First look at some of Halo 5: Guardians' weapons

[RedStarRocket91]

Images spoilered for convenience and bandwidth.

 

SMG

 

 

 

 

Assault Rifle

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Rifle

 

 

DMR

 

 

Rocket Launcher (?)

 

 

Sniper Rifle

 

 

Source: Reddit

 

In general, most of the weapons seem to look fairly similar to their Halo 4 counterparts: the Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, and DMR in particular all appear to be essentially the same models with updated skins, although it seems as though there's a general trend toward adding more composite materials and colour to individual weapons as opposed to the plain metal of the weapons found in previous Halo games. The Assault Rifle in particular is extremely varied in terms of its materials, although both the DMR and Battle Rifle also share quite a few areas where sections seem to have been either replaced with non-metallic materials or darker shades of metal, though they could also simply be painted darker. On the whole, I'm a big fan of this, as the significant changes to colour silhouettes mean that it's going to be easier to identify weapons at longer distances, whereas in previous Halo titles players generally had to wait until they were being shot at before they could work out what weapon was being aimed at them. I can't honestly say I'm a fan of it from a visual perspective, as I like the visual consistency shared by the UNSC's weapon in previous titles, but it does seem like it's going to bring some benefits to gameplay, so I can't really complain there.

 

The truly major change, of course, is the Rocket Launcher, which appears to have been completely redesigned with a much more modern, realistic aesthetic - again compromising both metal and composites. As most other weapons seem to have been simply upgraded and retextured in the new engine, I'm going to guess that the change in appearance here, radical as it is, means that we're going to see a major gameplay change for the Rocket Launcher, probably moving to single-shot rather than holding two rockets per reload as with previous incarnations. While a nerf for Halo's big explosive weapon will probably have a positive impact on competitive gaming, making it more of a tactical weapon rather than something which can simply wipe out whole teams at once, I still expect this change to be controversial.

 

Another interesting change is that the Battle Rifle is now confirmed to be sporting the same reflex sight that we saw at the E3 announcement, in lieu of its traditional scope. Whether this is going to be a mostly cosmetic change to help distinguish its role from the scoped DMR or have an effect on gameplay isn't clear at the moment, but hopefully it doesn't herald a move toward ADS-style gameplay, or the removal of the Battle Rifle's zoom function altogether.

 

Lastly, and perhaps most interestingly of all, is the inclusion of the SMG, which in its unsilenced variant has only ever appeared in games where dual-wielding was possible. As 343i have confirmed that dual-wielding won't be making a return, I'm curious as to what its role is going to be in the sandbox: if the Prometheans aren't going to be returning, it's possible that the SMG is going to fill the same role as the Suppressor did in Halo 4, of a very inaccurate but extremely powerful close-range weapon. However, in the past I've argued that the SMG, essentially a weaker version of the Assault Rifle, could fill a role as a secondary weapon for players who want to take a rifle as a primary but also want to have an automatic to fall back on without using the Firepower package, and I could definitely see it returning in this form. This is also reinforced by the fact that the SMG has been significantly shortened compared to its previous incarnations, even allowing for the folded stock, and the magazine appears to be loaded either atop the weapon or through the grip in the style of a pistol.

 

What are your thoughts?

[Guts]

With the return of the SMG, they are giving a major hint at Dual Wielding in Halo 5.

[Ranger Intel]

These, are, amazing! Apart form that Rocket Launcher though. It reminds me of a design I've seen before in modern day warfare, I just can't remember what it was.

 

The Assault Rife, Battle Rifle, Sniper Rifle, and SMG have gotten me real hyped though. They look unfriggenbelievable. The Battle Rifle looks like it's used for Covert Ops, and the Assault Rifle looks like it's camo'd  up for operations in jungle areas surrounded by lots of vegetation and wildlife. An area similar to Mission Four, Infinity, of Halo 4.

 

With the return of the SMG, they are giving a major hint at Dual Wielding in Halo 5.

 

Exactly. They know we want it back, and now they could be using Halo 2: Anniversary as a little reminder of Dual-Wielding with SMGs. I'm now expecting it to make a return.

[Connor Kenway]

Ehh I'm not sure I'm a fan of these the BR looks nice with it's colour scheme though and with it's retracted stock the SMG seems like it'll be dual wieldable

[Unease Peanut]

I don't think that Rocket Launcher is THE Rocket Launcher. As Ed said it might be some sort of Rocket Launcher combined with a Spartan Laser or something. I'm sure our trusty old launcher will make a return.

