180°

Halo 4: The Hardlight Shield In Action

Armour Lock was widely considered an over powered armour ability in Halo Reach. But at the same time, many Halo players used it. So, how exactly did 343 Industries reach a compromise that would satisfy both parties? By creating the Hardlight Shield.

The Hardlight Shield acts as a kind of riot shield, slowing the player down, but protecting him from incoming bullets. Word of warning though: it is vulnerable to a well placed grenade.

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e3.gamespot.com
Hardlydan4324d ago

I'm in two minds about H4. Part of me wants to know as much about it as possible so that I can make an informed choice when it comes to handing over my cash. The other part doesn't want to know a thing so that when I do finally get round to playing it, nothing will be spoilt.

As you may have guessed I care not one iota for the multiplayer. For me it is all about the story. Almost all the games in my top ten have a strong narrative. For me games than can involve me emotionally in a deep storyline and keep me enthralled are leagues ahead of Madden whatever the year and Need for Speed: Insert subtitle. Now don't get me wrong. I am not for one moment suggesting that those titles (and others like them) don't have a place in the market; sales alone, regardless of reviews suggest otherwise. It's just that I as a gamer value games with a strong plot above others.

Traditionally shooters, like Halo have had a pretty flimsy narrative driving them, Action, multiplayer and impressive visuals being forefront in the developer's minds. I only hope that with all the lore behind Halo (yes I have read all the books)we, the true fans who have been there since day one on the old 'box get to have what we deserve: A truly immersive single player experience. Oh and to appease the others who probably haven't read all of this; fairly decent multiplayer too.

Chuk54324d ago

I disagree about the narritive comment.

Halo's narrative and fiction is one of the most interesting ones out there, the breadth is also one of the best in games.

Hardlydan4324d ago

I think I am going to have to disagree with you. Partly because I am drunk and partly because you have failed to back-up your reply with any kind of proof/fact/information.

Chuk54324d ago

@hardlydan
Haha, fair enough

Hardlydan4324d ago

Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all.
The needle returns to the start of the song;
And we all sing along like before

Neko_Mega4324d ago

Already seen this used in the Rocket one, but I get to see more of it in this video.

Halo 4 is looking like they throwing some new idea's, I just wonder how it will all work together.

lastdual4324d ago

The shield looks really useful if you're getting outgunned at long range (or need to cross a dangerous area without fear of snipers), but using it in close seems like a good way to get yourself killed.

Basically, it has its advantages and drawbacks. Looks much more interesting than armor lock.

DwightOwen4323d ago

Question: how does a shield made of LIGHT slow you down???

50°

Master Chief Became More Than A Machine In 343's Halo

In Halo 4, 5, and Infinite, Master Chief became a more nuanced, human character.

In spite of the Halo series’ struggles, 343 deserves praise for adding nuance and characterisation to the ever-beating heart of Halo - The Master Chief. Playing through Infinite, it's abundantly clear that the events of the current and previous trilogies have irrevocably changed the iconic hero. He’s no longer the ‘blank slate’ that was previously presented by Bungie. He’s a fatigued, damaged and fallible protagonist, and one who is meandering through currents of grief, while reveling in his newfound agency. Giving the Chief a compelling and meaningful voice was no small feat, and 343 should be proud of that victory.

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thegamer.com
kingnick400d ago

This article completely misses part of the appeal of the original iteration of character in the original game trilogy. It was the Chief and Cortana vs an entire alien collective. The blank slate Bungie displayed in their games was genius, he was an mysterious hero a wide audience could identify with because he wasn't as clearly defined as most characters.

The books added a lot of lore and backstory but most Halo players just want a fun game with exposition that doesn't get in the way of gameplay, it's why the Cortana level in Halo 3 was derided.

Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty.

BandarHub399d ago

A lot of people give the 343 version of Master Chief a lot of slack.
But Fundamentally he is still the same character, he just has a couple more dialogues. He has not changed in terms of attitude.
"Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty."
And that's what he has done at the end of the day, he did his duty. Watch his partner die, and was ready to destroy the weapon in Halo infinite....he is still the same soilder that everyone remembers

Halo Infintes one was a nice balance between both.

slate91399d ago

Chief and the halo franchise became a joke under 343

Sciurus_vulgaris399d ago

The 343i Master Chief has is based on the books. However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion.

