Topic: Halo 4 first impressions (Read 14894 times)

JPArbiter · « **on:** November 09, 2012, 10:25:03 AM »

So Microsfot just could not leave the cash cow alone could they? after Bungie took thier money and ran off into the sunset to create what will probably be the NEXT revolutionary First Person shooter, like marathon and halo before it, 343 Industries was made to keep the halo franchise going!

and the first new game they put out is a continuation of the Master Chiefs story...

Maybe I missed something but didn't halo 3 end on sort of a "King Arthur off to Avalon being escorted by his moderately incestuous sister" moment?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VybS1C-4CAk

yeah I thought so. *sigh* so here we are another halo game in the halo universe and already 343 is gearing up to dissapoint me. still I am duty bound to give the game a fair shake out of love of the franchise so here I go. my review will only be based on the single player campaign, as a truly great game has to stand on the single player alone. as a fair point this is my First impression as I have only completed three levels so far.

1) Level Desgin- the levels look organic and well thought out. the cripped remains of the Forward Unto dawn made for cramped and uncomfortable fights, like shipboard combat would be, asnd 343 took care to make the layout of the vessel make sense, unlike the Pillar of Autumn in Halo 1. as far as Requiem itself, the world is portrayed in a lovely but menacing way. I love how the forerunner structures you see in the distance look like they could house a SLDF Division (hey I brought battletech into this!

) and there are multiple areas where you can tell gravity itself was optional for the Forerunner, and get to experience it that way. great attention to detail and I have to give props where they are do. 5 out of 5 stars

2) Sound Part 1 Voice acting- Steve Downes and Jennifer Taylor return as Spartan 117-John and Cortana, this time around The Chief is given a lot more to talk about. in terms of character development the tables seemed to have turned, where once the Chief was a silent protaganist with his blue AI cheerleader, now we see a still clearly traumatized Cortana going through a computer version of Alzheimers and suddenly the Chief needs to be the reassuring one. this dramatic shift in character reflects something we have never seen out of the chief, he truely does regard Cortana as more then military hardware, and establishes a sort of kinship between two individuals who are "not quite human." and lean on each other because of that. the awesome part of Dialog comes from the new Villain called the Diadect. his voice has all of the electronic menace of the Prophets from previous games, but rather then the all bark and no bight imagery of said prophets, the voice acting shows a being that is clearly in control, and menacing as a result. Props need to go to the voice director for providing excellent guidance to the actors here. 4 out of 5

Sound Part 2 Music- I have had a chance to Listen to Halo 4s sound track free of gameplay, and I must say new composer Neil Davidge did a fantastic job. much like successive Star Trek Series, he does pay homage to the work of Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, mostly through the use of E Chords and the soft piano that can play throughout previous halo games and is injected here and there in the sound track. the only problem is you do not hear it in the game itself. the mixing is poor, trying to go for the subltle ambiance rather then previous entries "YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING AWESOME!" tone, and it makes the game feel like "Battlefield Medal of Duty" more then Halo. a perfect moment comes when you see your first Forerunner Structure on Requiem, and when the light dims and you see it, the game is dead silent. such a pity. 5 out of 5 for composition, and 0 out of 5 for mixing.

Sound Part 3- SFX- pitiful. plasma pistols sound like 9mm, the energy sword sounds like a tesla coil if sped up 900 percent... and the VEHICLES!!!! Gag me with a Brute!

Sound part 4 overall- Sound makes a game for me, and while a distinct amount of effort went into every aspect of the sound, it was just done wrong, despite the excellent voice work to carry it and the clear love and care that went into the soundtrack, overall sound quality has to be given a 2 out of 5.

When I come back I will talk about the meat and potatoes, the game mechanics and narrative.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2012, 10:39:44 AM »

The game has a truly epic feel to the single player campaign, I personally think its the best campaign I have played so far in a Halo Game. The change between the Chief and Cortana is immense and the ending... well that's an ending and then some. The next part will be very very interesting.

