Why I believe Halo 4 will be a great game.

[Korten12]

So a recent article came out: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/328204/features/halo-4-why-the-trilogy-ends-on-next-gen/?page=1

Which talks about a lot what they're doing for Halo 4 that will make it one of the best Halo games, or one of the top. Here is some quotes:

Everyone already knows how Halo 4 will handle, after all. "It plays like Halo," says creative director Josh Holmes, speaking at August's Halofest event. "That was really important to us and we wanted to maintain that magical Halo feel. At the same time, it was important for us to take risks and evolve the gameplay so it's fresh and different.

We had to maintain that commitment to the sandbox nature of Halo gameplay - making sure we're empowering players to make choices in how they approach each problem instead of giving them only one solution. That was one of the things we held at the core of everything we did." So far, so familiar.

"We have things to add. That's going to be one of the difficult transitions for fans of the Bungie games".

"You learn the sandbox at your own pace, and I kinda miss that. It's something I would like to see come back to the Halo universe. I sometimes feel that modern games are overdesigned - they funnel you into fights when really what you want to do is smell the roses. Halo used to let you do that. As it got more modern, it tended towards more defined encounters and experiences. Reach tries, I think successfully, to make you use all the elements of that sandbox in a very certain, rigorous, action-packed fashion.

"The most important thing for me in the whole series is the sense of wonder and mystery," says O'Connor. "We're definitely going back to that air of exploration, and putting in some surprises that I think people will like."

The surprises are new weapons, new vehicles, and a brave new world - one that's been a part of Halo lore from the very beginning. When the Forerunners were building Halos to stop The Flood, they also built Shield Worlds to protect their civilisation and others from the 25,000 light year-range of the seven Halos' blast.

Somehow, before the Chief even arrives on Sigma 7, the UNSC are already in place, isolated from Humanity's forces and their new Covenant allies beneath the Shield World's impenetrable exterior. And if there are Covenant forces stranded on the Shield World too, who's to say anyone got the memo about the war being over? The Covenant and humanity are all smiles and handshakes elsewhere but beneath the steely shield, both factions will be isolated and alone.

And Cortana? Like Master Chief, she's been through some changes since we saw her in the last Halo, and in her case they're not for the better. "Seven years is the lifespan for a smart AI before it enters a state called rampancy," O'Connor says.


"Cortana was getting close to the end of her natural lifespan at the end of Halo 3 but she has been exposed to far more information than any other AI in existence. She's going to develop some muscle from that process but it also contributes to her rampancy - that much information makes things worse."

There is more quotes, but it really sounds like it won't follow suit that many FPS have been starting to do. It sounds like 343 wants to bring back all the old elements of Halo but at the same time, introducing new risky ideas to help things to keep fresh.

All together, it basically is why I do believe it will be a great game. Many think it will be a simple cash-grab but 343 really cares about the Halo Universe. Hell, they were made for it's sole purpose. They aren't there to make money (well they're, like everyone is but that's not the point), they're there to expand the Halo universe and deliever it into the next era with books, and games.

What do you guys think? From this are you still skeptical or do you think it is a step in the right direction.

 

[skywolfblue]

Somehow, before the Chief even arrives on Sigma 7, the UNSC are already in place, isolated from Humanity's forces and their new Covenant allies beneath the Shield World's impenetrable exterior. And if there are Covenant forces stranded on the Shield World too, who's to say anyone got the memo about the war being over? The Covenant and humanity are all smiles and handshakes elsewhere but beneath the steely shield, both factions will be isolated and alone.

And Cortana? Like Master Chief, she's been through some changes since we saw her in the last Halo, and in her case they're not for the better. "Seven years is the lifespan for a smart AI before it enters a state called rampancy," O'Connor says.


"Cortana was getting close to the end of her natural lifespan at the end of Halo 3 but she has been exposed to far more information than any other AI in existence. She's going to develop some muscle from that process but it also contributes to her rampancy - that much information makes things worse."

