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ATP: Halo Infinite

EverydayBeast

thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
@ The Party: Halo Infinite

Halo_banner2_news.png



What we're looking at is officially the greatest FPS franchise in Halo, holding great high scores on Metacritic, 343 is on the big stage again. Production is high and 343 is starting to get even with Bungie.

Halo Infinite is released on December 8, 2021 last year and is the first new Halo on the Xbox Series S/X but also the last new Halo on the Xbox One and the first Halo to feature a legitimate open world with FOB, side mission quests.

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Release times for each area of the world.

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Halo is represented by cookies.

Halo Infinite like Halo 5 is set up through 15 chapters. If you've played previous Halo games one thing is clear, the new forward operating bases scattered throughout the Halo landscape that are occupied by Banished enemy forces that you have to capture. It should be considered an all time achievement in Halo, traveling to distant lands, collecting things is finally designed into Halo

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A sought-after traditional open world map.


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Holds an 87 at this moment.

The new AI Cortona, map, Grappleshot, Echo 216 ally Marine side missions FOB locations, pressure to escape the Banished all feel fresh. I love how Master Chief responds to the pressure of the Banished.

Halo_Infinite_Upgrade_menu.jpg


Powering up your spartan.

halo-weapon-cortana-4.jpg


"The Weapon" or Cortona 2 I like how 343 gets her involved.

You can finish this game in one play sitting if you really wanted to or in under 20 hours, the game tries to force you into finishing sooner rather than later thanks to the mission guide system that focus' on the main missions rather than mounting side quests.

343 is in position to shave off a lot of the post Bungie Halo hatred, some say 343's first two numbered games couldn't live up to Bungie's legacies but I believe Infinite corrects all of that.

halo_infinite_mp.0.jpg


Overall the campaign, multiplayer (a necessary component to Halo) with its well designed maps (10 maps at launch) are reminiscent of the original maps from Halo 1 like fighting inside alien buildings that have cover and sections to jump but also a little bit of RPG to the armor and weapon systems. The game just feels right to me and I think it's better than an 87.

What does GAF think of Infinite? Has anyone finished the campaign?

ffaeee30-05d5-11ec-beb3-f699ca455205


A very good looking console.
 
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Graciaus

Member
Right now the multi doesn't have the basic stuff to keep the game alive for. No maps, no play lists and no forge.

If this is the state they launched it in after the delay I can't imagine what it was like before. Some of it could be excused since they claimed it was a beta. But it launched exactly the same without even basic things like a ranked or social team slayer.

343 hasn't come close to bungie. Can't even release the campaign with coop.
 
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STARSBarry

Gold Member
What?



Yes it does.

It's called Hyperbole dude, common you know this.

Let me activate my Austism translation device for you

"THERE ARE EXACTLY 10 MAPS, THIS IS NOT MANY WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER ENTRIES IN THE FRANCHISE"

"THE AVAILABLE PLAYLISTS ARE LIMITED COMPARED TO OTHER ENTRIES IN THE FRANCHISE AND STILL DO NOT INCLUDE MANY FAN FAVORITES"

autism translation deactivated.
 
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dem

Member
343 is doing their best to kill this game.

The UI is horrific.

I can't imagine what this game would have looked like a year ago. Feels like a fucking BETA. The actual GAME is fun... everything else.. jesus christ does 343 suck.
 
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ManaByte

Member
343 is doing their best to kill this game.

The UI is horrific.

I can't imagine what this game would have looked like a year ago. Feels like a fucking BETA. The actual GAME is fun... everything else.. jesus christ does 343 suck.

Game's been out for a month and a half. People demanding 10 years of maps and content in 45 days.

ss15 GIF
 
It's called Hyperbole dude, common you know this.

