Here's a rundown of the online action a copy of ODST will get you into on May 3.
Whatever significant changes Bungie is making to the single-player campaign in Halo: Reach, be they squad-based action or the story's we're-all-doomed-from-the-start prequel setting, I can assure you after spending half a day with the game's multiplayer beta that Reach's online action feels 100 percent like Halo. That doesn't mean this is just a rehash of Halo 3's online mode with more maps (far from it). It does mean Bungie has evolved and modernized that signature Halo multiplayer formula to the point that I'm suddenly really interested in playing a new Halo game online. That's honestly not something I ever thought I'd say again.
Next week we'll have scads (scads!) of videos from the beta, but for now, let's just break down the high points that make Reach look like a worthy successor to the Halo multiplayer throne.
Armor Abilities and Loadouts
Reach has a pretty neat-looking character progression system that lets you unlock snazzy new armor pieces for your character a la Halo 3. But it's nowhere near as deep as the equipment unlocks in Modern Warfare, as all the gear seems to be purely cosmetic (though it does carry over to your character, Noble 6, in the campaign).
That doesn't mean there aren't gameplay-relevant ways to customize your multiplayer dude. There are, and they're called armor abilities. These are sort of an updated version of Halo 3's pick-up equipment, except you don't, uh, pick them up anymore. Instead you pick a loadout every time you spawn that determines which ability and which two weapons you start with.
Popping and (armor) locking. On the spartan side, you can pick a basic sprint that gets you from A to B really quickly at the cost of lowering your weapon. There's also armor lock, which makes you duck and engage an energy shield that makes you invulnerable as long as you're using it. The tradeoff is that you can't move while you're armor locked, but a fully charged armor lock seems like it's just sufficient to recharge your shields before it switches off. As a bonus, if you hold armor lock long enough, you'll release an EMP blast that nullifies the shields of anyone standing too close.
Not surprisingly, elites get the Predator-looking shimmery stealth camouflage they use in the Halo campaigns. In addition to making you almost invisible for a few seconds, stealth camo also jams the radar of anyone nearby, filling their scope with ghostly trails . Elites also match the spartans' sprint with a dodge maneuver that lets them get the heck out of the way really quickly. The animation for this makes the elite look like he's doing some sort of somersault, but from your perspective you just sort of... dodge to the side.
And then everyone gets jetpacks. JETPACKS. Yes, you can fly with the right loadout, though a full charge will only keep you in the air for a few seconds, and the jetpack takes some time to lift you up into the air. Definitely a tool that will require some finesse, but essential on the vertical maps.
WHOOSH
Spartans Versus Elites
I suspect this will be a divisive change: spartan and elites are dramatically different now, and not just in terms of which armor abilities they can use. Elites are faster than spartans, and their health and shields will both recharge after taking damage. Spartans' shields recharge, but they have to pick up medkits to restore health, Halo: CE-style. Weird, right? Elites are also bigger than spartans, though, making them a somewhat easier target at range.
In most team-based and especially objective-based games, you won't be able to mix and match both kinds of characters--it's spartans versus elites, period. A lot of the regular multiplayer modes, however, will default to spartan-on-spartan action, and it's worth noting that in custom games you'll be able to mix things up however you want. On paper, it looks like the elites have a distinct advantage to me, but I didn't get to spend enough time with the game yet to get an impression of the practical difference between them. The spartans' unique armor abilities might be a little more useful, though. Time will tell!
Odds 'n Ends
Bungie is making a ton of big and small changes under the hood to gameplay and matchmaking, probably more than I can even call to mind right now. Here are a few of the more prominent ones that stood out to me.
Backstabbed.Tweaks to melee. Melee damage is no longer a one-hit kill. Now, the damage stops when the shields drop. If your target has any degree of shields, your melee will only drop their shields and not touch their health, so you'd need a second melee hit to get a kill. Like that's going to happen. So melee is best reserved until you see their shields pop.
Dirty sneak attacks. The answer to that melee change is the assassination, which forces you to sneak up behind and get a melee hit on someone whose back is turned to you. That's an instant kill regardless of shield level, and the camera pulls out to show you one of a bunch of different kill animations depending on what side you hit them from. Assassinations leave you exposed for a second or two while you do them, but they're pretty awesome for bragging rights and humiliating for the victim.
Better voting. Pre-match voting is more than just a matter of voting down a map you don't like and getting stuck with the next one in line. Now you'll be presented with four map/mode choices with the chance to pick one. The one that the most people want to play, wins. It's an idea so simple I'm surprised we haven't seen more of it before now.
More matchmaking filters. In the final game you'll be able to customize the types of players you get matched up against based on a whole lot of weird criteria. You can prioritize normal factors like connection speed but even control things like what language they speak, how often they use voice chat, and how competitive they are, too.
Forge still coming. Just not in beta, but expect all the now-standard Forge options to exist in the final game, along with Theater, saved films, and all that other stuff you'd expect to be there.
