![]() ![]() The Ravager, for instance, is an incendiary launcher that can also fire charged shots, but in practice, it’s much less effective than its description makes it sound. ![]() Some new weapons, however, are not as fun to use. There’s the Disruptor, which deals damage to enemies and vehicles over time, and the Shock Rifle, a long-range burst weapon that can one-shot fully shielded enemies, or even disable vehicles. ![]() There’s the Skewer, a deadly long-range weapon that launches a high-powered spike that’s capable of destroying a vehicle in and of itself, while the new electricity-based Shock weapons also throw in a new layer of tactical nuance, with Shock damage being a new element. There are new weapons that have been thrown into the mix as well, most of which are excellent additions. Meanwhile, the VK78 Commando is similar, in that it looks and sounds like a dangerous weapon, though in practice, it is far less deadly than it seems like it should be. Not all weapons are balanced as they should be though- the Bulldog shotgun looks formidable and kicks like a mule, but it can take three to four shots to kill an enemy. And of course, melee weapons such as the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer are still an absolute blast to use- I’ll never get tired of the absolute havoc they can wreak on enemies if you’re using them smartly, and I also really appreciate how they’ve been balanced to feel meaningfully different from each other, which hasn’t always been the case in past Halo games. Weapons provide excellent audio and visual feedback, and some, like the MK50 Sidekick pistol or the S7 Sniper, deal devastating damage that never gets old. Staples like the Assault Rifle, Battle Rifle, Plasma Pistol, Needler, and more are, of course, back, and for the most part they all feel excellent to use. This is an area where Halo has always excelled, and it continues to do so in Infinite. It helps that there’s a solid selection of weapons on offer in the game. All of this allows Infinite to strike a great balance between being accessible and enjoyable on a fundamental level, while also allowing more skilled and dedicated players to formulate their own on-the-fly strategies and work within the nuances of all the interacting mechanics. Meanwhile, knowing when to fire off the hip, when to zoom in using the left trigger, when and how to use your grenades, and again, when to use your tactical equipment is all a crucial part of the experience. Sprinting, clambering up higher surfaces, and using tactical equipment (which I’ll get to in a bit) allows for a much more robust set of movement options, which is something that is baked into the way maps are designed as well. Movement and gunplay feel slick and consistently enjoyable, so that even the simple act of moving around and aiming and shooting a weapon at an enemy just feels good. "It remains to be seen how successful it has been with that where the game’s single player campaign is concerned, but in terms of the multiplayer, I can confidently say that, at long last, Halo is finally back where it belongs- right on top."īefore we get to that though, let’s talk about the basics- because it’s here that Halo Infinite truly shines. It feels like a Halo game through and through, feeling in many ways like a spiritual successor to Halo 3. But while its similarities to past Halo games are certainly one of its biggest strengths, Infinite also benefits from implementing new mechanics and ideas, and balancing them perfectly with what a Halo experience should be. Halo Infinite very much retains that identity. From map design and visual aesthetic to weapons, movement, and even things such as time-to-kill (TTK), Halo has always felt like a very unique multiplayer experience. Halo has always had a very distinct multiplayer identity from the other big franchises that it has competed against in this space over the years. It remains to be seen how successful it has been with that where the game’s single player campaign is concerned, but in terms of the multiplayer, I can confidently say that, at long last, Halo is finally back where it belongs- right on top. With Halo Infinite, 343 Industries is looking to finally change that and deliver what it’s calling the ultimate Halo experience. Halo’s transition from Bungie to 343 Industries has been rough, and though the latter has been in charge of the franchise for a decade at this point, it doesn’t feel like it’s been able to fully stamp its name on the series’ identity and its legacy. You can read our thoughts on the game’s single player campaign in our full Halo Infinite review. NOTE: This review-in-progress focuses on our impressions of Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer component. ![]()
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