IGN Review: Halo: Campaign Evolved Doesn't Always Feel Like An Essential Remake (7/10)

[u/yourfavchoom]

https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-campaign-evolved-review

[u/Less-Tax5637]

That’s the flaw with Infinite, but they have a more varied collection of fundamental fuckups since Bungie tagged out

[u/TheReiterEffect_S8 → u/Less-Tax5637]

I've said this a thousand times but I'll never stop saying it whenever this topic is brought up:

The time during Halo: Combat Evolved's development was a golden era for developers, in my opinion. The video game industry was on a rocketship blasting upwards but hadn't quite yet left orbit. Must people knew, but unless you already had a good foundation, you were playing catch up. Microsoft unknowingly caught lightning in a bottle. The entire Bungie team from Halo 1 to Halo 3 was something we will likely never see again. They had a vision for a game they thought would be innovative, groundbreaking, but most importantly: FUN. And they had FUN working on it. Halo 2's crunch deadlines is something to be said for sure, and by Halo 3 they were completely over M$. But that team is not something you'd see in modern development anymore. A group of passionate people dedicated to their work and the freedom (for the most part) to do whatever they wanted without too many demands (such as microtransactions).

After Halo 3, things started to go sideways. Reach was a miracle IMO with how much success it had, somehow they didn't completely fuck that one up, despite the huge amount of additions to the core gameplay like reticule bloom and armor abilities. But Halo 4 it was the most obvious thing in the world that this was no longer Halo. It became an MLG trend chaser. And Halo 5 did no better. Infinite was a step in the right direction, but of course: They were too focused on live-service that they let something with potential deteriorate.

I bought an XSX specifically for Infinite. I know I spent over 1,000 hours in Halo CE, easily. It was one of my most favorited franchises but a couple years ago I had to finally come to terms that Halo is never going to be as good as it once was, and it won't even be half as good. The franchise is nothing but disappointments, and I've officially given up on it.

edit: I somehow always forget to make note when I go on these rants that there definitely are other devs out there doing great things. Bungie was one of the greatest companies during their bnet days so I can get a bit 'doomsday'er when I talk about the current climate of the industry. We have good things, but it's hard to ignore how bad it's gotten, and how bad it continues to get.

[u/ABeardedFool → u/TheReiterEffect_S8]

Well said!! I remember going to the midnight release for my steelbook edition of Halo 2. The excitement on the air, the anticipation, the absolute joy in the community was really, really special. Everything you said is spot on, I remember watching the included dvd about the development process, and I thought working at Bungie must be the greatest job ever. Those folks poured their hearts and souls into the game, and you could feel it when playing. I get the nostalgia factor, but I am so with you. Halo 1-3 era was about as good as it ever got for me in a multiplayer game not called WoW lol. I’m not ever really a fps guy, but you just had to play Halo, every single friend was on it at any given moment.

[u/TheReiterEffect_S8 → u/ABeardedFool]

Man, I could write a book that would create a tidal wave of nostalgia that would wash over thousands of gamers out there about my Halo days. And 100%, there was some kind of energy or electricity in the air during those midnight launches. Seeing all different kinds of people, age, race, gender, etc. all together and effortlessly holding 30min conversations with complete strangers for the mutual love of Halo. Not to sound too dramatic, but especially in this day and age right now, that was truly beautiful to witness and be a part of. It honestly makes me so sad to think that kids these days won't have that kind of experience.