I loved the gameplay throughout it worked and even on a clapped out tv like mine it looked beautiful. The Musical soundtrack is fantastic totally riveting all by itself (if you ever wanted music for an RPG session with thrills and spills pick it up!!)

I have to agree with you on the SFX the Warthog especially is just painful to listen to.

All in all I would say I am very happy to welcome it into the Halo story, the game play is challenging but not overwhelming. The Story is "Halo" it's as simple as that.

Multiplayer is an interesting mix, it feels like Halo on steroids, I've heard a lot of comparison with CoD but couldn't say as I've not played it (don't play war games set today they bore/depress me) the gameplay is fast and a nice mix.

Favorite weapons so far: DMR, Light Rifle and Railgun

JPArbiter · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2012, 10:50:21 AM »

the warthog sounds like a go cart? and why does it have gas cans when it is fluffed as being an H2 Fuel Cell powered vehicle?

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2012, 10:55:02 AM »

Quote from: JPArbiter on November 09, 2012, 10:50:21 AM

the warthog sounds like a go cart? and why does it have gas cans when it is fluffed as being an H2 Fuel Cell powered vehicle?

Agreed go cart sounds about right. The cans could be anything, water, fuel for a camp fire so I'll give them a pass, I have no real issues how it looks it's the sound I hated it the moment I seen it.

The Battle Rifle sounds as bad there's no crack to it when it fires which is a real shame. Nice weapon but missing that edge and ammo capacity

Can't get away from the soundtrack this is one of my favorites Haven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l6W3DtVVO8

Recusant · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2012, 02:52:18 PM »

I'm a little disappointed that the Forerunner weapons aren't more original.
Most seem to be identical to UNSC weapons with just different graphics.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2012, 05:03:23 PM »

Quote from: Recusant on November 13, 2012, 02:52:18 PM

I'm a little disappointed that the Forerunner weapons aren't more original.
Most seem to be identical to UNSC weapons with just different graphics.

Similar to the Covenant weapons being the same as the Human ones. It kinda makes sense since the back story is the Covenant reverse engineered their weapons from the Forerunner weapons left behind and human weapons are a progression of modern weapons. (It's a shooter not going to get much different) the big Forerunner cannon (can't remember name) the one that starbursts the ground when it hits is nasty.

I like the forerunner weapons, the Light Rifle and Binary Laser are nasty (although the latter lacks sufficient ammo) their difference is they are really powerful. The Light Rifle rules campaign 99.9% of the time and the Scattershot is just brutal in wargames.

I loved they added the Railgun, Sticky Detonator and SAW to the Human weapons three weapons that really give the Human arsenal more kick.

The Covenant seem to have been nerfed through the Storm Rifle is rubbish, the needler doesn't have nearly enough ammo capacity, although the plasma pistol does seem more effective.

JPArbiter · « **Reply #6 on:** November 14, 2012, 09:37:09 AM »

the charge drain on a Plasma Pistol is a lot more dramatic though, forcing a player to commit to a N00B Shot given that holding it can drain your battery completly in a few seconds now.

the Railgun is what I like to call an "Elite/Knight Killer" thanks to the heavy kick the thing packs. I wish the charge up did not take as long, but Se La Vie.

in other news I am LOVING the Spartan Ops Mode, it feels like that is the real campaign with the section featuring the chief being a side dish more then anything.

JPArbiter · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2012, 01:36:34 PM »

I have been holding back on the second part of the review because I noticed something. The narrative of the main campaign seems so FORCED. It seriously feels to me like some egghead at Microsoft ordered 343 to include the Master Chief in the game and make him the central part of the single player mode. This led to a feeling for me that he was not supposed to be there and that numerous levels had to be added in just to try and improve the flow.

