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Halo for 7 hours straight...
Posted By: Funky J <funkyjrob@drunkenbastards.com>	Date: 11/14/01 2:16 a.m.
Well, after two or more long years, I've gotten to play Halo. It took several weeks, but I finally took the initiative to get my ass over to Software Etc. and played it. I'm not going to waste a lot of your time, because I've only been really good with brief synopses. So, the time has come for Funky J to throw in his two cents. Let me start off by saying that I played NOTHING but coop on Normal (it was my first time, after all) difficulty, so don't bother asking. The bad? I really can think of only two notable things that come to mind. I hate to say this, but the framerate DID drop in large areas with a good deal of firing going on. I suppose that's forgivable, given the size of the areas I'm talking about, but the rumors about framerate dips in certain areas are true. Second, level design IS a bit repetitious indoors. In the snowy level, Assault On The Command Center (or something like that), there were 6-7 almost identical circular rooms, with predictable entrances and exits. There, those are my two complaints. That's it. Nothing else. The good? Well, just about everything. This is one of the most polished games I've ever played. The visual presentation of Halo is outstanding, even in split-screen mode on a regular TV with low gamma and too much glare, and at a low resolution. Of course, I had to try out the umbra effect for myself. Damn, that's a smooth effect. The enemies are detailed and well designed, with great animations. The levels aren't NEARLY as big in the movies as they are when you're actually walking around in the game; I'd suggest finding a vehicle to carry yourself around in/on. At least once, sit on the front tread of the Scorpion as it fires at distant targets; it's truly a humbling experience. The explosion-to-smoke effect is the best that I have EVER seen in a game, and the destruction of vehicles is so well done that you WILL shout, "Oh HELL YEAH," every time you blow one up. It's an electrifying sensation, to say the least. There's so much more that I could talk about, and I can only imagine what Halo will look like at 800x600 or 1024x768. The AI is stunning, given that they're handicapped by necessary AI restraints, such as poor aiming. I have nothing to report on the AI that hasn't already been said before. The humans move in groups, ducking, using cover, throwing grenades, taking pot shots, flanking. The enemy AI will run when necessary, luring you around corners to take shots at you, surround you with sheer numbers, use explosives when they're all out of options. Impressive to hear, amazing to see. Interesting story: I was in a turret shooting at a charging yellow Elite. Obviously I felt a bit cocky because I thought I had him outgunned. That's when he lept clear over my fire and cut me up with his energy sword. I now both fear and respect the yellow Elites, and you'd be wise to do the same. The sound, the music, all terribly impressive even with the sound turned low in a noisey mall. The mindless banter of the marines, the frenzied shrieks of grunts as they run from you in terror, the hefty clank of a Hunter as it charges towards you, and the thunderous clash of grenade and ground. Now don't get me wrong about the controls. I prefer a mouse and keyboard, but that's not even CLOSE to saying that Halo has terrible control on a console. The controls are great. Fluid and accurate, and easily the best I've ever had the pleasure of using on a console. It has a bit of autoaim, but nothing as extreme as Goldeneye. The controller is "alright". I have absolutely no problem with its size, but the button placement and size could have been better. The A, X, Y, and B buttons are too far from the right thumbstick, in my opinion, but it's not like it makes that big of a deal. And just for the record, anyone who complains about driving the vehicles because it's too hard is an idiot, plain and simple. It just requires a bit of timing that's easy to get the hang of with just a few tries. Overall gameplay? Well, let me clarify a few things first. There is no flamethrower. The only weapons in the game are the ones in the manual. But I'd bet my life that you won't notice at all. Not only will you not notice, you won't care. When I was playing Halo, the flamethrower didn't even pass through my mind. In a lot of games, there are weapons that are "just there until you get a good weapon." Not in Halo. Every weapon has its advantages and disadvantages, and in my opinion, it would have been redundant to add more weapons. I guarantee that you're going to want to use explosives more than anything else, both out of necessity and for the overwhelming fun of it. Repetitive? No. Sure, you fight the similar enemies in similar situations, but you won't care about that either. There's nothing quite like a well-thrown grenade launching a pack of Covenant off a bridge, into some walls, or through blown-out windows. The weapons are well balanced, though I found myself using the assault rifle/rocket launcher combination during most of my play time. As far as vehicles go: don't think you're invincible because you're cruising along in a jeep or a tank. If you're careless in Halo, that jeep will easily end up on its back or you'll be expelled from the tank, dead. By the way, don't shoot a Banshee that's flying straight at you with the rocket launcher. That thing will still have enough momentum to crash into and crush you. That was longer than I intended it to be, but bottom line: Halo is teh r00l. I played it from 2:00 - 8:45, pausing only to read the strategy guide, where I completely ruined the story for myself (I now know how Halo ends). If you're boycotting this game, then the only person you're hurting is yourself.

Message Index

Halo for 7 hours straight...	Funky J	11/14/01 2:16 a.m.
thats the way to do it >=) *NM*	Nate	11/14/01 9:01 a.m.
Thanks *NM*	Djof@School	11/14/01 12:46 p.m.
Re: Halo for 7 hours straight...	vector40	11/14/01 8:07 p.m.
Re: Halo for 7 hours straight...	Funky J	11/14/01 9:09 p.m.
Re: Halo for 7 hours straight...	vector40	11/14/01 9:59 p.m.