Halo Infinite’s Big Team Battle mode finally thrills me

Despite the hype, Infinite haloThe first two multiplayer test weekends didn’t get me. At first I was impressed by its “classic” Halo feel. But even though its pre-release state reminds me of the glory days of Halo 3I got bored after a few games and started to wonder if a classic shooter in the arena is something I want in my life in 2021.

But I was hoping that my favorite Halo mode, Big Team Battle, would eventually puncture my ticket to the Infinite halo hype train. And after a weekend of playing in InfiniteOn bigger maps, with more teammates and power weapons, I now find myself comfortably sitting in the trainer, actively awaiting the December 8 release date. While it is not finished yet, Infinite halo‘s Big Team Battle reminds me why I fell in love with Halo’s multiplayer as a kid. And it’s the first time that 343 Industries has successfully crossed that line between a modernized and classic feel.

It’s hard to translate what made Halo iconic in the first place. Being the first console shooter with analog sticks certainly didn’t hurt, but it is more than that. Yes, many fights in Halo are decided by who is faster with his melee button, but the series threw so many variables into the fray that it was exciting for its unpredictability.

The kills were either instantaneous or laborious, and varied wildly whether you were armed with a grenade or a rifle. And each map offered a new opportunity to learn your favorite weapons and vehicle generation, forcing you to outmaneuver your opponents. Big Team Battle, or the original incarnation of Big Team Battle in Halo: Combat EvolvedCustom Games in Blood Gulch – Added powerful weapons and vehicles to the formula. But no matter how big it got and how many new toys you brought in, each encounter always felt like a duel, even if your second stepped in to help before the duel was over. That’s Halo, and it’s something that even Bungie didn’t keep during the time he made the series.

Things changed with Halo 4. This first game in what was supposed to be a new trilogy came with the impossible task of modernizing Halo for 2012 gamers and also emulating Bungie’s past successes. And with Halo 5: Guardians, 343 added stabilizing jumps in the air, downward aiming and reinforcements that allow it to run in any direction. In his quest to modernize Halo, 343 sped it up and lost all that intimacy between duelists.

In taking the reins of Bungie, 343 had the unenviable task of preparing a beloved franchise for the future whose strengths weren’t what many would consider modern. And while some gamers undoubtedly enjoy what 343 has done with Halo, it’s certainly hard to say that Halo 4 or Halo 5: Guardians they have the same pedigree as the original trilogy. But, if its multiplayer is any indication, Infinite halo feels like a ray of hope for the Master Chief fans who have suffered so much.

The 343 containment was the first thing I noticed with the Infinite halo beta. Gone are the motion additions of Halo 5: Guardians. The left trigger is still getting closer Infinite, but many non-zoom weapons only give you a binocular view. You can run in Infinite halo – something the original trilogy didn’t have, and Reach It is only offered as an additional armor power, but the speed increase is slight compared to many other shooters from 2021. In other words, you can collect and play Infinite halo with modern controls without having to retrain your brain to think like a 2007 Xbox 360 gamer. But these additions are small enough not to give away what feels like a simple shootout.

In a little sand Infinite halo It feels like the classic Halo (with slight tweaks), but it doesn’t give me anything that I can’t get elsewhere. Nor does it show the new additions that I have made a splash in Infinite. Big Team Battle, on the other hand, offers a more unique experience.

Big Team Battle has that bombastic Halo feel, with Banshees flying overhead and Ghosts crushing the bodies of enemy Spartans. It’s what Battlefield always seems to want to be, but with a splash of color and an otherworldly vibe. Duels occur on the sides of the maps as three players in a Warthog attempt to steal the flag in a single coordinated effort. It’s all reminiscent of the Xbox 360 glory days of Halo.

But just when everything is feeling too familiar, someone approaches with a grappling hook, reminding me that 343 has, in fact, not completely abandoned its acrobatic leanings. At the individual level, Infinite it is relatively slow and easy. But the view at 30,000 feet, or just through the eye of a Banshee, is a beautiful, explosive chaos that feels both classic and new.

Halo hasn’t felt like Halo to me in years, and I’ve missed it for so long that I convinced myself that I didn’t want it anymore, like looking at the Star Wars sequel trilogy and thinking “maybe we should Have you stopped before we get to this? But this weekend, I felt like Halo was back. And more importantly, I’m excited for its return.