The new Halo: Reach trailer has been dividing opinion round my way. Without exception everyone has said that it looks stunning, especially if it is indeed in real time. It is the content, however, that has proven divisive. Some, and not necessarily all Halo fanboys, think it’s amazing, revealing a lost unit of Spartans and the opportunity for squad-based tactics, whilst there are others who think that it is all style and no substance. I may be risking my “I love Bungie” membership card here, but I fall into the second camp.
Speaking as a fan who has read all the Halo novels, bought the board games, and would probably don Master Chief underwear were there some available, it doesn’t do anything for me. This may be down to the rumours of a squad shooter have been circulating for months now and so the sight of multiple Spartans wasn’t a shock, but also I was staggered to see what they were wearing. The Fall of Reach runs pretty much in parallel with the first Halo game and whilst Master Chief is decked out in his standard issue olive-green Mjolnir Mark V battle armour, it appears those Spartans left on Reach have been taking hints from Armour of Two. Gone are any mental images I had of a unit of well drilled green, mean killing machines and in its place I’m waiting for the first fist pump and probably some overly Jock-like comments towards the woman of the unit.
Of course this is just one trailer but for me this is the equivalent of hearing that they’re turning my favourite book into a film, only to find out that it appears Gok Wan has been brought on to do costume; there may still (and most likely will) be the quality you hoped for underneath but first I have to get past the visuals.
I make my living as a programmer at a British games developer. In my spare time I try and spread myself between writing, gaming, drumming, goalkeeping, rolling dice and keeping my hair blue. Somewhere around that my wife fits in.
Disclaimer: the views expressed are my own and do not neccessarily reflect those of my employer. "
2 Comments
Hmmm i see what you mean about the custom armours, i guess they are just trying to please the “i want something like Recon” fanboys, and also the latest gameplay trailer shows some battles with Alot of spartans, maybe the changing qualities are so you can single out your squad members in larger battlefields.
Althought we could be looking at Gears of Halo…
I’ve read in the latest Bungie update there is going to be actual performance differences between elites and spartans, which is brilliant. I think all the permutations are going to be choices much like the weapons. Like jetpacks, extra weapons etc. Not long til the beta eh?