The Good vs Bad when it comes down to Halo 4.
As for the good things about Halo 4: I usually don't start off reviews with how amazing a games graphics look (or mention graphics it at all), but after actually being able to take control of Master Chief and see through his eyes, my mind was blown. The cut-scene visuals are also quite stunning, as it took me quite a few moments realize that the characters were all CG and not human. Quality like this isn't required, but when it's done this well it should definitely be noticed. The most impressive thing about this though (for an Xbox 360 title) is the fact that the game itself is all on one disc. The second disk is only used to install the multiplayer to your Hard Drive, and after that it isn't required anymore. NO disc-swapping for the win!
Halo 4's campaign may not be the best in the franchise, but it's definitely the most emotional and could cause those who've been following Master Chief from the beginning to feel a bit on the down side. The poor guy goes through quite a bit this time around as many sacrifices have to be made in order to save the human race. The best way to stay out of the blues is to play the campaign with a friend (or two... or three) who could easily take your mind off of them and make the game more fun. Ah, and when playing co-op this time around, the game doesn't bother throwing in random characters for your friends to play as. Everyone in the party will be able to play as Master Chief, which actually makes a bit of sense with the way this game starts out.
Ya know how some gamers complain about games becoming a bit too easy these days? Well, it appears that the guys behind Halo 4 took note of that and made this the most challenging Halo yet. Normal in Halo 4 seems like it can be a match up to that of Heroic in Halo 3, and it's mostly because your enemies deal a lot more damage while your ammo manages to disappear rapidly. There will even be moments when you run out of ammo in both weapons and have to strategically go around the battlefield to pick up another weapon or find some ammo lying around.
Unlike most other first-person shooters, Halo 4's campaign gives you the choice of fight or flight during moments where a large number of enemies are attacking you. Even on lower difficulties, some sections of the game just had too many enemies for me to handle and I found myself running through or around them to continue my mission. Flight isn't usually the option I go with in the majority of games, but as I've said before: ammo goes fast, and I'd rather survive than keep having to start over at the last checkpoint.
Halo's multiplayer experience has always been one of the most fun and addicting for me, especially since the release of Halo 2 where I could play via Xbox Live. This time around, the multiplayer is still just as good as it was in the previous entries while also giving us a bit more options and simplicity. For starters, the multiplayer's menu's and customization features have been cleaned up for a much less confusing experience. Secondly, the point system for unlocking things is much less harsh than it was in Halo Reach, making the process of unlocking things a lot more enjoyable. This is fantastic, seeing as how the armor in this game looks amazing and I actually want to unlock more than just one or two sets. Finally, there are also plenty of game types to play, including the new infected game type known as Flood and mission based (co-op optional) Spartan Ops.
As for the bad things about Halo 4: The only bad thing I can honestly say about this game is the fact that the checkpoint system in the campaign can be pretty annoying at times. I've had to start over entire missions due to reaching a checkpoint right before my death. Every time I would reload that checkpoint, it would just be an infinite loop of me dying and that's not cool at all.
Overall, Halo 4 is definitely a step in the right direction for the franchise and I have faith that 343 Industries can keep it there. If you're a fan of the franchise, definitely pick this one up without even considering a rent. If you're new and want to see what all the fuss is about, I'd still recommend picking this one up without considering a rent. 9.25 out of 10.
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