I read that as, "we brought back your buddies the UNSC, they haven't had time to change since they've been trapped on this shield world for a while, oh, and the covvies are there too, and they're mad, so you get to fight them! WOHOOO CREATIVITY!!"

Oh and "Cortana does the Durandal thing".

But then I'm a cynical bastard and that's my skeptical take on it. I think it'll be "halo", but not all that innovative.

 

[Korten12]

Somehow, before the Chief even arrives on Sigma 7, the UNSC are already in place, isolated from Humanity's forces and their new Covenant allies beneath the Shield World's impenetrable exterior. And if there are Covenant forces stranded on the Shield World too, who's to say anyone got the memo about the war being over? The Covenant and humanity are all smiles and handshakes elsewhere but beneath the steely shield, both factions will be isolated and alone.

And Cortana? Like Master Chief, she's been through some changes since we saw her in the last Halo, and in her case they're not for the better. "Seven years is the lifespan for a smart AI before it enters a state called rampancy," O'Connor says.


"Cortana was getting close to the end of her natural lifespan at the end of Halo 3 but she has been exposed to far more information than any other AI in existence. She's going to develop some muscle from that process but it also contributes to her rampancy - that much information makes things worse."

I read that as, "we brought back your buddies the UNSC, they haven't had time to chance since they've been trapped on this shield world for a while, oh, and the covvies are there too, and they're mad, so you get to fight them! WOHOOO CREATIVITY!!"

Oh and "Cortana does the Durandal thing".

But then I'm a cynical bastard and that's my skeptical take on it.

Well they said the UNSC is there but maybe not the Convenant, but it's a possibility. If it is true that there is UNSC already there, then it almost confirms that the Shield world is Onyx from Halo: Ghosts of Onyx and Glasslands. So there will be more then just them again. Since they did confirm that it is an Anicent Evil on there and almost 98% sure it's not the flood.

 

[brainslurper]

It seems like bungie intended for halo to end at reach, but microsoft wouldn't give up their sweet money that easily.

 

[ChupathingyX]

I was really hoping Master Chief and Cortana wouldn't be featured, or at least be given more minor parts. I know they said they would be improving them but it's gonna take a lot of improvement for them to stop being so annoying. Especially considering that their voices are one of the things I dislike most about both characters.

Other than that, I'm curious to see how this turns out.

 

[Korten12]

It seems like bungie intended for halo to end at reach, but microsoft wouldn't give up their sweet money that easily.

Actually they didn't intend to end. Just saying as the legendary ending of Halo 3, showed Sigma 7, the planet in Halo 4. Originally Halo Reach was supposed to be Halo 4, but they didn't want to make 4 as they wanted to move onto another project. Not because they don't like Halo, but because it was time for some new hands on it.

Basically Halo 4 was always going to come.

 

[Bobbity]

I'm still wary, because it's a blatantly obvious money grab, but that's not to say that it can't still be good, and, if that article is anything to go by, it might well be.

 

[Hamish Durie]

i remain neutral until it's proven to be a good game

 

[Neverhoodian]

I read that as, "we brought back your buddies the UNSC, they haven't had time to change since they've been trapped on this shield world for a while, oh, and the covvies are there too, and they're mad, so you get to fight them! WOHOOO CREATIVITY!!"

Oh and "Cortana does the Durandal thing".

But then I'm a cynical bastard and that's my skeptical take on it. I think it'll be "halo", but not all that innovative.

I read it as "the devs are actually going to be mindful of preexisting canon this time around." Halo: Reach may be an excellent game in its own right, but Bungie screwed the pooch in that regard. The battle that plays out in the game is nothing like how it was depicted in the novel The Fall of Reach, which was published almost nine years earlier.

Color me cautiously optimistic...but a part of me still thinks the series should have ended with Reach.

 

[enzilewulf]

There was actually another article about this that they said something a long the lines of "We see what Call of Duty does, but we can do it better with halo"

That statement alone made me very skeptical, the fact that this isn't Bungie and that they are expanding on the chief even though his story clearly ended at halo 3. I don't think this will be anything special really. I do hope, however, that I shall be eating those words.