Obscure_Observer399d ago

"However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion."

Which is awesome! I love how Master Chief become more John and less soldier.

Sciurus_vulgaris399d ago

I didn’t even notice my typos,lol

50°

Halo's Identity Problem Began With an Admirable Mess

It’s a law of nature that eventually, every long-running game franchise will have a particular entry that gets dinged for straying too far from what made it so fun in the first place. Your Super Mario Sunshine, your Dragon Age II, Assassin’s Creed III, and so on. Whether or not that opinion changes more favorably over time, the initial specter of negativity will forever hover it. Microsoft’s Halo is no exception, except that negative specter hasn’t hovered over one particular game, but one whole studio.

The3faces519d ago

True Halo 4 was a sign of 343i's incompetence and the decline of Halo.

180°

10 Years Later, Halo 4 Proves Itself a Disappointing Omen for Halo Infinite

Halo 4 released 10 years ago today, and its disappointing reception was just an omen of things to come with 343 Industries at the helm.

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gamerant.com
Sonyslave3528d ago (Edited 528d ago )

Halo 4 and infinite have a 87 on metacritic and five a 84🤣. 343i need contents and everything else will play it self out.

ChasterMies527d ago

Halo 4, 5, and Infinite reviews are good examples of the pressure on review sites to score everything between 8-10 out of 10.

ChubbyBlade527d ago

As if reviews scores are any indication of a franchises health.

Halo has been in shambles for YEARS

-Foxtrot528d ago

Halo 4-6 are like the Star Wars sequel trilogy

They all just seem like a brand new games with small connections to the last one but no solid arc connecting them, you’re just told stuff that happened off screen in between the games and nothing makes sense

It’s like they didn’t plan a new trilogy out

CoNn3rB527d ago

That's actually a pretty good way to sum it up

LucasRuinedChildhood527d ago (Edited 527d ago )

I would argue that the new Star Wars trilogy is still better. lol

Most Halo fans would kill for the equivalent of The Force Awakens at this stage (a competent rehash of what came before it). Halo Infinite tried to be that but was undercooked and failed. Halo 4 wasn't that either - they started messing with the formula straight away although the story was okay.

There was nothing particularly compelling about Halo 5's story besides the fake plot they advertised. The Last Jedi is a divisive movie but as RedLetterMedia would say, it was "sporadically interesting" because it tried some new things and set up things that could have been great (like Kylo teaming up with Rey after backstabbing Snoke). That conversation with Yoda is great and it felt like the real Yoda, not that CGI thing in the prequels.
- "Skywalker, still looking to the horizon. Never here, now, hmm? The need in front of your nose."
- "The greatest teacher, failure is ... Luke, we are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters."
- "That library contained nothing that the girl Rey does not already possess." (because she already took them, haha).

The Rise Of Skywalker is the only one where loads of stuff happens off screen ("Palpatine has returned") in between and nothing makes sense because ... they just needed a main villain and 100 star destroyers to blow up. They could have done something much better.

MrChow666527d ago

no, all disney star wars sucks also disney marvel and everything godamn disney touches

527d ago Replies(3)
Yui_Suzumiya527d ago

Um, didn't Halo 4 have the best campaign out of the new Trilogy? Lol

ChubbyBlade527d ago

Yep and even then it wasn’t very good.

Levii_92527d ago

I'm getting a good gaming laptop soon and i'm finally going to play through the Halo franchise again plus Infinite but i never played Halo 4 before .. can anyone tell me how's the campaign in comparison to the games before it and compared to Halo 5 ?

Stanjara527d ago

Halo 4 campaign great, multi bad.
Halo 5 campaign trash, multi good.

Best Cortana halo 4.

ChubbyBlade527d ago (Edited 527d ago )

Halo 4 was when they started turning it into a “modern” game. Aka taking tips from CoD.

The older titles were sandbox based with weapons that all filled a niche and vehicles that did the same. Open levels with multiple ways to approach in different spots with different weapons etc.

Halo 4/5 doesn’t have that. It’s a linear shooter and nothing else. The story is alright but that’s about it. If it wasn’t a halo game, it would be ok but because it is a halo game, it’s outshone by the previous games.

It’s a hell of a lot better than 5 though. I found infinite pretty meh

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