History YMMV / Halo4

* TierInducedScrappy: The Boltshot (see GameBreaker above), to the point that there was a popular petition to get it nerfed (which 343 somewhat did).

* StrawmanHasAPoint: Yes, Del Rio is a dirty coward who only cares about saving his own ass even if it means throwing Master Chief under the bus, but he's technically correct about [[spoiler:Cortana showing instable behaviors that can pose a great danger to entire crew in the ship]], and [[spoiler:demanding her retirement]] is a rightful action to take. Ironically, his fear would be immediately proved right in ''VideoGame/Halo5'', where [[spoiler:Cortana goes full rogue and betrays the human race]].

** Dr. Tillson also deserves a mention. She's terrified the entire time she's onscreen, sees her life's work more or less destroyed in front of her, and [[spoiler: is killed by the composer to be re-used in making a Promethean Knight along with the rest of the humans onboard her station, all in the span of a little over an hour]].

** Original to ''4'' are [[http://soundcloud.com/neil-davidge/awakening-sample Awakening]], [[http://soundcloud.com/neil-davidge/to-galaxy-sample To Galaxy]], [[http://soundcloud.com/neil-davidge/revival-sample Revival]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqL5eu8DOgI Arrival]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWiKqjm2TPg its dubstep remix]]. [[http://soundcloud.com/neil-davidge/06-haven-ost Haven]] is a truly marvelous experience.
** There's also Davidge's version of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WqKJJrY6AM Never Forget]], which is as majestic and touching as O'Donnell's version, if not more - it helps that it plays in the credits following [[spoiler:Cortana's death]].

* AuthorsSavingThrow: ''Halo 4'' being heavily integrated into the ExpandedUniverse, in-particular ''Literature/TheForerunnerSaga'', is in-part a response to criticisms that ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' was too detached from it, to the point where that game effectively retconned the entire timeline of the battle as was documented in ''Literature/HaloTheFallOfReach''. A point of controversy is whether ''Halo 4'' went too far in the other direction or not.

* VindicatedByHistory: While ''Halo 4'' was well received on launch, there was some numerous complaints over the varied changes in art design, gameplay, and overall tone that was set by Bungie, along with the technical side of things being more derided like the multiplayer emulating more of the modern games (kill cams, call outs, ordinance drops) and Spartan Ops seen as a weaker version of Firefight. With more perspective on the need for video games to evolve and the player base growing up themselves, the campaign came to be praised for the bond between John and Cortana while exploring ideas of loss and failure, making for a more mature and emotionally driven narrative than the Bungie era. The game also looks especially good as one of the last 360 titles, the visual redesign also giving way to more TechnologyPorn.

* VindicatedByHistory: While ''Halo 4'' was well received on launch, with the campaign in particular being praised for the emotional bond between John and Cortana, the technical side of things was more derided, with multiplayer and Spartan Ops in particular being seen as a weaker first effort. However, ''Guardians'' has caused many fans to look back on ''4'' with a much more favourable light than before, in particular when it came to the campaign.

** [[spoiler: If the Didact didn't cross it in the terminals, he sure as hell crossed it when he fired The Composer on Ivanoff Station. [[UpToEleven Then he destroys a city on Earth with it.]]]]

* UncannyValley:
** Other than Cortana, holograms of [=AIs=] and Captains are all one uniform color, which can be disconcerting, especially during closeups.
** The Librarian's first visual appearance is a severe case of this. She had previously been described as one of the most beautiful women in existence, and her facial structure is actually conventionally attractive, but her headdress that makes her look more like an old woman and her Forerunner nose (or lack thereof) dominating her features throw this off severely.

* ScrappyWeapon: The supressor and the light rifle, due to them featuring a combination of low damage, poor accuracy, and limited range. It doesn't help that there are many large sections of many campaign missions where you'll inevitably be forced to use them due to them being the only weapons dropped by enemies.

* HarsherInHindsight: Cortana sobs they'll pair him up with another AI, maybe even one based on Halsey. Chief snarls, "That's ''not'' going to happen." Cue ''VideoGame/HaloInfinite'' and The Weapon.

* ScrappyWeapon: The supressor and the light rifle, due to them featuring a combination of low damage, poor accuracy, and limited range. It doesn't help that there are many large sections of of campaign missions where you'll inevitably be forced to use them due to them being the only weapons dropped by enemies.

* ScrappyWeapon: For all of the supposedly advanced technology of the Forerunners, most if not all of their weapons ended up like this, due to many of them featuring a combination of low damage, poor accuracy, and limited range, especially the scattershot and the light rifle.

* HarsherInHindsight: Cortana sobs they'll pair him up with another AI, maybe even one based on Halsey. Chief snarls, "That's ''not'' going to happen." Cue ''HaloInfinite'' and The Weapon.

** In the story department, the complete swerve in regards to Catherine Halsey threw off many fans. A few cinematics show ONI interrogating Halsey and trying to blame her for the Spartans being anti-social or sociopathic, despite the Spartans being ''classified Top Secret'' operatives for most of the war and showing no signs of sociopathy. Considering that Spartans were children ripped from their families to be raised in the military and then experimented on to become super soldiers followed by decades of non-stop war, lobbing the accusation that Spartans are "anti-social" at Halsey comes off as very petty and forced to some fans.

