Series suicide. Why isn't this Halo as popular as others?
This line said what many were hoping for but didn't receive. While halo did jump back with our favorite spartan and had outstanding visuals, I found myself hating the game somewhat. As someone who has played from the original I couldn't put my finger on it then it hit me. Halo has been dumbed down. The gameplay is what drove players to halo, it immersed us in an alien world that was extremely unique compared to any of its competitors at the time. Its multiplayer allowed for crazy platforming stunts in multiplayer, epic announcing, and weapons with specific advantages. Over the years it implemented forge, new mechanics, and online co-op with great success. But what is so wrong with Halo 4?
Halo 4 just starting off has decided to rename many of its menu items. It created a confusing interface leaving many including myself unable to find classic halo mechanics or gametypes. Instead of keeping freedoms in open lobby co-op modes they limited them. The campaign is only co-op to invite now and entirely on a different menu setup then previous. The campaign in addition didn't do anything new or unique to prior campaign gameplay or story to the point where it was easy to predict. The campaign also just seemed shorter.
The co-op, again limited in open lobby to whatever chapter of the week it is, eliminated the prior successful firefight mode, and gave us poor voice acting, gameplay, story structure, spartan ops. A positive is spartan-ops forces different types of co-op gameplay based on objective. However that is it, certian new loadout elements work against this (later covered) and the gameplay was often laggy or bugged resulting in getting stuck in a glitch. Another major issue is weapons disappear constantly, presumed to compensate for lag dropped weapons disappear but this is absolutely ridiculous considering older halos didn't have this issue. The final issue with co-op/campaign is a result of two possible things, increased gun
accuracy and/or ultra-aggressive AI. The weapons do have the same damage output and do have better defined functions (eg: plasma grenade is more meant for anti-vechile versus the human grenade is anti-infantry.) however guns are more accurate then prior halos. Its not just me... I encourage you to go test it or watch a video of halo 4 and then of an older halo noticing the reticule. The Ai also seems more aggressive instead of taking cover or having only 2-3 types of behavior only 1 occurs in halo 4, aggressive. This gives less focus on the entire movement halo players loved, tactical platforming, there is no point now. After the enemy notices you they don't seem to leave you alone and continue to advance. The game makes mention of this itself "More fanatic" but this seems like an accuse for poor Ai. The old halo ai had character giving the player more immersion.
Multiplayer. The positive is matchmaking seems more balanced in team making. Forge is easier to use now. But that is it. The new loadout system was intended to give players less reliance on power weapons and more tactical playstyle options... *facepalm* one issue with this. The maps requiring gameplay style to change was the way to determine skill and some of the new weapons could be considered power weapons. The new pistol of the forerunner is by and far "OP". It can be used as a shotgun which is a power weapon. The carbine, DMR, and battlerifle while all having a specific advantage were on maps to encourage players to spread out initially and converge a bit so we don't get long distance fights. There are now killstreaks... yeah... because map control wasn't what made halo team-based versus individual based. *Facepalm*
O and the maps... guess what there were none until a map pack was released, so I guess you have to pay to have a decent sized map pool on the favorite and most popular gamemodes. The gamemodes on the brightside are excellent though and fit well with each map. Spawning seems good and there isn't many major glitches. Though the maps themselves don't encourage platforming as much as they should in my opinion but nothing on the level of game breaking.
Don't get me wrong. I am being so harsh because I feel this is a step in the wrong direction from the halo series. While non-gameplay improved and visuals did as well; gameplay mechanics took a step away from the series traditions. You may enjoy this but classic halo fans beware. This game was still overall ok but lacked the Halo atmosphere we all love from its origin. 7 out of 10