Halo: Reach

[AwesomeMonstar]

CGR review!

[dsheinem]

CGR review!

That review made me go from "*sigh* I guess I'll get down to Kmart at some point tomorrow to grab Reach for cheap and throw it on the backlog" to "OMG I want to play this now...clear the schedule!"

[darthmunky]

Good review but I hate his comedy

[Ack]

A few years ago it was let out that when reviews were finished, Microsoft was unhappy with some of the scores one of the Halo games had received. So they offered money to Gamespot to up the scores.

Then again, when you have stuff like that reviewer getting canned several years ago for giving too low a score to Kane & Lynch, you learn not to place too much credence on reviews.

That really sounds like nothing more than neogaf speculation. Show some proof aside from Gertsmangate.

As a matter of fact, I did get a few facts wrong, but considering the events happened in 2007 I'm surprised I remembered any of it at all. For the release of Halo 3, Microsoft sent out press packages to various reviewers who were to consider the game. The package contained Xbox 360 and Halo merchandise worth $800, prompting games journalist Dean Takahashi of the San Jose Mercury News to consider it an attempt at garnering a better review. He adamantly refused to allow it to influence his opinion of the game and sent the materials back.

http://www.qj.net/qjnet/xbox-360/dean-t ... bribe.html

While I’d love to show you the original article on the topic, it no longer exists. Links to it will take to you a page from the Edge gaming magazine, and using their search engine will net no results.

But the bribe issue merely relates to my comment concerning the reviews, which was intended more at bashing game reviews than insulting the Halo series. After incidents like this and the firing of editor Jeff Gerstmann from GameSpot, I don't feel I can trust them. Gerstmann alleged he was fired because he had just given Kane & Lynch: Dead Men a poor review. Eidos, the publisher of Kane & Lynch, happened to be giving GameSpot a considerable amount of advertising funding at the time, and the game news site had gone so far as to design the website to the game’s theme and background. While GameSpot and owner CNET deny this was the reason they terminated a respected editor with a long history in the industry, they’ve never given a reason why. GameSpot said it was due to California state law not allowing the public admittance of the reason why, though reviewers Alex Navarro, Ryan Davis, Brad Shoemaker, and Vinny Caravella all left the company shortly afterward specifically due to the scandal.

That is why I don’t trust reviews.

Now on to your next question, why I don’t like Halo. You asked for me to name a few things about the game that I dislike, but I'll start with a few positives I see.

POSITIVE

Multiple control schemes, including at least one that works for left-handed people, a group that's usually forgotten in console FPS.
A mass of multiplayer options and modes to try.
Quality music.
For the time nice graphics that have aged reasonably well.

NEGATIVE

Repetitive level design, with some places repeating the same thing over and over again. I've also complained about this in other games, especially FEAR.
I found the multiplayer maps to be bland.
The music was nice, but forgettable. Honestly I'm having difficulty recalling it, though I figure I'll know it when I hear it.
Certain vehicles didn't feel up to spec when compared to others. As Niode has said, the Warthog didn't feel good, though I did particularly enjoy the Ghost.

Aside from this, the story and the enemy AI didn't impress me either. By this point I'd seen interesting and entertaining science fiction plots in first person shooters, as well as solid AI in FPS titles like Half-Life.

But ultimately the biggest problem I have with the game is the fans and their nearly fanatical zeal for it being the "best game ever." Darthmunky is a perfect example. Here's a guy who swears he loves FPS, but can only produce the names of four he liked out of over thousands of FPS games, and of all of them he swears Halo is the best. I'm sorry, I disagree, and I feel that statement was either made out of ignorance or insult because it demeans so many other games that I've spent hundreds of hours playing, as have many of the people I know. I also feel it demeans the individuals that made those games to say that their work pales in comparison to Halo. And I have heard that claim before.

But I also noticed he only mentioned console FPS. Perhaps he hasn't ever been interested in PC FPS, but to declare a king of the FPS genre without having even considered the overall mass of titles for PC frankly angers me to no end. It's like picking the best fighting game of all time, but only picking from fighters on Nintendo consoles, or selecting the greatest shmup based solely on it appearing on the Dreamcast without consideration for the many other great shmups out there. But maybe he has played many PC FPS and simply didn't like any. In that case, I'd argue that he really despises the genre and just doesn't realize it. After all, I know I dislike platformers, but I can name more than four that I'd happily go back to.

