The Evolution of Classic Gameplay

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

Hey everyone.

As you may have already noticed, there has been a long running disagreement on this site pertaining to whether the multiplayer on Halo Xbox One should return to its classic roots or continue evolving down the Infinity style of play. Some argue in favor of returning to the classic style of play because they say the inclusion of Infinity style features make the game less skillful whereas Infinity supporters argue that Halo needs to evolve in order to stay relevant.

This got me thinking.

If Halo Xbox One were to return to the classic fundamentals of Halo,(Equal starts, Arena-Style Play) what are some of the additions that you would add to the gameplay?

Note: Basically, if we were to start from Halo 3, what would you add?

2

Taking matchmaking in a direction towards classic, would generally involve removal of features, not addition.

There are two things in H4 or HX1 that need to be addressed for the MM population to grow:

  1. Abundance of power weapons make gameplay chaotic and removes skill gap.

  2. Lack of continuity between gamemodes demands constant adjustment and prevents talent development.

Edit: Actually I do have some additions:
Firefight. Must have Flood survival mode.
Invasion. (can be spartan vs. spartan). Must have ≈5 maps at launch. Maps must be useable for slayer/ctf as well.

Ψ

3

> Infinity supporters argue that Halo needs to evolve in order to stay relevant.

That’s a pretty funny argument. Halo 4 “evolved”, and it’s the least relevant Halo game ever.

Anyways, I would just take the functionality of each armor ability and either remove it or nerf it and throw that functionality into a powerup on the map (thrusters to speed boost, jetpack to jump boost, etc.).

4

343 did a good job in Halo 4 with the weapon skins. I enjoyed being able to customize my weapon. Because of this I would like Loadouts to return but they would be stripped down a whole lot.

Primary: BR/AR
Secondary: Magnum
Grenade: Frag Grenade x1 or 2

I know loadouts are not exactly best fit for arena gameplay but I don’t see how the above loadout system could be detrimental to gameplay. I mean it’s pretty much classic styled starts just you have the option to spawn with the AR or BR (which are pretty much perfectly balanced) and change the skin of the weapon. We should at least be able to use the above loadout system in social slayer.

5

Amazing how people refuse to talk about this by going off topic by saying what needs to be removed. Yet they absolutely love to throw the originality and unique card around.

6

Good Question OP, To many seem blinded with sheer hatred or love with either style of the Halo franchise to ask what was liked about both we could keep into the future, your question is one that many should be asking.

Personally, This is the blend I would love to see.

Halo 2:
High base move speed
Choose between Elite or Spartan
1 grenade starts on MP
Fantastic maps
The traits of the BR
Hijacking (Not that it’s going anywhere)
Good ranking system
Clan system
Beautiful soundtrack
Split campaign (I know alot disliked it, but the suspense of knowing what happened to Chief after his fall into the ocean on delta halo was a great feeling)

Halo 3:
Amazing custom game fun
Perfect aim assist balance
Menu Music (gives me good chills every time I hear it)
Brute Chopper
The Scorpion in Halo 3 was my favourite, it was faster than the models we currently see, but less powerful explosion.
Vehicle strength and damage ratios
A mix of the smaller big team maps in 4v4 social.
2 shot Fuel Rod GUN (was its Halo 3 name)
VIP
Territories

Halo 3 ODST:
Cool action adventure campaign for Rookie (be nice if spartan ops in Halo 5 was like this)
Max 3 types of each grenade (seems the most balanced, some like 2, some like 4)
Grunts would Flee sometimes, but less, because you were not a spartan.
Best Firefight system (not customization)

