Halo | Just Dustin Echoes

When is this new fangled info dropping?

By Fahzgoolin Go To PostWhen is this new fangled info dropping?

In the morning, I imagine. I'd guess 9am Pacific.

By kittens Go To PostIt's a lot better when all the bad stuff is taken out.

Or wait, do you mean campaign? I liked that better too, but man did parts of it suck. I played it on Legendary for the first time last week and I got so sick of the environments that were nothing but Forerunner architecture, and pretty much all of Reclaimer was terrible (on Legendary at least). And the Knights are just no fun to fight. Also man, I still hate how the Light Rifle feels. There's that slight sense of delay between pulling the trigger and it firing, and it just feels so sluggish and unsatisfying.

I really loved some parts of it, though. I feel like 343 makes action feel really punchy, satisfying, and visceral. There's a million things that go into that in my mind: the weight and moment they gave Chief's movement, the speed and "oomph" of the melee, the way most of the guns feel, the A/V effects when enemies are killed, etc. etc. It gives the whole game a certain layer of intensity that the other titles lack, though the other games do a lot of other things better.

So yeah, those are my most recent half baked thoughts. :)

Yeah, I should probably try to play the campaign again, but I'm talking about multi player. 60 fps and the removal ordinance really changed the game play.I agree with the game feeling really punchy, you don't feel like your're floating(halo 3).

Oh man, I get fucked up and HaloENT goes crazy.

The hangover is real guys...

By kittens Go To PostIn the morning, I imagine. I'd guess 9am Pacific.

9 hours sooner than that

By jem Go To PostOh man, I get fucked up and HaloENT goes crazy.

The hangover is real guys…

Pretty drunk right now tbh, and i have work in the morining. rip

Holy shit kittens, I didn't even know it was possible to get THAT banned. GAF is taking Halo down one by one.

By frecklez Go To PostPretty drunk right now tbh, and i have work in the morining. rip

I'm on freshers week.

Last night was rough.

Also, everyone stop what you're doing and listen.

http://youtu.be/jr4k5eJq8KU

By Granadier Go To PostAlso, everyone stop what you're doing and listen.

http://youtu.be/jr4k5eJq8KU

Meh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXsnjqVPQs

By Granadier Go To PostHoly shit kittens, I didn't even know it was possible to get THAT banned. GAF is taking Halo down one by one.

Retro showed us the way by making a your mom joke.

By reilo Go To PostRetro showed us the way by making a your mom joke.

Your mom is an Islamophobe.

By Fahzgoolin Go To PostYour mom is an Islamophobe.

I laughed!

Apparently the difficulty spikes when you play with friends in co-op. This journalist is a self proclaimed noob, so take a lot of what he says with a grain of salt:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/23/halo-5-guardians-is-good-fun-but-its-better-with-friends/

More impressions:
http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/23/9372765/halo-5-guardians-campaign-mode-hands-on

Shamelessly stolen from Gaf:

Gameplay Footage:
Campaign Mission 2 gameplay (MoreConsole)
Let's Play Halo 5: Guardians' Campaign - Kinda Funny Plays
Halo 5 Guardians Cinematic | BLUE TEAM Intro Cutscene
Blue Team Mission (normalmode)
Enemy Lines Mission (normalmode)
Skulls List (normalmode)
Halo 5 Guardians - Campaign Gameplay Enemy Lines Part1 Xbox One Exclusive (Xboxygen)
Halo 5 Guardians - Campaign Gameplay Enemy Lines Part2 Xbox One Exclusive (Xboxygen)
Blue Team Mission (Xboxygen)
IGN Preview



Articles:
Xboxygen (French)
Gameinformer
Eurogamer
Polygon

Also, GameInformer article implies a second embargo for Multiplayer will be lifted Friday.

By GringoSuave89 Go To PostShamelessly stolen from Gaf:

Gameplay Footage:
Campaign Mission 2 gameplay (MoreConsole)
Let's Play Halo 5: Guardians' Campaign - Kinda Funny Plays
Halo 5 Guardians Cinematic | BLUE TEAM Intro Cutscene
Blue Team Mission (normalmode)
Enemy Lines Mission (normalmode)
Skulls List (normalmode)
Halo 5 Guardians - Campaign Gameplay Enemy Lines Part1 Xbox One Exclusive (Xboxygen)
Halo 5 Guardians - Campaign Gameplay Enemy Lines Part2 Xbox One Exclusive (Xboxygen)
Blue Team Mission (Xboxygen)
IGN Preview



Articles:
Xboxygen (French)
Gameinformer
Eurogamer
Polygon

Thanks bud!!