Let me activate my Austism translation device for you

"THERE ARE EXACTLY 10 MAPS, THIS IS NOT MANY WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER ENTRIES IN THE FRANCHISE"

"THE AVAILABLE PLAYLISTS ARE LIMITED COMPARED TO OTHER ENTRIES IN THE FRANCHISE AND STILL DO NOT INCLUDE MANY FAN FAVORITES"

autism translation deactivated.
All other mainline Halo games released with between 7 - 10 multiplayer maps. Halo Infinite is on the high-end of that range so your concern about content being sparse makes no sense.
 
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Dutchy

Member
Most shallow and barebones Halo experience to date. No Co-op campaign. No Forge. No functioning theater. Little amount of content with not a lot of replay value. And probably worst of all, the abysmal MMR that has you fighting for your life every single game, even in social.

Campaign is very cool though. Aside from the lack of unique and interesting locations.
 

STARSBarry

Gold Member
All other mainline Halo games released with between 7 - 10 multiplayer maps. Halo Infinite is on the high-end of that range so your concern about content being sparse makes no sense.

Wait where did you get this information?

HALO CE, launched with 14 maps, 19 for PC
HALO 2, had 12 at launch
HALO 3, had 11
HALO 3 ODST had 21 at launch due to being 3's with all the map packs + 8 more for firefight, 29 maps 😀
Halo Reach, just 9... oh wait if you include the 5 forge exclusive maps that's 14... oh and they had 8 firefight maps at launch... that's 22...

Where does the 7-10 come from? Is it the 343 titles? Notice how they snowballed into large numbers across many modes at the end... shame we dont have any of those modes for Infinite.

Halo 3 had a pretty interesting development cycle similair to infinites in alot of ways, it would however have it's first map pack by now. We'll worth the watch of the documentary about it.

I'm guessing all that extra dev time for infinite went into making sure the grapple hook worked, since no coop at launch like all the prior games. It also took 6 years to make since Halo 5, while between Halo 1, 2, 3 and Reach it took 3.

Are the expectations for Halo so low? I mean the more games you have the more fan favourites you have to riff off. It should be easier to make a large number of high quality maps, not harder as the franchise goes on.
 
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elliot5

Member
Im still enjoying Halo :) if i find the time and motivation i may hop back into campaign for the high value targets. Really pleased with Infinite and look forward to how it evolves like sea of thieves
 

MachRc

Member
excited to go back once the co-op is in.

I have mad drift on the right stick because I think I clicked it in so much to melee swiftly and violently
Pretty bummed my black SX controller is broken and its out of the warranty phase.

but luckily I have like 3 other oneS controllers.
 
Wait where did you get this information?

HALO CE, launched with 14 maps, 19 for PC
HALO 2, had 12 at launch
HALO 3, had 11
HALO 3 ODST had 21 at launch due to being 3's with all the map packs + 8 more for firefight
Halo Reach, just 9... oh wait if you include the 5 forge exclusive maps that's 14... oh and they had 8 firefight maps at launch... that's 22...

Where does the 7-10 come from? Is it the 343 titles? Notice how they snowballed into large numbers across many modes at the end... if you want to do that for Infinite it would be only 7 maps for regular multiplayer and 3 for BTB... Halo 3 had a pretty interesting development cycle similair to infinites in alot of ways, it would however have it's first map pack by now. I'm guessing all that extra dev time went to making sure the grapple hook worked, no launch coop either. It also took 6 years to make since Halo 5, between 1, 2, 3 and Reach it took 3.
I was wrong about the "7 - 10 maps" statement regarding the older Halo titles, but I still think 10 maps at launch for Halo Infinite was perfectly fine. Halo Reach was a weird one however because all of the launch maps were taken directly from the campaign, so essentially it's re-used assets. Additionally, almost every Bungie Halo game had some remakes of maps from previous games while Halo Infinite's 10 maps are all original.
 
Wait where did you get this information?

HALO CE, launched with 14 maps, 19 for PC
HALO 2, had 12 at launch
HALO 3, had 11
HALO 3 ODST had 21 at launch due to being 3's with all the map packs + 8 more for firefight, 29 maps 😀
Halo Reach, just 9... oh wait if you include the 5 forge exclusive maps that's 14... oh and they had 8 firefight maps at launch... that's 22...

