So now that I have had the day to absorb things, here is my take:
Sexy cover, but I wont lie it is a bit boring.. It certainly wont grab people who are on the fence with the series and say "bold new direction!" but alas.. Anyways, I'm freaking hyped for a 14 page blowout of Halo 4 information.. I think this is the first time in a long time where I am not sure what direction a sequel in a game series will head, and I am anxious and excited to see what changes and what evolves. Halo 4 was described as a soft reboot of sorts, sticking true to the formula while taking it in bold new directions. That is exactly, at least IMO, what the series needs. While many hardcore fans my be less receptive to change, this applies to me at times as well, I think that change is needed for the long time health of the franchise and its ability to remain fun. Reach did a lot wrong, but it also did a lot right, and while it soured peoples opinions, I don't think it should be the definition of what change will do to the series. I hope Halo 4 pushes into new boundaries, while staying true to what the fanbase knows and loves.
So, that takes me to another thought. Why is it that Halo, as a franchise, receives so much grief? While its fanbase its extremely loyal and outspoken, it is far from being entirely fanatic or crazy. Also, I really do not understand the level of dislike it gets with each sequel. Halo has always stood out as a unique story, that avoids the over the top dudebro tropes, while still delivering an action filled experience. Sure, some games do things better than it, such as story telling mechanics and set pieces, but Halo truly delivers a polished game with a fantastic universe. I honestly don't think Halo gets the love it should get, especially compared to the route that so many other FPS's go. Halo is far from being milked, and while some may not have been a huge fan of recent installments, there is no denying the level of quality that the series delivers. It may not be for everyone, and I understand that, but it certainly doesn't deserve the hate it gets. It is possible to play and enjoy Halo, CoD, BF, Crysis, Killzone, Uncharted, etc and not feel the need to troll the other series. Every single one of those games (which are all great) usually is compared against Halo, which is fair, but usually are used in ridiculous manners.
Which finally leads to the debate of the Halo series and graphics..
Halo 1 was a great looking game, and Halo 2 only took it further, and it really blew my mind by how good looking it was. And then came Halo 3... Yeah, that game was not pretty, and it only hurt worse after the amazing looking e3 announcement. Sure the game had great skyboxes, water and HDR but everything else was subpar compared to what we had come to expect. ODST, which ran on a slightly modified Halo 3 engine was surprisingly pretty though, at least during the night scenes. Halo Reach was IMO Halos first true next gen experience.. and it does look fantastic. It has great modeling, good texture work, a fantastic use of particle effects and good art. And sometimes it really shows.. Other times, not so much. Halo, at least in Bungies hands, seemed to struggle to put a final layer of polish and eye candy on top of its established visual identity. Often times Halo Reach can look a little flat.. but to say it is a mediocre looking game is ridiculous, and while its no Uncharted, it certainly does a ton right.
This Picture shows one of the many things Reach did right:
That said, the Halo franchise definitely has room for growth in both gameplay and visuals, and I think everything we know about Halo 4 indicates they plan to seize those opportunities.
And yes, I am not too fond of Cortanas new art, but then again, we haven't seen her in game yet.. Lets hope her face and breast size is a little closer to her Halo 3 iteration.
Edit*
My sources tell me she'll inhabit a human NPC who's likeness of based off of her:
If her face looks closer to this I wouldn't mind.
