Halo Infinite looks like a glorified Xbox One game, plays like an absolute dream | VG247

Halo Infinite's significant extra development time is reflected in satisfying, tight encounter design. The visual upgrade is less impressive.

[DJStotty]

"this preview is naturally based on a not-quite-final version of Halo Infinite."

I stopped reading there

[darthv72]

...but it IS a glorified XBO game. It was meant to be the last big hurrah for the XBO before things fully transition to next gen. And i think they did a fantastic job even on the VCR.

[crazyCoconuts]

when you see the graphics it's obvious why

[4Sh0w]

Well everybody's entitled to their own opinion, I ve seen previews from folks who are not longtime Halo fans that say it looks great...I agree, I really enjoy the clean scifi colorful art style and although I've seen better looking next gen games it definitely looks beatiful on my big screen.

Damm lots of salt on every Halo thread, lol....it wont matter though, Halo will be played waaaay more than those other pretty short next gen games.

[crazyCoconuts]

I played a bit of Halo MP and then played some COD cold war, and cold war looks a LOT better, but hey there's more to a game than what it looks like. It's still Halo, and Halo is still fun, which is fine

[gravedigger]

Quote :

"dark, well... to be fair the cloud IS making the XBO more powerful. Maybe not 13x but its still impressive to be able to play games better through streaming than what the system was capable of natively."

Streaming has nothing to do with multiplying GPU TF in Xbone. LOL It is the same crappy Xbone with 1.3 TF GPU. Console on the other side, XSX in that case, is acting as server blades. But still at 1080p max.

[RaiderNation]

Lmao you really think 2 months is going to make any difference? If you stopped reading its because you don't want to hear the truth.

[DJStotty]

No, i stopped reading because i would prefer to get an unbiased review from the launch version of the game, rather than a half-assed one sided review, using an old build of the game to fit a narrative.

Polish is completed in the last few months of a games launch, not at the start, the middle, but right at the end, so chances are this version is an unpolished version.

[TheEroica]

All new games look like glorified versions of last gen games. Lol, what a dumb comment for vg to make. There isn't a single one that doesn't.. Oh wait, GTA trilogy looks hella bad.

[zsquaresoff]

That headline doesn't make any sense.

[darkrider]

It play smoothly but graphics aren't next Gen. Not that hard to understand.

[gravedigger]

Graphics in new Halo aren't out of this world. There are graphically much better games on current-gen consoles.

[ABizzel1]

It has several different modes.

Series X campaign has a Quality mode that is Dynamic 4K @ 60fps, and a performance mode that's 120fps and believed to be 1080p.

The Series S currently has a quality mode that is 1080p @ 30fps, and a performance mode that has an unspecified resolution targeting 60fps (I assume 720p - 1080p, spending most of the time closer to 720p). Hopefully they can get the resolution improved on here, to 1440p @ 30, and closer to 900p @ 60fps.

The Xbox One X and XBO has been locked to 30fps, with the Xbox One X most likely aiming for Dynamic 4K @ 30fps, and I'm honestly scared of what the XBO version will be, it's looking like Dynamic 720p @ 30fps isn't off the table.

So Series X plays like a dream, because of the frame-rate and it being very familiar to the earlier Halos, just modernized. But graphically it's pretty much what you'd expect from the swansong of a last-gen console. Which still looks good, just not the best looking shooter out there.

[Kurt Russell]

I'm playing it 1440p ultrawide on just high setting on a 3060ti. To me it looks great. Perhaps I am the minority. I would say other games are "technically" nicer looking. But this has nailed Halo for me and plays like a dream. I am not wishing for more... at least in terms of the MP that has released.

[dbcoops]

Plays good looks ok, whats not to understand?

[sammarshall102]

I wish Halo Infinite was one of the best games, visually. It's your premier franchise and it looks below the best looking games of the last generation

[Gaming4Life1981]

This is the only preview i seen that is saying the game doesn't look great visually, the majority have said it looks great.

[Darkborn]

@oeazy it's hard to not be negative about the visuals when Phil spent the last 5 years screaming power and the cloud and 4k/120 with RT on every single game and then games from their premier studios make games with none of that. It's like a guy walking into a room saying he's gonna beat everyone up for 30 min and they walk up to him and he's like oh I didn't mean it. On a side note forza horizon 5 does look good but it's also a racing game so it's a bit different. I do hope halo infinite has a good launch though.

Edit* and before you say it's made for the Xbox one, what is this all about? Supposedly the cloud was going to make new console generations irrelevant. If this was to be believed, the Xbox one would be more powerful than the current series x.

https://www.forbes.com/site...