As far as the other weapons go, they look amazing. Though it makes me wonder if we'd be able to customize the colours or add/remove some aestetic bibs and bobs.

[Azaxx]

You might wanna note that the Energy Sword is confirmed from the trailer with the Midship/Heretic remake.

I imagine the Rocket Launcher thing will be somewhat similar to the anti-titan launcher in Titanfall, so a vehicular destroying weapon only.

And it can't just be me, but that SMG looks retarded.

[Ranger Intel]

And it can't just be me, but that SMG looks retarded.

 

It looks good to me, but really small. I understand that SMG's are specifically designed to be small, but this one looks noticeably smaller than the one in Halo 2 and 3, and that worries me. It's almost pistol size. There also a really small area to put your hand in. It'll need to be bigger than that for MJOLNIR Armour.

 

Here's a comparison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: The image of the SMG from Halo 2 and 3 is enlarged, but you get the point.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Blake Belladonna

[RedStarRocket91]

It looks good to me, but really small. I understand that SMG's are specifically designed to be small, but this one looks noticeably smaller than the one in Halo 2 and 3, and that worries me. It's almost pistol size. There also a really small area to put your hand in. It'll need to be bigger than that for MJOLNIR Armour.

 

Actually, they appear to be reasonably similar in terms of size, the only difference is that on the updated model the stock is folded, whereas in the older version it isn't. I apologise for the poor quality of the image, but it helps demonstrate what I mean as all I've done here is crop out the stock of the weapon:

 

 

 

 

[Ranger Intel]

Actually, they appear to be reasonably similar in terms of size, the only difference is that on the updated model the stock is folded, whereas in the older version it isn't. I apologise for the poor quality of the image, but it helps demonstrate what I mean as all I've done here is crop out the stock of the weapon:

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm, maybe that's just the way I see it then. The design can change or be slightly modified before release, there's still over a year left. Lets just hope it looks even better than Halo 2/3's SMG.

[Silent Orbis]

These, are, amazing! Apart form that Rocket Launcher though. It reminds me of a design I've seen before in modern day warfare, I just can't remember what it was.

 

The Assault Rife, Battle Rifle, Sniper Rifle, and SMG have gotten me real hyped though. They look unfriggenbelievable. The Battle Rifle looks like it's used for Covert Ops, and the Assault Rifle looks like it's camo'd  up for operations in jungle areas surrounded by lots of vegetation and wildlife. An area similar to Mission Four, Infinity, of Halo 4.

 

 

Exactly. They know we want it back, and now they could be using Halo 2: Anniversary as a little reminder of Dual-Wielding with SMGs. I'm now expecting it to make a return.

They already said that there was no dual wielding in Halo 5: Guardians.

[I_Make_Big_Boom]

You might wanna note that the Energy Sword is confirmed from the trailer with the Midship/Heretic remake.

 

It probably is confirmed, but it is uncertain if it looks the same as it's Halo 4 counterpart, or is this thing in the picture below.

 

 

 

 

That same platform in the vid is vacant in a different frame, so it's probably the Energy Sword and not a Hologram.

Frank said that they have no plans to include Dual Wielding in Halo 5 at this time, but it does not mean it can't come forward in the future.

 

IF they don't have plans right now, then it seems that Dual Wielding may be too late to be implemented into the Beta (which 343i plans to use to fix up the Halo 5 MP before release... so if it's absent then it would be a problem to include it in Halo 5 because of the constant tuning it would need)... but on the flipside we have like 3 months before the Beta comes out, so it's possible Dual Wielding could come back if 343i worked to bring it back in those 3 months.

[Ranger Intel]

They already said that there was no dual wielding in Halo 5: Guardians.

 

 

 

Frank said that they have no plans to include Dual Wielding in Halo 5 at this time, but it does not mean it can't come forward in the future.

[rrhuntington]

Golden Energy Sword? I was hoping for a Red one,(Jedi vs. Sith thing) but it's cool to see different colors if that's the case. Sort of like the plasma rifles from Halo 2.

 

On to the other weapons...

