Alright, so I started this topic as a way for people to discuss their opinions on the Reach BETA. I think it comes out in 1 hour 20 minutes?
 
 
I personally am very anxious to see how spartans vs. elites balance out.

I think it will be a bit of a wait for the beta....  I don't think it will be released at noon.

You are selling me the earliest time I have seen so far for this. Where did you hear it? I cannot wait to play it, and I don't think it's going to work out well given the time it'll be hitting over here in the UK. 
As for beta-related hopes, I am looking forward to trying out the jetpacks, but then who isn't?

" I think it will be a bit of a wait for the beta....  I don't think it will be released at noon. "

"   STILL! this thread will be here after the BETA goes live, then we can see all the chit-chat.  "

Yeah, I'm thinking we've got another four hours or so until the beta. Looking forward to some of the objective game types. I wonder when they'll release Invasion, since I don't think it's part of the initial offering.

" @AlwaysAngry said:

"   STILL! this thread will be here after the BETA goes live, then we can see all the chit-chat.  "

True story. I'm looking forward to it. Where are you btw? It's 4 hours and 13 minutes until 8pm in the UK. "

I probably can't play it today because it's coming out so late :( (I live in Finland)

Revival time! 
 
Be sure to discuss, I'm downloading it now!!!

Discuss.

I'll discuss when it starts working again.

The Needle Rifle is my new best friend.

Finally getting into a Halo game, so there's that. Liking a lot of it, and finally getting past a lot of my old frustrations. Still getting used to the shields again. Only glaring balance issue is the plasma launcher on Swordbase. Too accurate a lock-on.

In the words of Agent York... 
 
Amazing. Yes.

Loving it so far and am actually ok at it, which is an achievement for me considering its a Halo game. The armour abilities are pretty cool and none of them are overpowered or unfair. How do you get into these Eltie deatmatch games people have been posting clips and stuff of.

Voting systems always suck. I much prefer the traditional playlist system where you choose what mode you want to play. It ruined Gears 2, I'll be sad if it ruins this.  
 
So far I have plaed 3 games and it's been pretty fun, it feels like the small changes made have really added a new depth to the old formula.

My last response was kind of cynical but I am overall pretty impressed.

One of my favorite moments that I've replicated a few times is I'll be getting double teamed or something and I'll go into armor lock. These mooks always seem to want to stare at me until I come out and my teammates come over and wedgie everyone.

Just finished my first game of Juggernaut in Reach. It's fun and works MUCH better than Halo 3's version. Apart from the one guy saying "Only retards play Halo that's for sure" even though he, himself, is playing Halo.

Covy Slayer is fun, with all them elites jumping around "Ruugh! Ruugh!".

The Beta is great. But the controls are confusing with Halo 3.

" Alright, so I started this topic as a way for people to discuss their opinions on the Reach BETA. I think it comes out in 1 hour 20 minutes?  I personally am very anxious to see how spartans vs. elites balance out. "

I'm no friend of classic Halo gameplay. Looking forward to testing Invasion though.
 

• I don't like unnatural maze-like maps. (Halo : Reach - check)
• I don't like weapon spawn pickups. (Halo : Reach - check)

Overall I've played like 7 games, friends playing more. I had a lot of fun with it.

A little bit of a shortage of maps in this beta and I don't care all that much for sword tower - it's a bit spread out for anything other than CTF, though CTF in it is pretty cool.  The problem is the map voting system, which casts everyone's vote for the default map.  A lot of people seem not to understand that they have to exercise their own will to get what they want.   Oh, and grenades, a little too powerful.
 
Regarding Invasion/Generators, those modes aren't released until later in the beta.  I'm not sure exactly why.  

Vote Covy slayer every time it comes up because it is awesome.
 
Thanks
 
Lots of love 
 
Scroll

I had fun with it.  Sucked at it, but still had fun. New to Halo.

I find it quite insulting that sprinting is its own "class."  You're going to equate sprinting with Jetpacks?   Any other game it's available to everyone. Plus the cooldown seems longer than it is to actually sprint. Really Bungie?
 
That's a ripoff to choose between the two. If you're going to make sprinting it's own load out, make it an insane amount of speed for a good amount of time. With a smaller cooldown, sprinting doesn't give someone THAT much of an edge. Especially when people have jetpacks, and can just fly away...
 
Also  I don't like how you don't hold down the button to sprint, again, every game does that. You know how Yahtzee complains when developers mis-use the second analog stick? This is the same thing. "Everyone make's their submarine out of metal, let's make ours out of bread!"

Also, I never played Oddball before, but having the game announcer say,
 
Ball dropped
Ball picked up
Ball dropped
Ball picked up
Ball dropped
Ball picked up
over and over and over again...
 
FOR TEN FREAKIN' MINUTES!!
 
I don't like it.