** In the story department, the complete swerve in regards to Catherine Halsey threw off many fans. A few cinematics show ONI interrogating Halsey and trying to blame her for the Spartans being anti-social or sociopathic, despite the Spartans being ''classified Top Secret'' operatives for most of the war and showing no signs of sociopathy. To some fans, it came off as very petty and forced, particularly considering that the Master Chief saved the entire galaxy in Halo 3.

* ItsShortSoItSucks: It is possible to complete the solo campaign in less than 6 hours, depending on player skill and chosen difficulty. How ''much'' this sucks will depend on whether you thought that you were buying a solo game with bonus multiplayer, or a multiplayer game with a bonus solo campaign.

* StrawmanHasAPoint: Yes, Del Rio is a dirty coward who only cares about saving his own ass even if it means throwing Master Chief under the bus, but he's technically correct about [[spoiler:Cortana showing instable behaviors that can pose a great danger to entire crew in the ship]], and [[spoiler:demanding her retirement]] is a rightful action to take. Ironically, his fear would be immediately proved right in ''VideoGame/Halo5'', where [[spoiler:Cortana goes full rogue and betrays the humanity]].

* ItsShortSoItSucks: It is possible to complete the solo campaign in about ten hours, depending on player skill and chosen difficulty. How ''much'' this sucks will depend on whether you thought that you were buying a solo game with bonus multiplayer, or a multiplayer game with a bonus solo campaign.

-->'''Halsey:''' [[spoiler:John's alive! He was here, on this ship. Nobody told me he was alive!]]

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: This is a sentiment held by a certain segment of the ''Halo'' series' BrokenBase, as Bungie had no involvement with the development. Some of the complaints come from the absence of a few expected features, some technical aspects not having quite the same polish (largely because there was a shortened development cycle compared to the previous games), how the story was handled, and the radically redesigned multiplayer. That said, 4 is still often appreciated for its attempt at a more emotional story and how it portrays Chief and Cortana's relationship.

* CrazyAwesome: The Master Chief as per usual. When presented with a need to get to the Didact's ship to follow him into slipspace, he orders Cortana to track the nearby Liches and get across them.

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: This is a sentiment held by a certain fraction of the ''Halo'' series' BrokenBase, as Bungie had no involvement with the development. There were some rather big changes made, but all Halo games have different gameplay long before the Developer changed hands. At its core it is still a Halo game and was well received. Some of the more valid complaints come from the absence of a few expected features and some technical aspects don't have quite the same polish (largely because there was a shortened development cycle compared to the previous games). Of course all this is more of a technicality as Bungie isn't a single organism but prone to rotating through employees as any other company. Most of the 343 Industries major players are {{Creator/Bungie}} alumni with ''Halo'' franchise experience. This has since ended after Bungie's ''{{VideoGame/Destiny}}'' proved to be a disappointment, though there's still frequent calls for its departed alumni Joseph Staten, Marcus Lehto, and Martin O'Donnell to return to ''Halo''.

** In addition to old "favorites" such as Stealth Elites and Jackal Snipers (though nowhere near as accurate as their ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' varient, nor are they a One-HitKill on Legendary), this installment brings the [[EliteMook Promethean Knights]]. They possess an astounding array of abilities including mini-turret deployment, (with help) a damage proof shield, teleportation, (including a DesperationAttack where the Lancers TeleportSpam to your location and skewer you) and have access to all of the best Forerunner weapons, including the [[SniperRifle Binary Rifle]], {{S|hortRangeShotgun}}cattershot and [[{{BFG}} Incinerator]]. On Heroic and Legendary, they always come in groups of 2-3 or more, often with a diverse combination of weapons that ensures you can be killed [[OneHitKill in one shot]] at any range. The strong shields and fatal melee (endemic to those difficulties) are just another slap in the face.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: Compare ''4'' to ''3'' and be amazed. The game looks absolutely gorgeous on almost every level, particularly in the pre-rendered Prologue and Epilogue cutscenes (think the precursor to blur's work), and whenever something disintegrates. It actually looks even better as part of ''The Master Chief Collection''.

** In addition to old "favorites" such as Stealth Elites and Jackal Snipers (now with the damage output of their ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' version,) this installment brings the [[EliteMook Promethean Knights]]. They possess an astounding array of abilities including mini-turret deployment, (with help) a damage proof shield, teleportation, (including a DesperationAttack where the Lancers TeleportSpam to your location and skewer you) and have access to all of the best Forerunner weapons, including the [[SniperRifle Binary Rifle]], {{S|hortRangeShotgun}}cattershot and [[{{BFG}} Incinerator]]. On Heroic and Legendary, they always come in groups of 2-3 or more, often with a diverse combination of weapons that ensures you can be killed [[OneHitKill in one shot]] at any range. The strong shields and fatal melee (endemic to those difficulties) are just another slap in the face.