Why I hate… Halo

"I've completed every single Halo game but I couldn't really tell you what the Covenant's beef is."

[Masamori Sumimura]

Funny read because I've felt the same before and still do. The Halo universe is so big that they can't fit all of the storylines into 1 game anymore. They have Halo Novels and Animes that explain stuff but if you're not willing to go beyond the Game there's a bunch of stuff you'll never understand.

I Played almost every Halo Games before but I always went for the Online Multiplayer part of it and never concetrated my time on the story mode because I never really liked the story. This kinda changed in the past year thanks to the Halo Legends Anime which I found to be a very good Mix between storytelling and action. After watching the Anime I felt like playing ODST and that's where I caught on a Little bit on some of the story.

Do I still Like Halo' story? meh probably not but I do understand it a little bit more.

[hellraiserpop]

The Halo story has become too convoluted over the ages. The first game was the best, because it started and ended without significant lapses in the timeline. Halo 2 however started a loong time after Halo 1 ended, and the gap was covered in a novel. IMO that's where things started going down for Bungie as far as story is concerned.

At first I could barely understand what the hell was going on in 2 and 3, although in time my novel reading habits would help.

It's sort of become like Warcraft in many aspects. The canon is so friggin' massive half the time you have no idea why the NPC you're helping is bigger than the rest or wearing shinier armor. You really need to know quite a bit of the game's canon (and I mean having atleast some knowledge of the content of every novel tie in) to appreciate these games that have outgrown their home medium.

In Reach I really feel they botched up the story. Noble team barely register any shock when they first find the Covenant in their militay fortress planet. They also retconned a good amount of the canon set by the novels, which is never a good thing.

[drewboy704]

I understand the story perfectly. I played all the games multiple times on different difficulties and i read a few of the books as well but I don't find it that hard to understand but i'll say it is a lot to take in

[R2D2]

Becuase you hate anything that popular. I bet you hate the following too:

Justin Beiber
Kinect
Call of Duty
The Wii
Apple
Obama

[Acquiescence]

I'm not residing in America, but from what I can tell by the news he's strictly looking to become a one-term president.

And someone needs to put Beiber in a woodchip. Feet first.

[Neckbear]

I hate four out of those six things!

Man, the masses have shitty taste nowadays.

[Rush]

Lol I haven't really an opinion on Obama since am English but I don't like Justin Beiber, Kinect ain't targeted towards my age but I a bear no hate for it.

I think call of duty has been shit since after COD2, I own a Wii haven't used it in 5 months don't dislike it though...

I own an Iphone 4 I still hate Apple but can respect a good product, at least that's my opinion on that list.

[JacobIsHollywood]

I live in Illinois. Obama was a joke here. He's even more of a joke now. You won't hear that on NBC. CBS, ABC, or CBS though.

[edhe]

Why was he a joke?

[drewboy704]

If you think that you should definitely watch Fox News, or at least the family guy episode that makes fun of fox news. They all think he's a joke. Well they also think he's a communist Muslim but thats a different story.

[im-12-years-old]

lol fox news

[Swiftfox]

His argument for disliking the game is fair.

While Bungie can make games with gusto, telling a story through gripping narrotive was never their strong suit.

Putting full responsibility on the player to research the backstory and fill in the blanks of the narrotive on his own time, certainly isn't the best way to do things.

[Perjoss]

I've always though that Halo games have a great story but very badly told.

[gaden_malak]

The games follow the same formula.

Fight between the Halo dude and covenant.
They get to some sort of ancient relic.
The flood decide to show up.

Do this for Halo 2, 3 (haven't played Reach).

[Father Murder X]

Here we go again!!!!!!!!!!!

[Genecalypse]

babys first fps

[Snakefist30]

Nope My First FPS is Doom 2!!

[M4ndat0ry_1nstall]

I have my settings to where I only see 50 degrees and above, so why am I seeing a submission with 40 degrees?

Anyway, I think I jumped on the Halo "bandwagon" too late (I started with Halo 3). I really can't understand why so many love the Halo franchise. Yes, it's a good game but imo nothing mind-blowing.

Can someone explain why it's so popular?

[Ducky]

It started a few trends in console FPS games.
Its popularity stems from that.

Its the Quake of consoles... or... something.

[Chubear]

Hype marketing done right. That's all. There is no other way to explain it.

[SixZeroFour]

*facepalm*

@chubear - hype marketing can only get you to BUY the game, not make you PLAY it for years on end after release

[NnT3291]

You're basically asking " Why do people hate what I like" or " why do people like what I hate". People like different things, that's simple.

[Psychic_Waffle]

People having different likes and dislikes is fine.

Hate is an entire different way of relating to something, though, and ridiculous when it's a video game.

But around here, it's perfectly normal.

[Convas]

There's just something about it for me. I came in at Halo 2, and the music, the story, the gameplay, I've been hooked since.

It's not something I can explain effectively. It's just a series that I connected with. Also, at the time, I was ... against shooting at people in video games ... so the Aliens and their machines, and then the Flood? It was like a dream come true for someone like me. Again, I can't do justice to it explanation wise.

