izick
We won't know the difference, Halo:CE, 2 and 3 had some pretty big differences in how the game played, but the principal arena shooter, equal starts feeling remained the same.
Whether it was a 1v1 match on prisoner, 4v4 Midship or 8v8 Sandtrap etc. You knew how the game played, there was very little random elements throw in. If you lost, it was your fault.
Then comes Reach. You get bloom where theoretically the better man doesn't necessarily win. You get unequal starts and armor abilities that break a large portion of the sandbox. Camo at will+sniper is easy kills, armor lock was the worst thing ever conceived in a Halo game. Jetpack completely ruined any semblance of map design. No longer were fights purposely set up for certain areas etc. You want the sword on the top in countdown, forget hoofing it up the stairs or using the grav lifts, when you can jetpack up in seconds.
Halo 4 takes it even further. Now you have even more randomness thrown in. Why even fight for weapons when you can call them down at your feet. Map control is thrown out the window because of random weapon spawns that no one knows what or when a weapon will appear. What about the poor sap who was waiting in an area a splaser spawned only to now see a concussion rifle.
How fair is it to the guy who gets an overkill and a killing spree to get the ability to use a needler, Plasma grenades or speed boost, but the camper who got a vehicle assist and is playing like shit gets rockets or binary rifle etc.
Additionally for the first time ever, you've got a Halo game where people who paid money for snacks, could start off stronger or better than someone who didn't. Some people who scammed doritos bags and took pictures got 200 matches of double xp and unlocked perks and weapons well before others. In a DMR heavy game, a perk like no flinch when shot ie stability is a game changer.
Plus they took the loadout system from Reach even further. It's not just armor abilities that start people differently, but dozens of new variables. The guy who has grenadier and explosives can easily spam grenades and get double kills or triple kills with a large group. The guy who picks plasma pistol and plasma grenades completely destroys any vehicle on the map easily. The guy who takes dexterity can win duels because he can reload faster, the guy who picks ammo can dominate with power weapons since he gets like double or triple the ammo.
It's hard to say whether it's Call of Duty or Halo fatigue, I think Reach and Halo 4 have done more damage and fatigue to the series than anything else. So many longtime fans, fans who've literally played some form of Halo almost everyday for almost 12+ years are abandoning the series, they're stopping posting on forums, they're having giveaways of their stuff etc.
Another reason was ranks. I'm not a pro player, I have a fraction of the skill I had with CE or 2 now, but I wanted ranks from day one. You want a reason to keep playing. To invest in the game. If I'm a lowly 35 I want to know that, so I know where I stand. It's like studying for a test, writing it and then never finding it what you got.
Do I think Call of duty would have eventually surpassed Halo? Yes. Did I think Halo would be #5 on the XBL most played list and dropping this quickly, No.
