Personally, I dislike the new Beam Rifle design. I think it looked a lot better in H2 and H3, and a lot more unique.
In H4, it looks more like the Focus Rifle, and it has an ugly shade of dark blue, and it’s way over-sized (someone’s overcompensating).
What’s your opinion on the new design?
Well, certain technologies in the Covenant races seems to have melded together more now. The Beam Rifle appears to have gotten a design change based off the Fcous rifle as you said. The Storm Rifle looks like its in an old Carbine casing.
Personally, I like the change to the Beam Rifle, but I dislike the Storm Rifle and miss the old Plasma Rifle handgun design.
meh. I have to agree with you OP.
I think they are two different guns.
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Type-27_Special_Application_Sniper_Rifle
I dislike it’s new design as well. Though honestly, I have never liked the way the Beam Rifle has looked in any Halo game.
On a more positive note, I think the new sound effects for the Beam Rifle are great and fit the weapon perfectly imo. It also has an amazing feel to it and performs extremely well.
> Well, certain technologies in the Covenant races seems to have melded together more now. The Beam Rifle appears to have gotten a design change based off the Fcous rifle as you said. The Storm Rifle looks like its in an old Carbine casing.
>
> Personally, I like the change to the Beam Rifle, but I <mark>dislike the Storm Rifle and miss the old Plasma Rifle handgun design.</mark>
I wish they had just brought back the Plasma Repeater and gave it a buff, would have been better than the Storm Rifle.
Than again, I do like having a gun named after me. 
> I think they are two different guns.
>
> http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Type-27_Special_Application_Sniper_Rifle
Precisely this. The Beam Rifle in Halo 4 is the older variant.