Halo 4 Review
Halo 4 is the new shiny, updated game from award winning developers 343 Industries. There have been many changes and more features have been added to the series to extend the already amazing experience. The upgraded version of the classic is set to be one of the best games of this decade, however is it really as good as we were hoping for? Will Halo 4 live up to all the expectations of the next gen Halo? Well let’s find out in this in depth review.
As you wait for the game to load up the first thing you notice is the soundtrack. Its sounds very similar to that of previous games, however a true Halo fan will notice the minor differences. This updated soundtrack almost seems as though it has lost the true Halo spirit that was once possessed by Bungie (Previous developers of previous games). However as you listen to it more you begin to realise that 343 have not taken any of the spirit away from the franchise. They have just taken into the new era.
The start menu retains the dark, ominous, blue and shadowed theme. Proving familiar to any fans of the franchise, there are some minor details that may have been added or taken away. Again this is in no way an attempt to change the series in any way. The inviting new looks really makes players feel at home and makes sure that you are in the right place to experience some action and the legendary FPS (First Person Shooter) that Halo is famous for.
First up on the menu is campaign. This is the main feature that everyone hopes will be as powerful as previous games. It also seems the obvious first choice to see if the latest incarnation still has that classic Halo magic, and to test out all the new features in action. The story starts off where Halo 3 left, with chief stopping the human covenant war and ending hostilities between them. Before settling into Cryo sleep and waiting for rescue to come. The player, chief, is awoken from the Cryo by his AI, (Artificial Intelligence) Cortana as she alerts him that the ‘forward unto dawn’ becomes under attack. The following fight with the covenant, some grunts jackals and elites, raises questions about the direction that the developers have taken. However most players should be happy that they are finally back in the boots of a real Spartan after so long. It all becomes clear as the campaign unfolds but there is always the feeling that things aren’t quite right, not quite Halo. The campaign has its twists and turns, highs and lows but after many new features it seems very much changed from the old Halo that everyone is familiar with. Unfortunately it all comes crashing down at the end. The button press finish makes the whole game seem like it was a pointless drag, to be finished with a simple shrug, rather than the blast of the games before. This looks like a nail in the coffin, and an almost definitive end to the new Halo feel.
The Halo multiplayer, housed in the menu tab of ‘infinity’, has to be installed onto your Xbox system. It’s found on the second disc that comes with the title and ranges from 3 to 8 GB, closer to the latter. A large amount of space for casual gamers and its only real function is that maps seem to load faster. There was no particular problem in waiting for a map to load in Halo Reach and if anything it proved an advantage for your team as they were able to talk pre-battle tactics. War game is the most popular multiplayer online battle, as is Slayer, Capture the flag and Swat, as well as some new games like Dominion: a base capturing game where you hold bases to earn points and upgrade them with turrets and barricades. Flood: infection where the infected become a flood infested Spartan. These games are all great fun, and with the new and improved Halo feel and updated graphics Halo 4 manages to earn the respect it was aiming for. Spartan Ops is a new mixture of multiplayer FireFight combined with Halo’s campaign, in the way it has missions and objectives. This is one of the best features of the latest instalment, and seems to be where most work went into. They are enjoyable, and varied, to be a perfect addition to the Halo gameplay. Forge once again makes an appearance in the game and brings along some great new maps like Impact: a meteor in space with space station parts, and Ravine: a forerunner structure next to a mountainous island with a ravine going between the two. Little has changed on this game mode, however there have been changes in the lighting effects, which greatly increases the look of the maps. Any glitches that could be found in Halo Reach have now been removed. Unfortunately they’ve been replaced with new ones that ruin the Forge mode by decreasing the realism and therefore fun.
Let’s go over to the Pros and Cons. We’ll start with the Pros:
Cons:
Conclusion
Overall Halo 4 was not at all what we were expecting. It didn’t live up to the expectations that the new developers gave it. There are some new features that lift the end conclusion slightly, but not by much. All in all, we found it rather disappointing. And we’re sure a true Halo fan will agree. If your still looking to give it a try Halo 4 can be found at all good retailers. However if you’re looking to get started in the Halo world, we advise you go for Halo 3 at the moment, up until the point when the next gen consoles are out. The rumoured power of these new machines will no doubt create a fantastic Halo experience.
As you wait for the game to load up the first thing you notice is the soundtrack. Its sounds very similar to that of previous games, however a true Halo fan will notice the minor differences. This updated soundtrack almost seems as though it has lost the true Halo spirit that was once possessed by Bungie (Previous developers of previous games). However as you listen to it more you begin to realise that 343 have not taken any of the spirit away from the franchise. They have just taken into the new era.
