What I didn't like about Spartan Ops, and why

Games Other Halo
1

Ok, let me explain myself. Spartan Ops was a new idea that 343 decided to try out, to provide a weekly collection of chapters for players to complete and advance a new storyline on the Infinity. I did like the idea of Spartan Ops, but I had some problems with how it was executed.

Now, what I don’t like.

First, the gameplay. 25 chapters is a lot of missions, especially when only using 5 maps (along with some multiplayer maps), so the maps were continuously being reused for new purposes. In addition, the missions were usually long, you would die and respawn, and missions consisted of moving through terrain, holding an area, killing enemies, and pressing buttons. Done repeatedly, on the same maps, for a really long time. The end result was a bland mix of generic gameplay that lacked the originality and excitement usually generated by a Halo campaign.

Next, the story. While I definitely liked the story as told by the episodes, I didn’t like the disconnect between the stories and the gameplay. Other than a few minor connections in the overall story, Fireteam Crimson and Fireteam Majestic never crossed paths, and no real progress in the story was made through the campaign beyond picking up an object for the next episode. Without a real connection to what was going on, the gameplay felt more dull and I felt less involved in the story because of their isolation.

Now, how I’d fix it.

I would change Spartan Ops to having only one or two new missions each week, for a total of 10-20 missions. Each mission would have its own unique environment/map, and a mission that felt less tedious and more original. The gameplay and missions would be intricately tied to the story, and significant events would happen in-game that would drastically alter the mission. There would be a certain significance to the tasks you were doing within the story itself, not just neutralizing another AA gun just because.

For an example mission, you are extracting some valuable enemy intel to Infinity. You face off against waves of firefight-type enemies, until a Covenant cruiser begins attacking and you are forced to retreat. You now have 2 minutes to make it to a secondary LZ to avoid being glassed. You make it, board a Pelican, and fly off, but are shot down and crash-land somewhere far away.

Another option would be an ODST-type mission style, with a sandbox main level and a new “clue” unlocked each week for a mission advancing the main storyline, rather than the episode-chapters style of the current Spartan Ops. Maybe just have mission cutscenes instead of independent videos.

2

A good idea, if it would’ve been like that i surely would’ve played SpOps to the end and not only watched the cinematic scenes. It would be some kind of a second campaign, but who cares if it’s awesome.
SpOps was, somehow a second campaign, but they tried to mix firefight in there somehow and it didn’t work out very well.

When playing firefight in reach u don’t expect a story to be behind it, u’re just smashing enemies.
In SpOps there is this story implemented in cinematic scenes, where u would expect the gameplay to be something unique, whereas it’s still just sort of firefight.
On the one hand u have this drab pseudofirefight gameplay on same maps over and over again, on the other hand u have those breathtaking cinematic scenes where u would expect an adjusted gameplay.
As u said, the player doesn’t feel involved and it lacks the excitement usually created by a halo. It just does not fit together.

3

The latter six episodes were, in my opinion, a little better than the first five. There was somewhat less repetition, a number of new maps, and more significance to the storyline. That’s just me, though. Episodes 1-4 got a bit dry, and episode 8 was disappointing story-wise, but 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 were at least decent, maybe not to the extent that a Halo game should be, but they were certainly better than the others. The respawn system could’ve been improved upon, though.

4

I like your ideas, but I think there are few things that have been should be added:

  1. Some missions should actually involve characters from the story (Palmer, Majestic, etc.) as NPCs. They would help you complete objectives, and perhaps go off somewhere to complete their own tasks, then rejoin you later.

  2. In game cutscenes such as we saw in the beginning of episode 6 and also throughout Halo Reach. Player characters would not be required to have dialogue (if it’s an issue), but would still be present with the other characters and could even have scripted movements. Just seeing your spartan standing next to Thorne or Grant during a cutscene would go a long way toward creating immersion in the story.

  3. Lastly, I would take the armor and class mods out of matchmaking and put them exclusively in Spartan Ops. I would then sup them up to make them much more class oriented. This would allow players to make truly unique Spartans that fit into the story. It would also make each Spartan Ops mission feel fresh. Instead of having fire teams of four Spartans that are essentially the same, your fire team would feel unique as everyone would take on a clear role.
    Note: I want to stress that this concept should be strictly limited to Spartan Ops. It should not be part of multiplayer matchmaking.

5

Topic - I love Sp Ops, reverse map running and all.

What I hate about it is downloading it, and then NOT getting to play it either SOLO offline, nor 2 or more through Xbox System Link.

Rant - Because of this I am exceptionally weary of any future Halo, or other MS/343, or 3rd party titles.

I think before 343 was even formed MS was looking to rip a page out of Bungie’s - Then planned *MOLCMP (Destiny… Which I will not be getting… Unless it’s free)

Now, Titanfall followed the same premise and is an Xbone exclusive. Oops!

Wonder why @ or before the launch of Xbone. “Oh you have to sign in every 24 hrs… etc, etc, etc.” Remember that one?

If this is the “future of gaming” count me out.

Massive <mark>Online Only</mark> Campaign/Multiplayer

6

At this point I’m thinking the best course of action is to simply bring back Firefight, and make it even better than in Halo:Reach, as outlined in this thread I posted in the Halo 5:Guardians forum:

>>>> Halo 5:Guardians NEEDS Firefight 3.0… <<<<

However, I did greatly enjoy Halo:Reach’s Campaign, and being able to see my own Spartan in the cutscenes… so why doesn’t 343i just make a secondary campaign; a story that runs parallel to the Master Chief’s, but in which your Spartan takes the lead, like Noble 6.

It should have at least 8-10 missions and in-game cutscenes, and allow players to not only play as their own Spartan, but also use their Custom Loadouts; selected before the start of each cutscene, during respawn, or before reverting to the last checkpoint.