It's not like anyone who owns the game paid extra for it you dickbutt. We play it and give feedback so they can improve it because we care about the franchise.
Or did you forget where you're posting?
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Halo |OT14| They call it Halo
- Thread starter Overdoziz
- Start date
It's not like anyone who owns the game paid extra for it you dickbutt. We play it and give feedback so they can improve it because we care about the franchise.
Or did you forget where you're posting?
The Forerunners have never really be shy about putting buttons in convenient locations. I do wish they would do less hand holding and make you hunt for the switches though, since they aren't hard to find without the waypoint.
Tha Robbertster
Member
It is part of the game, which each of us payed for. It isn't such weird thing to expect quality features in a AAA game, which was fully funded by Microsoft.
Dexter's Lab: Dexter Rude Removel (Lost Episode!)
MrGreencastle
Member
Played a shit ton of Spartan Ops yesterday, and I found this episode a lot better than previous ones. I think Episode 3 was my previous favourite. The environments, especially in 1 and 3 are so nice and open with good progression throughout the level. They felt like an actual campaign mission, which is what I always thought SpOps would be. There's like nothing in campaign that looked as good as the location in episode 3, and the encounters were a lot better spaced out. One of my biggest complaints previously was how enemies would just get dropped on you, which still happens a couple times, but not nearly as often. Downtime is important, as well as some hint on the direction that enemies are coming from.
Please, for the love of Halo, though, get rid of the waypoints on enemies unless there's only like 3 left hiding across the map. I don't like being told that there's phantoms on approach and then having both of them, as well as all the enemies inside be highlighted before they land with a million waypoints. Its actually more distracting than anything. It just makes me feel like the game is treating me like an idiot. I'm playing on Legendary. No waypoints on enemies, man. Simple stuff. At the very least a toggle to turn them off would be nice.
The music usage was a lot better, too, here. I heard a couple of tracks off the album I think I haven't heard yet in game, and the mixing was much nicer.
Returning to that campaign location at night gave me chills. The green lighting instead of blue or orange that we always see, plus Forerunner architecture at night is just beyond cool. Ever since ODST I've wanted to see more multiplayer maps adopt different times of day as variants. Really cool way to get some more variety out of them. More of this approach if you're reusing playspaces, it was awesome.
The only thing that would make it better would be to have dailies or weeklies that involve things like not dying in a level or beating a level in under par time. I like more challenges in my campaign.
--
I also got the chance to play the forge test playlist for a while last night, too. Here's a brief rundown of what I think.
Scythe: one of the best asyms I've ever played for sure. I'd love to see that in doubles as it felt a bit too crowded with instant respawn and 4v4. But I think it will work great for dubs. Swat can get a little crazy with that many people too. Hopefully the settings for dubs highlights the strengths of this kind of map.
Shutout: I played a similar version of this Lockout "Grande" a few weeks ago and loved it then. That said, the location chosen is almost perfect save for the ledge over at Snipe 2. The whole map needs to me moved. It still needs a better gametype to highlight its strengths, too. Infinity slayer is just too bankers on that map. SWAT not so bad. Amazing how a classic halo map with a classic default basic gametype works so nicely together.
Garotte: Fantastic CTF map. Will likely be great for Dubs, and whoever came up with the settings for CTF needs to be commended, that's a hell of a lot better than how I thought it would be. You can actually return flags! And flag has to be home to score. So much more fun than the way CTF is set up now on Solace and Adrift. The map itself is pretty aesthetically fun, but I cant help but feel like something like the Pit could be added in, too (instead).
Simplex: Basically midship. Good stuff. CTF gametypes only please. Infinity slayer is silliness, here. The map is clean as hell, like the others. Also good stuff.