Still am to a point, as long it's not senseless violence, but then again, GTA4 was my guilty pleasure on that front.

But NNT3291 is right ... that's like me asking why People like Coffee or shopping. You don't like it cool, but lots of other people do, and that's where the support for the games comes from.

[thief]

Because they released 3 games in 6 years, unlike those lazy idiots at Polyphony, and they still manage to consistently achieve cutting edge graphics, long involving single-player campaigns, continuously innovative game-play and groundbreaking depth of story

[kaveti6616]

huh?

[gaden_malak]

cutting edge graphics? lol.

[Megaton]

Let's just say it was marketed very well. I think it brought in lots of newcomers who never dabbled in FPS much, or gaming as a whole.

Maybe it's because I've been playing FPS since Wolfenstein 3D, but Halo always seemed like an above-average shooter to me. Nothing masterful, just... good. I had fun with the original with my friends, but I probably spent a combined 3 hours with both Halo 2 and Halo 3 before getting bored with them.

[AwesomeJizz]

Why I hate... You

[Stryfeno2]

Because Halo Reach got better reviews than GT5?

[JacobIsHollywood]

You done?

[im-12-years-old]

goofed!

[thief]

Suddenly all those attacking GT5 over the last couple of days on every article, for not being "perfect", will be lining up to defend the perfect shooter game when it comes to graphics and innovative fresh gameplay

[Convas]

Who are these folks you're talking about? I see Patchstation and Mandatory Install, but those are the only two Xbox supremacists.

The fact that you're in here talking about GT5 means you've been affected by the fallout in some personal way as well. You shouldn't take this stuff too seriously. It's N4G and it's a game.

Also, you're trolling. Cut it out.

[kaveti6616]

lmao. even mandatory install said he doesn't really like halo all that much.

halo's just a fun game. you can pick out most aspects aside from the gameplay and multiplayer and see that it's not the best. graphics aren't best, sound not the best, story not the best, etc.

[Convas]

Oi, another Halo "hater" claiming that they didn't understand Reach.

This is so confusing. Did the story of Halo: Reach not make itself abundantly clear? The planet Reach is being invaded. You have to defend it. How hard is that?

Now admittedly, there are deeper elements to the Halo story. Like, who's Halsey, what happened to Harvest, why are the Covenant attacking you at all, etc etc. Well, in most cases, joining any game series in it's 3rd, 4th, or 5th rendition is at best fairly silly.

For the Halo series expressly? You need to have played at LEAST Halo CE, and that's just for a basic understand of what's going on. Reach is a prequel to that.

But hell, you've gotta do your research. Killzone has a very rich and intricate backstory, but you would've never known if you hadn't spend time on Guerilla Game's website doing some research.

There are some games you can just jump into. Halo is quite story driven, so, without some sort of backstory exposure, you WOULD feel like this guy.

However, he's giving off this "I wanna learn, but not really. I want Bungie to recap the entirely Halo story in each game that comes along."

FAIL. That's not how things work.

[Trroy]

You don't go to a good movie and come out thinking "I didn't understand it.. I better go read the book", do you?

The article's point is a valid one. The Halo series is weak, when it comes to storytelling. It's a great MP game, and that's why people love it. Defending the lackluster SP experience is... pointless.

CoD has the opposite problem, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many. There are still zillions who play it for the MP, though. That doesn't make CoD MP as good as Halo though -- not even close.

[Call_me_Ishmael]

i never got around to play halo,even though i
own an xbox,i tried to play reach at my cousins house
but couldnt cause hes a stingy a'hole,it looks really
fun and cool,maybe ill rent it or buy it.

[granthinds]

So true!!! :D

[alb1899]

because is not in ps3!
thats the real why!

[Psychic_Waffle]

For many people here, that's the truth.

Here, gaming allegiances (so absurd) matter first and foremost before your own opinion.

[Masterchef2007]

I dont hate it. I just find it cliche that is all. Just like i dont really like Nintendo games because they overuse the franchises. Besides bungie should let go of Halo and create a new IP it is about time that happens

[AwakenTheTaco]

well...that is whats happening...

[Masterchef2007]

A new IP thats a Multiplat release well sure. But Micrsoft wont let go of Halo cause they know that it sells. Which is why Halo will become the Mario of Microsoft

[AwakenTheTaco]

right halo is still gonna be there. i was referring to bungie letting go of the series. halo is what mario and zelda is to nintendo which was what ratchet & clank/jak & daxter was to sony. btw love the name in refrence to what were talking about :P

[MrChow666]

I agree with the article, I enjoy Halo games but the story is a complete mess, no other FPS beats its gameplay tho

[JacobIsHollywood]

Halo is not bad. I like it. It introduced millions to FPS's. That's why it's so big. It's not particularly great. It was basically Tribes without jetpacks...which were added in Reach.

I respect Bungie, however. Few developers are so good to their fans. I loved Marathon also.

