Halo 5:Guardians is a new entry in the Halo franchise, which seems to try to introduce another set of characters and new heroes to become attached to. The game itself is a masterful use of the Xbox One's game engine, the game essentially finally allows the system to flex its software muscles showing you beautiful landscapes, meticulous detail, destructive environments and allows the frame-rate to stay at a surprising 60 fps. The game introduces new abilities and game mechanics similar to those of a Battlefield franchise and squad tactics which makes the game less difficult to navigate at the Legendary difficulty level at which the Halo franchise has been known for. Beautiful cut-scenes and well crafted intent are shown all through this game as 343 seems to try to take the established Bungie formula and mold it into something a bit revolutionized. The bad part is the game does not actually deliver on the promise of its trailers, promotion, marketing or even title box art. Without triggering spoilers in this review the conflict in which the game plays up is almost non-existent and the story becomes very mired in unnecessary and bogged down information. The game is not equally balanced with Master Chief and Locke but more focusing on trying to sell the Agent Locke character to you. Master Chief is more or less treated as a relic and Locke is proposed as a better and more versatile alternative to the great hero. The one major flaw in the game and my biggest disappointment is the complete shameless cutting out of the split screen system which Halo came to invent and influence in many other game franchises after it. The game forces you to only be able to enjoy it with the company of your friends if you are willing to buy a entire other copy of the game and if your friend is a PlayStation customer punishes them for not having the financial flexibility to buy their own system and have a complete copy of their own. So in a way Microsoft is holding the couch-play experience Halo invented hostage for 60 more dollars. The game also has began in include the much hated and poisonous Micro-Transaction model in its multiplayer in which if you are a Original Xbox veteran in where you witnessed coats of arms or helmets that could only be unlocked to show the skill and commitment of the players you are placed with now being replaced with a pay-to-win system. The matchmaking system seemed to be improved over the Halo: Master Chief Collection fiasco but the choices of theme seem a bit more restrictive by previous game standards.
So in short:
Beautiful game, great attempt at story, excellent combat and new game-play system. Companion A.I. seems to have been purposely held back. Lacks direction and focus and tried too hard to sell us on a character they played up for you to hate for a full year before the games release. Co-Op system gutted to seemingly make money off of the die-hard Halo fan and micro transaction placed in the way of earnest achievement. Innovative new approach to multiplayer levels and themes but often seems more restrictive. In my opinion the game is wonderful but is not Halo and should not be called so....the title and game I played did not match.