Halo 4

**Candyman5** · 09-08-2012, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by Steiner01

The cinematics look really good, and it'll be nice to interact more with the UNSC.

Usually they just contacted you from radio and sent you with Marines or ODST's. I've seen a few different cutscenes with him meeting with officers, like the post above, and one where a superior officer was yelling at Chief.

Is Cortana's deterioration going to be a point of contention? It'll be good to see how everybody reacts as her behavior gets more unpredictable.

I can see the UNSC wanting to decommission her while the Chief defends her.

**Flawless** · 09-12-2012, 09:18 PM

Re: Halo 4

ViDoc #2

The designers, artists, engineers, and production staff of 343 industries talk about the challenges and goals in creating a brand new race of enemies for Halo 4. See early concepts of the Prometheans and learn about their technology and fearsome weapons.

**CaptainZombie** · 09-12-2012, 10:10 PM

Re: Halo 4

Originally posted by Flawless

ViDoc #2

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-_XqmJGUJ9o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This video looks utterly amazing.

Anyone else think that Bungie didn't really try to tap the 360 power like what we are seeing here from 343?

**Flawless** · 09-12-2012, 11:05 PM

Re: Halo 4

That sprawling environment with the Warthog is sexy:

Spoiler

Promethean Knight destroying an Elite:

Spoiler

**Steiner01** · 09-13-2012, 07:20 PM

Re: Halo 4

That's a mighty big environment that warthog is driving in.

Elite got destroyed. I hope there's some 3 way battles in this game. UNSC VS. Covenant VS. Forerunners, like some of the Chief VS. Covenant VS. Flood fights in CE. Two Betrayals was pretty memorable in CE.

I also REALLY loved the soundtrack in the video, particularly the chanting, it just looks like it'll fit perfectly with the tone of the game.

**Flawless** · 09-21-2012, 05:29 AM

Re: Halo 4

Massive media blowout:

Campaign hands-on previews:

Spoiler

IGN

When the cutscene ends and the proper game begins, it’s immediately evident that 343i has assembled a world-class technology team. Oh, you’ll know this is the Halo engine by feel – the weight and movement is decidedly, blissfully “Halo” – but to the eye you’d be forgiven for believing this is a fresh piece of next-generation tech. That’s not hyperbole; Halo 4 is a clear leap over any and all of its predecessors, with an obvious fidelity boost that has the game runing in actual 1280x720 resolution, which should please those sticklers who noted that previous Xbox 360 Halos technically ran a few pixels below the native HD specification. It’s sharp, it’s crisp, and it’s gorgeous.

First, 343i definitely gets Halo. No need to worry about that. For a new developer, their game plays like something out of a veteran studio. The visuals are amazing, the audio – which I haven’t mentioned until now – is downright potent thanks to a punchier arsenal of weapon sounds, and the new weapons feel fantastic.

Meanwhile, Halo’s long-renowned AI lives up to its reputation, even with these new additions to the bad guy roster. Crawlers will group up and flank around behind you, Watchers devilishly protect Knights, and Knights are just plain difficult to deal with.

Shacknews

With the first level proving 343 has the chops to do Halo the way mom and pop used to make, the developer adds its own flourishes. For example, the first level adds a Metroid-esque escape sequence that has you rushing through panicking Covenant. You must escape through a shaft, and in Uncharted fashion, you begin climbing. You must dodge the falling debris as you make your way up, and it's all done in first-person. There's no QTEs here; this is gameplay, and it's unlike anything I've seen in Halo before. It's also absolutely thrilling.

Halo 4 offers more of what fans have come to expect from a Halo game, like satisfying vehicular combat and harrowing enemy encounters in wide open spaces. But, 343 has done an incredible job of adding so many new elements that it still feels fresh. It's also a beaut; the new art style is especially eye-catching, and the enhanced engine somehow manages to make Reach feel outdated. Although I only played two full campaign missions, 343 has convinced me that not only can they match the bar set by Bungie, but transcend it as well.

Destructoid: A day of Halo 4 turned me into a believer

"Dawn" was perfectly fine as an opening level, but it was "Forerunner," the third mission of Halo 4's campaign, that got me truly excited.

Frankly, this level reminded me of Metroid Prime.

That comparison can be drawn in a few different ways, and considering Metroid Prime is one my all-time favorite videogames, I mean it as a huge compliment; it's as unexpected to see as it is cool. From the foreign look of the new Promethean enemies themselves, to the planet's jagged landscape and the towering structures that protrude from it, you start to get that "exploring an alien world" vibe.

It can't be stated enough how welcome an addition the Prometheans are. The stoic Knights are intimidating, and satisfying to fight. Between them, the dog-like Crawlers, and the hovering little Watchers, which can toss back grenades and regenerate fallen Knights, it can be easy to get overwhelmed if you aren't being smart about your position on the battlefield.

Throughout this mission, the Covenant and the Prometheans fought one another, providing the opportunity to temporarily take sides before finishing them all off. This really exemplified how big an impact new enemies -- and their different behavior patterns -- can have on making shootouts enjoyable again.