The start menu retains the dark, ominous, blue and shadowed theme. Proving familiar to any fans of the franchise, there are some minor details that may have been added or taken away. Again this is in no way an attempt to change the series in any way. The inviting new looks really makes players feel at home and makes sure that you are in the right place to experience some action and the legendary FPS (First Person Shooter) that Halo is famous for.
First up on the menu is campaign. This is the main feature that everyone hopes will be as powerful as previous games. It also seems the obvious first choice to see if the latest incarnation still has that classic Halo magic, and to test out all the new features in action. The story starts off where Halo 3 left, with chief stopping the human covenant war and ending hostilities between them. Before settling into Cryo sleep and waiting for rescue to come. The player, chief, is awoken from the Cryo by his AI, (Artificial Intelligence) Cortana as she alerts him that the ‘forward unto dawn’ becomes under attack. The following fight with the covenant, some grunts jackals and elites, raises questions about the direction that the developers have taken. However most players should be happy that they are finally back in the boots of a real Spartan after so long. It all becomes clear as the campaign unfolds but there is always the feeling that things aren’t quite right, not quite Halo. The campaign has its twists and turns, highs and lows but after many new features it seems very much changed from the old Halo that everyone is familiar with. Unfortunately it all comes crashing down at the end. The button press finish makes the whole game seem like it was a pointless drag, to be finished with a simple shrug, rather than the blast of the games before. This looks like a nail in the coffin, and an almost definitive end to the new Halo feel.
The Halo multiplayer, housed in the menu tab of ‘infinity’, has to be installed onto your Xbox system. It’s found on the second disc that comes with the title and ranges from 3 to 8 GB, closer to the latter. A large amount of space for casual gamers and its only real function is that maps seem to load faster. There was no particular problem in waiting for a map to load in Halo Reach and if anything it proved an advantage for your team as they were able to talk pre-battle tactics. War game is the most popular multiplayer online battle, as is Slayer, Capture the flag and Swat, as well as some new games like Dominion: a base capturing game where you hold bases to earn points and upgrade them with turrets and barricades. Flood: infection where the infected become a flood infested Spartan. These games are all great fun, and with the new and improved Halo feel and updated graphics Halo 4 manages to earn the respect it was aiming for. Spartan Ops is a new mixture of multiplayer FireFight combined with Halo’s campaign, in the way it has missions and objectives. This is one of the best features of the latest instalment, and seems to be where most work went into. They are enjoyable, and varied, to be a perfect addition to the Halo gameplay. Forge once again makes an appearance in the game and brings along some great new maps like Impact: a meteor in space with space station parts, and Ravine: a forerunner structure next to a mountainous island with a ravine going between the two. Little has changed on this game mode, however there have been changes in the lighting effects, which greatly increases the look of the maps. Any glitches that could be found in Halo Reach have now been removed. Unfortunately they’ve been replaced with new ones that ruin the Forge mode by decreasing the realism and therefore fun.
Let’s go over to the Pros and Cons. We’ll start with the Pros:
- Spartan Ops: a huge success in itself, proving an exciting and interesting game mode. A great way to get away from the campaign and is the perfect place for teams to practice their tactics.
- Armour customization we receive an increased amount of armour in the new title, a great reason to attempt to level up and unlock it.
- Matchmaking: the improved matchmaking feature seems to be as enjoyable as the multiplayer in Halo Reach, and includes some fantastic new game modes, as well as some not so good ones.
- New graphics: the new graphics engine proves itself to be amazing; colours are sharp and vivid, a perfect improvement for this new title and titles to come.
- Sounds: The improved sound engine makes sure you are immersed in the Halo experience. Guns sound as they should and make you believe you’re holding them in your hand.
Cons:
- Campaign: a big let-down from all that was promised by 343 industries, and although it had some good moments, it can’t compete to that of its predecessor, Halo 3
- Length: it all seems to be over rather quickly, campaign more so. However other game modes have a quick end too, and once completed the new title doesn’t allow much replayability.
- Small maps: they are, well, small. Not ideal for large amounts of combat or sniping. However great for elimination modes.
- Lag: there seems to be more lag than ever in Halo 4. A real shame as it can effect gameplay and therefore campaign.
Conclusion
Overall Halo 4 was not at all what we were expecting. It didn’t live up to the expectations that the new developers gave it. There are some new features that lift the end conclusion slightly, but not by much. All in all, we found it rather disappointing. And we’re sure a true Halo fan will agree. If your still looking to give it a try Halo 4 can be found at all good retailers. However if you’re looking to get started in the Halo world, we advise you go for Halo 3 at the moment, up until the point when the next gen consoles are out. The rumoured power of these new machines will no doubt create a fantastic Halo experience.