Why some weapons didn't make the cut

Some people have been wondering or asking why their favorite weapons didn’t make the cut in halo 4. I decided to give them the answers to why they didn’t. Please do note that these are my opinions and aren’t the real reasons 343 didn’t include the weapons in the game.

SMG: alot of people were asking about this weapon a little while back and were unhappy that it didn’t make the cut. There really is only one reason this weapon didn’t make it (and this has been said many times before) was because of the repetitiveness and uselessness that characterized the weapon. Since we already have the AR and the SAW, having the smg would have been a pointless addition to the sandbox. Hardly anyone would use it with those other two weapons around, thus making it more useless since the other two are also essentially better versions.

Plasma launcher: even though this was an interesting weapon in reach and kind of fun to use, it didn’t make the cut in halo 4 sadly. I think this was done for a reason, because of the faster nature of halo 4, the plasma launcher would have been just to slow. The plasma launcher was a great anti vehicle weapon, but it was a horrible anti infantry weapon. Halo 4s seemingly faster pace would have made this much worse.

Needle rifle: favoritism. 343 decidedly picked to put in the carbine into halo 4 instead of the needle rifle(even though arguably it was the more effective weapon overall except in CQC). I think 343 decided to please the nostalgists. Even though the needle rifle lovers in the community aren’t that large(you aren’t much bigger carbine fanboys), 343 should have taken the time to please everyone and have imported the needle rifle model into halo 4.

Rocket turret: because it wasn’t that good and essentially the rocket launcher does the same thing now.

Brute weapons: because they were hardly used in prior games except for the brute shot. While the brute shot was interesting, it wouldn’t make canonical sense to be included with the storm covenant in halo 4.

**Focus rifle:**pretty much the same reasons as the needle rifle, 343 wanted to appeal to the nostalgists and brought back the beam rifle(Which is now even more inferior to the sniper rifle, I don’t think I will be using it).

I hope this helps a little to maybe clear things up for people who didn’t get their personal favorite weapons in halo 4. There might still be hope for halo 5 for all the weapons above to return(atleast perhaps in Multiplayer).

Ps. Smg lovers should get their beloved smg back in halo 2 anniversary in 2014(it’s gonna happen, there’s no doubt about that with the success halo CE anniversary).

I’m just asking why they included both the DMR and the BR but not the NR.

Personally I think they should have kept the NR, Plasma launcher and Focus rifle. The Focus rifle was a pretty cool weapon, it could be used as a close range weapon but also as a long range weapon.

This sounds more like speculation than you actually knowing the reason.

Nevertheless, they are logical and I agree. And I sure hope Halo 2 Anniversary comes. I hate all the port issues, and it is now the only non-high definition Halo in existence.

It was interesting of 343 to include both BR and DMR. Personally saying the DMR looks pretty ugly. I hope we can sort of see why the Brutes just totally went as there were some good Brute weapons and would like to find out why they were all gone (cause i loved using the brute shot).

I’m pretty sure it was conformed that 343 tried to implement dual-wielding, but they were having troubles with balancing so they cut the feature, which also lead to the cut of the SMG.

> I’m pretty sure it was conformed that 343 tried to implement dual-wielding, but they were having troubles with balancing so they cut the feature, which also lead to the cut of the SMG.

I’m a little sad now

Needle Rifle was ridiculously overpowered. Large clip, 3 body shots to supercombine (that’s only two more than a headshot kill), projectile ricochet.

I would’ve prefered a buffed ODST smg as a power weapon instead of the SAW. Just saying. That thing was so much fun.

> Needle Rifle was ridiculously overpowered. Large clip, 3 body shots to supercombine (that’s only two more than a headshot kill), projectile ricochet.

I disagree. Aside from the supercombine ability, it wasn’t that special compared to the other precision weapons IMO. And most players just go for the headshot anyways.

Guys, let’s just face it shall we? The NR was crap at any range against shields and since it was only really good against armor…

Some Brutes weapons did make the cut though. Whether directly or indirectly. The Gravity Hammer and the Concussion Rifle. (Brute Shot replacement, although IMO, the knockback it causes makes it annoying to use against Elites and other armored foes since their aim isn’t disrupted at all by the knockback, unlike other human players, of course. The Brute Shot didn’t have this problem.)

And as to the PL, yeah it was slow, even for Reach’s gameplay. But if you could line up a plasma ball with it just right, you could rake in the sticky kills.

The ODST smg would have been cool to have.

> Guys, let’s just face it shall we? The NR was crap at any range against shields and since it was only really good against armor…

False. The NR is much better than the DMR at medium range, while the DMR is better at close range.
In the TU, the NR kills in 6 shots (final to the head), has a very tiny bloom and a much faster RoF; the DMR still kills in 5 shots, has a much larger bloom and a worse RoF.

The SMG, Brute Shot, and Plasma Rifle are the only weapons that I’m bothered about.

> In the TU, the NR kills in 6 shots (final to the head), has a very tiny bloom and a much faster RoF; the DMR still kills in 5 shots, has a much larger bloom and a worse RoF.

Yeah, that’s why. I’m thinking before the TU.

> Plasma Rifle

Storm Rifle makes it redundant.

> > In the TU, the NR kills in 6 shots (final to the head), has a very tiny bloom and a much faster RoF; the DMR still kills in 5 shots, has a much larger bloom and a worse RoF.
>
> Yeah, that’s why. I’m thinking before the TU.
>
>
>
> > Plasma Rifle
>
> Storm Rifle makes it redundant.

The plasma Rifle was there first.

> Needle Rifle was ridiculously overpowered. Large clip, 3 body shots to supercombine (that’s only two more than a headshot kill), projectile ricochet.

Not really. It takes forever to drop the shields with the NR and the faster rate of fire is negated because after three shots the bloom would screw you over. If anything, i find the NR to be underpowered in many situations (especially against opposing DMR). Plus, the NR is TERRIBLE against vehicles (which is a big issue in Invasion when someone steals your Banshee). Larger clip and slightly faster ROF isn’t going to be helping you break a spawn trap or help you at range.

There are reasons why the DMR is used at high level play and the NR is not. The DMR has better range (3x scope) and kills in 5 shots. All you get with the NR is the explosion with the drawbacks of having to work much harder to drop shields (7 shot kill IIRC).

I think that the Pro Pipe (Grenade Launcher) should have returned. There is simply no reason why such a skill based weapon is absent in Halo 4 beyond story reasons (it’s Army weapon, not a Navy one). Not saying the new Sticky Detonator isn’t going to take skill (it will btw) but i really liked the Pro Pipe and how you can go clutch with it.

I was personally hoping for the 'nade launcher to see a return. Oh well.

> I’m just asking why they included both the DMR and the BR but not the NR.
>
> Personally I think they should have kept the NR, Plasma launcher and Focus rifle. The Focus rifle was a pretty cool weapon, it could be used as a close range weapon but also as a long range weapon.

I agree 100%, but apparently 343 doesn’t agree with us(Thats why they appealed to the nostalgists).

Is there a sentinel beam?

Is there a golf club?

> Needle Rifle was ridiculously overpowered. Large clip, 3 body shots to supercombine (that’s only two more than a headshot kill), projectile ricochet.

it took 3 bodyshots to kill after the shild was down, just like the magnum and DMR, and ive never seen anyone killed from ricochet.