TheHalofranchise has been in a strange place since 343 Industries took the helm, extending fromHalo 4all the way to the upcomingHalo Infinite. However, the newest game may have revealed one of the biggest changes coming to the series in the new gameplay shown off in the recentXbox Games Showcase.
343 Industries has introduced a brand new mechanic toHalo Infinitein the form of a grappling hook that Master Chief can use to move quickly around the world. This comes as the game also seems to be looking to open up the generally mission oriented series into a moreopen space made for traversal.
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While the addition of a mechanic like a grappling hook might initially seem like a small change to the series, it could be a huge change ifHalo Infiniteimplements it properly. It could mean a change of direction for the franchise as future games begin to move in the direction of mobility, which also brings back thesprint mechanic from olderHalogames. This could lead to an unfamiliar experience for players of olderHalos, but might be recognized by fans of the original developer’s most recent title.
Mobility and Space in Destiny
In one of many ways that 343 Industries’Halo Infiniteseems to be following in the footsteps ofBungie’sDestiny, the new title is taking a step towards mobility. What that means, specifically, is that having the ability to quickly move across the map or swiftly move from side to side of an encounter changes how players approach every aspect of a shooter. This is the type of system that sets titles likeTitanfallapart from the pack, where combat isn’t a measurement of who can sit behind cover and shoot across better, but who can dodge, close distance, and utilize the map better.
Of course,Destinyhas had its own list of problems since release, and asDestiny 2heads to Game Pass, the engagement of the series is still shaky at best. However, one thing that both games do very well is the gunplay and level design that brings the way that Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks are able to maneuver into every aspect of gameplay. So, as long as 343 is able to utilize this new mobility into how the world ofHalo Infiniteis designed, this could mean that the compelling and drawing gameplay could be coming to the series.
Speed in First Person Shooters
First person shooters have come a long way from the originalDoomandWolfensteinfranchises, and in one way, they’ve actually become much slower paced. The older titles in theDoomseries, as well asDoom Eternaland the 2016 release, are all about quickly sprinting through the map and mowing down waves of enemies. However, games likeHalohave taken that quick paced combat with wide open spaces to fight and replaced them with tighter corridors with cover strewn about the map to duck behind.
The main difference withHalo Infinitewith theintroduction of the grappling hookand other games in the series is that this upcoming title looks to be leaning towards speed again. From the way that the gameplay trailer shows off the combat, it’s clear that 343 Industries is looking to incentivize players to take quick bold moves in combat. This again is something that will require an expert balance between level design and the utilization of how the new mechanic will work to be successful.
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Open Space in Halo
While the answer to the question of whether or notHalo Infinitewill be open worldis still up in the air, it is clear that it will at least be more open ended than previous titles in the series. As seen in the recent gameplay trailer, there is at least some choice in how to travel across the map, with more to the area than the immediate mission. This is where a mechanic like a grappling hook can be best utilized, with large areas ready to be explored due to the increased mobility, including a never before explored verticality.
Opening up the level design for aHalotitle would likely feel empty or hollow without some new way to travel across these open stretches of land. Even including classics from the series like Warthogs inHalo Infinite, which would have been a given even with a more linear design, becomes a chance to push some past features to new heights in the more open space. So, combining those older elements with new ones like the grappling hook can make for a fresh experience in a series that has otherwise stagnated.
The Stagnation of Halo
For many fans,Halo 5: Guardianswas a disappointment, filled with microtransactions in the multiplayer and an underwhelming campaign. The criticisms that the lastHaloearned on release were actually a large part of why development forHalo Infinitehas taken as long as it has. In order to make up for that disappointment and to earn the faith of the fans again, 343 Industries was going to have to really tackle the next installment with a number of risks.
So far, that risk taking has already led to somecriticism overHalo Infinite’s graphicsand some of the returning features coming back for this game. However, one thing that has been viewed as a completely positive note would be the grappling hook, with many fans latching onto the new mechanic as the saving grace of the showcase. It’s a step in a new direction for a series that has continued to be a series of hallways with knee-high and wall-cover between the player and the enemy.
While it may be difficult to claim with absolute certainty that this new mechanic will revolutionize the genre, or even the series, it is at least a step forward. Until players get a chance to get theirhands onHalo Infinite, we won’t know exactly how well the grappling hook works in practice. For now, this whole idea does prove to be an interesting concept to add toHaloand the possibilities for what 343 Industries could do with it are endless.
Halo Infiniteis currently in development for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
