Halo 4 Review

[Woodsey]

You shouldn't have to read any book.

I can't believe it took 30 posts or so to state the bloody obvious. If your plot requires the player to go to a different medium to be properly explained then you are a bad storyteller and your game has bad storytelling.

 

[Myndnix]

Oh. The single player content is lacking? Then I may think twice about this game. I don't play games for multiplayer.

 

[wooty]

To be honest, after boosting myself up properly for the massive letdown that was Halo 3 and ODST.........I'm not going anywhere near this one at all.

I'm just going to stay in my little bubble and troll the shit out of my "supa-dupaHaloobsessed andtattooedfriends" for the week. Its what keeps me going through work.

 

[jollybarracuda]

As far as I'm concerned Reach is non-canon, and so long as Halo 4 doesn't follow on from how things were handled in Reach that is actually possible.

Really? I would assume that people would consider the books non-canon since Bungie is kinda like, the creators of the games and their stories, while the books, I'd imagine, were just outsourced to a publishing company? I guess that's just the pitfall of having a franchise branch out into other forms of media, everyone has their own take on it.

Anyways, it's too bad that this Halo, while being regarded as a good game in it's scores, the actual content of the reviews all seem to be suggesting that it isnt quite up to standard. The biggest disappointment being that 343 didn't take any risks. I mean, this could have been a whole new world, with new enemies, allies, and lore. But it's looking like the same old Human vs. Covenant fight we've seen four times already.

 

[Reginald]

How much replay value is there in this game,exactly? Could you play through the campaign at least four times without getting bored?

You shouldn't have to read any book.

I can't believe it took 30 posts or so to state the bloody obvious. If your plot requires the player to go to a different medium to be properly explained then you are a bad storyteller and your game has bad storytelling.

It's bloody odd that the writers would assume everyone who'll play this is that into Halo.

 

[Shocksplicer]

As far as I'm concerned Reach is non-canon, and so long as Halo 4 doesn't follow on from how things were handled in Reach that is actually possible.

Really? I would assume that people would consider the books non-canon since Bungie is kinda like, the creators of the games and their stories, while the books, I'd imagine, were just outsourced to a publishing company? I guess that's just the pitfall of having a franchise branch out into other forms of media, everyone has their own take on it.

Anyways, it's too bad that this Halo, while being regarded as a good game in it's scores, the actual content of the reviews all seem to be suggesting that it isnt quite up to standard. The biggest disappointment being that 343 didn't take any risks. I mean, this could have been a whole new world, with new enemies, allies, and lore. But it's looking like the same old Human vs. Covenant fight we've seen four times already.

The reason I want Reach to be non-canon is because all the books rely on each other, and Halo 4 relies on the books. Nothing relies on Reach. So if Reach was made non-canon it would only affect Reach. If Reach is canon it really muddies the waters of the canon established in the books, and extends to Halo 4. Also, the version of events portrayed in Reach was crap.

Also, as for your comments about 343 taking no risks: It takes place on a whole new world. It features new enemies. It almost certainly features new allies. It features loads of new lore.

 

[jollybarracuda]

Also, as for your comments about 343 taking no risks: It takes place on a whole new world. It features new enemies. It almost certainly features new allies. It features loads of new lore.

My statement was based off some reviews that I'd seen so far for it, first being:

"Moving him out into the middle of nowhere and cutting him off from his allies is an idea with huge potential. So that's why I find the storytelling side of Halo 4 to be fairly disappointing. Within the first few hours you've fought enemies that go all the way back to the first game in the franchise and you've reconnected with the human race."
-Jeff Gerstmann (GiantBomb)

And second being looking at the Escapist video review. I counted about 2 or 3 times where the Prometheans were actually shown fighting, most of it is just the Covenant.

So while yes, Halo 4 does take place on a new planet, with a new alien species, it doesn't appear to really make much use of it, simply using it all as a backdrop for another Humans vs. Covenant squabble.

Maybe i'm just reading too much between the lines, but as much as i love the Halo franchise, I can say i'm a bit skeptical about how this will be sitting with me come release.

 

[Slycne]

How much replay value is there in this game,exactly? Could you play through the campaign at least four times without getting bored?

In theory, yes. Once for normal, another to finish it on harder difficulty, co-op and then some combination of the previous 3 but with various skulls on as well.

And second being looking at the Escapist video review. I counted about 2 or 3 times where the Prometheans were actually shown fighting, most of it is just the Covenant.

So while yes, Halo 4 does take place on a new planet, with a new alien species, it doesn't appear to really make much use of it, simply using it all as a backdrop for another Humans vs. Covenant squabble.

Maybe i'm just reading too much between the lines, but as much as i love the Halo franchise, I can say i'm a bit skeptical about how this will be sitting with me come release.

Part of that was due to certain sections we were asked not to spoil. Overall, it sort of goes back in forth and at various times mixes the two. Hard to nail down an exact number, but I'd hazard a guess around 60-40 split in favor of the Prometheans over how often you're fighting them instead of Covenant.