Hunters blocking grenades is so damn cool, they finally have some personality to them instead of pure bullet sponges.

By digmouse Go To PostHunters blocking grenades is so damn cool, they finally have some personality to them instead of pure bullet sponges.

That moment made me grin so hardcore. Loved it. Also interested in seeing what's up with those datapads. Saw prompts for them in both campaign levels. Wonder whose/what story it'll cover?

Blue team opening cinematic HQ b-roll is up on xbox wire:
http://news.xbox.com/api/mediacart/download/8968d10895754cb0a74150c049b8347c

Overall very impressed. But holy pop in and dithering Batman!

It's too bad the Xbone can't handle 343's ambition.

Overall, it's looking really good. Only 30 something days to go. In other news, got a good list of Halo 5 questions ready to be answered. If folks have anymore they want to submit, let me know.

If Polygon's video is indeed on heroic difficulty, I think we can call elite combo retired for good, all the conventional weapons are powerful enough to deal with the elites without having to rely on the plasma pistol.

By digmouse Go To PostIf Polygon's video is indeed on heroic difficulty, I think we can call elite combo retired for good, all the conventional weapons are powerful enough to deal with the elites without having to rely on the plasma pistol.

Yeah I'm fine with that I guess. It looks like Legendary is the way to play day one for me. Game looks easy on heroic.

LOVE LOVE the level design so far. Makes me giddy.

By Fahzgoolin Go To PostYeah I'm fine with that I guess. It looks like Legendary is the way to play day one for me. Game looks easy on heroic.

LOVE LOVE the level design so far. Makes me giddy.

Yeah welcome this change, bout time Halo opens up more gameplay possibilities.

Oh man... so many goodies!

By GringoSuave89 Go To PostAlso, GameInformer article implies a second embargo for Multiplayer will be lifted Friday.

Gotta get down on Friday, Friday.

Looks fun.

I think the problem I have with this is I'm not playing. I don't mean that 'waaa give it me now' (tho that please), I mean Halo is about me playing it with my friends, exploring and feeling the combat and encounters for myself. Much more than any other game, previews interesting, but so... pointless. I know Halo, or at least my Halo... I dunno, I can't explain it. Some of the game looks a bit off: AI and difficulty. Who knows which setting one previewer was on, and then another? etc etc etc.

Just want to play it.

Hnnnnggg the blue team opening cinematic.

My main concern has been alleviated: Grunt Birthday Party returns!

How good is HTT season 2 then guys?

I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.

I'm about to listen to it right now.

Hmm.

Just finished it now, I miss Giraud.

Yo- any of you fine folks who play Destiny: today's daily heroic story mission is a must. Near the end, at the door where you need to find three relics, you can actually access the Fallen Ketch through the same hallway as the Taniks strike. If you do, you are contacted by Variks and he gives you a side quest to clear the Ketch of Taken enemies in 10 min or less. If you do, you are awarded the Black Spindle exotic sniper rifle… Which also happens to be the Black Hammer from Crota's End, but exotic-fied and is at 310 attack.
Fuckin Bungie. :D

Halo.

I think a lot of the modulation of opinion on Halo 4 is also just due to time. I know the reception of Halo 2 and Reach was pretty hostile in some quarters but warmed considerably in retrospective. Presenting the more stripped-down multiplayer elements in MCC doesn't help either.

In the collection I think Halo 4's overall feel is my favorite, although sometimes I miss the floaty jumps of 2 and 3 or the more snappy direction-changing in 1. It's certainly the best-feeling game for SWAT (why H3 is even an option is beyond me.)

Sad we aren't getting non-difficulty skulls, but cool we have to unlock them again.

H3 swat is a bad time. Every time.

By fuchsdh Go To PostSad we aren't getting non-difficulty skulls, but cool we have to unlock them again.

Grunt Birthday Part et al aren't in?

By Wesleyshark Go To PostH3 is a bad time. Every time.

Ftfy

Wowowowow!

