First off, I LOVE the gameplay of Halo: Infinite! The maps, the guns, the game modes… all are amazing. This game is a huge step in the right direction. It’s fresh yet familiar, which is what we all wanted from a new Halo entry.
However, the XP model in the battle pass is atrocious. One of the best things about Halo is that there’s many ways to play. Some people love driving. Others like playing defense and playing objectives. Others love to dominate with power weapons. Think about all the guns that were added for this iteration of Halo, not to mention the cool equipment.
All of the innovation and creativity in the game, however, is throttled by the Challenge system. It is not fun to be forced to use certain guns in order to make meaningful progress in the Battle Pass. Yes, they already added XP for every game played, and that’s great, and I don’t even think challenges should be eliminated. But, performance in-match should still be the backbone of progress. Challenges should only be for bonus XP.
The Challenges also send the wrong message to players in a team-based shooter. They de-emphasize putting the team or the game first. If you play CTF and have 9 carrier kills and a bunch of returns and help your team win, that should always count for something… not just for when it’s one of your Challenges. Also, your team may suffer because you spend the entire match focused on getting 5 back smacks instead of capturing territories.
Challenges also don’t make sense for players who play ranked. No one is going to forsake a hard-earned ranking to get Pulse Carbine kills. So, we have to choose between focusing on competitive or unlocks. That’s not good for the player!
Also, tying progress to fulfilling objectives based on game modes means players will just quit a match if it’s not the type they need. That’s insane!
To be honest, I prefer the Halo 5 system of leveling and unlocking armor, nameplates, etc. This should really change. It’s not fun or rewarding and undermines the spirit of the franchise itself.