" I find it quite insulting that sprinting is its own "class."  You're going to equate sprinting with Jetpacks?   Any other game it's available to everyone. Plus the cooldown seems longer than it is to actually sprint. Really Bungie?  That's a ripoff to choose between the two. If you're going to make sprinting it's own load out, make it an insane amount of speed for a good amount of time. With a smaller cooldown, sprinting doesn't give someone THAT much of an edge. Especially when people have jetpacks, and can just fly away...  Also  I don't like how you don't hold down the button to sprint, again, every game does that. You know how Yahtzee complains when developers mis-use the second analog stick? This is the same thing. "Everyone make's their submarine out of metal, let's make ours out of bread!" "

I don't know what everyones complaining about sprint is the best armor ability!!

I'm enjoying it pretty thoroughly so far. Am utterly terrible at it, but I'm still enjoying it. Customizing your Spartan is a welcome addition to the Halo formula, and I think the Loadout stuff is handled pretty well.  
 
Plasma Grenade Launcher is probably the most unbalanced thing in the beta. Plasma Sword and Shotgun are both kind of ridiculous as well, but not to the extent of the Plasma Grenade Launcher. I both love and hate the reticle for the DMR and the Needle Rifle. It's a fine idea on paper, but snaring headshots with either weapon is a tricky, inconsistent business. 

I played for a bit today.  I think I visited 3 maps (not sure how many there are) and I liked the open one with the water the best of them.  Also, I hate guys who hide in corners with the hammer.  I still suck with sniper rifles but at least this beta there isn't a preset for "shotguns & snipers".  I didn't use the jet pack yet, but I like the cloak.  It won't really cover you, but if someone isn't looking directly at you when you move, you could move by without drawing their attention.  I played team slayer, CTF and the CTF where you run around and pick up all the flags you can find.  I had a reasonably good time.  When I started, I was creamed by everyone however over time, the game realized I suck and so it matched me up against others who suck.  I never did well, and usually there was 1 guy on each team who dominated, but the rest of us hangers-on were able to score some kills or bring home some flags.  And, I also realized I might as well not even have a mic for all the conversation that went on.  I'm not chatty, never have been, but except for a kid who asked "is anyone there?" I didn't hear any talking.  I'm not complaining, but it was a little odd.
 
EDIT: I forgot to mention that I am having a little trouble remembering the new button layout.  I know with more practice it will be easier, but I'd have preferred the ability to complete reconfigure it to something more familiar to me.

Really enjoying it but grenades are way too good.

" I find it quite insulting that sprinting is its own "class."  You're going to equate sprinting with Jetpacks?   Any other game it's available to everyone. Plus the cooldown seems longer than it is to actually sprint. Really Bungie?  That's a ripoff to choose between the two. If you're going to make sprinting it's own load out, make it an insane amount of speed for a good amount of time. With a smaller cooldown, sprinting doesn't give someone THAT much of an edge. Especially when people have jetpacks, and can just fly away...  Also  I don't like how you don't hold down the button to sprint, again, every game does that. You know how Yahtzee complains when developers mis-use the second analog stick? This is the same thing. "Everyone make's their submarine out of metal, let's make ours out of bread!" "

I am almost 100% certain that it's using the same engine as Halo 3. 

" @Bones8677 said:

" I find it quite insulting that sprinting is its own "class."  You're going to equate sprinting with Jetpacks?   Any other game it's available to everyone. Plus the cooldown seems longer than it is to actually sprint. Really Bungie?  That's a ripoff to choose between the two. If you're going to make sprinting it's own load out, make it an insane amount of speed for a good amount of time. With a smaller cooldown, sprinting doesn't give someone THAT much of an edge. Especially when people have jetpacks, and can just fly away...  Also  I don't like how you don't hold down the button to sprint, again, every game does that. You know how Yahtzee complains when developers mis-use the second analog stick? This is the same thing. "Everyone make's their submarine out of metal, let's make ours out of bread!" "

I agree. "

Covie slayer. :)
 
Sprint jumping is a bit too much.

Fuck Headhunter

i absolutely love the beta and any problems i have had i took to the bungie site to tell them about it

Liking the beta so far, all except for the plasma launcher. They need to remove the lock-on from that weapon, or at least nerf it. Other than that no real complaints with the game, although there are a few things I wish they would have done differently in this game but at this point in development theirs no chance.

I am extremely impressed with the beta. I've always bought previous Halo games, but could never keep interest in the multiplayer for long. Online quickly became repetitive and boring. So far this beta is awesome! 
 
The graphical improvement from ODST to Reach is outstanding, and the gameplay is much improved. I love how the beatdowns are much less powerful than in the past, and I think the addition of the new special abilities such as sprint, cloak, and jetpack add a new, fun element to the game. The maps in the beta are very well laid out as well. 
 
I love everything about the beta, and can't wait until reach finally comes out later this year!

I'm not liking it.
too samey, and grenades as allways with a bungie product are insanely overpowered at first they will gimp them later I can't figure out why they don't get it right from the start.
I'm not liking the health mechanic at all.

" I'm not liking it. too samey, and grenades as allways with a bungie product are insanely overpowered at first they will gimp them later I can't figure out why they don't get it right from the start. I'm not liking the health mechanic at all. "