Present halo's game mechanics. Emphasize halo skill.

[Planet Etrius]

Present halo's game mechanics and emphasize the skill personality.

 

 

I think this is a subtle, but signifigant thing. Halo developers have never really openly just explained certain game mechanics like the overcharge on the plasma pistol or the instant kill for hitting someone from behind. There were hints and tips at the matchmaking lobby for halo 3 and Reach I think, but they were taken out of halo 4. Halo only has so many gameplay dynamics like EMPs and beatdowns. Then there's things like crouch jumping, plasma grenade launching and etc. The main mechanics however are a big part and most new players or even casual veterens won't take the time to read weapon details or experiment, or read the manual. So basically what I'm saying is to really shove those things in our faces. Maybe have it so when you're holding a plasma pistol that there's notification on your HUD that says "Hold__________to charge". There could be an option in settings to turn off weapon hints too. And put in details for weapon descriptions that say things like "Rapidly depletes shields". There is a good bit of players out there, probably all noobs, that don't realize shield dynamics. Bring back hints at the matchmaking screen that say "Headshots for precision weapons only count when energy shields are down" or something.

 

The other topic is emphasizing halo's skill set. Don't amp up auto-aim on snipers, or take things out of the game for the sake of new players. A lot of noobs and players out there already thought and still think halo takes no skill because they can choose to play sloppy and easily get 1 or 2 kills per life. Most of US don't do that though. Noobs don't really think about deep team-play skills when they play halo for some reason. They don't think about using power weapons like the railgun or rocket launcher to take out enemy vehicles and get multi-kills instead of being selfish and wasting them on minor targets. A lot of noobs don't figure out game mechanics either. So it's a seriously false judgement they make saying "Halo takes no skill" or assuming it has no deep dynamics. Really emphasize the skillset and bring back things like the grav-lift equipment, or those other unique weapons with a learning curve like the grenade launcher from Reach. The dominant atmosphere for all games should be having power weapons only on the map in most gametypes, and power-ups on maps more often. Ordanance should be rare, maybe only certain medals like kill-joys and killing sprees earn up to ordnance. By only power weapons on maps I mean rocket launcher, fuel rod, all snipers...things like that. Then weapons like the SAW and shotguns could be ordnances. Bring back active camo as a power-up too. There could be certain ordnance power ups like damage boost and speedboost for ordnance. Since ordnance is harder to get they might last longer or have more effect. Then overshield and active camo could be on the maps.

[Zicorth]

Although I personally think you have quite a few good ideas, in the end it will be up to the Devs to make the final decision. If 343 has learned anything, however, it will be to listen to the community EARLY on, not 8-9 months after release.

 

With Halo 4, they made the game perhaps a little too newbie-friendly. As you said, snipers should be hard to use. I think they should bring back a number of Halo 3 features, such as making the Sniper and BR (or other precision weapons) very hard to master, as well as most of the headshot weapons. They can, however, to counterbalance that, add more vehicles/vehicular combat mechanics, (especially more than just 1 airvehicle; perhaps a Trinity of Air-vehicles?) and add some new vehicles. Perhaps they could even bring back some of the interactivity of Halo 3 maps, and make some vehicles able to "lay seige" to bases on the map. Just a thought.

 

Anyways, essentially, they should make the sniper + other headshot weapons at least as difficult to use as Halo 3, yet add more vehicles and powerweapons, which newbies could gravitate towards.

 

All in all, a very interesting post, one which many would agree with. Do you still play Halo 3, by the way?

[Planet Etrius]

Not really. I tried to go back and play a few times, I guess to refresh myself, but now the population is so much lower on all the halo games it seems. So many people really did just leave didn't they. Honestly, I think people are just starting to move on from halo because they're just losing interest. I know a couple people who did. People just keep saying things like bungie and 343 messed up halo anniversay, the missions in halo 4 are all about pushing buttons and defending this thing and other. I think some people are just blaming the developers for screwing everything up now when in reality halo-ce is just an old game now, and halo 4's campaign isn't soo much more mundane with its mission objectives than any other halo game...I think it's actually a little better than halo 3 but less than halo 2 and 1.