Personally, I think people are overreacting…
The campaign looks and sounds FANTASTIC - are we all agreed?
Spartan Ops… ok, the name is stupid. Forget the name; it’s nothing like COD spec ops. It’s an episodic story-based mini campaign. COD spec ops isn’t related to story at all, it’s just random missions with no chronological narrative. The two things are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Standard sprint… personally, I like this. Sprint makes the game faster, quicker and snappier. It feels stupid to be a Spartan who can only walk and annoying that you can’t run/jump/spin and carry out skilled manoeuvrability. If your only movement mechanic is walking… how is that skilled? IMO a walk-only mechanic is very casual - it’s slow and simple with no depth to the dynamism of the gameplay experience. No doubt others will disagree and that’s fine - I am simply voicing an opinion.
Extra armour abilities:
Jet Pack - why the hate? It doesn’t have to be in every playlist. Have you played Spire in Reach using a Jet pack? Jumping off the edge only to fly back up and surprise your opponent. Jumping off the edge and thrusting toward a Banshee to hijack it? It’s immense! It makes the gameplay fun and dynamic. I have no doubt there will be an MLG playlist without all this extra crap, so why get angry about it?
"X-ray “vision… so it’s a perk that might only be good for seeing through 1 layer of wall. When used, it might also limit your visual distance. So, actually… it might kinda suck. What is the point in a short range “wall-hack” in a game that is as fast paced as Halo? I think not many people will use it and those that do will most likely be out-classed by those with other AAs. Also, what if cloak negates Forerunner vision?
Instant re-spawn… Ok, it’s stupid. I don’t understand this one at all nor will I attempt to argue in 343i’s favour. I hope they have thought this through and make sure it doesn’t ruin gameplay.
Spartan points… So what? It’s a name, think of it as Reach credits, who gives a crap what it’s called? It’s a game currency system. EVERY game has one.
Unlockables… ok… Slightly controversial because it means people won’t start off with similar kits, but… think of it this way… Are you better with a BR than a DMR? Well… pick the BR every time you spawn. Another guy might be better with the DMR than you are with a BR though. You might then want to learn to play better and spawn with a DMR. It’s better than the boring games where everyone has the same weapon imo. Imagine Reach when you could choose NOT to spawn with the DMR because you hate the bloom? Bingo - you get to choose something you feel more comfortable with.
Also, as for unlockables, personally I am glad for a bit more depth to game progression. It adds incentive to keep playing. I think it works absolutely perfectly in Battlefield games and it doesn’t ever make you feel that one player is better than another because they have a “better” gun. The only time a gun is better is due to a certain situation – rock-paper-scissors. Guess what? Halo is already a game about Rock-Paper-Scissors. If you prefer shooting at range, get a long distance scope. Be prepared to get your -Yoink- kicked if anyone gets close to you though. Yes, everyone doesn’t spawn “equally” but everyone does have equal opportunity to get points as long as the game is balanced which no doubt it will be.
I understand people are Angry at some of the changes, but try to be a bit more positive. 343i have obviously put in a LOT of effort into this game. They are trying to change the game. COD is criticized because it hasn’t changed in about a decade. Halo is trying not to become a repeat franchise. I don’t want to play Halo 1 or 2 or 3 again. I had that experience and it was fantastic, but it’s in the past. I want a Halo experience that is different. I want to try something new and I think we need to be willing to let 343i at least try. If it fails miserably then they will no doubt re-think Halo 5. Just give the one chance to try and revitalise Halo. Halo CE became what it was by introducing the world to a radically different experience by taking many, many risks and being highly controversial. Remember how Bungie were shot down in flames for making a hardcore shooting game on a CONSOLE, who would’ve thought it?
Give 343i a chance to explain themselves and share their vision. Don’t shoot them down the second they introduce something that isn’t old-school Halo.
Equally, voice your opinion, just be mature about it and allow 343i to explain themselves. By shouting “343i YOU HAVE BETRAYED US” will simply make them switch off and ignore you. Be mature about it. If you have a gripe, form a constructive agreement as to why it will have a negative impact upon gameplay and then attempt to gain support.
First though - Let’s all calm down and allow 343i to officially address the content discussed in the GI cover story. They have already stated how people have overreacted and misinterpreted various aspects.
Let’s act like a decent gaming community and support 343i in making changes but raise concerns in a mature fashion. You are scared of Halo becoming like COD? It starts with the fans. Stop acting like a COD community by crying at everything you don’t like, honestly, it’s like a kid-COD forum on here. Let’s show the world which game and which COMMUNITY is the better of the two.
I’m not suggesting everyone roll over and become blind fanboy fanatics. I am simply making a plea that the Halo community can support 343i in making changes, albeit risky and controversial ones. When we have sufficient information and 343i address the article and clarify its contents, if you still aren’t happy, make a constructive complaint.
For now, we need to calm down and stop overreacting and welcome some change. Otherwise we will be landed with Halo 3.1 for the next decade and Halo WILL become the next episodic-DLC equivalent game as is the current iterations of what was once the highly respected COD franchise.
