What Halo 5 Lacked

[Nightingale N7]

I have been a Halo fan for a long long time, Combat Evolved was the very first video game I had ever played and the Halo franchise hold a special place in my heart. I have literally just finished the game (so late after release due to lack of money) and I am so deeply disappointed for many reasons. I truly thought that this game held immense potential, the hype was palpable but after release all I heard was how terrible it was, to which I rebuffed and remained optimistic and now after finishing campaign I am saddened to say the rumors were true. 

 

Why it failed me personally was first and foremost was the lack of Master Chief. Sure the one-on-one against Locke was pretty cool but to me, that was the highlight of the entire game. I have played for hours upon hours as the Master Chief for four games, on all difficulties, for more than a decade. The replayability of all the past games is ridiculous, even years after release, sadly Halo 5 has little of that previous spark. I had no goose bumps, the epic music that made Halo so awe-inspiring made a comeback, but the game-play was dead and lifeless. I do not care to run around and play dress up as a knock off Spartan, I WANT MASTER CHIEF. 

 

Story wise was perhaps the most disappointing. For years, I feverously hypothesised what a reclaimer was, my brother and I would read the books, and Google as much Halo Lore as humanly possible. This new angle of the created being the reclaimers is the most ludicrous and unimaginative twist to the storyline I've ever seen. After Cortana "died" I was utterly heartbroken, but to recycle her as a VILLIAN is simply disgusting. I grew up playing the dynamic duo with Chief and Cortana, I can live with Cortana coming back to her senses in the next game, but quite frankly I do not trust 343 Industries not to completely destroy the Halo universe. The Arbiter was hardly involved, playing him in Halo 2 and 3 was absolutely incredible and was one of the most memorable experiences of the entirety of Halo. But AGAIN I DONT CARE ABOUT AGENT LOCKE I WANT THE MASTER CHIEF BACK!!!!!! Oh my freaking god, BLUE TEAM IS BACK TOGETHER, THE FAMILY IS BACK TOGEATHER, THE LAST OF THE SPARTAN-II PROGRAM IS BACK TOGEATER. All of that potential.. gone... wasted. Instead, we get a fireteam that is not in any way special, just an ordinary thrown together bunch of baby Spartans. 

 

To cut this rant short, 343 Industries... why are you completely destroying the foundation of a community that has backed the Halo universe for over a decade. You failed us long time players. I'm not even gonna go to how we can't split screen. I am disappointed. Not even Nathan Fillion was able to repair the damage you've done. 

 

[Fishy]

I agree with this for the most part. Only a few things stuck out to me.

 

1. Blue Team are not the last of the Spartan II program. Naomi is still alive.

 

2. I find the missions more re-playable than I did Halo 4. The difference is, Halo 4 had the story and Halo 5 had the scenery and looks. But both lacked the others bests.

[Richard John Wilson]

What Halo 5 lacked was Firefight, immersion and a story line that is Halo.

Since 343 took over, they have done there best to turn it in to a Spaced Call of Duty, although I have to admit Halo 5 is showing less of CoD, gone are the loadouts, but instead we have that dreadful Req Sys.  I do not like Warzone, it is like nothing we have never seen before, but it is so big, it is just ridiculous, and I do not know about other people I am getting killed by Marines as I have no idea who is and who is not the enemy.  Warzone would be a lot better if it was some what smaller.  It reminds me of Team Doubles on a Big Team Battle Map.
343 have done a terrible job on Halo, it is like they forgot what Halo is.  Spartan Ops lost its playability too quickly, and Firefight was forgotten.  Big mistake.
As a Halo Fan, Halo started to go wrong with the lack of Multiplayer in Halo 3 ODST, and it was not helped by the Community Maps on Halo Reach, in fact I stopped playing Halo Reach because of almost every game being on a Community Map.  I paid for the DLC's and instead constant Community Maps, not what I wanted at all.  The original Firefight was the best but its lack of an end almost ruined it completely.

343 are bad for Halo, Bungie seemed to have gotten bored making Halo, and when they parted ways, those same bored Halo makers went over to 343.
I will get the next Halo game, but only because to end the Trilogy, but as a fan, I am deeply disappointed.  If the story line is not improved, and Firefight is not returned, Halo is done for me.  The Halo from the past will remain there, but is will be forever remembered as the best Halo games in existence.  And 343 will be known for killing off Halo.  In my personal opinion, of course.