Halo Infinite Review | tom guide
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Halo Infinite: Specs
Platforms: PC, Xbox Sequence X/S (Revised), Xbox One, Sport Cross Final
Price: $ 60, free (multiplayer only)
Release information: December 8, 2021
Genre: FPS
Halo Limitless has a lot to prove. Not only does the game have to make up for Halo 5's lackluster campaign, it was also the subject of widespread criticism at various points during its development cycle. Now that the game is here, the question is, “how was it?”
Halo Limitless is unlike any other Halo game we've seen before, and it's a lot of fun to play. The game takes some pace to get started, but switching to an open-world model was clearly the right move.
In this Halo Limitless review, we'll look at how the game manages to break the mold and do something new, while remaining knowledgeable and faithful to classic Halo titles.
Halo Limitless: Campaign review
Halo Limitless takes place two years after the conclusion of Halo 5, and six months after the brutal alien faction known as The Banished takes control of Zeta Halo: one of the ancient superweapons capable of wiping out all life in the galaxy.
You're back in the Grasp Leader boots, and this time, just the Grasp Leader. You have only one goal in your schedule: to end the threat of the Banished. This involves playing the most important mission, plus a plethora of side missions, stopping banned activities, and rescuing captured Marines from certain death.
Halo Limitless seems to have taken a lot of cues from 2009's Halo 3 ODST, but on a much grander scale. I also get the impression that developer 343 Industries took a lot of inspiration from other open world franchises like Some distance Cry.
The open-world system isn't unique, and you run around, reclaiming UNSC bases to discover side quests and other points of interest. Completing side quests increases your “Valor”, which allows you to unlock new and better weapons. Reclaiming a base doesn't unlock everything, so there's still plenty of reason to run around and explore.
The most important thing about the Halo Limitless map is that it all depends on the player's choice. While Leader's new AI companion, The Weapon, prompts you to complete story missions, you are free to ignore it and do as you please. You can rescue marines, complete side missions, or just run around the ring, trying to turn Grasp Leader into a 26th century Spider-Man in the process.
Halo Limitless' claw accessory might not turn you into a bona fide web-slinger, but it's the game's most important new feature. Using it in conjunction with existing dash and climb abilities means getting around Zeta Halo is an absolute breeze. It's infinitely more fun than following the predefined roads and paths.
But for all its newness, Halo Limitless still feels familiar. It's reminiscent of the first Halo game, specifically the second "Halo" level, in which you explore the ringworld for the first time. This level puts you in the ring and immediately puts you to work rescuing Marines and sabotaging alien operations in the process.
The similarities between Halo Limitless and the “Halo” level are so clear that it seems the level was the recipe 343 used to create the new game. 343 previously announced that Halo Limitless would be a "spiritual reboot", returning to the spirit of classic Halo games while still offering something new. The developers definitely got it.
Also, the developers managed to make the Grunt's enemies really funny again. The little rascals are constantly badmouthing you when you meet them, and there were several points where I had to stop because I was laughing so hard. Grunts haven't been this hilarious since the first time I saw them turn on their heels and run away screaming in Halo on Xbox One.
Most importantly, Halo Limitless has an engaging story. Without going into spoiler territory, it's been some time since I found myself really involved in the mystery of the franchise's plot. What the hell are the Banished actually doing, and what has happened in the six months since their initial ring attack?
That's not to say there aren't downsides to the most important quest. Many missions follow the linear old-school Halo formula quite religiously. If you never liked running through the Forerunner ruins, Halo Limitless won't win you over.
There also doesn't seem to be a way to replay campaign missions, and thus find missing collectibles, without starting the game from 0. Likewise, there's no co-op multiplayer at launch, meaning you have to experience the entire game. alone for now.
Editors' Note: Since we published this review, Microsoft has released the Halo Limitless Season 2 update, which contains a new story, gameplay, and cosmetic components. Here's our Halo Limitless Season 2 overview that explains what to expect from the update in more detail.
