Reach launch approaches, but not last Halo-Microsoft.

[Vindekarr]

Now, many of you probably already know all the pre launch details of reach and will be most annoyed at my lack of knowledge but put it this way. I know what I read, and the magazine, a very well known local mag, did state that MS and Bungie or 343 Studios WERE making yet another Halo game.

 

So now, what are your thoughts?

 

Let me make one thing clear, I am NOT a Halo fan any longer. i played them all from cover to cover but today it ends. Reach will be the first Halo I have simply said, no, Bungie, **** me you say? well I say **** you with extra ****.

 

Im sick of their attitude and Im sick of their lack of respect for their games or their fans. They claimed Halo Three woul be the last. then they released ODST, also claiming it would be the last. Then they made Reach, again, last Halo! and now today I heard that microsoft and Bungie had said at a press conference that another Halo would indeed be made, featuring the Master Chief as the protagonist. Now, I dont really think they have even another minute of gameplay LEFT in the blasted wasteland of the Halo scrapverse. But obviously they still want to squeeze more money out of the brand.

 

Halo III was about 4 hours long. ODST took me 2 1/2 hours to finish with an expert team. Now, how long does that make Reach eh? ten seconds? it remains to be seen, but if the tradition of "every Halo worse than the last" continues soon nothing will be left but ash, pixels, and hurt feelings.

[phforNZ]

First off, this strikes me as a "CHANGEISBADMMKAY" thread/rant. But I'll play :)

 

Sure, none of the Halo's beat the first. But then, how could they? That one redefined how console FPS games were meant to be - and singlehandedly kept the sinking ship alive (Xbox would have been mothballed if not for Halo 1's success).

You complain about the "length" of the later ones campaigns? Not that hard if you go for speed (Halo 1 could be speedrun in 2hr 15min link to show the numbers ), and you mention "expert team" for ODST - was that perchance with one of those groups who offered their services to run people through ODST on legendary? (admittedly, those guys were DAMN good)

 

Yes, I am defending Bungie. Been a fan since Marathon (Damn you 5D Space!!! Why must you torment me so?!). Every one of the games have been fun, in different ways. Halo 1 = ZOMG factor (I liken it to watching the Matrix that first time). Halo 2 = multiplayer (16 player LANs every night back at uni), Halo 3 = customisation was the big one here, and getting in touch with campaign after #2 (admittedly MP did suffer a little). ODST was meant for co-op (played it for many months, campaign/firefight, with the flatmates). Reach is looking like being a kick back into the multiplayer park (I'm more of a campaign player myself, but still like the MP side). Although I will denounce that god-awful RTS one. *retch* RTS + console = hell naw (unless its Starcraft64 :P )

 

As to your rant against content-wise? Ever heard the term "Halo Bible"? They have a huge amount of content still lying around, as well as plenty of areas still unwritten. Plenty of opportunity :) There are still many untold stories in the haloverse that I (personally) would like to hear (wouldn't mind a revisit to New Mombasa, tell stories through the Marines perspective would be awesome - like Another Day at the Beach). Although, I can think of a time (coming up) which may cause me to re-evaluate my opinions - the time when all the "Grizzled Veterans" have left (iirc, still 5 of 7 still there, could be wrong on that, late night XD )

 

Anyways, there's my opinion, to go with yours & and whomever else that posts.

[katashy]

Of course there's going to be another one. If you've ever been on the Bungie forums, you'll see that fans there have been crying out for a new game with Master Chief.

 

Halo games can take 10 + hours to complete if you explore the environment, looking for easter eggs and skulls, and soaking in the atmosphere. If you just run through it, of course it won't take as long.

 

And to be honest, Microsoft has hardly any input in Halo games. That's one of Bungies terms of the contract with Microsoft. Microsoft get the games exclusively, as long as they let Bungie have free reigns over the actual development of the game. Bungie are also one of the few developers that TRULY listen to their fans, so saying they have no respect for their fans is rubbish.

 

Lastly, I don't see why you're so angry at them for making another Halo game. So what? Don't buy it if you don't want it. I on the other hand, love Bungies games, and I will probably buy any that they release.

 

Well, that's my take on it.