Likewise with Spartan ops (the Co Operative Multiplayer) it video cut scenes and in game narration have a much better feel and flow to them IMO, particularly with Jennifer Hale re using her Femshep Voice for Commander Sarah Palmer. I have had a few friends complaining that Palmer is too â€œGung Hoâ€ about being a Spartan and a solider in general, but I do have to say that knowing military men and women in the US in a variety of fields, such an attitude is authentic at least.
Perhaps my biggest complaint about the narrative is how much Halo 4 relies on the extraneous materiel from the books. We get NO backstory on the Diadect, the Promethians, the Storm Covenant, the Spartan IVs, or anything else going on in the game itself. You have to have read the Forerunner Triogy, and a couple of other novels by Karin Traviss to have anywhere NEAR an idea of what is going on. While such a narrative strategy does allow the unfamiliar to empathize with the Chief and Cortana, it is sloppy writing and I do not give points for that.

Narrative wise I have to seperate, Halo 4 Campaign is getting a 1.5 out of 5 for lazy writing and a tenative 4 out of 5 for Spartan Ops.

Mechanically, the game is Halo, not much more to be said. There are a few things imported from other popular First Person Shooters that I like, and others I do not like. The Grenade danger indicator is imported from call of duty and a major distraction. I seriously could do without that and wish it could be turned off. Meanwhile in Spartan Ops I love the loadout system, and how it is much more customizable from Halo Reach. I wish there was a way to change your loadout from carrying a Primary weapon and pistol (or Two Primary Weapons with a Perk) to carrying one Heavy Weapon (like the Railgun, I do BAD THINGS with the Railgun) but se la vie.

The biggest Mechanical complaint I have is the Forerunner weapons, which lack any sore of distinct personality of their own. The suppressor easily equates to the worst weapon in Halo, beating out the Halo 1 Assault Rifle, the Light rifle tries too hard to split the difference between the DMR/Covenant Carbine and the Battle Rifle. The Binary Rifle Scattershot, and Incineration Cannon are obligatory Sniper, Shotgun and Rocket launchers and thus are dull as can be. This leaves only the Bolt Shot with its rapid fire or Shotgun modes as the only interesting weapon. It would have been much more interesting to me if the Forerunner weapons took more cues from the idea of precision, so we hard either beam weapons like the Sential lasers, or more â€œSmartâ€ Weapons like the Needler.

For Example, take the Incineration Cannon in itâ€™s current form, which fires 4 protectiles that explode, then scatter and explode again in a wider radius. What if instead the incineration cannon fired a single small projectile that Tagged itâ€™s target, and then you held down the trigger to charge, and when you released the charge, it unloaded the rest of the magazine, with several dozen of these same projectiles now curving and banking around cover to hit the precise point where the original projectile hit, each projectile packing as much punch as a DMR round. It is just a thought..

Anyway Mechanically Halo 4 gets a 4.5 out of five for being solid and reliable as ever, but importing a few small things I do not like.

Next time I post it will be about the "Little things"

JPArbiter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2012, 02:00:54 PM »

Things I miss from previous Halo games.
1)   The Falcon- it would have been an awesome to incorporate this somewhere. Donâ€™t get me wrong I loved that brief stage where you are operating the Pelican, but I made that Tilt rotor dance in Reach. I should note that I could not want it out of context.
2)   Sub Machinegun- this weapon is sorely needed in Spartan Ops, particularly in the secondary slot. Something that does not pack a lot of power but has a high rate of fire.
3)   Halo Reach style Commendations- these were well organized, and game you the impression of Military style campaign ribbons and decorations. They also rewarded the player for participation in the single player, Fire Fight and multiplayer modes. I wish 4 rewarded players as evenly
4)   Convenant units from Halo Wars- this would have been a perfect time to introduce some more esorteric stuff like Vampires or Locusts. But Alas.
5)   The Scarab Set Piece. Halo 3 made you fight 4 of these things in different ways, and ODST made you fight one as NOT A SPARTAN. Meanwhile Reach subverted the trend by making fighting 5 of these not an option. To put a Scarab, (or Forerunner Equivilent) in the game and make you face it down in a way never done before would have been just plain awesome.
6)   VISR- this ODST system was great and was partially used Vis a Vie Promethian Vision, but should not have been a 5 second power up. It would have been much better to incorporate it as a day/night vision mode for built up terrain and reconnisance, much like in ODST, and granted to you once Infinity was on station.
7)   Grunts speaking English. It was so CUUUUUTE!