Relay: please replace this with the upgraded version called Dispatch. I think Salot made that, too. Not sure, but it was in the MLG test settings. It replaces the floor with something more visually appealing and of a different colour and with varying elevation rather than all flat. Its basically just an improved version of Relay all around. The layout itself is almost identical, there's just a lot less visual noise. Other than that, good choice. Just use the new version. Please. Seriously, look how much better this is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE7SlVy8C3c
I literally cant remember the name of the last map, but any forge map that is made on the cave map should not be considered. Shadows don't work and the map pieces are ugly, and the colours don't stick out so its confusing and all around poor in my opinion. The Pit can replace that map.
All in all, the playlist is a pleasant surprise. Keep up the good work. And nice job on keeping weapons on the map, still need to work on that a bit, but it's good to see at least. Global/Personal Ordnance + weapons on map is a little crazy in Infinity slayer, though, so muck around with the smaller map slayer variant please.
Please, for the love of Halo, though, get rid of the waypoints on enemies unless there's only like 3 left hiding across the map. I don't like being told that there's phantoms on approach and then having both of them, as well as all the enemies inside be highlighted before they land with a million waypoints. Its actually more distracting than anything. It just makes me feel like the game is treating me like an idiot. I'm playing on Legendary. No waypoints on enemies, man. Simple stuff. At the very least a toggle to turn them off would be nice.
The music usage was a lot better, too, here. I heard a couple of tracks off the album I think I haven't heard yet in game, and the mixing was much nicer.
Returning to that campaign location at night gave me chills. The green lighting instead of blue or orange that we always see, plus Forerunner architecture at night is just beyond cool. Ever since ODST I've wanted to see more multiplayer maps adopt different times of day as variants. Really cool way to get some more variety out of them. More of this approach if you're reusing playspaces, it was awesome.
The only thing that would make it better would be to have dailies or weeklies that involve things like not dying in a level or beating a level in under par time. I like more challenges in my campaign.
--
I also got the chance to play the forge test playlist for a while last night, too. Here's a brief rundown of what I think.
Scythe: one of the best asyms I've ever played for sure. I'd love to see that in doubles as it felt a bit too crowded with instant respawn and 4v4. But I think it will work great for dubs. Swat can get a little crazy with that many people too. Hopefully the settings for dubs highlights the strengths of this kind of map.
Shutout: I played a similar version of this Lockout "Grande" a few weeks ago and loved it then. That said, the location chosen is almost perfect save for the ledge over at Snipe 2. The whole map needs to me moved. It still needs a better gametype to highlight its strengths, too. Infinity slayer is just too bankers on that map. SWAT not so bad. Amazing how a classic halo map with a classic default basic gametype works so nicely together.
Garotte: Fantastic CTF map. Will likely be great for Dubs, and whoever came up with the settings for CTF needs to be commended, that's a hell of a lot better than how I thought it would be. You can actually return flags! And flag has to be home to score. So much more fun than the way CTF is set up now on Solace and Adrift. The map itself is pretty aesthetically fun, but I cant help but feel like something like the Pit could be added in, too (instead).
Simplex: Basically midship. Good stuff. CTF gametypes only please. Infinity slayer is silliness, here. The map is clean as hell, like the others. Also good stuff.
Relay: please replace this with the upgraded version called Dispatch. I think Salot made that, too. Not sure, but it was in the MLG test settings. It replaces the floor with something more visually appealing and of a different colour and with varying elevation rather than all flat. Its basically just an improved version of Relay all around. The layout itself is almost identical, there's just a lot less visual noise. Other than that, good choice. Just use the new version. Please. Seriously, look how much better this is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE7SlVy8C3c
I literally cant remember the name of the last map, but any forge map that is made on the cave map should not be considered. Shadows don't work and the map pieces are ugly, and the colours don't stick out so its confusing and all around poor in my opinion. The Pit can replace that map.
All in all, the playlist is a pleasant surprise. Keep up the good work. And nice job on keeping weapons on the map, still need to work on that a bit, but it's good to see at least. Global/Personal Ordnance + weapons on map is a little crazy in Infinity slayer, though, so muck around with the smaller map slayer variant please.
Orochinagis
Member
I actually enjoyed the episode 6. the first mission was the best, handicapped weapons, no options to use your Loadouts and the ammo were a little limited, too bad 343i forgot to turn off the unlimited lives.