It's this trend of forgetting and willful ignorance that bothers me. I can name many great FPS, but so many of the Halo promoters seem to forget their existence. I was once told that Half-Life, Doom, Quake, and Unreal Tournament were all pointless to consider because Halo was better and those games were on PC, as if by virtue of their being on a different platform they were either irrelevant or did not exist. Yet I was there for the release of these titles, and they redefined either elements of or the entirety of the genre. And yes, these are deep games, even if you choose to deny it. Contemplate the strategies that go into beating Doom on Nightmare difficulty and how it practically requires you to make enemies battle it out with each other. Then consider the difference to console versions where frames of animation were removed so enemies rarely fight one another because they never face each other.

I also lament the change from PC FPS to console FPS, not because I find anything inherently wrong about console FPS beyond my dislike for using analog sticks for first person movement (I find them preferable for third person movement, which is why I favor third person shooters on consoles), but because I dislike the slow pace required due to the lower sensitivities of console games. Dsheinem and I were recently discussing this in the IRC channel, that console FPS tend to be slower games because they lack the sensitivity for the quick turns found in PC FPS. I have always preferred frantic action in my FPS titles, so I lament the loss of this speed. Perhaps you feel vengeful towards PC gaming purists who used to tout the capability of their preferred gaming machine. I don't know, as I can't speak for you.

I see Halo as the start of this anti-PC gaming trend. The PC port of Halo is sluggish, with a poor framerate and gameplay that feels lacking. For me, I point to it as the start of the transition from PC to console, and now we see important features either intentionally left out, changed, or forgotten to favor console gaming.

I do not feel that the game receiving positive scores is an attack on my ego, though I do see your statements accusing me of it as being intentionally malicious. I do agree with jfrost's sentiments about reviewers in general this generation not giving poor scores to major titles. I do not feel, nor have I ever felt, that Halo is the be-all end-all that people seem to declare it. And frankly, without such titles that you choose to demean, like Wolf 3D, Halo would never have existed in the first place. Show some respect.

[darthmunky]

But ultimately the biggest problem I have with the game is the fans and their nearly fanatical zeal for it being the "best game ever." Darthmunky is a perfect example. Here's a guy who swears he loves FPS, but can only produce the names of four he liked out of over thousands of FPS games, and of all of them he swears Halo is the best. I'm sorry, I disagree, and I feel that statement was either made out of ignorance or insult because it demeans so many other games that I've spent hundreds of hours playing, as have many of the people I know. I also feel it demeans the individuals that made those games to say that their work pales in comparison to Halo. And I have heard that claim before.

But I also noticed he only mentioned console FPS. Perhaps he hasn't ever been interested in PC FPS, but to declare a king of the FPS genre without having even considered the overall mass of titles for PC frankly angers me to no end. It's like picking the best fighting game of all time, but only picking from fighters on Nintendo consoles, or selecting the greatest shmup based solely on it appearing on the Dreamcast without consideration for the many other great shmups out there. But maybe he has played many PC FPS and simply didn't like any. In that case, I'd argue that he really despises the genre and just doesn't realize it. After all, I know I dislike platformers, but I can name more than four that I'd happily go back to.

First of all, I do not have a "fanatical zeal" for it being the best game ever. In fact, it wouldn't even be in my top 15 games of all time. It's just my favorite FPS of all time. I never said I LOVED FPS games. I said I've played all of the most popular and well known ones (Halo, Half-Life, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Time Splitters, Doom, Bioshock, Quake, CoD, Unreal, etc) because I just love games. That said, I do play FPS games from time to time. I just don't usually ever go back to them because they just don't do it for me... But Halo is one of the very few that did.