Where does the 7-10 come from? Is it the 343 titles? Notice how they snowballed into large numbers across many modes at the end... shame we dont have any of those modes for Infinite. Halo 3 had a pretty interesting development cycle similair to infinites in alot of ways, it would however have it's first map pack by now. I'm guessing all that extra dev time went to making sure the grapple hook worked, no launch coop either. It also took 6 years to make since Halo 5, between 1, 2, 3 and Reach it took 3.

Are the expectations for Halo so low? I mean the more games you have the more fan favourites you have to riff off. It should be easier to make a large number of high quality maps, not harder as the franchise goes on.
I mean considering Halo CE had a few maps that were lack luster. I'd rather have quality maps out the gate.
 

STARSBarry

Gold Member
I mean considering Halo CE had a few maps that were lack luster. I'd rather have quality maps out the gate.

But that would require all of infinites maps to be great to.

Are you telling me that you haven't played Launch Site, Deadlock or High-power?

Having 2/3 of the BTB essentially terrible (for diffrent reasons) kills the most fun casual game mode for me, alongside other changes like paper vehicles. Some people also seem to have issues with Bazzar but at least the teams get an even match since its mirrored. Aquarius and Rechage are excellent though, perfect design.

I was wrong about the "7 - 10 maps" statement regarding the older Halo titles, but I still think 10 maps at launch for Halo Infinite was perfectly fine. Halo Reach was a weird one however because all of the launch maps were taken directly from the campaign, so essentially it's re-used assets. Additionally, almost every Bungie Halo game had some remakes of maps from previous games while Halo Infinite's 10 maps are all original.

I think I would have been alot happier if they had left 3 of there less... well designed ones at the door and stuck a few "greatest hits" in there and bring it up to 15 or so. Its not like people are going to be angry for including good Halo maps from past games in the new Halo.
 
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avin

Member
As the token casual here, I'll give the campaign an 8. Initially, the most fun I'd had in a very long time. But by the end, and the eternal indoor levels ..... dear lord, please just let this be over already.

I've tried the multiplayer, and I think I get it. It can be a lot of fun, but I think it requires a very high level of skill. I don't get a lot of time, so when I do I play COD, where I can camp out with a one-shot sniper. I get judged a lot, but it's a living.

avin
 

Termite

Member
I thought it was the best Halo since 3, and by far the best campaign in the series.

10 maps is perfect at launch because it lets casual players learn the maps. Things like no forge, theatre etc - I suspect 90% of people couldn't give a fuck. The gameplay is perfectly tight. I can play for hours without getting bored.

The only issues are the awful F2P implementation of the multiplayer and the fact that John Halo is still a shitty bland main character.
 

Ozriel

M$FT
No maps, no play lists

wut?

If this is the state they launched it in after the delay I can't imagine what it was like before.

How is this relevant? The delay was announced months before the projected release date. You review what's released.

The game was under development for like six years.

That's not how this works. You think they started work on it the second Halo 5, (a GaaS game with years of support) shipped?
 

Dr Bass

Member
wut?



How is this relevant? The delay was announced months before the projected release date. You review what's released.



That's not how this works. You think they started work on it the second Halo 5, (a GaaS game with years of support) shipped?
Pretty close if you look at the historical news sites yes. And often it IS how it works. You have the team doing pre production while production on the current title wraps up. There are stages to development, so you can have a pipeline going. 343i is just grossly mismanaged and it shows in their products and timelines. I work in the software engineering industry btw, I know how this stuff goes.
 

NinjaBoiX

Member
As the token casual here, I'll give the campaign an 8. Initially, the most fun I'd had in a very long time. But by the end, and the eternal indoor levels ..... dear lord, please just let this be over already.