Of course, those are just the nuts-and-bolts changes to the core Halo gameplay that you'll be seeing when the beta launches on May 3 (provided you've got a copy of ODST in the drive). Again, be sure to check back next week for a big fat video preview with lots of footage and info on the new modes and weapons, as well as an interview with Bungie multiplayer designer Luke Smith.
We'll also be giving away a batch of early-access Reach beta codes starting next week that will get you in and playing days before the general beta. Keep your eyes open for that!
Gallery
So how many of you out there are rabidly waiting to get back online with Reach? I'm curious what the anticipation level is for a new Halo, now that Modern Warfare 2 has come along and kind of taken the championship belt for online multiplayer. Sound off, if you please.
The armor abilities sound crazy unbalanced. Being able to become invulnerable and then explode into an EMP blast that disables nearby enemy shields will make me snap the disc.
" The armor abilities sound crazy unbalanced. Being able to become invulnerable and then explode into an EMP blast that disables nearby enemy shields will make me snap the disc. "
Leaving yourself completely immobile as a huge glowing target for every sniper/ DMR player on the map to set their sights on. Not to mention anyone at close range can just easily back away and escape the blast. It also takes time to charge to the full blast- if you just tap the button it will do almost nothing.
Bungie knows their balance. Even if there are slight balance problems in the beta build, they'll be fixed in the shipping product.
" The armor abilities sound crazy unbalanced. Being able to become invulnerable and then explode into an EMP blast that disables nearby enemy shields will make me snap the disc. "
Leaving yourself completely immobile as a huge glowing target for every sniper/ DMR player on the map to set their sights on. Not to mention anyone at close range can just easily back away and escape the blast. It also takes time to charge to the full blast- if you just tap the button it will do almost nothing. Bungie knows their balance. Even if there are slight balance problems in the beta build, they'll be fixed in the shipping product. "
I hope you're right. But after reading that the only situation I can see this being useful in is saving yourself from death.
" Meh. Of course, the Halo sheep will always buy the same game over and over again. They have for almost a decade now. Does anyone honestly care when superior multiplayer games such as Battlefield, Killzone 2, and MAG have come out ? "
9/10
Meh, sheep, superior and mentioning PS3 exclusives, grade A trolling.
" The armor abilities sound crazy unbalanced. Being able to become invulnerable and then explode into an EMP blast that disables nearby enemy shields will make me snap the disc. "
Leaving yourself completely immobile as a huge glowing target for every sniper/ DMR player on the map to set their sights on. Not to mention anyone at close range can just easily back away and escape the blast. It also takes time to charge to the full blast- if you just tap the button it will do almost nothing. Bungie knows their balance. Even if there are slight balance problems in the beta build, they'll be fixed in the shipping product. "
I hope you're right. But after reading that the only situation I can see this being useful in is saving yourself from death. "
Yeah, essentially that's what it does. It also ejects any needles or stuck grenades from your armor when you activate it.
" The armor abilities sound crazy unbalanced. Being able to become invulnerable and then explode into an EMP blast that disables nearby enemy shields will make me snap the disc. "
Leaving yourself completely immobile as a huge glowing target for every sniper/ DMR player on the map to set their sights on. Not to mention anyone at close range can just easily back away and escape the blast. It also takes time to charge to the full blast- if you just tap the button it will do almost nothing. Bungie knows their balance. Even if there are slight balance problems in the beta build, they'll be fixed in the shipping product. "
I hope you're right. But after reading that the only situation I can see this being useful in is saving yourself from death. "
Yeah, essentially that's what it does. It also ejects any needles or stuck grenades from your armor when you activate it. "
Is that for real? Now it seems like you can just run in to a group of enemies, activate it, and blow them all up with your grenades?
@Lambert: You just made yourself sound completely stupid in a room full of mostly people who are excited about this game. Now that you have unsuccessfully made yourself sound better than anyone in here, maybe you could at least know what your are talking about. Halo has been pretty similar in every game because they are all part of the SAME FRANCHISE. Battlefield plays alot like all the other battlefields with changes to improve/vary the gameplay to make it better just as every other game is a series does. Halo has continuously varied components of the game throughout its life such as dual wielding, equipment, forge, and other changes to alter the way parts of it is played to mix things up. But of course the core of the game will be the same/similar because it was a successful formula that has obviously worked for that decade now. There is a reason Halo 3 is still in the top games here at GB years after its release. Its not the best out there but many people still enjoy it whether you do or not.
Nice, this is the day after I come back from Orlando. Man, the next 12 weeks are going to be the best. Disney, Halo beta, Mama Mia Live! followed by my graduation from hight school and then prom and then renting that cottage and then the two day metal festival in Montreal. FUCK!
While I have always really liked the call of duty series, I have always preferred the stories that can come out of a halo match. With the vehicles, jacking, and insanity of all the physics. I can understand why many prefer MW2, but I am finding myself so much more excited than I could have imagined.
