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Halo Infinite might be the most anticipated title for the Series X. After 343 Industries revealed gameplay, the gaming community has been mixed about the title. Halo fans are excited about the game’s sandbox and narrative while most Xbox fans were shocked at how dated the game looked. Here are 5 reasons why gamers are equally excited and worried about Halo Infinite.
10 Excited: Open World Campaign
Dedicated Halo fans might remember Bungie’s foray into making a non-linear Halo title. It was called Halo 3: ODST and is generally regarded by fans as an underrated gem for its gripping atmosphere and tone. No Halo game has attempted this for over a decade, but it appears that Halo Infinite is about to change this.
There has never been a better time for a Halo title to focus on having an open world rather than linear levels. The opening minutes of 343’s recent gameplay demo evoke the same sense of mystery and awe as Halo: Combat Evolved. The type of mission design and sandbox elements 343 can create with this sort of campaign structure could very well exceed what previous Halo games could provide.
9 Worried: 10 Year Plan
In a recent interview with IGN, 343 Industries’ Chris Lee went on to state that Halo Infinite would be the start of a continually supported game that could be “…the start of the next ten years for Halo…” Fans of Destiny might have heard Bungie state the same thing about their IP.
This has raised some major concerns amongst the Halo fanbase as to how much content will be available at launch. Rumors have even speculated that multiplayer won’t be included at launch, which has thankfully been debunked. Halo 5’s post-launch content has greatly expanded on the game’s multiplayer and Forge offerings, so there is a good chance that this will be executed well by 343. Regardless, the state of Infinite at launch remains to be seen.
8 Excited: Story
The Halo franchise has typically struck a brilliant balance between simple plotlines and intricate lore that dedicated players can sink their teeth into. 343 Industries made the mistake of focusing too much on lore in Halo 4 and 5, Halo 5 being the worst with its “Hunt the Truth” campaign that required fans to listen to podcasts and read Halo novels to understand the game’s plot.
Lore-centric storytelling seems to be put to the wayside in Halo Infinite. Players fight the Banished, a group of ex-Covenant aliens determined to ruin humanity. If it sounds similar to Bungie’s Halo titles, that’s because it is. Fans still don’t know exactly how Fireteam Osiris and Halo 5’s overall plot will fit in with Halo Infinite, but it’s safe to say that Halo 5’s ending will be addressed at some point in Infinite.
7 Worried: Dialogue
On the other end of the spectrum, the dialogue shown during Halo Infinite’s gameplay demo seems off compared to previous entries. Bungie’s titles have a degree of confidence yet self-awareness in their dialogue that makes them iconic. It’s partly the reason why Sergeant Johnson and Master Chief are loved so much by the community.
That is missing in Infinite from what gamers have seen thus far. The pilot might be realistic in that he’s worried about the situation, but he offers no solutions to Chief and rambles instead. Escharum’s speech at the end of the demo didn’t help, either. Although in Escharum’s case, the mixed reception of the speech comes from his arguably last-gen looking character model and having no buildup to his appearance. Hopefully, 343 can nail the charming dialogue Bungie’s titles used to great effect.
6 Excited: Gameplay Sandbox
Every Halo game has brought with it a dynamic sandbox that includes powerful weapons and interesting ways of interacting with mechanics. Halo 4 had issues with gameplay balance and loadout system while Halo 5 split the community with its mobility mechanics. As a result, many have felt that 343’s titles don’t feel like Halo.
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Regardless of worries or complaints from the demo, this is the first 343 title that genuinely feels like a proper Halo game that isn’t trying to follow trends. There are no iron sights, thruster packs, or Promethean foes. The demo showed pure Halo gunplay and a return to Halo 3’s equipment system. The grappling hook seems like a great compromise between fans that were either for or against enhanced mobility in a Halo game that can easily be removed or balanced around in multiplayer. There are an infinite amount of possibilities for fun sandbox gameplay shown in this 8-minute demo.
5 Worried: Fewer Setpieces
It wouldn’t be a Halo title without action setpieces. Whether it is Halo: Combat Evolved’s Flood reveal or Halo: Reach’s spaceship mission, these moments are crucial to making Halo feel like Halo. With the shift towards an open world, these moments might be less frequent or harder to build up towards since players aren’t linearly experiencing the game like past titles.
4 Excited: Original Artstyle
Out of every criticism fans have made with 343’s Halo titles, arguably the largest issue was the art style. The game took a radically different direction visually from Bungie’s titles that many felt detracted from the overall tone and appeal of Halo.
With Halo Infinite, the art style has taken a shift back towards the older titles. Human weapons and armor look more modern than before, Covenant enemies appear more colorful, and the Halo rings finally take centerstage again. There have been a few critiques with the way the game’s Phantom and Brutes look, but these can easily be ironed out before launch. Overall, this game looks much closer to Halo than any title 343 Industries has made previously.
3 Worried: Visuals
Nearly everyone who has paid a modicum of attention towards Halo Infinite has seen this image. It has to be said that Halo Infinite looks considerably current-gen and even last-gen at times.
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Certain fans have argued that the graphics don’t matter as gameplay is paramount, and while that’s true, Microsoft has continually advertised their console as the most powerful console ever. Saying that this game failed to meet expectations from a graphical standpoint is an understatement. Ray tracing will do much to alleviate the game’s lackluster lighting, but this will be released post-launch.
2 Excited: Multiplayer
Fans might not have gotten to see Halo Infinite’s multiplayer just yet, but plenty of elements from the gameplay reveal instill confidence that this will be the best Halo multiplayer experience in a long time.
Equipment from Halo 3 is back, thruster packs and ADS seem to have been removed, vehicles appear to handle like older titles, and the weapon sandbox feels equally varied and meaningful. Considering the large scope of Infinite’s campaign and the positive overall reception of Halo 5’s Warzone, it’s safe to say that Halo Infinite’s multiplayer has the chance of being the franchise has ever seen.
1 Worried: Releasing On Three Platforms
Much of Halo Infinite’s criticisms can be directly attributed to this point: the game will be releasing on the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, as well as PC simultaneously.
Each platform has vastly different configurations and overall performance, which means that 343 had to develop Infinite while considering the game’s performance on the Xbox One and lower-end PCs. Not only can releasing a game on so many platforms lead to unexpected bugs, but it also means that the game won’t be able to focus on delivering an uncompromising visual or gameplay experience. If this game releases when the Series X launches as most speculate this fall, Halo Infinite might be in serious trouble.
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