I've tried the multiplayer, and I think I get it. It can be a lot of fun, but I think it requires a very high level of skill. I don't get a lot of time, so when I do I play COD, where I can camp out with a one-shot sniper. I get judged a lot, but it's a living.

avin
Really? I’d consider it a lot easier to succeed in than CoD.

I usually do quite well at Halo, but I suck at CoD. I’m average at Battlefield.
 
Really? I’d consider it a lot easier to succeed in than CoD.

I usually do quite well at Halo, but I suck at CoD. I’m average at Battlefield.

Having competed in both when I was younger. Halo has the higher skill ceiling and is more mechanically demanding. Cod is just in general a fucking shit show. And there are easier ways to abuse the game to "seem" good. Especially in public rooms. Which means bad players can play like a retard and put up good numbers. Just camp, not play objective etc etc.
 

MiguelItUp

Member
The MP gameplay is absolutely outstanding, it was all I played for weeks. It felt solid and nostalgic. It's been awhile, but the biggest gripe I had was the progression and unlock flow. Even with 2XP and doing great games it feels like more of a grind at early levels than it should.

Maps and other content will come in the future that will just make it better and better. Well, it should at least, just depends on how they approach it all. I'm just taking a break from it until more is put in it.

Still need to check out the campaign!
 

tmlDan

Member
I thought it was the worst campaign of a triple A franchise in ages, the characters were forgettable and complained all the time, the grunt jokes were cringey, the soldiers on the planet were soulless and the open world was empty with no life making it feel like a video game than an actual world.

The MP on the other hand is solid, the combat is strong, and it is almost bug free. The biggest negative is the map count, weapon balancing, and the BP but its still solid and fun and its not pay to win.
 

Ozriel

M$FT
Pretty close if you look at the historical news sites yes. And often it IS how it works. You have the team doing pre production while production on the current title wraps up. There are stages to development, so you can have a pipeline going. 343i is just grossly mismanaged and it shows in their products and timelines. I work in the software engineering industry btw, I know how this stuff goes.

Again, Halo 5 was a GaaS game that launched light on content. Development did not 'wrap up' on release.

Bloomberg says Infinite was in the 'idea stage' in late 2015. DenofGeek reports that 343s main focus in 2016 was Halo 5 additional content.

There ARE elements of mismanagement highlighted in the bloomberg report, but definitely not 6 years of development. Never mind that much of it was spend updating their engine.
 

Sosokrates

Report me if I continue to console war
Metacritic scores are a guide but anything that scores an 80+ its a bit of a wash.

I mean how is the difference between an 85 game and a 95 game really quantified.
There two much politics, shilling etc etc for it be consistent and fair.
 

Chukhopops

Member
Campaigns ranking: Reach > H3 > H1 > H2 > H5 > Infinite > H4 > ODST

The foundation is solid, weapons are great, AI is the best in years and I had a lot of fun in the moment to moment gameplay. But the end of the campaign felt rushed as hell and nonsensical from a story point of view.

MP feels amazing but I want MP PVE modes.
 

ZehDon

Member
LOL. Halo Infinite is an embarrassment hidden behind a green metacritic score. Give it a month, and what's left of the community will revolt.

I stopped playing the Campaign when they kept gating story progression behind "Take out 4 guns" rubbish, and on the way to the guns you run into blockages, that themselves were like "press 2 switches to open gate". This was their grand innovation: bloating the game with an empty open world because they simply couldn't make good single player campaigns so they gave up.

MP is on a downward spiral because: content is extremely limited, progression system is pure trash, customisation is the worst in the series, monestisation is the worst I've ever seen period, UI is garbage, network issues (like de-sync) are absolutely rampant, BTB has been broken longer than it actually worked, and cheaters are basically running unchecked - and due to forced crossplay, consoles have to deal with PC cheaters too now. The game won't die because it doesn't have a Battle Royale, it'll die because 343i launched a broken game with no content and charged AUD$15.00 for the colour blue.

343i absolutely dropped the ball. Again.
 

avin

Member
Really? I’d consider it a lot easier to succeed in than CoD.