Halo Limitless: Multiplayer review
Halo Limitless's multiplayer is more confusing than the campaign. From a gameplay standpoint, it's very much what you'd expect from a Halo game, and the performance is perfectly in line with my experience playing the campaign.
The multiplayer mode is fun to play (as long as you're not missing out), and you have a huge range of weapons and power-ups to choose from. Simply put, Halo Limitless' multiplayer is loud and exciting, and you never know what's coming your way - literally. There's no motion tracker to warn you of enemies that might be lurking around the corner.
Unfortunately, several bad decisions hamper the Halo Limitless multiplayer experience, making it far less enjoyable than it should be. My most important criticism is that you don't have much choice, if any, which mode you play.
The playlist system from previous Halo games is completely absent, and the game randomly offers multiplayer modes. You can't just kill enemies in Slayer mode without the risk of having to play Oddball or Seize the Flag.
The only choice you have is to choose Fast Play, Large Staff Fight Mode (one area for 24 people), Ranked Enviornment or “Bot Bootcamp” – an informal experience where teams of four players play against bots instead of real people. since it announced an update that offers additional playlists, although it looks like Fast Play will still be random.
Likewise, the Halo Limitless Battle Pass and progression have come under a lot of criticism, as the XP you earn is based on completing challenges rather than your actual skills. Thankfully, 343 Industries has been listening to the feedback and has already made several changes in response.
Another major complaint is that Halo Limitless offers too many customization options, even basic color palettes. Your options are to pay US$ 10 for a Top class Battle Pass or buy the cosmetics from the online shop with actual money. There's little point in being able to customize your character if all the best options cost current currency.
Halo Limitless also lets you buy "Boosts" that give you additional XP or an automatic level increase. Boosts may not give you an advantage during actual gameplay, but they still look a lot like a pay-to-win system, which 343 promised not to be present in the game.
It's unfortunate that Halo Limitless is in this situation. I can't fault the multiplayer gameplay, because it's everything you want from a Halo game and more. But poor matchmaking and a remarkably stingy free-to-play system bring the whole experience down.
Halo Limitless: The Academy review
While affiliated with the multiplayer mode, Halo Limitless's Academy feature is a whole new area that you can play solo and offline. Essentially, it's a training mode to help you hone your skills and get used to Halo Limitless' weaponry.
Halo Limitless made many changes to weapons from earlier in the series. If you're serious about multiplayer and don't like learning about new weapons at the current pace, the Academy is there to show you what's what.
Academy mode is completely skippable and you won't lose anything by skipping it. But it's still a smart idea, and whether you're a seasoned Halo veteran or a newcomer who's never played a Halo game before, the Academy has something to offer you.
Can I play Halo Limitless on Xbox One?
343 Industries designed Halo Limitless as a cross-platform game, playable on Xbox Sequence X/S, PC, and next-gen Xbox One consoles. But after the whole debacle of Cyberpunk 2077, which barely ran on older hardware despite promises to the contrary, it's reasonable to be cautious.
Fortunately, this is not the case with Halo Limitless. While most of my time with the game was on Xbox Sequence X, I spent some time in the open world with my old Xbox One S. I'm also pleased to report that the game ran very smoothly despite the older hardware. .
Of course, performance wasn't quite as good as Xbox Sequence X. Graphics and textures look significantly less impressive on Xbox One, and frame rate takes a very noticeable hit. Overall, though, the game ran perfectly well - an impressive feat considering the size of Halo Limitless's map.
Halo Limitless review: Verdict
It's clear that 343 Industries learned a lot from the mistakes of Halo 4 and Halo 5, and used that experience to make Halo Limitless a better game. While still imperfect, Halo Limitless manages to blend all the elements that people love about Halo into something fresh and authentic.
Campaign in specific is a significant improvement over what came before. Multiplayer is still the same fun, manic experience that keeps people coming back after all these years. That said, it's important that 343 proceeds by listening to comments to fix some of the game's issues, particularly with regard to multiplayer.
Despite its imperfections, Halo Limitless is still a good time. Frankly, I only wish we could have a Halo game like this sooner.
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