Trying to capture some thoughts:
+ visually looks good, especially cutscenes, which are outstanding
+ levels are big, open, and vertical. Looks like great playspaces
+ ai squadmates reviving each other is neat
+ revival itself seems like a great mechanic, especially for co-op.
+ watching ai squadmates pull off cool moves, such as Kelly shoulder charging enemies.
+ the shoulder charge launching rag dolled grunts.
+ the halo hunter batting away grenades!!!
+ the hunters new weapon fx and sound make them seem terrifying.
+ the redesigned railgun is great.
+ that lighting on the locke level looks great
+ loads of ambient life
+ the kraken, holy shit!
+ love all the destruction, dust, and flying debris it creates as it stomps through the level. Unsure if this bady is more halo 2 scarab then halo 3 though I hope for the later...
+ music sounds nice and halo-y, and ramps up nicely with the action.
+ sound fx in general sound punchy and appropriate.
+ pp emp is very short now!
+ the newly designed ghost is growing on me. It's a bit over designed, but I like all the electrical effects and especially how the "wings" move and adjust over the topography.

- ai is looking a little dumb, particularly the elites. This looks to be more halo 4 than reach ai. Could be a result of most of the press playing on easy/normal, but im going to lean towards it just being toned down a bit (in addition to other improvements, such as the new behaviors).
- banshee battle on blue team level looks cramped, like the poor arena style banshee battles in halo 4. This may end up fine as the level design looks built around foot combat as well.
- shadow draw in distance is really short and can be very distracting to watch massive shadows, such as from a covie dropship, flicker in and out.
- majority of press is sooo bad, lol. Also why have someone not into halo, that's never played halo, write up your preview? And why have him write about the lack of a coherent story (as presented)? Ugh. Rant over.


I'll probably add more as I get through the rest this morning, home with my sick daughter, but so far it's all been very overwhelmingly positive - just like my beta experience. Can't wait. We back.

By digmouse Go To PostBlue team opening cinematic HQ b-roll is up on xbox wire:
http://news.xbox.com/api/mediacart/download/8968d10895754cb0a74150c049b8347c

Still hard to believe we'll get to play as/ with Blue Team. :D

Looked great!

By RedSparrows Go To PostGrunt Birthday Part et al aren't in?

Nah IWHBYD, GBP and Cowbell are still there, but I really enjoyed the skulls they added in CEA/H2A that made things easier or more wacky rather than cranking the difficulty even more (Grunt Funeral, Piñata, Bandanna).

Ah yeah, me too. The more options the better. Sputnik + Ground Pound, amirite?

Edit: my main worry now for campaign is the difficulty. I want brutal Elite AI and plasma raining down from all angles. Bring it.

By Rokklaggio Go To PostFtfy

I can't argue. H3 is the worst.

Looks absolutely fantastic, and that's coming from a dude who usually plays the Halo campaigns 1 time for the experience and never again (well, sorta...I've been playing through MCC again). With that said, I won't be getting a derpface boner until the multiplayer previews come out Friday.

By reilo Go To PostI always make this analogy with regards to community threads:

If you and your friends were to hang out on a random Sunday to watch a sporting event (say, the Super Bowl), you will not talk 100% of the time about the Super Bowl or Football. You will talk about whatever the hell you feel like as long as it contributes to a positive atmosphere. With that in mind, nobody likes that friend that becomes drunk, belligerent, and causes drama. Don't be that friend.

You guys are here because of a like-minded interest in Halo, but that's not the only interest you have in common.

This is a very reasonable and constructive stance that nurtures community and discussion. I'm afraid that makes you terrible at being a power-tripping dick, which is a prerequisite for forum administration. Sorry. :(

In all seriousness, I'm happy to see this laid out and it's great news, as I'm mostly here for the community aspects more than anything.

By dwells Go To PostThis is a very reasonable and constructive stance that nurtures community and discussion. I'm afraid that makes you terrible at being a power-tripping dick, which is a prerequisite for forum administration. Sorry. :(

In all seriousness, I'm happy to see this laid out and it's great news, as I'm mostly here for the community aspects more than anything.

Dwells you are my favorite poster on the citadel.

Fred's VA is 👍

By Wesleyshark Go To PostFred's VA is 👍

"You good fam?"
Almost wished he put it like that. Maybe a dap or two.
BUT THAT MUSIC. THAT SPARTAN FORMATION. DAT SYNCHRONIZATION. HNNNNG
34 days

By reilo Go To PostRetro showed us the way by making a your mom joke.

Understandable. Can't be having mothers made fun of. /s

By J-Twelve Go To PostMeh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXsnjqVPQs

Yeah, but can it be played on floppies?

Is Kelly supposed to be of Scottish descent? I know she's got a English VA but she sounds like she's from somewhere a bit north of that.

By fuchsdh Go To PostIs Kelly supposed to be of Scottish descent? I know she's got a English VA but she sounds like she's from somewhere a bit north of that.

She is the female Elzar.