I think that means you're good. My impression of Halo multiplayer is you have to be. I think SBMM is supposed to help, but there aren't enough slower, older, shaky players right now. and the people I end up playing with are really, really good. The long TTK means I can't win no matter how I choose to engage.

On CoD, my experience is the short TTK and the different classes support a broader range of playstyles. There's more room for someone like me.

avin
 
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dem

Member
LOL. Halo Infinite is an embarrassment hidden behind a green metacritic score. Give it a month, and what's left of the community will revolt.

I stopped playing the Campaign when they kept gating story progression behind "Take out 4 guns" rubbish, and on the way to the guns you run into blockages, that themselves were like "press 2 switches to open gate". This was their grand innovation: bloating the game with an empty open world because they simply couldn't make good single player campaigns so they gave up.

MP is on a downward spiral because: content is extremely limited, progression system is pure trash, customisation is the worst in the series, monestisation is the worst I've ever seen period, UI is garbage, network issues (like de-sync) are absolutely rampant, BTB has been broken longer than it actually worked, and cheaters are basically running unchecked - and due to forced crossplay, consoles have to deal with PC cheaters too now. The game won't die because it doesn't have a Battle Royale, it'll die because 343i launched a broken game with no content and charged AUD$15.00 for the colour blue.

343i absolutely dropped the ball. Again.

This post is a bit harsh...

but 343 needs to be blown up. Give Halo to an Activision team. 343 is an embarrassment.
 

M1chl

Currently Gif and Meme Champion
One thing which really grinds my gears, is the Galaxy brain solution to switch gadgets, worst UI shit I have ever seen. Not sure who greenlight it like that. I know it suppose to be fast, but god damn...
 

STARSBarry

Gold Member
That's not how this works. You think they started work on it the second Halo 5, (a GaaS game with years of support) shipped?

No, they started "Just After" Halo 5 in their own words... however as preproduction staff won't have much to do during the wrap up time of a prior title they will most likely have had a few teams working on it prior to shipping Halo 5. However "Just After" is what we where told, they didn't sit twiddling there thumbs for 2+ years waiting for Halo 5 to become average.

People have salaries that cost if they are working or not, and since only a small portion of a team is required to support GAAS games once deployed compared to shipping a new game (hence why publishers love them so much, saves on cost) you essentially need to start your next title immediately after finishing the last.
 
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VN1X

Banned
What the fuck is this post. If one of my all time favourite games was presented this way on a forum I'd be embarrassed (please don't ever talk about Half-Life² or MGS).

Even as a shitpost this sucks lol.
 

GymWolf

Member
One thing which really grinds my gears, is the Galaxy brain solution to switch gadgets, worst UI shit I have ever seen. Not sure who greenlight it like that. I know it suppose to be fast, but god damn...
Yeah, it is easy in theory but it never felt like second nature during frenetic combat for some reason.

One of the thing that disturbed me the most is how retarded and slow are the human ai companion, unless you use the horrible to drive warthog to go around they can't follow you for shit, i was fucking alone all the time, open world silent cartographer my ass.
Next time put some damn jetpack or give a grapple jook to them too so they can keep up with chief.
 
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M1chl

Currently Gif and Meme Champion
Yeah, it is easy in theory but it never felt like second nature during frenetic combat for some reason.

One of the thing that disturbed me the most is how retarded and slow are the human ai companion, unless you use the horrible to drive warthog to go around they can't follow you for shit, i was fucking alone all the time, open world silent cartographer my ass.
Next time put some damn jetpack or give a grapple jook to them too so they can keep up with chief.
That's true to and they are horribly modeled and animated.

In all honestly it looks like Bungie Halo in 4K, well maybe they use mocap here, not key animation like Bungie did.

However I feel like they should have stick to Halo 5 aesthetic, it still looks better in my opinion.
 
LOL. Halo Infinite is an embarrassment hidden behind a green metacritic score. Give it a month, and what's left of the community will revolt.

