Halo 4: The Right To Remain Apprehensive

OXCGN:

"Unless you live under a rock, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the future of Halo.

Bungie officially handed over the reigns to 343 Industries this past year, moving on to their own new IP.

At E3 2011, we received news that Halo 4 is coming (along with 5 and 6, since it’s an entirely new trilogy) and that Halo: Combat Evolved would receive an HD makeover.

The news was received well, and Halo: Anniversary turned out to be the quintessential example of what a re-release should be.

With E3 only five months away and the official fourth title in Halo arriving at the end of this year, I can only sit back into my fetal position, tense up, and let my mind wander with apprehension whilst waiting in agony for concrete information.

Be forewarned: this article contains Halo 3 spoilers."

[gaminoz]

I don't know, I used to love Halo, but I seem to be losing interest in it. Microsoft seems to be putting way too many eggs in the sci fi shooter basket.

[morganfell]

I am not as apprehensive as most. They have a cleaner slate with which to work than the past several titles. There are canon elements to preserve but 343 is less bound to past convention. However, despite these elements that bind, Reach for me was the best game yet, not only in terms of multiplayer player but also singleplayer.

My issue with Bungie has always been the multiplayer broke canon. Spartans vs Spartans? WTF. The multiplayer from them has been great and they have the best balancing in the business but none the less it has been non-canon. I would rather see Spartans vs Covenant. Yes we mixed a little that in H2 MP and Firefight in reach is great but it wasn't the same as single player supplanted. For example the bomb should have been a thermonuclear device the Spartans were trying to get to a grav lift that went up into a Covenant Carrier or Cruiser. Not a bowling ball you plant at the end of the field. Reach fixed some issues but much of the canon busting remains.

I have big hopes for 343 and likely less trepidation than other people. With just enough of Bungie left at 343, some fresh faces, and a clean slate I think we are in for a great title.

[Proeliator]

Very detailed piece.

I'm reeeeeeally curious as to what 343 will do for the campaign.

[SleazyChimp]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and make a prediction. Rumor has it that the reason a Halo movie has not made it to the big screen is because studios are afraid to make a movie where the main character always wears a helmet and has so many unknowns about his past. Film studios feel that this makes it difficult for people who never have played Halo to identify with the Chief in a movie.

Based on 343 telling us that Halo 4 story will reveal more about the Chief than any other halo, I say not only are we going to learn a lot about John 117 in the next 3 games, I'll bet we will finally get to see his face. And to top it all off we will finally get Halo on the big screen!

[BadCircuit]

Halo 4 will be interesting because it is the first time another studio has done it.

Looking forward to seeing the changes...then deciding if I like the direction.

[Eske]

I honestly didn't realize that the Halo canon got that, uh...detailed.

For some reason the upcoming changes make me more excited than apprehensive. I guess I feel like the series needs a shake up.

[gaminoz]

I'm with you.

[h311rais3r]

Halo canon is massive. Humanity was also in a civil war along side fighting the covenant etc. they could make a game of the chiefs first missions. That would be interesting

[TheRot]

halo one of the few games xbox has

[Bundi]

Oh? Because Cod, fifa, assassin's creed, metal gear(hehehe) devil may cry, mass effect, batman, mortal kombat, red dead redemption, street fighter, bioshock, skyrim ect aren't games on xbox right?

[hellvaguy]

"every game you listed is a multi plat that is played better elsewhere"

Bundi was responding to Guilty saying xbox has no games. Exclusives werent brought up. Only fanboys brag about exclusives and how it makes thier epeens bigger.

[Hufandpuf]

a lot of people seem to forget that 343 is actually made of the people that made Halo in the first place. Bungie is now branching off, but a lot of people that spawned Halo are on the 343 team. So any "Shaking up" of the series is taken out of context.

In my opinion on Halo 4, I think the magic is gone from the franchise now and 343 is just there to salvage it. I'll be looking for what Bungie has to offer.

[wwm0nkey]

No there are not "a lot" of Bungie members at 343i. Really dont like when people spread this stuff around. They have about 4 or 5 ex Bungie members there and that is it. The rest of the team is made up of A LOT of industry vets including the very talented Corrinne Yu.