 

[jollybarracuda]

Part of that was due to certain sections we were asked not to spoil. Overall, it sort of goes back in forth and at various times mixes the two. Hard to nail down an exact number, but I'd hazard a guess around 60-40 split in favor of the Prometheans over how often you're fighting them instead of Covenant.

Ah, i guess I can see why they wouldn't want it all spoiled. Well then I stand corrected, which i'm quite happy about as I do love me a good Halo game, and that was the big thing really worrying me about this game. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[LongMuckDong]

You shouldn't have to read any book.

Thing is though, Halo is a franchise, not just a game series, like someone also said on this forum, 343i is essentially Halo's LucasArts. Halo has too big of a universe to ignore it, and 343i knows that.

You can understand the story fine without reading, but many references will go over your head.

And.... 10k POSTS!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I love it when there are subtle (and not so subtle) novel tie-ins in my gaming.

Mass Effect 3 had a good amount of extended universe material in the core game, and you appreciate that type of stuff as a nod to the more rabid fans of the chosen franchise when it happens.

I've only just gotten onto the Halo train.... (I know.. I know, better late that never though right?) so am starting Combat Evolved Anniversary now, along with reading Fall of Reach to kick off some Halo-ism.

I love discovering looked over franchises..

 

[Korten12]

...while the books, I'd imagine, were just outsourced to a publishing company? I guess that's just the pitfall of having a franchise branch out into other forms of media, everyone has their own take on it.

What? They weren't outsourced, the books were considered full canon. Now for 343i everything is canon, all major characters aside from Palmer in Halo 4, are from the books. Since their rule is everything fit.

I mean, this could have been a whole new world, with new enemies, allies, and lore. But it's looking like the same old Human vs. Covenant fight we've seen four times already.

What? You fight the Prometheans more then the Covenant. Plus based on what I can see, this game is the start of the Second Human-Forerunner War. That's pretty big, not simply Human vs. Covenant.

 

[kburns10]

Doesn't sound like I need to get this day one. I love multiplayer, but I want a well balanced single player as well. I'll wait for a Black Friday sale.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Why does Halo 4 get 4 stars out of five and Assassins Creed 3 get 5 stars and only a year ago we had revelations, I don't get it? This review gives no clarity on Halo 4 is all about and all the hard work 343i put in. I mean Halo 4 has spent nearly 3.5 years in development and AC3 1.7 its silly.

Just a question do the reviewers even clarify with each other do they know what should be a 5 or a 4 caus it seems to me they don't.

That's...That's not how reviews work. A game doesn't get points for how long its been development.

 

[Erttheking]

Why does Halo 4 get 4 stars out of five and Assassins Creed 3 get 5 stars and only a year ago we had revelations, I don't get it? This review gives no clarity on Halo 4 is all about and all the hard work 343i put in. I mean Halo 4 has spent nearly 3.5 years in development and AC3 1.7 its silly.

Just a question do the reviewers even clarify with each other do they know what should be a 5 or a 4 caus it seems to me they don't.

You know, reviews are subjective. Besides years in development doesn't necessarily equal quality.

 

[Slycne]

That's...That's not how reviews work. A game doesn't get points for how long its been development.

See Duke Nukem Forever.

 

[ViciousTide]

So game was made cheaper, yet sold at the same price, plus quality has gone down because of layoffs and the depression, though still sold at the same price.

Let me guess, Halo Reach servers will be discontinued quicker too, because of the depression that America is still not recovering from.

 

[Your Gaffer]

Wow, people complaining about an 8/10? Or HATE out of 10 as Jim Sterling recently put it.

So funny, after I read the review I just knew people were going be ranting against the Escapist "slamming" Halo 4 or giving it a "bad score" but even I am surprised it only took three posts.

I really want to play this game but I only play on PC as that fits my life better right now. I have beaten all of the other Halo games it is the only console first person shooter I have ever really liked.

 

[Your Gaffer]

So game was made cheaper, yet sold at the same price, plus quality has gone down because of layoffs and the depression, though still sold at the same price.

Let me guess, Halo Reach servers will be discontinued quicker too, because of the depression that America is still not recovering from.

Price is only loosely connected to cost. A lot of people assume that if something is cheaper to make than it will sell for a cheaper price. Now I do not know if Halo 4 was cheaper to make than earlier entries in the series, frankly I doubt that is true. If you have evidence to the contrary perhaps you would post it.

Market demand is going to determine the price of a product. If you do not think they are providing you with enough value for your $60 then do not give it to them.

 

[Rodrigo Girao]

I've only played the first two Halos, and always thought of them as mediocre games. True, they excelled in graphics and music, but they just didn't feel right to play. Just two weapons? Self-recharging shield? Tiny FOV with no way to change? No widescreen support? Shoving Vista down your throat? Yuck.