[darthv72]

@dark, well... to be fair the cloud IS making the XBO more powerful. Maybe not 13x but its still impressive to be able to play games better through streaming than what the system was capable of natively.

https://youtu.be/AIfARqg57d...

[gravedigger]

Digital Foundry stated otherwise. It has flaws

[Gaming4Life1981]

@gravedigger

Digital foundry said it looks great and stated some nit picky problems with cut scenes and animations that even they said were nit picky. You yourself probably wouldn't have even noticed if they didn't point it out to you. Hopefully the things DF pointed out get fixed but it's not like it's ruining the experience like a game breaking bug.

Every game has flaws FYI because no game is perfect.

[gravedigger]

Quote :

Digital foundry said it looks great and stated some nit picky problems with cut scenes and animations that even they said were nit picky. You yourself probably wouldn't have even noticed if they didn't point it out to you. Hopefully the things DF pointed out get fixed but it's not like it's ruining the experience like a game breaking bug.

Every game has flaws FYI because no game is perfect.

....

Every game has flaws excuse. LOL. If game graphically isn't something magical, then it isn't. It is obvious from video. Anyway.

DF think XSX version looks great
- And seem a bit down on Series S's drop to 1080p in Quality Mode (and 30 FPS).
- The game uses VRS (and you notice it in the dreaded 400% zooms) but they say it looks/feels perfectly fine, especially on SX)
- The game's TAA implementation makes the image softer when in motion.

- Some nitpicks DF would like to see fixed if possible :

- Most animations are running at lower than 60, which makes cut-scene camera pans jittery.
- All the Facial capture is at 30 FPS. It stands out especially if you're playing in 120 FPS mode.
- DF Recommends capping the cut-scenes at 30 at launch.
- DF theorizes this is not a hardware issue. The transitions to cut-scenes are also not good.
- Animation for grappling up after using a grapple hook is also 30 and can stick out.

Also, Alex on ERA :

"I still think they could have done a lot more looking at other open world games to improve the lighting fidelity. I will go into it in much more depth though in my final review when the time comes.

I would really love if next gen got something like RTX GI equivalent. That is a cheaper form of ray tracing for lighting and would mean a huge improvement to visual quality for a game like Halo Infinite."

[MadLad]

Not saying many on this site live in a bubble, but there's a whole lot of people who have been begging for this game to fail for a long time now.

They've had to relegate to the game not being the best looking game on the market and make the most of it.

[gravedigger]

@TheRealTedCruz

Quote :

"Not saying many on this site live in a bubble, but there's a whole lot of people who have been begging for this game to fail for a long time now.

They've had to relegate to the game not being the best looking game on the market and make the most of it. "

.....

Well, PC players will get the job done then. Halo MP has been already hacked on PC with aimbots. BETTER TOGETHER i guess.

[Eamon]

It's an Xbox One game that eventually became cross-gen. This is actually common. Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild springs to mind.

But yes, I do wish they represented next-gen more. Even FF7 Integrade's visuals feels more next-gen.

[alb1899]

The thing is that Halo has never been about graphics and won't be now with a more open world direction.

[RaiderNation]

Uh huh, keep selling that revisionist history there pal.

[alb1899]

But hey, you have the option to not play the game. I know I will and even some of my friends with xbox one.

[Sirk7x]

As much as I don't really care how good the graphics are on Infinite, the original Halo games were miles ahead of anything else in the console space at the time. The OG Xbox was an absolute beast, hardware wise anyways, compared to the PS2. PS2 had a legendary game library, but it definitely wasn't running games like Halo 2, Morrowind or Doom 3.

[AuraAbjure]

Halo 2 was about graphics. It had the best graphics ever on console when it came out. It nearly destroyed Bungie as a consequce because Halo isn't really about premier graphics. It prioritizes an awesome plot, the best gameplay, and it pioneers new features. The only shooter on console that was taken seriously before Halo was Goldeneye.

[MadLad]

@rockwhynot

Turok

[ChasterMies]

Agree 100% but Microsoft’s wants the game to run well and weak hardware. Worked for Fortnite.

[AuraAbjure]

Halo is not supposed to have premier graphics. Halo 1 had great graphics when it came out but if one looks into the interesting story of the game's origin they'll understand how much buy-in Bungie got from investors. Halo 2 had the best graphics ever when it came out, and consequently it nearly destroyed Bungie. With Halo 3 and Halo Reach, Bungie specifically stated they were not trying to make a game with the best graphics, they were trying to make the best game they could. That's why Halo 3 and Reach were so solid in their own right.