We aren't allowed to talk about some of the (admittedly major) plot points that transpired in "Forerunner" -- 343 wants them to be a surprise for players -- so I'm not going to give a full moment-by-moment rundown up to that point. Just know that I'm personally interested in seeing where the story of Halo 4 goes and am feeling pretty good about 343's ability to deliver a solid narrative. The Prometheans are incredibly promising and I'm looking forward to seeing them get fleshed out.

Alternatively, Halo 4's campaign isn't simply the next logical step for the franchise -- it's an exciting new direction. And it's far better off for it.

The Verge

The Prometheans don't fight like the Covenant do. They tend to be more aggressive, more strident in their movement toward the Chief.

More interestingly, the Promethean forces demonstrate a more interconnected series of strategies and tactics than the Covenant. Knights spawn Watchers, which hover over the battlefield and offer support via shields, healing, and a tractor beam that can catch incoming grenades and toss them back. Crawlers work in packs and attack asymmetrically from walls and will often flank unconventionally.

Flanking isn't new, but the speed and ferocity of the Promethean onslaught makes Covenant attack patterns look almost lumbering in comparison. When all three of the Promethean enemy types I encountered were on screen at once, they coordinated rapidly, and demanded prioritization that inverted the standard Halo loop.

Halo 4's visual overhaul was consistently impressive in my time with the game. The screens and video that 343i have released aren't cherry-picking the "good parts," they're indicative of a game that will in all likelihood come to define the end of the Xbox 360's life-cycle, visually speaking.

More importantly, the bits of character performance I saw were improved in such a way as build characters with clearer motivations than I think a Halo game has seen before. It's difficult to talk about without spoiling some minor and major plot points, but 343i's performance capture strategy, using techniques similar to Naughty Dog's work with the Uncharted series, are paying subtle but deep dividends thus far.

...

New multiplayer mode revealed "Dominion":

Spoiler

Dominion takes elements of the Conquest game type found in titles like Battlefield 3, while adding additional, Halo-inspired wrinkles to the mode. Matches start with three unoccupied bases that must be captured in order to earn points over the course of a round. If a control point is occupied long enough, it can be resupplied, which offers additional points after a predetermined amount of time.

The aforementioned wrinkles come in the form of the structures that house each capture point. Once a point is secured and resupplied, defensive emplacements start to deploy around its structure. These emplacements include holographic vehicle deployment stations as well as powerful anti-personnel turrets and shield doors that limit access to the control point inside.

Those fortifications remain even if another team takes over the base, but taking over one of those bases takes slightly longer, and is much more difficult as the defenses are up.

Those defenses become more important over the course of a match as each team tries to secure points captured by the opposition. Even abortive attempts to take a point can result in a delay in a resupply or fortification, and, more urgently, a delay in point rewards. During the few matches we were given the chance to play, this dynamic tended to define Dominion. Teams were forced to act quickly, especially toward the end of the match, as just holding two out of the three capture points wouldn't prevent a win by the other team after a late stage resupply.

More interestingly, a sort of slaughter-rule is in effect in Dominion. If one team dominates the other and secures all three capture points, a sudden death timer begins, forcing the losing team to capture a point before all of their members are killed, ending the match. This sense of urgency and fast back and forth is a different sort of multiplayer sensibility compared to Halo's traditional team modes, which tend toward the deliberate and a slower pace.

....

Videos:

Spoiler

**Steiner01** · 09-21-2012, 03:32 PM

Re: Halo 4

Excitement level before previews: 9

After: 999999999999999999

Seriously... November 6th can't get her fast enough.

**Tymes Rhymes** · 09-21-2012, 09:28 PM

Re: Halo 4

I posted my thoughts on my YouTube channel over the recent GameTrailers footage of Halo 4, I really just can't wait. So much is going on in multiple ways for Halo 4.

I need this game NOW!!!

**Candyman5** · 09-24-2012, 05:40 AM

Re: Halo 4

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z4NLJpTXOtU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I cannot wait until I get my hands on the Beam Rifle. I was beast in Halo 3 with it and it will be the same in Halo 4. Also looks like they have the plasma pistol dasmage similiar to how it was in the Halo Reach beta. I loved it in the beta however they nerfed it in retail and made it useless other than the fact that you could disable vehicles.

**Kevin26385** · 09-25-2012, 08:07 PM

Re: Halo 4

OS Halo 4 night....every day of the week?

We should start getting back into Halo Reach to gear up for the release.

**Candyman5** · 09-26-2012, 05:39 AM

Re: Halo 4

Originally posted by Kev5890

OS Halo 4 night....every day of the week?

We should start getting back into Halo Reach to gear up for the release.

Im down however I dont have Halo Reach. I fit of rage I kind of got rid of it and never bought it again. Lol. Armor Lock made me nuts.

**CaptainZombie** · 09-26-2012, 09:14 AM

Re: Halo 4

Originally posted by Candyman5

Im down however I dont have Halo Reach. I fit of rage I kind of got rid of it and never bought it again. Lol. Armor Lock made me nuts.

**Candyman5** · 09-30-2012, 09:33 AM

Re: Halo 4

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/15Ksq4dvLuk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

**jmood88** · 09-30-2012, 11:53 AM

Re: Halo 4

Originally posted by Candyman5

I want dubstep to die in a fire.

**Cyros** · 09-30-2012, 12:19 PM

Re: Halo 4

Dubstep does not belong with Halo...

Halo 4

Recommended Videos

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment