First off, there's nothing wrong with the gameplay. Welcome additions include the ability for the Chief to sprint, something he's been sorely lacking for a long time. The Armour Abilities are a great concept (even if some of the actual upgrades are pretty lame. Promethium vision? Seriously?). I don't like how shallow the ammo magazines have gotten though, I know the intent was emphasise ammo management and encourage you to swap weapons more often, but it's really annoying how quickly a needler can run dry especially compared to the earlier games. On the whole though, it's a delight to play this instalment.
But the story? Oh dear oh dear. The story is more like a bad Halo fanfic than something a professional writer would turn in.
Before anyone says it, I don't have a problem with them turning the Chief into an actual character instead of a mostly Silent Protagonist. The banter between him and Cortana was great and I really enjoyed it. I also liked the insights we got into his character, that Earth's champion is ultimately a lonely man who doesn't know how to really connect with anybody who isn't an AI.
But the shoddy writing, plot holes and sheer stupidity of the retcons are just too much.
Humanity were once so powerful that they rivalled the Forerunner? That's so at odds with the established lore I just can't accept it. And that's mild compared to the Forerunner diddling with human evolution so precisely as to ensure an individual with the right genetic makeup would be born at the right time a hundred millennia later?
The Didact had multiple chances to just murder the Chief and be done with him but he lets him live. Even in the final encounter he stops to monologue. For crying out loud! He's not a credible villain, he's Doctor Evil.
The Infinity can hover over a planet and even crash-land on it without serious damage? Please.
How did someone who was such a complete dick manage to become the Infinity's captian? Why is he so obviously wrong and the Chief so obviously right? Couldn't you have made him a decent soldier whose mission goals were at odds with the Chief's?
Halo 5's teaser trailers look a lot more promising as far as story goes. I sure hope so, I couldn't swallow another Halo 4.
Classic gameplay, shame about the story (spoilers)
First off, there's nothing wrong with the gameplay. Welcome additions include the ability for the Chief to sprint, something he's been sorely lacking for a long time. The Armour Abilities are a great concept (even if some of the actual upgrades are pretty lame. Promethium vision? Seriously?). I don't like how shallow the ammo magazines have gotten though, I know the intent was emphasise ammo management and encourage you to swap weapons more often, but it's really annoying how quickly a needler can run dry especially compared to the earlier games. On the whole though, it's a delight to play this instalment.
But the story? Oh dear oh dear. The story is more like a bad Halo fanfic than something a professional writer would turn in.
Before anyone says it, I don't have a problem with them turning the Chief into an actual character instead of a mostly Silent Protagonist. The banter between him and Cortana was great and I really enjoyed it. I also liked the insights we got into his character, that Earth's champion is ultimately a lonely man who doesn't know how to really connect with anybody who isn't an AI.
But the shoddy writing, plot holes and sheer stupidity of the retcons are just too much.
Humanity were once so powerful that they rivalled the Forerunner? That's so at odds with the established lore I just can't accept it. And that's mild compared to the Forerunner diddling with human evolution so precisely as to ensure an individual with the right genetic makeup would be born at the right time a hundred millennia later?
The Didact had multiple chances to just murder the Chief and be done with him but he lets him live. Even in the final encounter he stops to monologue. For crying out loud! He's not a credible villain, he's Doctor Evil.
The Infinity can hover over a planet and even crash-land on it without serious damage? Please.
How did someone who was such a complete dick manage to become the Infinity's captian? Why is he so obviously wrong and the Chief so obviously right? Couldn't you have made him a decent soldier whose mission goals were at odds with the Chief's?
Halo 5's teaser trailers look a lot more promising as far as story goes. I sure hope so, I couldn't swallow another Halo 4.