 

The assault rifle's color scheme reminds me of the Marine Armor colors from Halo 4. I'm glad SMG is back. Everything else looks fine, like what I expected, and that rocket launcher probably is not a rocket launcher. So everything as of now is: Pretty.

 

Now I want to see the Covenant weaponry. But we will have to wait.

[Unease Peanut]

Golden Energy Sword? I was hoping for a Red one,(Jedi vs. Sith thing) but it's cool to see different colors if that's the case. Sort of like the plasma rifles from Halo 2.

 

It's probably just the lighting that causes it to glow yellow/golden.

Would be a fun thing to colour your energy swords though... Imagine all the Star Wars gametypes

[Connor Kenway]

 

And it can't just be me, but that SMG looks retarded.

yeah I think it looks too small hopefully thats how it looks only when dual wielded if dual wielding is in H5

[I_Make_Big_Boom]

yeah I think it looks too small hopefully thats how it looks only when dual wielded if dual wielding is in H5

 

Wait... how? Comparing the SMG image to the rest, and I find it to be reasonably sized. An SMG, which is not as high yield as an Assault Rifle, isn't going to be as big as an AR. 

[Connor Kenway]

Wait... how? Comparing the SMG image to the rest, and I find it to be reasonably sized. An SMG, which is not as high yield as an Assault Rifle, isn't going to be as big as an AR. 

The Stock is retracted making it smaller so hopefully this'll be like H2 where when wielding one the stock is extended and dual wielding the stock is retracted 

[WonderWombat]

I think the SMG looks too compact. Everything else looks pretty cool though, especially the Assault Rifle.

[Dwingz]

The rocket launcher might be the Anti Air Rocket Launcher that Bungie cut from pre halo

[Is not JL]

I can only hope that weapon aesthetic customization makes a return and with more options. Some of the designs look great, but the color schemes just aren't for me. A black BR looks great, but that yellow streak is something I still dislike. Same with the DMR, and the scope's color makes it stand out extensively in a way I don't really like. And I can't say I favor all the navy green/beige being added to the weapons.

 

On the other hand, the dual coloring of the SMG in dark and light grey looks really good in my opinion; the one dislike about the SMG I have to say is that it's dotted with little black shapes in the light gray areas. 

 

(It looks of normal size to me. Stock isn't extended, and that's fine by me, but I see no reason why it isn't extended when dual wielding isn't in play. Could it have two firing modes? :3)

 

I'm sure they'll grow on me, but more options in customizing is always great, and also something that can provide incentive to play.

 

New RPG/MAAWS weapon looks cool. Painted in a green that looks like sewage puke, yes, but looks cool as well. If the Promethean Nuke isn't returning, could this be an alternative? How does it work? I'd like to see that when the beta arrives. 

 

I wonder how these new designs will appear when used first person. Open sight instead of a scope on the BR will take a bit of time getting used to; if we can customize that, awesome. The scope on the DMR looks a bit like an IR scope to me considering it has an added bulk and it's also featured in a different color scheme - which potentially suggests customization for the scope? - and hopefully less bulky and asymmetrical than the version that appeared in Halo 4. And the sniper......well........

 

I hope there isn't a tank to the right of the screen when we wield that.

[thefish54501]

I don't like the new rocket launcher, they should keep the original and bring back the plasma riffle not the storm riffle, they shouldn't change the classic weapons if they are trying to recreate the classic Halo feel.  

[Connor Kenway]

I don't like the new rocket launcher, they should keep the original and bring back the plasma riffle not the storm riffle, they shouldn't change the classic weapons if they are trying to recreate the classic Halo feel.

The classic weapons are outdated that's why the Plasma Rifle is gone but it might return because Arbiters elites might be using them. Regarding the rocket launcher we're not even sure if this is going to be the rocket launcher this might be something completely different

[Melody]

SMG is kinda derpy, lol. Hopefully they can change it.

[BerriesBoo]

I like the weapons except the rocket launcher, I don't know if it would have red bullets as spartan laser gun, two of them would have combined into one, but I'm not sure about the bullets for it.

[тυcкєя]

Indeed they are fairly similar weapons to what Halo 4 had. I see a few differences, but nothing major. I actually really liked most of the weapons in Halo 4. So, seeing that the guns look similar to the ones in Halo 4 it tells me that I most likely will like Halo 5. Although I think they should have maybe added a few updates to the guns, or maybe in the next game they will. Thanks for sharing this .