Chapters 2,3 were a little boring because it returned to normal settings but loved the design in Chapter 4 map, they would add that map for Dominion and make one team capture the bases till it reach the peak like territories.
Chapter 5 was a little strange with the Harvester, it felt like Gears of War rudimentary biotechonogy and where is their trademark purple style.
Chapters 2,3 were a little boring because it returned to normal settings but loved the design in Chapter 4 map, they would add that map for Dominion and make one team capture the bases till it reach the peak like territories.
Chapter 5 was a little strange with the Harvester, it felt like Gears of War rudimentary biotechonogy and where is their trademark purple style.
Yeah, but something like this:
is far different from this:
Jedeye Sniv
Banned
Does anyone here actually like Halo 4 any more? I come in to see how the new stuff is received and it sounds like someone has taken a shit on your collective plates. Kinda depressing.
The Forge playlist and Spartan Ops S2 are taking steps in the right direction. My only worry now is whether or not it's too little, too late.
ElzarTheBam
Member
Steelyuhas
Member
Okay, some thoughts on the Forge playlist:
First off before I get to the maps, let's briefly talk about settings. I know it's a "test" playlist, but have different settings than everything else in matchmaking doesn't help give a good test for the maps possible integration into matchmaking permanently. From map to map, the weapon spawning systems are different, some have only global ordnance, some have static weapon spawns, some have a combination of both. The flag settings in the playlist are wildly different than found in any other playlist with Flag. Despair also has just flat out broken settings on King, there is only two hills it rotates and it stays in one of those 90% of the time. Test or no, settings should remain consistent to properly test maps in the correct environment.
Now, the maps:
-Despair: Truly awful. A prime example of Forge in its current iteration being unable to house proper maps. Orientation is damn near impossible, there is nothing that differentiates different areas of the map, it is all horrifyingly ugly brown pieces. The design also screams for jetpack abuse. Global ordnance may be awful, but at least it keeps the number of power weapons in check, static rocket and sniper spawns paired with personal ordnance (which have far too high of weightings for series power weapons on this map. Laser wat?) made this a game of 4v4 heavies.
-Relay: Decent, simple layout that's greatest strength is probably that it doesn't do anything offensively wrong and is open enough to not have orientation problems. Another ramp or something on each side to get back up to the outside level would be nice.
-Scythe: A solid map layout with solid weapon spawns.
-Garrotte: Just a bad layout, and bad use of Forge pieces. Not much to say about this one, poor design.
-Shutout: A poor lockout remake that is a mess with Halo 4's mechanics. Works for SWAT though if that's your thing.
-Simplex: Solid map that is simple and open enough to not be hampered by Forge too much.
All in all, Forge maps suffer from the same core issue that they did in Reach: orientation. Forge pieces simply don't allow for differentiation of sides or specific areas being unique enough. Also, no map should ever be forged on Erosion unless it uses 95% natural terrain of the map because those forge pieces are amazing levels of bad.
-------------------------------
I will play episode 6 of Spartan Ops today, curious to see how it plays, getting through the first 5 episodes was a struggle at times.
First off before I get to the maps, let's briefly talk about settings. I know it's a "test" playlist, but have different settings than everything else in matchmaking doesn't help give a good test for the maps possible integration into matchmaking permanently. From map to map, the weapon spawning systems are different, some have only global ordnance, some have static weapon spawns, some have a combination of both. The flag settings in the playlist are wildly different than found in any other playlist with Flag. Despair also has just flat out broken settings on King, there is only two hills it rotates and it stays in one of those 90% of the time. Test or no, settings should remain consistent to properly test maps in the correct environment.
Now, the maps:
-Despair: Truly awful. A prime example of Forge in its current iteration being unable to house proper maps. Orientation is damn near impossible, there is nothing that differentiates different areas of the map, it is all horrifyingly ugly brown pieces. The design also screams for jetpack abuse. Global ordnance may be awful, but at least it keeps the number of power weapons in check, static rocket and sniper spawns paired with personal ordnance (which have far too high of weightings for series power weapons on this map. Laser wat?) made this a game of 4v4 heavies.
