‘Halo Infinite’ feels like a throwback to epic precedents

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After saving the galaxy once again, what else is there to do? This is the problem the “Halo” franchise has faced since Bungie completed the original Master Chief trilogy and Microsoft handed over the reins to 343 Industries.

The developer had a great pair of shoes to fill and an even bigger conundrum when it came to explaining a story worthy of the legendary Spartan’s past exploits. 343’s team experimented with different concepts, introduced new characters, and expanded the mythology. The results were mixed, but it was leading to a gain.

This is “Halo Infinito”. With his third stab at the main series, 343 finally creates a fresh, distinct and uniquely his own adventure. That success comes from skillful storytelling and a new open world approach. The game starts unexpectedly with the Master Chief relishing defeat after an alien faction called Banished has destroyed UNSC Infinity and dispersed the remaining human forces.

The pilot of the Pelican ship Echo 216 rescues the Master Chief, but instead of escaping, the Spartan returns to the Zeta Halo ring that has been shattered. All of this is disorienting for returning players as they expected a confrontation with Cortana, who ended up being the villain of “Halo 5: Guardians”. They expected some sort of resolution, but 343 denies players that instant gratification.

Master Chief must work with two new allies, the Echo 216 pilot and Weapon, a new AI construct, in “Halo Infinite”. (Microsoft)

LEAVE PLAYERS IN

By retelling the campaign in medias res, or in between, the developers force players to work to find out why the Halo ring was destroyed, how Cortana died, and why the Banished are focused on this specific Halo installation. It’s a brilliant move, creating a welcoming narrative for both newcomers and veterans alike.

It also establishes an organic path for exploration while players are in an open world “Halo”. While the freedom can be overwhelming, 343 Industries organizes missions that guide players through the broken setup. The facility also introduces side missions that upgrade the Master Chief’s skills and gear for future battles.

In the ring, the Master Chief’s job is to rally the remaining UNSC troops by rescuing squads and taking down the forward operational bases and banned strongholds. They can also look for Spartan Core which make the protagonist’s tools more powerful. Players discover a shield boost and four other abilities: Grappleshot, Threat Sensor, Drop Wall, and Thruster.

Familiar weapons such as an energy sword and some new ones are available to players in “Halo Infinite”. (Microsoft)

NEW ABILITIES Each power has its uses, although switching between them is awkward. The Grappleshot is the most useful not only for its offensive and defensive abilities, but because it is a key component that players need to explore this larger world. The tool acts as a nifty grappling hook that can help Master Chief climb mountains or travel to distant areas much faster. At times, it can make players feel like Spider-Man. Meanwhile, the threat sensor is great for spotting hidden enemies or exploring forward.

The latter two, Drop Wall and Thruster, focus on combat and become prominent later in the campaign when enemies flock to and players need protection to destroy bandit assaults or quickly escape charging enemies.

Players will also discover several new weapons and the ability to grab explosive containers to hurl them at enemies. Think of it as an oversized grenade. All of this creates a fighting game atmosphere, where players can experiment with skills and weapons to find new tactics on the fly. Combine it with an open world environment and it’s reminiscent of “Far Cry”, but “Halo Infinite” puts its fingerprints on this style of shooter with fun traversal and combat skills that make encounters less boring.

The campaign itself has good progression up to the last two missions, which get bogged down in a parade of relentless gunfights. The clashes last a little too long as players make their way to the two final bosses and the truth that sets the next chapters.

The multiplayer of “Halo Infinite” is more fun than ever and stands out for its refinement. (Microsoft)

REFINED MULTIPLAYER Satisfactory experience shows that the delay was a good decision for “Halo Infinite” as 343 Industries polished and reworked the design. Unsurprisingly, this effort also manifests itself in multiplayer.

Unlike “Call of Duty Vanguard” or “Battlefield 2042”, the online experience of “Halo Infinite” works great at launch and the high quality allows this part of the game to stand out from the crowd. While its peers may seem feisty or relentlessly chaotic, the online game of “Halo” is fluid and arcade-like. Players don’t have to worry about bullets dropping or maintaining a kill streak, but can instead run and shoot as they please.

Skills play a role in the competition, but it is a more limited role due to the competitive advantage. The tools are disposable, they run out after a few uses. As for the modes, players can find a quick match with a series of five rule sets including Capture the Flag, Slayer and Strongholds. The game also has Big Team Battle, which is a 12v12 mode, complete with vehicles, which is more chaotic. If that’s not enough, players also have specialized rule sets that appear over the seasons.

The only multiplayer problem is that the progression seems slow. Players are rewarded after each match with XP, which allows them to increase their Battle Pass levels. They won’t gain better weapons or perks with more play, but they will unlock cosmetic upgrades that will set their Spartan apart in battle. The problem is that getting a nice piece of armor or a new bloom takes years unless players buy it directly on the market.

It’s annoying and makes the process painful, but that shouldn’t take anything away from a title that’s well done and feels like a rebirth for the franchise.

“Infinite halo”

4 stars out of 4 Platform: Xbox Series X | S, PC Rating: Teenager

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