Short introduction: Aside from some more or less obvious shortcomings I really enjoyed the H5 Beta so far. But I actually have a lot of respect for the people who fight for a more classic Halo experience too. While I don’t always share their point of view and criticized some people’s one-sided negativity I respect and appreciate their passion, most of them really care for Halo’s future.
I realized that in the end there is much more that binds us together than what divides us.
I asked myself: Why does every thread has to end in a -Yoink!- contest? Why do we, the Halo fans, have to work against each other? Why can’t we use all that passion not for destructivity but for actually making H5 the best game it can be?
The minimum requirement is respect. Respect for each other. Respect for 343i.
Let’s refrain from overreactions, oversimplifications, overgeneralizations.
Let’s go from “If you don’t like it piss off!” to “Let’s get as many Halo players on board as possible.”
Let’s go from “This is the worst/best thing ever!” to “These are my cons and these are my pros.”
What we really need is constructive criticism: Objective, well-balanced feedback without the need to fight over who is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
If you really care for this franchise please support this cause – the idea is to collect as many impressions as possible but in a more structured way.
To keep the discussions in reasonable limits I would like to define objectives or thematic emphasis that I will announce in advance in this first post.
There will be a timeframe for each objective – after this timeframe ends we will switch to another objective, and the discussion of the previous issue ends. Please stay on topic in each phase!
There will a ‘review phase’ in the end for additional inputs and corrections.
After each phase I will summarize the points that came up and load it up so that everyone can have a look. The goal is to send a very detailed document to 343i in the end that includes all kinds of impressions not only the demands of a specific subgroup.
January 19-20th
Objective 1: Improving the maps Empire, Truth, Eden and Regret
- aesthetics, “feel”
- clarity, ease of navigation
- frequency of encounters (“stress factor”), flanking/hiding options
- flow of the maps, death zones, hot spots, areas that get avoided, confusing areas
- weapon placement (normal weapons + power weapons)
Format:
Name of the map
- things that work / feel good
~ neutral observations, notes
- things that don’t work / feel off
=> suggestion: if possible offer a solution
Empire
- I really like the feel of the outside area, the skyline and light is a good point of orientation - the big turbine is an eye-catcher too
- map is easy to navigate and learn
- the many accesses to each area encourage moving around (less camping) and/or require good team coordination to control a part of the map
~ I found myself leaning to the outside area while avoiding the opposite side
- The inside area feels a little cold and generic with all the metal and grey tones
=> Highlights that break up that industrial feeling?
Truth
- start of the match is always thrilling as both parties collide and try to push to the upper area (‘sword’)
- flow of the map felt really good, lots of movement around the map
- flanking options always allow for possibilities to flank/surprise your opponent
- falling through the opening in the floor below the sword platform (unintentionally)
=> needs to be better (visually) highlighted
Eden
- completely different feeling from Empire
~ outside area was (again) my preferred destination
Regret
- the combination of nature and alien spaceship is really cool
- the ‘tower’ concept works (go up to secure the high ground advantage, go down for power weapon)
~ the open nature and verticality of the map made it the most stressful of the four maps especially with BR starts (potential danger from almost every side)
- if the enemy team holds the high ground the bottom area felt like a death zone
Truth
+great sightlines and structure.
+good for both AR or BR starts
+good weapon placement
-easy to be grenade spammed if in the towers
Regret
+love the open middle. Really pushes for high ground map control and effective team work
+placing the power weapon at bottom mid results in frantic firefights
-my least favorite BR start map due to excessively open sight lines from top mid. The only map I feel AR starts create a more level playing field
Empire
+layout is interesting and creates many varied firefights(cqc, BR/sniper duels, etc)
-unfortunately the interior sniper spawn is cluttered thus resulting in more players leaning toward the outside sniper spawn
-two snipers is not a good power setup for this map. perhaps shotgun/sniper, sword/shotgun, or even rockets/shotgun or sniper
-IMO the map does not flow well. my least favorite map
Eden
+flows much better than empire
+putting the sword in place of the second sniper is wonderful
+swapping power spawns to the bases helps keep the flow of the map more interesting. My favorite of the non-forge maps
- bridge in the middle offers a bit too much protection
My thoughts on the matter. I know a lot of people love Empire and hate Eden. Different strokes for different folks,eh?
> 2533274828870610;3:
> My thoughts on the matter. I know a lot of people love Empire and hate Eden. Different strokes for different folks,eh?
And both impressions are valid - thank’s for your contribution.
Really frustrating that we had a 8+ pages thread “Sledgehammer suing 343i”, and every attempt for a constructive thread is getting ignored 
Empire
- Feels like a very balanced map due to having identical power weapons on either end of the mid line of team spawns (Red/Blue rooms)
- Gives great options of utilizing Spartan mobility (clamber, thruster, GP) whilst minimizing sprint usage due to the map size and the vast amount of cover in contrast to some other maps
- It seems pretty balanced in the sense that some people prefer outdoors whereas some prefer the interior main base (as I do).
- Feels very fast paced.
- Does not seem to uphold the need for much strategy as compared to other maps
- Aesthetics a little bland.
- Dislike the power weapon being Sniper Rifles. With all the cover this map offers it definitely has a more CQB vibe, and the Sniper becomes only useful to really good snipers. I don’t pick it up ever because I’m not good enough with it to do all of the close quarters sniper.
==> Shotguns would be a better power weapon here
Truth
- Great, strategic map
- Looks great
- Although it is obviously larger, the main fight still feels like Midship
- The hole below the sword
- The bottom still feels very unsafe
- The clamber route in the lower bases is done very weird and feels clunky
- Pink Tower has no pink!
==> Change the bluish lighting inside Pink tower to pink
Regret
- Nice rush at beginning of map, good decision to start players on the bottom level
- Very good aesthetics, the map feels very new despite it being a remix
- Well balanced
- Feels a little sloppy with the platforms/ramps on top mid
- For whatever reason this map is horrendous with BR starts
- Very bad respawns on this map
- Never feel like there is a good reason to go the route opposite of the arch (in any gametype)
==> Would strongholds be more interesting if the top mid was a point as opposed to the arch?
Eden
- Good use of a mild asymmetry
- Like the opposite spawning of Empire, helps make the combat feel much different despite the remix.
- Well placed weapons
- Like that it is placed at night
- Despite liking the night time feel, lighting needs to be worked on so blue team doesn’t have such an advantage (hard to see).
- The main base feels underutilized and empty. Just seems like it’s only good for spawning.
- Once again the lower area sort of feels like a death trap (although better than Truth).
==> Add something to the main base that is at least eye catching
Was not a fan of Eden, Empire, or the Forge Maps. Just don’t like them even conceptually, wouldn’t know how to fix them.
The lighting and overall aesthetics of the maps need work. Halo 5 has some areas that are very bright, while others are covered in very dark shadows to the point you can’t make out enemies. Eden needs a color change in general, it’s way too blue.
Not much else to say. Just a free bump.