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

I read that as, "we brought back your buddies the UNSC, they haven't had time to change since they've been trapped on this shield world for a while, oh, and the covvies are there too, and they're mad, so you get to fight them! WOHOOO CREATIVITY!!"

Oh and "Cortana does the Durandal thing".

But then I'm a cynical bastard and that's my skeptical take on it. I think it'll be "halo", but not all that innovative.

I read it as "the devs are actually going to be mindful of preexisting canon this time around." Halo: Reach may be an excellent game in its own right, but Bungie screwed the pooch in that regard. The battle that plays out in the game is nothing like how it was depicted in the novel The Fall of Reach, which was published almost nine years earlier.

Color me cautiously optimistic...but a part of me still thinks the series should have ended with Reach.

Well seeing as how they came up with the universe, technically their version is right, in fact they changed the book to fit more in line with the story since Bungie has priority over extended universe writers

OT: Yay more Halo

 

[Zhukov]

Yeah, you keep right on telling yourself that.

Quoting one of the game's developers saying, "Oh yeah, it's gonna be great" doesn't do much to convince me. Halo 4 is being made entirely because good ol' Microsoft knows people will still buy it. That's it. No other reason.

I must admit, I do find the idea of Cortana going Durandal to be interesting though.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

My counter argument.

The Halo story line has been gone through. We have gone from the fall of Reach, to the destruction of the first ring, to the alliance with the Elite's, to the destruction of the device that controls ALL the Halos.

What is their left to do?

The Story has gone it's path, it has done it's arc.

Any new threat is just going to feel contrived when you destroyed the one machine that could kill all life everywhere, where are they going to go after that?

Either it is going to be much less of a threat and a disapointment, or it is going to be something bigger and stronger, where it will feel like an @$$ pull.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Well seeing as how they came up with the universe, technically their version is right, in fact they changed the book to fit more in line with the story since Bungie has priority over extended universe writers

I would agree with you...except Bungie went out of their way to make sure The Fall of Reach wouldn't contradict their official story when author Eric Nylund was writing it. Hell, they gave him their official story "Bible" for reference. What's more, Nylund co-authored the story to Halo: Reach, essentially meaning he knowingly contradicted the very canonical setting he helped to create.

Oh well, what can you do? It's not like it's the first series I've liked that's been massively retconned (I'm looking at you, Star Wars).

 

[trouble_gum]

Because when a developer tells us his game will be the greatest thing ever, highly innovative and will do new and sparkly things, we know that it will be so.

Right, Peter?

 

[BryceS62]

Reasons I believe Halo 4 will be good but not great

1. Its halo, it good but its not perfect
2. From Halo to Halo game the series can generally be relied upon for innovation in enemies weapons and combat styles
3. Because of Halo's crusader like following the design team are under allot of pressure to come up with something good and from personal experience people produce great things under pressure
4. I always felt that the Halo universe was always under utilised most of the first two games took place mainly on the Halo rings, 3 took place on earth for a big chunck of the game. ODST took place in a single city. Reach took a step in the right direction by expanding back to a whole planet. If the developers open up the Halo universe and explore different planets and battlefields it would improve the game immensely.
5. Halo's combat has always been fun and would take allot to wreck so you can safely bet the game will be fun
6. Halo started a gaming revolution and its fanbase alone will carry it to success so quit moaning and enjoy the ride

 

[Something Amyss]

Basically Halo 4 was always going to come.

Duuuuuude, SHHHH! You're totally ruining my ability to blame M$ for everything!

 

[ChupathingyX]

they are expanding on the chief even though his story clearly ended at halo 3.

I highly doubt that considering the legendary ending of Halo 3; which clearly shows Chief still alive and heading towards an active planet.

The only way it would have been "clear" is if he died.

 

[shadow_Fox81]

well I'm intrigued now.

suspicious but intrigued.

"it plays like Halo" sounds positive though.

And without that silly Human Covenant war thing getting in the way it can be about the romance between Master chief and Cortana (shut up i like it that way).

but all this "lore" stuff is starting to annoy me, but at least it sounds like they are making a Halo game.