Why Can't We Have Both? - New vs. Classic

Games Other Halo
1

While it’s been discussed a lot about Reach, this is an issue I feel has yet to be addressed in regards to Halo 4; The issue of Old vs. New. People say “We must stick to Halo’s core gameplay!”. Others say “We have to innovate! Halo is stagnant!”.

I say…“Why can’t I have both?”

And there is absolutely no reason why we cannot.

I think one of the biggest problem with Reach’s launch is that it did not launch with a playlist category that was dedicated to classic Halo gameplay. If Reach had launched with a “Classic” hopper, void of AAs and Bloom, I think a lot of the initial backlash would not have been so harsh. People who hated Bloom and AAs could argue against them being shoved into a corner, but they couldn’t have complained about not having a place to play without all these things they hated.

So here’s what 343i should do with Halo 4:

1. Innovate in whatever areas they want. If this means the return/expansion of AAs, implementation of bloom…Whatever it is, they can do what they wish. Go crazy.

2. AT LAUNCH, Halo 4 should have a “Classic” playlist hopper. This category would have gametypes that had nothing but guns, grenades, and melee with static reticles. Basically, representing the classic gameplay from the original trilogy. This playlist hopper should consist of:

-Classic Slayer (4v4 RANKED)
-Classic Grab Bag (4v4 Objective/Slayer Mix)
-Classic BTB (8v8 Objective/Slayer Mix)

What this does is give old Halo die-hards a place to play the Halo they know and love, and have it be ranked. It gives everyone on the “No changes” side of the debate exactly what they want without messing around with 343s plans for innovating the series.

After the game has launched, players will then be free to debate which version of the game is better, and 343 does not have to make this decision for them. If it turns out that Classic is more favorable than the Default stuff…Then 343 can work on integrating it into the majority of Matchmaking.

See? We can all be happy.

2

I am a firm believer in the Halo 2 formula. But I will say I would rather suffer through reach mp than play a CoD game.

3

Halo 4 should stick to one playstyle, Halo 4’s. Once you put in another playstyle like they did with Read, the player base gets split.

4

> While it’s been discussed a lot about Reach, this is an issue I feel has yet to be addressed in regards to Halo 4; The issue of Old vs. New. People say “We must stick to Halo’s core gameplay!”. Others say “We have to innovate! Halo is stagnant!”.
>
> I say…“Why can’t I have both?”
>
> And there is absolutely no reason why we cannot.
>
> I think one of the biggest problem with Reach’s launch is that it did not launch with a playlist category that was dedicated to classic Halo gameplay. If Reach had launched with a “Classic” hopper, void of AAs and Bloom, I think a lot of the initial backlash would not have been so harsh. People who hated Bloom and AAs could argue against them being shoved into a corner, but they couldn’t have complained about not having a place to play without all these things they hated.
>
> So here’s what 343i should do with Halo 4:
>
> 1. Innovate in whatever areas they want. If this means the return/expansion of AAs, implementation of bloom…Whatever it is, they can do what they wish. Go crazy.
>
> 2. AT LAUNCH, Halo 4 should have a “Classic” playlist hopper. This category would have gametypes that had nothing but guns, grenades, and melee with static reticles. Basically, representing the classic gameplay from the original trilogy. This playlist hopper should consist of:
>
> -Classic Slayer (4v4 RANKED)
> -Classic Grab Bag (4v4 Objective/Slayer Mix)
> -Classic BTB (8v8 Objective/Slayer Mix)
>
> What this does is give old Halo die-hards a place to play the Halo they know and love, and have it be ranked. It gives everyone on the “No changes” side of the debate exactly what they want without messing around with 343s plans for innovating the series.
>
> After the game has launched, players will then be free to debate which version of the game is better, and 343 does not have to make this decision for them. If it turns out that Classic is more favorable than the Default stuff…Then 343 can work on integrating it into the majority of Matchmaking.
>
> See? We can all be happy.

look at Reach population? pathetic. Innovation didnt work. Classic is always better.