As for the magic being gone I have to disagree these past 3 Halo books have brought the lore back to life and improved on it. Now wondering why I am bringing up the books? well Greg Bear will be working on story aspects of Halo 4 according to the new Weekly Bulletin over at 343i's main site :)

[m23]

Yeah I agree, the recent books have been a great read and give an insight of what we can expect going forward.

[ps3dude44]

cant wait for this one

XBLA VibrantAunt9629

psn flamesofhell 44

[dedicatedtogamers]

"and Halo: Anniversary turned out to be the quintessential example of what a re-release should be"

Wrong. Halo: Anniversary turned out to be the quintessential example of how to nostalgia-rape your fanbase's wallet. Halo: Anniversary had only half the maps that the original Halo game had. I guess only in Xbox Land does stripping out a sizable amount of content equate to 'awesome re-release, bro!'

[wwm0nkey]

Problem is here Halo PC had a very shoddy netcode but it was pretty much forced to have that netcode because of how Halo 1 works.

Halo CE uses the hosts camera when syncing up online so Gearbox when making CE for PC/MAC had to be VERY careful with that system and it took awhile to develop that system as well. If CE:A was to have the original online mode they would have to do a similar system which would just be pretty awful. Even if you do not like what they did it was still the best option for their time they had to work on the project.

Example of the Halo CE camera sync can be found if you try to play CE:A in Co-Op, because the SP is using the CE engine playing online is an absolute NIGHTMARE unless you play with someone who lives close to you.

[Gazondaily]

Oh stop your pathetic whining and trolling and grow up.

Halo: Anniversary is brilliant and a step beyond a lot of the so-called 'HD-remakes' that have come out. "Halo: Anniversary had only half the maps that the original Halo game had"- what about the campaign? You forgot about that?

Its easy to act like a complete d*ckhead online- "Killzone 1- not even an HD update- I guess only in PS Land does lazy emulation amount to awesome re-release bro!"

[h311rais3r]

Duuunt fuurget the numerous ps "collections" god of war. Sly etc. See the problem with people like him is if a remake is done right (offering more than the original at a lower price than new releases) they cry cuz they don't get the same thing.

[FlashXIII]

I think Halo changing studios is a GREAT thing and a much needed change from Bungie. I used to LOVE Halo mp but Reach simply put, was awful purely from a mp perspective in comparison to previous halo games.

Didn't buy Halo Anniversary so can't comment too much but I did buy the map pack and think the tweaks they made to the Reach gameplay experience were much needed and actually made the game somewhat fun again. If that's a sign of things to come, I think Halo 4 can be successful.

[Proeliator]

I really wish we could have one simple article that wasn't flooded with LOL UR XBOX GAEM IS BAD LOLOLOL

LOL UR SONY HAS NO GAEMS LOLOL

Come on guys. Grow up.

[Stansolo]

Looking forward to Halo 4.

[m23]

I don't think the author read any of the recent books that were released. There are very interesting hints as to what we will see. If you read Glasslands you will know that the "Covenant" and Human war may not necessarily be over, even Frank O'Connor hints at that.
If you read Cryptum and Primordium, Halo 4 may be much more interesting than you may believe. After reading Primordium, my hype for Halo 4 just skyrocketed. The things you learn in the two forerunner books are just amazing, and then you re-watch the terminals from Halo CE Anniversary, it just gets better.
The material being put out by 343 is fascinating, everything is connected and has relevance in the universe. For real Halo fans, I recommend reading the forerunner books, they are well worth the time and will probably give you a better idea of what to expect in Halo 4. The authour of this article doesn't seem to have read them.

[Proeliator]

I think he clearly states he hasn't read the Forerunner books, I might be wrong though.

[m23]

Oh, I might have missed that part. I think he should have read them before writing the article, it may have given him a better understanding of what to expect in Halo 4.

[MasterD919]

Halo represents the Xbox brand name. They won't release a dud and especially with a trilogy planned.

I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised. 343 has already done some impressive things and seems to be actually listening to the fans unlike other companies. Plus you mind as well call them Bungie Jr. with all of the employees that came straight from Bungie.

[vevul]

If its anything like Reach it will fail