Ok ill start by saying iv a positive k/d of 2700 ,iv three perfections none using a vehicle and only one sitting back with a sniper so im not bad at halo im just annoyed at this particular game. I have also purchased and extensively played every single halo game released to date.
Today for the first time in a long time I went back played and halo4 as the new map pack was released but I ended up getting extremely frustrated and ending up giving up about two hours in and there are two main reasons for this:
(A) Custom Loadouts: These have destroyed the true halo experience; this is probably the largest contributor to halo 4’s balancing issues and let me explain why. In BTB Spartans can now spawn with a plasma pistol and two plasma grenades which makes vehicles a death trap so now one of the parts which made BTB so enjoyable is now ruined. But let’s stay focused on being able to spawn with plasma grenades because that also ruins gameplay on small maps in infinity slayer as every second noob you come across just tries to stick you instead of actually shooting, and sometimes get lucky, now how is that right???
Then we move on to the boltshot which again most people will equip as there secondary unless on BTB allows you to one shot kill an enemy, this thing is more effective than the scatter shot and yet we can spawn with it I mean come on please tell me how this is a step in the right direction?
Next we have the over powered dmr and anyone who refuses to acknowledge that this weapon is overpowered is living in a dream world. Now iv completed both the DMR and BR accomodations but have given up on the others as they are all so inferior to the dmr I mean the carbine is a 12 headshot kill that double the amount it takes with dmr, why is the carbine so useless? Now dis next bit might just be me but does anyone else feel the AR can people far too easily from mid distance iv lost count of the amount of times iv being a decent 7 feet away from someone and still being slaughtered by the ar.
Finally we move onto the support/ tactical packages which for me are just pathetic mean 3 of them relate to grenades alone, one returns them to normal proper strength, one allows you to carry three (BIG WHOOP) and one allows you to pick up grenades off dead enimies you know the thing you could do in every single other bloody halo game. The only two I ever use are mobility and ammo the rest are all useless In my opinion.
Now finally I want to note I understand why 343 implemented the custom loadouts it was a chance to give the players the opportunity to play with different guns but does anyone use the following, storm rifle, surpressor, lightrifle, ordinary pistol , pulse grenade cause I find them all useless. It was also a desperate attempt to balance the game out hence the reason why 343 made it an ability to pick up grenades from fallen foe but it fails completely on all accounts as people only use the dmr or br and the packages fail to bring any balance at all to the game.
ORDINANCE DROPS
The next plague 343 inflicted on this once great franchise was ordinance drops which initially I was a fan of but know I can’t stand them and please here me out on this:
Firstly they are completely random so one player can get the option of a rocket launcher while the other can get a needler. Now this destroys any chance of halo4 being balanced and is just plain and simple unfair. Now winning a game of halo has an element of luck to it instead of pure skill. Halo4 has being out long enough now for everyone to have witnessed this problem. I mean I played a big team game where 4 of my 8 team mates had snipers. Iv also being frustrated by me only ever getting a concusion rifle or needler which has far too little ammo while others constantly get swords, rocket launchers or snipers. Until this system is removed halo will never be considered balanced or competitive as it adds an element of luck to the mix which is only beneficial to casual players.
Secondly it removes the necessity for MAP CONTROL. Previously there was an understanding amongst everyone that there will be an initial frantic skirmish to grab the power weapons and control the areas they spawn in but now there is no such understanding and with the dmr being over powered people just sit back and wait to be rewarded by ordinance drops. Just think of the last game you played on ragnorock id b willing to place money on it that this happened one team controls the middle area while the other sits all the way back at their base and that’s it and the sad part is sitting back is effective iv lost games repeatedly to teams who just stay back and look to advance or control the map because ordinance drops rewards camping.
The Final problem with ordinance drops is they are rewarded for absolutely nothing, it should be only rewarded if your on a killing spree or something like that because at the minute in every game once you hit the two minute mark in a game every player is holding a power weapon and theres no way of telling what they have which is so frustrating as there is no way to prepare against whats coming.
Now I think iv come up with a solution instead of removing custom load outs and ordinance drops completely they should mix the two. So people only have a choice in what primary weapon they start with. So plasma grenades and the boltshot would be placed with the power weapons In the ordinance drops. Next id place certain power weapons specifically to set spawn locations with set re spawn times such as the sniper, rockets, sword, shotgun so the map doesn’t become clustered with too much power weapons, it would also re encourage map control and punish those who look to sit back and camp.
Please let me know what you think of these ideas.
I would also recommend reading the following post for more analysis as to what is wrong with halo 4 Valkyrion an in depth analysis of the problem