[WrathOfDeadguy]

Okay, so they said ODST would be the last Halo. Same thing was originally said of Halo 2. Know why there will be another one?

 

Because the games are still flying off the shelves.

 

It's the same reason why Final Fantasy still hasn't 'ended'- the formula worked, and proved so wildly successful that the developers would have been idiots not to go ahead and do another... and another, and another. Remember that at the end of the day making games is business, and making games that always sell is great business. These people may or may not enjoy what they do, they may or may not be in it for the artistic expression... but they are all in it for the money. As long as the series continues to top the sales charts, expect more entries.

 

Is this a "betrayal" of the fans? Give me a break. Only with a series as popular as Halo (or Final Fantasy) would fans of the series complain about getting more of it. This is absolutely ridiculous- if you want to play it, then play it. If you don't want to play it, then don't. Nobody is breaking down your front door with a team of Spartans and forcing you to buy the next title. If you really want the series to end, then do your part and just don't buy the bloody thing.

 

As far as I'm concerned, nothing has changed. The game will very likely be, as were all those before it, a fairly generic but high-quality Sci-Fi shooter. I don't expect it to be the greatest game of all time, nor do I expect it to be utter trash- Bungie has a reputation for releasing well-made games. Final judgment will be reserved until I've played it, but I have enough confidence in the developer to have pre-ordered Reach. I am by no means a Halo fanboy- these games are designed to appeal to the mainstream, and thus don't really stand out in any major way. Halo is neither innovative nor revolutionary, as many might claim. On the other hand, it is what it is- a solid, enjoyable experience with a universe that still has a wealth of stories left to tell (a twenty-five year war spanning dozens of worlds, and you say they've exhausted the possibilities? How about a game entirely from the Covenant perspective?). That it offers co-op doesn't hurt either. As long as the games continue to maintain that consistent level of quality, I'll keep buying them as money allows.

 

What I don't think they should do is bring back the Master Chief. One trilogy is plenty for one set of characters; some fresh faces are needed. Reach seems to be providing exactly that, but if the next installment is a return to 'ol Johnny boy I'd consider that a bit lazy in the story department. I like the "six degrees of separation" angle that ODST took (even though it was rather on the short side), and that Reach seems to be taking. Separation being the key word there... the spotlight should be resting firmly on a new cast.

[Retribution]

Eh, FPS on consoles has nothing going for it anyway. I like Halo alright, but I wish it didn't exist. The Xbox 360 would be less popular.

[Vindekarr]

Halo has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people, and I have a lot of respect for people who defend what they like, if I've offended you by hating it, Im sorry.

 

I will however say, I would have a much higher opinion of Halo if it had some form of community moderators. It's a maniacal playpen of childish buffoons right now. Im not saying it doesnt have focused, intelligent, and mature players too, but they are completely drowned out by twelve years olds and men who behave like children. It really needs some form of rule enforcement, because cheatingmay not be a mainstream problem yet (though exploits are extremely common, and ragequiting) but it's such an abusive quagmire of violence and hatred that I cant think of anything I'd want to play less right now.

 

The game is not the problem-the multiplayer is excellent, but the community is simply abhorrent.

[katashy]

That would be because most of the community is made up of 10 year olds. I just stay in party chat and don't listen to them. They have no input to the team or the game in general.

 

Although, I haven't been in a match with people like that in at least 2 months. I occasionally get the odd English player shouting and cursing at me for being Scottish (I'm actually English, but I have been living in Scotland for most my life and have got a slight accent now), but they're just stupid and I just mute them.

 

Stick with your friends online, mute any ****holes and just have fun. :D

[phforNZ]

ragequiting

 

hehe, you'll love one of the new features they're putting into Reach's multiplayer. The more you ragequit, the harder it is for you to get into games. Technically possible to ragequit that much you effectively ban yourself =)

[Vindekarr]

Nice.

 

Right, well thats huge. That is exactly what we need, moderation. The fewer ragequitters, the better, this is a very positive step. And with ragequitters down, that just leave pests who talk to much, who can be muted.

[monkybuttface]

he he look at you, sergeant NOOB, im a general, and I (whiiiiii-pew BAM) plasma pistol magnum deushmonkey! ima ****ng kill you! NO SKILL NO SKILLL (froth at mouth and ragequit)