-Relay: Decent, simple layout that's greatest strength is probably that it doesn't do anything offensively wrong and is open enough to not have orientation problems. Another ramp or something on each side to get back up to the outside level would be nice.
-Scythe: A solid map layout with solid weapon spawns.
-Garrotte: Just a bad layout, and bad use of Forge pieces. Not much to say about this one, poor design.
-Shutout: A poor lockout remake that is a mess with Halo 4's mechanics. Works for SWAT though if that's your thing.
-Simplex: Solid map that is simple and open enough to not be hampered by Forge too much.
All in all, Forge maps suffer from the same core issue that they did in Reach: orientation. Forge pieces simply don't allow for differentiation of sides or specific areas being unique enough. Also, no map should ever be forged on Erosion unless it uses 95% natural terrain of the map because those forge pieces are amazing levels of bad.
-------------------------------
I will play episode 6 of Spartan Ops today, curious to see how it plays, getting through the first 5 episodes was a struggle at times.
BlueScrote
Member
You're going to go far here.
Check yo damn twitter. I have ruined Robbert childhood.
Hydranockz
Member
True but look at you. You're expecting radical changes to Halo gameplay in SpOps. Why? How can a far smaller team suddenly add the ability for stealth to work as you describe when there is currently no system already in place to allow it? The AI works somewhat on a Limited Knowledge model but that doesn't take shadows or stealth into them spotting you into account.
As for the AC130 mission... You want another on-the-rails mission like in Reach? Really? How does work with four people? How is that even fun? Shit man I know you don't find the missions terribly fun but let's not go backwards.
Understand that SpOps is tied to Halo 4 and the systems Halo 4 both used and leaved open for tinkering. Hence all the asset reuse from campaign and why we won't see a new enemy.
Blah blah blah it is Microsoft, give them more money doesn't cut it. Spartan Ops is largely an experimental beast delving into the world of post release, narrative containing content on a more flexible platform than releasing it as a separate game like ODST. It's a risk.
K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
This is the most positive HaloGAF has been in nearly two months.
ElzarTheBam
Member
A porn parody of spongebob is going TOO FAR.
Latvian Hitman
Member
The new episode of SPOPs is a step in the right direction. The environments are improved for sure.
Still need to vary up the missions, though. Seems like every mission = spawn in -> kill enemies, push a button -> survive drop ship/new wave of enemies, push another button -> survive another drop ship/wave of enemies, push yet another button -> survive yet another dropship/wave of enemies, move to extraction zone -> end mission.
Still need to vary up the missions, though. Seems like every mission = spawn in -> kill enemies, push a button -> survive drop ship/new wave of enemies, push another button -> survive another drop ship/wave of enemies, push yet another button -> survive yet another dropship/wave of enemies, move to extraction zone -> end mission.
K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
I'm sending a bunch of yall friend requests, cause I want more people on my friends list (again) who actually play Halo.
User 73706
Banned
I think part of the hatred with these buttons is aesthetics over gameplay contrary to Bungie's vision. In everything before 4, the "action" button could be used for a million different objectives but still seem varied due to the fact that it didn't take you out of combat. Hardlight panels, UNSC switches, what have you. Now that they've dedicated only two animations which are not only first-person, but stop combat and make you invincible, you're stuck activating about five consoles: Forerunner Button, Forerunner Node, Forerunner Computer, Covenant Computer, and occasionally UNSC button. Just let a single button press activate it without us touching it next time, please.
Also, can we get more Precursor tech in small doses? Gears of War-style biotechnology/nanomachines would fit in perfectly to make certain aesthetics a bit more dreary and imposing. Can you imagine how fucking terrifying it would be to find a weapon incompatible with your suit (doesn't show up in the HUD and you hold it really oddly), only for it to send out a flurry of jet-black nanomachine flèchettes that eat your enemies alive like a Cerebral Bore? The Precursors have some amazing potential to be a mysterious and terrifying force like the Forerunners once were.