5

There is no sense in making two drastically different gameplay styles into one game. If you really are going to do soemthing like that, why not make two completely different games? Dividing the matchmaking to two completely different gameplay styles is the worst design choice you can possibly make. Only thing it does is divide the population as instead of 14 playlists you would need to have 28 playlists. That makes no sense at all.

In fact, one of the exact problems I see with Reach is that they chopped the gameplay to too many parts. We have about 20 social playlists and one ranked while it should be divided evenly and with way smaller amount of playlists. That’s why we need a single playstyle that everyone can play like in the past.

6

People actually want Halo 4 to be a slightly altered Halo 2/3? I understand keeping the core elements of Halo and whatnot, but having Halo 4’s MP be “classic” would be the worst idea possible, if Halo 4 stays the same then Halo will die. I think Reach’s changes sucked for the most part, but -Yoink- having Halo 4 not be innovative.

7

look at Cod3? same multiplayer garbage since cod1 so yea classic rules

8

…What the heck are you all talking about? Did you READ my post?

You’re all acting like I said Classic should be the only style in Halo 4. I said that we should have Classic playlists at launch…Just a few of them.

How the heck is that so wrong? Why WOULDN’T you want that option available to you?

9

Halo was innovative when it came out and halo 2 made online gaming what it is today, and then they started adding stuff and now look what happened you can say you want new things but that is what has made halo a second rate game atm ( I think 343 will change that) well what I mean is if something isn’t broke don’t fix it.

10

That would require balancing the entire game around 2 sets of mechanics. I mean, it could be done, but it isn’t practical.

11

> That would require balancing the entire game around 2 sets of mechanics. I mean, it could be done, but it isn’t practical.

All they had to do with Reach was remove Bloom and AAs. All they’d have to do is remove everything that differentiated Halo 4 from the original trilogy’s gameplay. That really wasn’t that hard, was it?

12

isnt that simple and reach physics doesnt feel halo

13

I can’t believe everyone is so against having a Classic option available in Halo 4. Does nobody understand the concept of compromise and coexistance? Does everybody really have such an “All or nothing” attitude?

I’m honestly shocked.

14

if people who wanted the game to stay the same got their way halo would be suffering from cod syndrome…same game…new nothing

15

> Halo 4 should stick to one playstyle, Halo 4’s. Once you put in another playstyle like they did with Read, the player base gets split.

Agreed. It would also be pretty confusing for newer players who don’t follow halo news regularly because they wouldn’t be aware of the differences for multiple types of playstyles.

16

DAMN! I just created a thread on this (with more detail)

17

Anyone who doesn’t instantly agree with this is either ignorant or selfish.

18

> After the game has launched, players will then be free to debate which version of the game is better, and 343 does not have to make this decision for them. If it turns out that Classic is more favorable than the Default stuff…Then 343 can work on integrating it into the majority of Matchmaking.
>
> See? We can all be happy.

No, we can’t. Building a good game for one demographic is hard enough. Building a good game while actually splitting it along two equal lines of development is nie impossible.

And besides, a classic option already exists along side these newer games. It’s the older ones, and if you aren’t satisfied with the experiences they still offer then you can’t honestly want more of the same. Either satisfy your interests with what you already have so we don’t have to accommodate your peculiar tastes, or take a minute to consider what you really want out of this. Regardless, it doesn’t concern us.

19

> Halo 4 should stick to one playstyle, Halo 4’s. Once you put in another playstyle like they did with Read, the player base gets split.

EXACTLY!!!

20

I certainly don’t see anything wrong with this. I don’t see how adding 3 simple classic playlists can really do any harm. It’s not much different from games like Sonic Generations that include a past game as an unlockable. It really doesn’t take away from the rest of the game at all. I actually think it’s a really good idea, as sometimes it would be nice to hop back into the classic playstyle for a bit on the new maps and whatnot.