level every week, but at least put in some effort instead of some small changes here and there.
>
> I like Halo 4. I like what 343 did. I like Spartan Ops, but in it’s current state, it won’t last. Spartan Ops should have players craving to see what happens next, just like any other good TV show. Who else wants more from Spartan Ops?
I agree with you. The only thing that is truly keeping me coming to Spartan ops is the Episode videos, they actually tell a story and give real meaning to the bosses.
What they can change is that you dont have to kill everything all the time, it becomes so boring and feels like chore. And the covies dont needs to get reinforcments with every single button that you push.
What I would love if they made some mission that is to defend the Mammoth when it transport some artifact or something like that or some sneaking mission not allthings needs to be gunsblazing.
PLay solo on legendary, most of the objective achievements will be impossible such as saving hacksaw. Other moments when you think you’ve killed everything then suddenly a battallion spawns on top or around you and it’s instant death - these moments which come frequently when prometheans are involved make it unenjoyable. Chapter 1 of Episode 5 on legendary solo is suicide. I got the achievement but post game I had 68 deaths as the prometheans were crowding every spawn point. Basically I spawn and maybe kill one enemy then get killed from scatershot, watcher, binary rifle, crawler, all of the above. I get it’s supposed to be a challenge but this is unacceptable. It’s quite obvious that 343 made spartan ops a co-op game and that’s where it fails. You didn’t need teammates to play firefight in reach or odst, but unless you want to get your butt kicked co-op play is a must.
A prime example is when Hunters show up. Episode 5 chapter 3 you have no heavy weapons and once hunters drop if you play it on legendary solo you run out of grenades on the first hunter. If you have 3 of each you’ll be able to take it out but after that what then? No ordnance, no explosives, I played it today and tried using the many swords lying around to take them out but got slammed. Most often if I don’t have a vehicle or heavy weapons the only viable tactic to killing hunters is going right in their face and meleeing them. Funny to do if you know how they swing at close range and you can kill them with 5 or 6 punches but all too often I run out of ammo trying to fight ridiculously strong enemies and the best option is to let them kill me so I respawn with a full loadout. I shouldn’t have to do that.
Once you finish all 5 episodes or rather once you go through each level at least once, getting the achievements along the way, replay value is nil. The only thing to do once you complete each level is find the levels that are best for farming commendations. The first level of spartan ops has tons of ghosts to destroy, shootout on valhalla is great for hunters and banshees and Spartan Miller for prometheans.
IMO spartan ops should be free for every season. It’s by far not worth spending money on after what I’ve seen.
> > It just needs to change its maps. It doesn’t make sense that people go in the same place over and over again.
>
> This happens all the time in real life wars.
that’s my argument that we return to the same areas because of enemy retaliation or enemy reinforcements…the only issue with using “real life” as a reason in video games leads people to scream out “but it’s not real life it’s a video game” and vice versa depending on the argument
but all and all i like spartan ops…i miss firefight but this is a really good co op experience for my friends and i…because of work schedules and school fridays we all meet up and marathon the latest episode
> > > It just needs to change its maps. It doesn’t make sense that people go in the same place over and over again.
> >
> > This happens all the time in real life wars.
>
> that’s my argument that we return to the same areas because of enemy retaliation or enemy reinforcements…the only issue with using “real life” as a reason in video games leads people to scream out “but it’s not real life it’s a video game” and vice versa depending on the argument
>
> but all and all i like spartan ops…i miss firefight but this is a really good co op experience for my friends and i…because of work schedules and school fridays we all meet up and marathon the latest episode
You didn’t need teammates to play firefight; try spartan ops solo on legendary then come back and say it’s great. Or play it with random people then see if you still like it after the intentional betrayals are done with.
> > > > It just needs to change its maps. It doesn’t make sense that people go in the same place over and over again.
> > >
> > > This happens all the time in real life wars.
> >
> > that’s my argument that we return to the same areas because of enemy retaliation or enemy reinforcements…the only issue with using “real life” as a reason in video games leads people to scream out “but it’s not real life it’s a video game” and vice versa depending on the argument
> >
> > but all and all i like spartan ops…i miss firefight but this is a really good co op experience for my friends and i…because of work schedules and school fridays we all meet up and marathon the latest episode
>
> You didn’t need teammates to play firefight; try spartan ops solo on legendary then come back and say it’s great. Or play it with random people then see if you still like it after the intentional betrayals are done with.
i have played it solo legendary and it’s rough as hell at parts and ive also played it with dumb randoms that jerk around. but it is a co op experience obviously meant to be played co op. wouldn’t be the first time a game type was geared for a team not solo.
saying all that i’ll still say it’s a great addition. if solo legendary is too difficult tone it down to heroic or normal. dont be a hard -Yoink- going all legendary to prove a point