Halo 2 had an enormous amount of its campaign scrapped and ended in an obvious unplanned for cliffhanger and Halo 4 didn't even offer split-screen functionality that worked. Many custom game maps in Halo 4 were unplayable during split-screen mode due to bad code, which never even got fixed by the way.

When Bonnie Ross remembers that Halo is supposed to be a great game first and have premier graphics second, Halo might return. It looks like what we'll get next month is a multiplayer with extremely cluttered audio compared to the mysterious aura of Halo 1's soundscape, no couch co-op at launch, no forge at launch, but hey- they're working on ray tracing.

[Jin_Sakai]

Not the best looking game in the industry but I still think it looks great. Ready for Alex from DF to rip the game apart from lighting to animations. Already seen him complain on Resetera.

[Vanfernal]

Didn't he defend the original Craig reveal saying that the graphics were not bad, just bad lighting?

[dbcoops]

Rip it apart? Hasn't that guy consistently defended it even after the initial reveal?

[Good-Smurf]

Dude gave any game on PC brownie points while nitpicking Sony 1st party exclusive.

[Jin_Sakai]

“Dude gave any game on PC brownie points while nitpicking Sony 1st party exclusive.“

He’s a PC fan for sure. All I said was that he’s not happy with the lighting still or animations and cutscenes.

[melons]

Woof. See exactly what they're trying to do with that headline. Hope people don't bite.

[Terry_B]

The headline seems to be pretty correct.

[darkrider]

Many you tubers already talk about this from lack of shadows, to reflections, scope of the weapon, fake lightning, strange effects like the one where they drop a ship in to the ground, water effects. Of course this won't appear in reviews...

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Ehhh playing this capped at 30 fps on regular XBO is excruciatingly unpleasant. The game is glorious on PC/XBX (performance mode), and XSX. I haven't tried it on XSS

[Lexreborn2]

Well considering there still aren’t any real next gen Xbox games out. Every game should feel like an Xbox one game on steroids for series X. As long as the Xbone is a contender in MS environment core games will be stuck in last gen.

God of war Ragnarok and HFW also look like overcloxked PS4 games for the 5 just like MM. but at some point all future titles have to move away from last gen.

Just unfortunate that infinite is a game they want to last 5-10 years. Doesn’t mean we can’t see filler titles exclusive to series consoles I hope.

[darkrider]

Better take the glasses. Go watch the gameplay trailer of hzd2... From animation, to effects.... The dinobots, the underwater scenes... You are talking of 2 of the best studios on the market with goty games and not an average studio that isn't even on level with bungie. Halo was the pinnacle of graphics of Microsoft. The number one. It set standards. But that was with bungie.

[HannibalLecter]

Halo was bungies baby, never been the same since...

[iplay1up2]

Flight Simulator, sure looks current gen on Series X and PC, also it isn't on Xbox One. Horizon 5, may be cross gen, but it is stunning on Series X and PC.

As far as Infinite, it looks good, plays great, and is FUN!✌

[thesoftware730]

And Horizon Forbidden: West and God of War: Ragnarök, don't look like glorified PS4 games? While both games look great, they hardly look like a generational leap from their predecessors. Hence why both will be on PS4, so not "Glorified PS4 games" but 'Enhanced" PS5 games..the title is hyperbole.

We are in the first stages of Next Gen, games will look better over time, not to mention, people never saw Halo as pinnacle of graphics really ever. What I have played of Multiplayer its really slick and good looking and Campaign looks even better.

Once again this article is Hyperbolding with the term "Glorified"..the game is BC and can be played on Xbox one...So of course it is an "Enhance version" we get on the SX. What a way to state the obvious but make it sound bad, when the same can be said for 99% of cross gen games on both systems.

[darkrider]

No dude, go watch again the horizon 2 gameplay trailer. It doesn't look last gen. Not even close. That was a very bad example. Gow is also a bad choice, because the last one already looked better then next Gen games... Both games will set standards to beat. Even if you can play both on last gen consoles.

[thesoftware730]

First this is not a debate of Gow or Horizon looking better that anything except the previous games. I can guarantee that when released, the PS4/PS4 pro, versions will look great as well..hence it will be just be "Enhanced" PS5 version and you will probably have to have side by side comparison to tell the difference.

Stop being delusional, while both games look excellent, they are in no way leaps and bounds above the previous installments. They could easily be mistaken in screenshot for the PS4 pro/ PS5 enhancements.

[HannibalLecter]

To be fair almost all ps4 first party games looked better than any ms first party offerings all last gen. So the ps5 games or even enhanced ps4 games still look miles better than anything ms has released. They have actually dialed down a lot of stuff to make the games scalable. For all the power talk they sure haven't shown much

[thesoftware730]

Ok can we stop with all the MS said "The most powerful console" comment it's old now, they even back tracked on it..Just like the rest of us saw on paper the SX did in fact seem more powerful, and probably still is..still to early to tell imo.