You know what, fuck it, it's on my mind now. Make it campaign exclusive, but the Precursor Bore could also rip your enemies apart into basic biomass and reconstruct them into massive Flood-like entities... who would obey whoever wields their Bore. Seriously, I can imagine firefights would be a lot more tense if you, the Covenant, and possibly Promethean soldiers/sentinels were all desperately fighting to get to a Precursor weapon crate in hopes of getting the bore before anyone else.
Also, can we get more Precursor tech in small doses? Gears of War-style biotechnology/nanomachines would fit in perfectly to make certain aesthetics a bit more dreary and imposing. Can you imagine how fucking terrifying it would be to find a weapon incompatible with your suit (doesn't show up in the HUD and you hold it really oddly), only for it to send out a flurry of jet-black nanomachine flèchettes that eat your enemies alive like a Cerebral Bore? The Precursors have some amazing potential to be a mysterious and terrifying force like the Forerunners once were.
You know what, fuck it, it's on my mind now. Make it campaign exclusive, but the Precursor Bore could also rip your enemies apart into basic biomass and reconstruct them into massive Flood-like entities... who would obey whoever wields their Bore. Seriously, I can imagine firefights would be a lot more tense if you, the Covenant, and possibly Promethean soldiers/sentinels were all desperately fighting to get to a Precursor weapon crate in hopes of getting the bore before anyone else.
xxjuicesxx
Member
By the time they add a TU, with all the options removing their "advances to the FPS genre" it will be too late. Not only that but I'm almost certain several new TU options/implementations won't work perfect (which is the normal trend)
Once you add in a classic playlist and get all the settings figured out it will be too late.
You cannot bring something back to life that is already dead. It just cannot be done.
Once you add in a classic playlist and get all the settings figured out it will be too late.
You cannot bring something back to life that is already dead. It just cannot be done.
I thought you quit GAF?
NullPointer
Member
The latest episode did provide us with some old-school optional stealth, and a way to provide air cover for other players (Banshees!), so while the overall objectives are move from A -> B and defend B til C, *how* that plays out can be very different, and its one area that the Halo sandbox allows for something that wouldn't be do-able in a COD-like Spec Ops mission.
I'm still waiting for a pure Firefight like mission though, and am kindof surprised we haven't gotten one yet. I mean one, full on, defend this spot or else mission, with dropped ordnance. Just to mix things up ;P
Orochinagis
Member
maybe is the lack of forerunners enemies variety or fighting the same covenant enemies but the encounters in Spartan Ops are pretty boring right?
EagleBurnn
Banned
This is eventually said to everyone who "quits" GAF
Welcome back anyways.
K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
I was gone for a few weeks, but missed Heckfu too much. Then I got back and he was banned and I didn't know what to do with myself. :c
FUNKNOWN iXi
Member
New Spartan Ops is better, but still mediocre at best. The more I play it the more I think how the dev team could have really polished multiplayer off with settings and options to help it's population instead of this gimmick in which people won't play when it finishes up in a month. Granted I'll give them props for improving the dismal first half.
To be clear the story is fine, but gameplay isn't there. Should have released the thing as a mini movie for finishing campaign or something.
To be clear the story is fine, but gameplay isn't there. Should have released the thing as a mini movie for finishing campaign or something.
It's a hard knock life!
Anyways, who's good enough to get a Perfection three times a week? Those challenges are horrifyingly challenging.
Speedy Blue Dude
Banned
I really do miss Invasion... Why didn't 343 keep it in the game? Best gamemode in Reach by far.
There's a Pit remake floating around that you need to harass someone about. It'll probably play better than Lockout with Jetpacks and shit.
Same here, the reception has been... mixed. Beyond HaloGAF, anyways.
Forward Unto Dawn Fiction and Campaign Co-Op Night Continues 01/22/13
What?