I stopped playing the Campaign when they kept gating story progression behind "Take out 4 guns" rubbish, and on the way to the guns you run into blockages, that themselves were like "press 2 switches to open gate". This was their grand innovation: bloating the game with an empty open world because they simply couldn't make good single player campaigns so they gave up.

MP is on a downward spiral because: content is extremely limited, progression system is pure trash, customisation is the worst in the series, monestisation is the worst I've ever seen period, UI is garbage, network issues (like de-sync) are absolutely rampant, BTB has been broken longer than it actually worked, and cheaters are basically running unchecked - and due to forced crossplay, consoles have to deal with PC cheaters too now. The game won't die because it doesn't have a Battle Royale, it'll die because 343i launched a broken game with no content and charged AUD$15.00 for the colour blue.

343i absolutely dropped the ball. Again.
Didn't take long before the hate started. This happens quite literally at ever Halo release. If I could get a nickel for the amount of Pistol conversations that happened between Halo 2 and Halo Reach I would be a millionaire. Seriously people complain about every nook and cranny of Halo. The game is great, the gameplay is excellent, and the game will continue to grow. It takes time to develop more, give them the time they need, it released in November and programming is hard.
 

GymWolf

Member
That's true to and they are horribly modeled and animated.

In all honestly it looks like Bungie Halo in 4K, well maybe they use mocap here, not key animation like Bungie did.

However I feel like they should have stick to Halo 5 aesthetic, it still looks better in my opinion.
They both look like semi-trash to me but i liked the area in halo 5 with the elite rock statues more than anything inside what i played of infinite.

This game absolutely didn't felt like a game that was in developmemt for 6 years and a big ass budget.
 
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M1chl

Currently Gif and Meme Champion
They both look like semi-trash to me but i liked the area in halo 5 with the elite rock statues more than anything inside what i played of infinite.

This game absolutely didn't felt like a game that was in developmemt for 6 years and a big ass budget.
True, but even if it looked semi-trash it was still better, than whatever Infitite is.
 

zaanan

Banned
Not an xbox guy but I bought my kids a 360 and played through all the Bungie Halos with them. I was the weak link bc my brain could not get used to the offset thumbs, but we had a great time!
(So great that I preordered Destiny bc I thought it would be like Halo on PS4, but with exploration. Such a disappointment.)
Back on topic, love the Halo console and green controller! I’m a sucker for those, I got the 360 Halo controller (ODST maybe?) and the Vader and BO3 controllers for PS4.
Cheers!
 

22•22

NO PAIN TRANCE CONTINUE
Campaign is very shitty as is but awesome when seen as a aplha blueprint for future titles
 

Ozriel

M$FT
No, they started "Just After" Halo 5 in their own words... however as preproduction staff won't have much to do during the wrap up time of a prior title they will most likely have had a few teams working on it prior to shipping Halo 5. However "Just After" is what we where told, they didn't sit twiddling there thumbs for 2+ years waiting for Halo 5 to become average.

People have salaries that cost if they are working or not, and since only a small portion of a team is required to support GAAS games once deployed compared to shipping a new game (hence why publishers love them so much, saves on cost) you essentially need to start your next title immediately after finishing the last.

I'm quoting Bloomberg here, and Schreier interviewed a number of 343 staff for that piece.


All those factors played a role in the difficulties with Halo Infinite, which the studio began planning in 2015 just after Halo 5, the last full installment of the game, was released. After kicking around various formulas, the developers landed on an idea that stuck: Halo as an “open world” game.
 
Campaigns ranking: Reach > H3 > H1 > H2 > H5 > Infinite > H4 > ODST

The foundation is solid, weapons are great, AI is the best in years and I had a lot of fun in the moment to moment gameplay. But the end of the campaign felt rushed as hell and nonsensical from a story point of view.

MP feels amazing but I want MP PVE modes.
H5 Campaign ranks higher than Infinite and ODST?????


giphy.gif
 
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