Master Chief faces off against a Promethean Knight, a vicious new enemy, in Halo 4. HALO WAYPOINT / Courtesy
Game Review: Halo 4
Published: 1/27/2013 6:00 AM
Last Modified: 1/27/2013 2:10 AM
With the revered Halo series now out of the hands of its creators, Bungie, and passed onto 343 Industries, the developers have some pretty big shoes to fill. Under the care of Bungie, Halo became a monster hit and Master Chief a gaming icon. Now it is 343 Industries turn behind the wheel; a new trilogy to undertake and whole new way to play Halo and right off the bat, the developers have indeed crafted something great.
When you first see Master Chief, you may think him a bit rusty. It’s been four years since the events of Halo 3 and he has been in cryo sleep for that time floating in deep space while his trusty AI Cortana watches over him and hopes for a rescue. As a new enemy and old adversaries begin to approach the two, it is once again time for Chief and Cortana to save the day. The game will have you taking the role of Chief, but Cortana seems to take center stage. Her AI programming is beginning to breakdown due to a process called Rampancy that causes her to think herself to death. At times she will begin to lose focus during a mission and even lash out at you. Coincidentally it leaves Master Chief to deliver an emotional performance that he has really never delivered before. Usually he just plays the staple solider; taking orders and analyzing combat situations. But now he is here trying to support Cortana and comfort her when she begins to lose it. You get to see a whole new side of Chief.
The Halo series has always been known to deliver exceptional visuals, but Halo 4 is a completely different ballgame. The graphics here are downright astounding. The vistas on display this time around are magnificent. You spend the majority of your game on a mechanical looking planet and by the time the second level starts up and you look out into the land, it feels that it is a painting in motion seeing giant towers moving up and down in the sky. And when you get a chance to take to the air above the clouds, it is just as impressive.
Combat still runs the gambit of the standard Halo affair, but the sound design makes it feel like a completely new series as well. We have now gone through about 5 different Halos and some weapons have been lost while we others get added. And even with staples like the Assault Rifle and the Plasma Pistol, they are given an updated feel that makes it feel you are using a completely new weapon. Yet Halo 4 still likes to throw in actual new weapons like the Railgun and SAW to add to the destruction you will be dishing out.
And these new weapons are definitely needed when facing against the new and deadly enemy; the Prometheans. Fighting the Covenant will always feel like business as usual, but the Prometheans come at you hard and are relentless. Knights will teleport in front of you and dispose of you in a heartbeat, while Watchers pose a completely different threat by supporting Knights. Watchers will deploy shields, catch your grenades and throw them back at you and will even revive fallen Knights. They may not do a lot of damage to you in a fight, but they are definitely the biggest threat you face during one.
Once you have finished with the campaign, there is now a new cooperative mode you can undertake with friends. Called Spartan Ops, it is pretty much a whole new story to experience. Also, with 343 releasing new episodes frequently, it leaves for further online play from the standard matchmaking.
The matchmaking is back in a big way. 343 Industries rebuilt multiplayer from the ground up. Halo 4’s multiplayer comes off with a Call of Duty feel these days. You now get a set amount of points for each kill you get, the style of kill or even calling in weapon orders. With this aspect, it is a multiplayer that now has a constant gratification system. However, this new multiplayer now has a very big downside to it. In the past I had always championed the Halo multiplayer as one of fairness. You are given the weapons from the game with no kind of power ups in a standard match, but that is not the case anymore. Now with the new system that lets you place tactical powers on your character that gives you things like unlimited sprinting or extra ammo in a gun, it becomes a big unfair advantage for those that are just starting against seasoned vets. It no longer becomes just about the skill of the player, but what perks they perhaps have on them at that time.
In the hands of a new developer, the next saga for the Halo series is indeed off to a good start. The campaign is more emotional, the visuals look incredible and there is just more to do this time around. While I do have my hang-ups with the new multiplayer matchmaking, that doesn’t mean it still isn’t fun to play. The Halo series is a modern day classic and is a series I can’t wait to see more of.
Score: 9/10
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Written by
Chris Moore
Web Production Tech