Halo Reach:
Plasma Repeater
Plasma Launcher
Revenant (Would like to see multiple variants, like the warthog)
Weapon sounds (the sniper rifle sounded BEAST)
Customization System (alongside the ranking system link to my Idea for it: https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2779917_Halo-5-Ranking-System--A-great-way-to-go.aspx#post2779917)
Firefight customization (link to my idea https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2788389_New-Firefight-Variant-Now-Has-Spoiler-Tags.aspx#post2788389)
Invasion
Headhunter
Stockpile
Race
All other gametypes
Custom searching options for MP
The amours looked Awesome
Precision editing in forge
5 shot kill magnum
PP stength
the needler in Halo Reach is the best IMO

Halo 4:
Be able to choose starting weapons (for the Carbine, Storm Rifle and Magnum, need a new pistol for the covenant that can be a select-able side arm)
Weapon/Armour skins
Magnets in forge (need to be less glitchy)
Lighting in forge (needs to be something you can choose to add to a map)
A powerful Carbine
Pulse grenades (need a buff)
Dominion

That is the stuff I would like to see carried over, stuff I would like to drop:

Sprint
Starting AAs
Perks
DMR, LR, PP, PG, BS in loadouts
OP Beam Rifle
High Bullet Magnetism
And some other stuff I cannot think of just now.

That’s what I want, now maybe anyone who posts next can actually do what I did?

7

> Amazing how people refuse to talk about this by going off topic by saying what needs to be removed. Yet they absolutely love to throw the originality and unique card around.

It’s harder to come up with good additions that compliment Halo’s gameplay than it is to point out mechanics that don’t. Loadouts, Killstreaks and Sprint aren’t a problem because they’re not unique, they’re a problem because they have severe negative impacts on the game.

Off the top of my head though, I’d like to see trait zones incorporated into map designs (so for example, have an “overshield charge station” or an open area that increases damage but slowly saps shields), a larger focus brought in to strategic movement and movement options (spring, grenade and concussion jumps specifically) and “interactive” map environments if possible.

Loadouts should be restricted to 5 Primary weapons, and an ODST SMG (mid-range automatic) should be introduced.

For customs sake, a large plethora of options that allows us to make minute changes to everything (weapons, playermodel sizes etc.) would be beneficial for a number of reasons.

Pre-Built default maps should have a limited combat area, but should have extra rooms and exploration via deleting certain walls and whatnot in forge, to allow for a better forge and machinima experience. Any and all deathbarriers up to a certain range should be removable to allow for better machinima and forge experience.

So those are a couple of ideas that would benefit the multiplayer without damaging it.

8

Here’s some stuff I proposed:

Survival

Multi gravitational maps

Those I see would benefit the “classic” gameplay without changing the actual gameplay much. Well, the survival is it’s own game mode. But the multigravitational maps wouldn’t as I see it change the actual traits and what not on the players and not be random as ordnance. Although I’ve also offered solutions on how to keep random ordnance but keep it “fair”.

Here

There are ideas, it’s just that most of them gets burried by all the repeat threads.

9

Personally, if we do see a return to classic styled gameplay, I would like to see more destructible environments. Now I’m not saying “Have battlefield style destructibility on every map” because I do believe that small non-destructible environments are necessary in order to achieve a good arena style map. However, if we do see a return of invasion, the whole destructibility aspect could prove to be beneficial to the gameplay with an ever evolving map.

10

> Personally, if we do see a return to classic styled gameplay, I would like to see more destructible environments. Now I’m not saying “Have battlefield style destructibility on every map” because I do believe that small non-destructible environments are necessary in order to achieve a good arena style map. However, if we do see a return of invasion, the whole destructibility aspect could prove to be beneficial to the gameplay with an ever evolving map.

More stuff like the roadblock barricades in forge would be nice. smash-able windows etc.

11

> More stuff like the roadblock barricades in forge would be nice. smash-able windows etc.

This as well as some more equipment. (I.e. Energy drain like device the suck people into a vortex or slow their movement speed.)

Edit: Nevermind. Bad example. Idea still stands with more equipment.

12

Sorry, we had the stun effect from meleeing armour lockers, I do not want a equipment that makes that worse.