[killalot100]

Halo is my star wars and to alot of other people my age. There are a shit load of games and movies that have great back stories. killzone and gears of war are prime example but halo takes it to a whole new level. You can have games like mgs4 that explain everything but pulls you away from the gameplay. I personally love all of the metal gear games but halo's pace doesnt fit that kind of story telling and most can be said about all fps games. Japan likes making games that have a great story and then focuses on the gameplay to fit it. Thats way so many good rpg's come from there because a rpg is shit without a good story. America mostly focuses on gameplay and leaves it up to the player to pursue the story if they want. It's starting to seem thats games are doing both now like uncharted, mass effect, deadspace, and so on. My favorite type of games are the ones with a great story to tell and to experience.

[gaden_malak]

Except Halo never will be close to the popularity of Star Wars nor have the following from TV/Movies/Books/Merchandise that SW does.

[Halo_Reach]

Halo is the best fps ever , so good that its name alone moves Xboxes.

[killalot100]

Halo deserves to be atleast the top 5 if not best fps ever. So far my favorite mp fps is bfbc2

[cemelc]

youre opinion!= not a fact.

But if we go by numbers alone half life is the best fps ever.

[gypsygib]

Totally agree with the author, after Halo 1 the story in game was seriously lacking, it never tried to explain the underlying plot, it always just a mission objective with no real reference to overarching issues.

[Prcko]

lol we don't need Halo!
Ps3 has plenty of awesome titles and halo isn't needed on ps3 platform,leave it where it is!

[nano88]

ok why he hates halo ummmmmm Because he sucks at it

[Paradise Lost]

Halo story is such a huge turnoff. There is absolutely no replay value in the campaigns.

[Bonerjam]

There isnt anything that special about it, it plays the same as every other fps, i never found the story or characters very intresting, and i always felt the enviorments were bland. But, i dont like many fps games the only two i really liked were bioshock and cod 2.

[m23]

The title states that he hates the game, then in the first couple of sentenced he goes on to contradict himself.
I guess the story can be a bit of a mess to some people. I have read a few of the books, Fall of Reach was awesome, and they really do enhance the games for me. I actually read the journal that came with Reach's limited edition and it reveals a lot of stuff I had no idea about previously.

[troll]

Having played through Halo 1 - 3 countless of times, this is what I (think I) know about the story:

Master Chief - Protagonist. Genetically superior.
Covenant - Angry aliens that mostly want's to kill humans.
The Arbiter - Angry alien that doesn't want to kill humans.
The Flood - Intergalactic weird super zombies.
Cortana - A hologram. Gets incredibly whiny and irritating in Halo 3 for some reason.
The story - In the first game there are some halo worlds that are some kind of weapons. Master chiefs fights aliens. In the second game Master chiefs teams up with the arbiter and they fight some Aliens. It all ends with Master chief riding on some kind of bomb in space. The third game has Cortana kidnapped for some reason. Master chief and the arbiter continues to kill aliens, unless the floods shows up, then you're buddies with the aliens. Then the game ends.

With Halo, I couldn't care less about the story actually. The only thing getting on my nerves is Cortanas nagging in the third gaming. I just wan't to scream out "HEY LADY! I DON'T KNOW YOU, PLEASE STOP TALKING TO ME", but I have a nagging feeling that won't make a difference. Halo might want to aspire for a great story but it is so blandly presented that I still have no idea what's going on after all these years.

Not that I mind much though, just blast some music, light one up and play coop with your buddy.

[J15Jose]

Halo has a great story line but I guess it depends on what kind of person you are...

[CoLD FiRE]

You probably didn't pay attention when you played the games.

Master Chief - in the games is known as the last spartan.

Covenant - They want kill humans because they see them as an inferior race and to complete their Great Journey which will make the covenant prophets into gods. It's mostly religious.

The Arbiter - Was in command of the ship that followed the Pillar of Autumn. He was accused of being responsible for the destruction of Halo. Then the prophets turned him into an Arbiter which is sent in a suicide mission. The Arbiter was sent to kill the leader of the heretics (those who didn't believe in the Great Journey. At the end of Halo 2, the Arbiter learned that the Great Journey was just a lie and Halo is indeed just a weapon that's made to kill the Flood (and every other organic life on a galactic scale). He then teams up with JOHNSON to stop Tartarus (the brute leader) from activating Halo.

This was all explained in Halo 2.

I don't need to explain the rest because it's all been explained in the game.

P.S. Master Chief teams up with the Arbiter at the start of Halo 3 not Halo 2. Are you sure you played all of them while you're not drunk?

[J15Jose]

Uh since ya'll can't see what the covanant want the want to eradicate all living organisms in the universe. Because they think it's there destiny they call it the Great Journey. An I got all of that from playing the games I guess yall didn't pay attention...

[troll]

I don't doubt you sir and I could definitely have payed more attention but for all those playthroughs, I seldomly skipped a cutscene and I still don't remember a thing. I don't dispute that the story is good, I wouldn't know, but there's something iffy about the execution of it, if nothing of it sticks. You can only dedicate so much attention before you lose all interest if there's no motivation for you to continue caring.

I'd just like to add that I love a great story in a game but that requires a good writer as well. If you can't communicate your story, it doesn't matter how awesome it is.