Things from Previous Halo Games we could have left out
1)   It was kind of cool when Reach did it, but we DO NOT need another Plane level. I would love a VTOL sandbox though
2)   The World Explodng Chase- seriously, this is the fourth time you have done this, it is over, and not very cute anymore.
3)   Lack of Boss Battles. I do NOT want an arena style boss fight of some kind like in Halo 2, but a bitchin chase, or a man Vs Environment or SOMETHING would have been nice.
4)   Armor Abilities- Aside from Sprint I NEVER liked these.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2012, 04:27:12 PM »

343 is Microsoft

They said Halo/360/Chief make it happen it was the reason Bungie walked away they were more interested in expanding the universe while a Microsoft wanted their 'Console' Character back. I can see where they are coming from in many ways Nintendo was so successful for so long with Mario Sega with Sonic.

I personally loved the Halo 4 Campaign have now completed 4 times on various levels and with partners. It's a storyline that keeps you going from place to place

The Terminals 7 In total tell the Didacts and Prometheans back story so that eliminates that there's really no way to tell it otherwise without a film or a book. The Spartan IV, Palmer and Laskey are the focus of Spartan Ops so not a massive need to explain them either as their origins and story are being taught weekly. The Storm Covenant are Covenant there little further that needs said if you're a general gamer it's only when you dive into universe you realise there's factions of them instead of a united front. I missed the Brutes though.

I'm one who doesn't like Palmer's dialogue in the campaign but is begining to like her in the Spartan Ops Story its a weird one for me

I miss the Falcon too but other units that have been introduced more than make up for it. The vehicles from Halo Wars are likely still properties of Ensamble studios so I'm guessing that rules them out even though they went bust

All in all as someone with All the Halo Books and all the Games I loved the game and storyline. I love the new characters coming back and the Chiefs new story

JPArbiter · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2012, 04:29:10 PM »

Ensemble studiso does not exist anymore, they went bankrupt shortly after Halo Wars was released, and Microsoft owns 100% of Halo.

as far as Palmer and the Gung Ho persona, I have met M1 crewmen, B-2, A-10, and F-22 Drivers and a Marine squadmates. EVERY solider thinks they and thier specialization is the shit, and ware could not be won without them as they do the hard work. Palmers voicework in Spartan Ops is indicative of that mindset.

the campaign has nice pacing, I never felt like things drug out, but far too often the Chief and Cortana felt out of place for what they were doing. Case in point is the Level with the Mobile Field base, why was the Chief there and not a platoon of the hundreds of Spartan IVs?

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2012, 04:53:26 PM »

Captain Del Rio was about two steps from being certifiable I got that from two videos

I'd say sending the chief in while keeping most of HIS Spartans close at hand played more to that character than anything else it was like him sending out Laskey at the start despite his ship being threatened I'd want my XO at hand if the ship was threatened

The Chief is also more involved as he hit the ground before Infinity even arrived and for a large part of it is responsible for Infinity being stuck (his signal brought them in) he also wants to keep Cortana's state a secret for as long as possible being involved in everything keeps him and her away from prying eyes

Looking at the undertones of it puts a little more sense to 'give the player a gun and shoot'

One major criticism of Spartan Ops I have is the unlimited lives makes legendary a lot easier I liked the Firefight modes lives made it a lot tougher and gruelling to complete

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Author Topic: Halo 4 first impressions (Read 14894 times)

JPArbiter

Halo 4 first impressions

Dragon Cat

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

JPArbiter

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

Dragon Cat

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

Recusant

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

Dragon Cat

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

JPArbiter

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

JPArbiter

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

JPArbiter

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

Dragon Cat

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

JPArbiter

Re: Halo 4 first impressions

Dragon Cat

Re: Halo 4 first impressions