With the end of winter holidays and the beginning of a new season of Spartan Ops, Forward Unto Dawn continues its co-op playthrough of the game's campaign, and all are welcome! This week is the penultimate mission (and my personal favorite,) "Composer". We're not going to be setting any speedruns--rather, the playthrough is an opportunity to discuss Halo's fiction, explore the levels, and experience the story to the fullest.
When?
Tonight, 01/22/13, at 8pm EST (UTC-5). Expect it to last an hour or a bit longer--we take the scenic route.
How?
Let me know you're interested in playing by sending my XBL account a message (the GT is Pixelfox). I'll start sending out invites five minutes before 8pm, and we should be on our way within ten minutes.
If you have any questions let me know here or shoot me a message! Hope to see you there.
What?
With the end of winter holidays and the beginning of a new season of Spartan Ops, Forward Unto Dawn continues its co-op playthrough of the game's campaign, and all are welcome! This week is the penultimate mission (and my personal favorite,) "Composer". We're not going to be setting any speedruns--rather, the playthrough is an opportunity to discuss Halo's fiction, explore the levels, and experience the story to the fullest.
When?
Tonight, 01/22/13, at 8pm EST (UTC-5). Expect it to last an hour or a bit longer--we take the scenic route.
How?
Let me know you're interested in playing by sending my XBL account a message (the GT is Pixelfox). I'll start sending out invites five minutes before 8pm, and we should be on our way within ten minutes.
If you have any questions let me know here or shoot me a message! Hope to see you there.
MrGreencastle
Member
While I agree SpOps has been fairly mediocre, I still think this is the right direction to pursue in the future (with the return of Firefight, or perhaps one "Firefight" like mission per week). I'm more of a multiplayer guy with respect to gameplay, but I've always wanted expanded story content like map packs that the multiplayer guys have always gotten. It sucks waiting for a whole new game just for more single player / co-op content. Wasn't it said that like half of Halo players play single-player/co-op exclusively? More of this, but with better implementation: Episode 6 was a further step in the proper direction, and it definitely has me excited about the next episode, which none of the previous ones did.
It would have taken a lot of work to get it up to par mechanically, and the resources it drained from the map pool weren't worth the tradeoff.
For all its many, many faults, Dominion works with normal big team maps better than Invasion ever would have, and doesn't require sprawling maps that are total garbage in every other game mode to function.
User 73706
Banned
Serious question for the devs. Due to the "Direct Download" nature of further Spartan Ops content, would it be possible to introduce completely new/unique enemies, weapons, and the like in further seasons? Even if they didn't show up in the multiplayer sandbox or anything.
Just asking because my ideal ending to Spartan Ops would be Crimson and possibly Palmer ending up at an undisclosed location and finding a "temple" of unknown origin, only to have Crimson's entire squad murdered Noble Six-style and Palmer ending up with PTSD and getting a character rewrite after witnessing some Eldrich Abomination do it all, foreshadowing the return of the Precursors in Halo 5.
Just asking because my ideal ending to Spartan Ops would be Crimson and possibly Palmer ending up at an undisclosed location and finding a "temple" of unknown origin, only to have Crimson's entire squad murdered Noble Six-style and Palmer ending up with PTSD and getting a character rewrite after witnessing some Eldrich Abomination do it all, foreshadowing the return of the Precursors in Halo 5.
Speedy Blue Dude
Banned
Orochinagis
Member
Spartan Ops needs missions like someone cover you from air with a pelican while you are capturing some artifacts in ground, going to point A to B with a shitloads of enemies but if you tame a long time in one position Special enemies spawns or special ones to requires to kill a certain kind of enemy in a limited time.
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
You know, I would not mind downloading 2 gigs per episode.
Moa
Member
They could, but then we hear Infinity Slayer everytime the game starts.
Unless they can control that with Megalo.
Possibly, but they'd have to do UI changes for the new enemies to pop up in the post-game and stuff, dunno how that would work in terms of a title update for it.