" The armor abilities sound crazy unbalanced. Being able to become invulnerable and then explode into an EMP blast that disables nearby enemy shields will make me snap the disc. "
Leaving yourself completely immobile as a huge glowing target for every sniper/ DMR player on the map to set their sights on. Not to mention anyone at close range can just easily back away and escape the blast. It also takes time to charge to the full blast- if you just tap the button it will do almost nothing. Bungie knows their balance. Even if there are slight balance problems in the beta build, they'll be fixed in the shipping product. "
I hope you're right. But after reading that the only situation I can see this being useful in is saving yourself from death. "
Yeah, essentially that's what it does. It also ejects any needles or stuck grenades from your armor when you activate it. "
Is that for real? Now it seems like you can just run in to a group of enemies, activate it, and blow them all up with your grenades? "
Nah it's like if you've been stuck with a plasma, in Halo 3 you're guaranteed dead, yeah? In Reach, if you're stuck you can deploy armor lock which knocks that sticky off you and saves your life. Or if someone's landed a bunch of needles in you and is close to a supercombine, you can armor lock and all the needles leave, making it much harder for them to supercombine on you.
" Meh. Of course, the Halo sheep will always buy the same game over and over again. They have for almost a decade now. Does anyone honestly care when superior multiplayer games such as Battlefield, Killzone 2, and MAG have come out ? "
Ok, I'll bite. How do you figure that Killzone 2 and MAG are both better games than Halo? Keep in mind, maximum supported player-count is largely inconsequential.
Color me interested. The fact that Spartans have to get health packs again is what intrigues me the most, aside from the aesthetic and mechanical differences between Spartans and Elites.
I cannot believe people question the brilliance of Halo multiplayer, and put clunky, unimaginative, games like Battefield in the same league. And complain about Halos being 'the same game'... MW2 is EXACTLY the same as MW!!! Without a doubt Halo multiplayer is the most flexible, fun, and competitive multiplayer out there, and Reach will be no different. And Forge people!?! Design your own maps! Seriously the Halo haters must either lack imagination or a thumb.
" I cannot believe people question the brilliance of Halo multiplayer, and put clunky, unimaginative, games like Battefield in the same league. And complain about Halos being 'the same game'... MW2 is EXACTLY the same as MW!!! Without a doubt Halo multiplayer is the most flexible, fun, and competitive multiplayer out there, and Reach will be no different. And Forge people!?! Design your own maps! Seriously the Halo haters must either lack imagination or a thumb. "
To be fair, there was only 2 years in between COD4 and MW2. Halo has been the same for nearly 9.
I'm a sucker for the science fiction setting that Halo has established so well, so the single-player campaign is something I'll really look forward to, as always. As for the multiplayer mode, they seem to be drawing some elements from Halo: CE (which is good), as well as, I suppose, "modernizing" a really tight formula that's been getting a little dry (which is really good), so this is the most excited I've been to play a match of Halo for years. Also, Jet Pack > Man Cannon.
Very excited for this game. Can't wait to play a halo that gives me a reason to play other than just getting to 50. Looking forward to the early beta code giveaway!
" I'm on the fence about some changes (jet pack?) but overall like Brad I'm equally impressed that they have me excited for a Halo game again. "
Same here.. I've had such a love/hate relationship with this franchise, before I read this I was imagining them just making more of the same. This is a bit..refreshing
Hope they find a nice happy balance for Spartans vs. Elites
I'm actually looking forward to trying this out. Halo was in separate need of modernization and refreshing so if that's what they did with Reach...well let's just say Halo 1 was awesome.
On a side note, with those early access beta codes, will we still need a copy of ODST to play in the beta?
As much as I love Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, it just doesn't have the same dynamic that Halo multiplayer has, I can quickly think of plenty of memorable games of Halo where something crazy and awesome happened that I'll never forget. Modern Warfare 2 games are pretty forgettable after your done with them. Also Halo's online multiplayer tends to not be broken.
Shouldn't everyone be able to sprint? That doesn't seem like it'd require an armor ability to do. What's so special about running really fast while lowering your weapon? Isn't that a basic ability for people?
Mother fucker, this looks great. I've been playing Halo 3 online sporadically within the last couple days and the foundation is still fun, but mostly in a fundamental sense. I feel the traditional online Halo experience has gotten stale (at least for me) so to see all of the new stuff in Reach makes me really excited. I can't wait. I'm anxiously awaiting the start of the beta, it'll be the perfect time sink until Red Dead Redemption comes out.
And for the record, fuck Modern Warfare 2. I hope this gets plenty of people to ditch that glitch fest for good.
I am a huge fan of Halo: CE and Halo 2 was propably my most anticipated game ever. I was dissapointed severely when Halo 2 came out, though I still played a TON of it with my friends. Both splitscreen multi with crazy rules and on Live. Halo 3 didn't grab my interest as I didn't own a X360 when it came out, although I did play it alot at friends houses.
I finally grabbed a cheap 360 couple weeks ago and got Halo 3 and played through properly... it was alright nothing special.
Might have to buy ODST just to be in this beta... Bungie has somehow kindled my interest in Reach.
Oh, and Battlefield Bad Company 2 online > MW2 online.
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