Just like when Sony said "We believe in generations" and "PlayStation first party games wont be on PC"...It's old now.

I think we can move on from that now that we have seen both systems are very comparable.

[ChubbyBlade]

Well of course it doesn’t look next gen. It’s not a next gen game. It’s been in the works for 6 years with the Xbox one in mind.

I don’t see it lasting 10 years though. Unless the engine is future proofed a bit and they drop last gen but they want to reach as big an audience as possible.

The next one will likely be next gen only.

The game plays fantastic and looks “good”. It has a great art style but graphically it has a lot to be desired: Sparks, no blood, explosions, dynamic lightning

The game itself is great but the move to free to play is obviously hurting it visually.

[Cockney]

Just asking but if this is the case then what exactly makes it next gen, we've had games for the last 20 years that played like a dream

[Christopher]

It's not next-gen. It's a cross-gen game. The Series S/Series X version might do some things better, but it runs based on the needs of last-generation hardware first.

[Cockney]

OK fair enough, I'm guessing this will look good and run like a dream on xboxone as its designed specifically to that generation and just upscaled to xbox series consoles. If it looks and plays like a dog on xboxone there will be cause for concern

[HannibalLecter]

So would you say it's getting held back because of this?

[Christopher]

@Hannibal: absolutely. I'm not sure by how much, but AI potential and similar things are being held back by last generation CPUs as far as potential goes here. One of my biggest gripes about this generation of consoles is how much they are being held back.

[Petebloodyonion]

An Xbox 1 game that feel like a glorified Xbox 1 game...
Must be a great game

Makes us wonder what they will say about GT7, God of War2, etc.

What's next an arcade port that feel like a glorified arcade port?

[dRanzer]

The game looking great,not top tier but surely not bad as people says
It's all about the atmosphere, story and gameplay.
I will play it on my mid rage pc

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Let’s focus on the gameplay, because Halo hasn’t been a face-melting graphical showcase since Halo 2.

The gameplay is FINALLY back. Thank you 343i!

[KingofBandits]

I'm not surprised by this. the XB1 never was a powerhouse and its clearly holding this game back but so long as the XSX runs it at a stable 60 I won't really care

[jjb1981]

The graphics do look like last-gen but the gameplay is good fun!

[Father__Merrin]

It might not have the next gen detail but it's a very clean looking game in 4k judging off the multiplayer

[Orchard]

Until we get further into the gen, every XSX/PS5 is just a glorified XB1/PS4 game.

[CaptainHenry916]

Halo, Gears, and Forza. After two decades I was hoping for a new AAA franchise to talk about from Microsoft.

[thesoftware730]

What new AAA game has Sony made on PS5? Returnal? They just bought the studio. I love how you only names 3 MS games when they have at least 15-20 or more in development.

All I saw was Spiderman MM, Demon Souls remake, Ratchet, Gow, Horizon..what else? Seems to be following the same trends.

[anubusgold]

This guy hasnt played the game or has bad hardware. Halo looks great at 1440P with HDR at 140fps on my Pc.

[soulrebel]

It literally is a glorified xbone game. Designed so that xbone can handle it, but glorified on new gen hardware. If it wasn't an xbox one game, the xbox one wouldn't be able to play it!!

[moomoo319]

Looks nice and clean easy to see enemies in MP

[anubusgold]

These people hating are the ones defending 30 fps at 1080P lol. I had better frames per second than that on pc in 2004 with counter strike and unreal 2004 lol. And before you console people start counter strike and unreal looked 10 times better than any console at 480P because Pc at the time was on 1280x1024 res at the time console looked like it was in black and white in comparison to the games on pc then lol.

[moomoo319]

The game isnt super optimized yet im only getting ~100 fps on mostly low settings. Which is absurd for a 2070 super. It looks clean af tho.

[HeliosHex]

If this is how it looks so close to launch you can bet it won't look any better.

[anubusgold]

It doesnt need to look any better it looks better than call of duty vanguard and thats a 60 dollar game. Battlefield has better graphics but they only look better if you have a HDR monitor which most of you dont.

[hiawa23]

If it is a glorified Xbox 1 X game, X1X enhanced visuals, I am fine with that because honestly looking at Battlefield(no campaign) and how COD turned out, Halo is all I am hoping for in the FPS space this holiday season. I love all of the Halo games so I am sure Infinite will be fine as my tastes go.