About PC FPS games; You are right, I'm not a PC fan. I prefer using controllers for all games (except strategy games). When given the choice, I buy all my games on console format. But yes, any mainstream PC exclusive FPS you throw at me, I have probably played. I may have liked it, I may have disliked it. Now just because I think Halo 1 is the best FPS, doesn't mean I'm a Halo fanboy; I often make fun of how mediocre the other Halo games were (I despise Halo 2).

Remember, this is only me expressing my opinions. I'm not intending to insult or disrespect anyone (No hard feelings, still friends?). Halo is just a FPS that appeals to me more than others and I really hope that Reach brings me the same feeling I have when I play Halo: Combat Evolved, my favorite FPS (Not game).

[fastbilly1]

Ok, after watching some stuff on Reach I am interested. Not enough for first day buy, but it seems to correct alot of the issues I had with 2 and 3: Namely the HUD isnt as curved. Aslong as it gives me single console coop, legacy controls, and left trigger shoot Ill end up buying it.

As for the other topic going on - We all know that Rise of the Triad is the greatest FPS of all time. I mean come on, drunken missiles.

[AwesomeMonstar]

You're right, I did intend to debunk your arguement, and I still doubt that microsoft was trying to bribe anyone with halo goodies... seeing as if they weren't going to like halo, what the hell would they do with $800 dollars worth of halo merchandise? It certainly wouldn't sway anyones opinion.

You mention that I should respect the games of the past in lou of the games of the future... even though we ARE on a retro site, I can still safely say that I find halo far more enjoyable than wolf 3d. All because something paved the way doesn't necesarilly mean it's better. I think Trainspotting is a hell of a lot better than this .

I also DO have a pc, and prefer a pc fps to console fps most of the time, hell, I even agree that Halo certainly has lead to a negative shift in the genre where games are being developed with consoles in mind. I don't spite halo like I'm some kind of wounded ex because of it. In the end, I'd still play tribes 2, doom, tf2, etc over halo, but by no means do I think it's at all a bad or even mediocre game.

You also mention the AI. You compared it to the AI of half life. You really could have found a much better example. From my 3 playthroughs of the game I seem to remember most everything running into my face and stopping to shoot at me, aside from those crazy ninja-esque things later in the game. I also would say that you haven't really played halo on a difficulty that displays how complex the ai actually is. When the elites actively peruse cover while their shields are down, look for hidden ways to charge while they have a sword, and strafe back and forth when you try to take a sniper shot, before running to cover, I'd say it certainly was pretty competent. It's also something that only progressed as the series did. So from my standpoint, it looks like your nitpicking

Finally, you mention the fan base. Is it really that much worse that the pc fan base that clamors that half life is the greatest FPS of all time, bar none? Sure, the new games got a younger fan base that tends to be a bit obnoxious, but the whole view of I'M RIGHT YOU'RE WRONG still exists. Does it make the game any worse to me? No. To bring up another film argument, I hate that people think that the dark knight is the greatest film of all time, but I still enjoy it.

...and honestly, yes, when you accuse Microsoft of bribery and insult other peoples taste because they like this game, I think you are acting a little childish.

[AwesomeMonstar]

As for the other topic going on - We all know that Rise of the Triad is the greatest FPS of all time. I mean come on, drunken missiles.

Well, behind Shadow Warrior. I mean, who can beat Lo Wang.

[AppleQueso]

Finally, you mention the fan base. Is it really that much worse that the pc fan base that clamors that half life is the greatest FPS of all time, bar none? Sure, the new games got a younger fan base that tends to be a bit obnoxious, but the whole view of I'M RIGHT YOU'RE WRONG still exists. Does it make the game any worse to me? No. To bring up another film argument, I hate that people think that the dark knight is the greatest film of all time, but I still enjoy it.

Or you could've simply pointed out that just about everything in existence has an annoying fanbase.

[AwesomeMonstar]

Or you could've simply pointed out that just about everything in existence has an annoying fanbase.

true dat. My english class talked about Lady GaGa yesterday. The way some of these girls (college students mind you) obsess over her is downright disgusting. "She really is so unique!" "She is really bringing the gay issue to America!" "Her music is just so Original!"

Christ, how tight a grip pop culture has over some people just amazes me. She has done and is none of this things, shes just this generations Madonna.
/rant.