Halo fans have been on an emotional roller coaster since 343 took over the franchise. The series takes 10 steps back in the eyes of many fans for every step it takes. While Hello Infinity initially surprised fans, public opinion has changed once again. Here are 5 things Halo Infinite can learn from Halo 3.
end the fight
Video Source: Bungie
While Halo Infinite’s campaign was a solid effort in terms of gameplay, the story ultimately felt like filler. A few characters and moments stood out but the plot boils down to another day in the Master Chief’s office.
It’s disappointing because it’s the third entry in the lead up to 343, and the story feels like the beginning of a new trilogy rather than a concluding chapter to plot threads from Halo 4. In Halo 3, there was some certainty, and the satisfaction players felt at the end of the game. It was clear that the universe was never going to be the same after the events of the game, and there was excitement associated with the campaign.
Hello Infinite never makes the player realize the stakes of the situation. Instead, they choose to focus on the personal struggles of our heroes rather than an imminent threat. And while the Exiles certainly seem intimidating, the game never makes the prospect of defeat realistic for Master Chief.
Has full launch features
When Halo 3 launched in 2007, the game had a four-player co-op campaign, 11 multiplayer maps, countless game mode forges, thither, countless customizable armor, and an insane community to consume all this content. Halo Infinite, on the other hand, launched with a single-player campaign (which, in all fairness, was well-reviewed), 10 maps (two more were added), a poultry amount of game modes, micro-transactions, and more. A half-baked theater mode.
At the time of the launch of Halo 3, no one questioned its price. Videos about the game’s incompleteness or haste did not air on Youtube in 2007. Instead, gamers enjoyed Bungie’s offerings and eagerly purchased the new map packs as they were released.
respect the player’s time
Bungie rewards dedicated players with in-game rewards such as the legendary Recon armor in Halo 3. If you were rocking this set of armor, you knew they were legit. In Halo Infinity, however, anyone with extremely unique armor is more than likely paid for their looks.
Player expressions have lost their meaning due to the free-to-play nature of Halo Infinity. Not only that, but players wishing to level up through traditional means are dealt with a grind leveling system that forces players to play certain modes and severely halts their leveling process.
This is a far cry from the days of Halo 3, when players only needed time, skill, and a little luck to eventually create the perfect Spartan.
honesty is the best policy
Bungie could do nothing wrong in the eyes of the players. Players trusted the studio, and they built a reputation for caring about the quality of each title. Meanwhile, 343 does nothing but make the wrong decisions regarding the direction of each Halo title. Even titles like Infinite may not get a homerun on all fronts post release.
But when a new studio takes over a beloved franchise, there will always be pushbacks and comparisons to the ancients. However, 343 isn’t doing themselves any favors when they break promises like split-screen co-op years after years. And of course, we live in the age of online gaming, where not many players can access this feature, but Halo is the granddaddy of Couch Co-op. Split-screen co-op is the reason the series remains relevant even after 20 years.
The 343’s recent decision to do away with this feature added fuel to the fire. And redemption seems even more impossible for many fans of the series.
innovate, don’t regenerate
Halo 3 takes the franchise forward with new weapons, maps, abilities, and more. The game felt like a natural evolution from Halo 2. And yes, while in the original, the gameplay remained the same as the first two entries, there was a feeling that the series was refining itself in a way we hadn’t seen.
The big problem with 343 Epochs of Halo games is that many of them feel like they’re playing catchup. Sure the graphics are usually pretty to look at, but the gameplay always tries to mimic the feel of the classic entries. For example, Halo Infinity’s biggest praise from most reviewers is that it feels like old titles again.
While it’s nice that 343 has brought the gunplay/open world of the original titles into the modern era, they have yet to make their mark on the franchise and make it stand out. Halo 1, 2, and 3 have all left distinct marks on the industry despite being made by the same studio, and 343 needs to find a way to do so without ruining what makes Halo unique.
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