'Halo Infinite': Open World, No Matter the Cost

While in pursuit of their open-world vision for Halo Infinite, 343 industries seem to have lost sight of what makes up the essence of Halo and in that pursuit, the developers appear to have been willing to sacrifice anything and everything in service to the open world.

[MadLad]

I liked the open world. I legitimately enjoyed taking over enemy strongholds and shouting out elite enemies/weapons.

[Atticus_finch]

We know teddy you also like crossfirex and crackdown 3.

[MadLad]

I actually said CrossFire has multiple issues, but I still find some fun had with it. As for Crackdown, I would love to see a single post where I said anything positive about crackdown 3.

Really though, people like you need to take a break from the internet and relax. You feel the need to instigate even when I'm not saying a damn thing, and it's pretty childish. Nobody should be this wound up over something as insignificant as videogames, yet here you are. Rent free in your head, and all that nonsense.

[Atticus_finch]

I don't care enough to look through your comment history.
I'm not the one that sounds wound up Teddy. Maybe take a break from the internet.
You don't make sense, em I also living rent free on your head since you replied to me.

George
Right poor Xbox always the victim. Maybe it's the comments they make and actions they take.

[MadLad]

I'll say the same thing I always do; I've likely put more money and more time into Playstation products than the majority on here who attempt to pigeonhole me as a Sony hater.
The same people who didn't make a peep when I hounded on the Xbox One almost all last generation. Wonder what the difference is?

I like Gamepass. Deal with it.

@Atticus

You realize all I did was respond to a baseless claim that you made, which also had literally nothing to do with my original comment. That's what I mean by the immaturity. You're constantly looking for attention and validation. You apparently keep track of everything I say, or supposedly say, while I forget you even exist on this site until I'm seeing another notification from you that always just ends up being some smarmy little attack.

They don't bother me, dude. I don't come to this site annoyed. I don't leave annoyed. I'm not here to appease the fanboys.
I come for articles and the dumb banter found in almost every article.
This is one of the last places I come to expecting respectful, level headed conversations on games.

[z2g]

Completely disagree and so do most of the reviews.

[ghostliving]

Infinite's Open World was really really bad it was all the same thing, capture FOB's, capture Strongholds do the Mission. And the interior level desings was so bad not suit for HALO game. All the interior levels were same walls, same grounds and so dull. Nothing interest. The next HALO game must be lineer or should have really good open world design including missions, levels, side missions etc...

[Viljong]

Its a perfect mix of tunnel and open world i enjoy halo infinite more than any other halo.

[brewin]

To summarize, the writer only played the original Halo trilogy for the story and is upset that Halo Infinite doesn't have as much compelling story in one game that it took 3 games to get to in the past.

I actually hated the way they unfolded the story in the original games. Halo 2 was a huge disappointment when it came out because of the story to many people. I thought they could have put all that story in one game, they didn't need 3. I played Halo for the gameplay and great AI anyway, the story was always secondary and usually is in any FPS. Infinites story is good as it is but the gameplay is what matters and is what puts it over the top. It's super fun and always offers a good challenge. There's so many different ways to tackle any battle that I never felt any lulls in the action. The action is very visceral and the grappling hook adds an extra layer of creativity to the battles. It's also a fantastic way to explore the world.

[Father__Merrin]

I wish it wasn't fully open world wouldn't mind open hubs but older format is much superior. I believe it could have been a showstopper visually.

I doubt the next halo is open world

[franwex]

It did get a lil repetitive there with the open world. But most open world games tend to do that. I think they did alright.

[Profchaos]

I didn't gel with the open world and after the first two hours bypassed every open world activity possible there was zero consequences to this I wasn't underpowered because I failed to upgrade my gear.

I did enjoy the tightly scripted story moments All the indoor sections of the game particularly it's last hour and it's easily the best story that 343 has produced to date.

But the open world itself felt average it was great initially but the entire world being based off of the first Halo combat evolved level got a bit old when we know how many biomes are actually in these rings and we didn't see snow, sand, islands etc.

[Harryvok]

Once i hit the 'open world', I was done. It was utterly boring out there and had no visual appeal at all. Halo feels much better to me as a linear experience with big set pieces.

[tbagmonster]

according to the devs, tons of content was cut out to make release, so expect a lot more since they do plan a 10 year cycle with infinite, games these deays start gaining traction much after the games release

[zarbor]

I was not going to buy this game. However since quite a bit of the Halo faithful are complaining about the game, I'm going to give it a shot now. Its clear to me that what many of those gamers like I do not and moved on from Halo several years ago.

[Orchard]

They're not wrong really, I had fun with the campaign and the MP is a blast - but the open world feels tacked on / unnecessary really.

It's an open world for the sake of being able to claim it's an open world game, nothing more.

[talocaca]

Halo Infinite was my first Halo ever....and....meh 🤷‍♂️

I was sad because the gameplay was relatively tight (fast and responsive). The story was a bit of a hot mess but mostly let down by the graphics and facial animations.

Some of the stages were also pretty generic....mostly shiny corridors with nothing to see or do.

[Youngindy21]

If it's your first Halo, you're not gonna understand the story that well. You won't understand references to the Pillar of Autumn, Cortana, the Flood, the Covenant, etc. That said the graphics in Halo Infinite were actually pretty good if you play on a Series X console on a 4k screen. People saying the graphics aren't good played it on either PC or older Xbox consoles. However, I will give you that some of the stages were kinda generic.

[Youngindy21]

I generally don't like open-world FPS games like Far Cry. But i felt, adding an open world to Halo was a nice change of pace for the franchise kind of like when MGSV added open world exploration. That said, I think there could have been more variety in the activities on Zeta Halo.

[Hoaxone845]

I actually played ac: Valhalla and halo infinite single player in 2021. Both first times for the franchises. I found the open world part eerie similar. It seems the statement " open world" is more of a 5 or 6 activities spread out in a linear path set across multiple zones. Nothing vastly creative or exploration friendly.
I guess I'm just use to different but I found them the same imo

[BigDSwinga]

This game is ripper. Essence captured. No bad yarns the whole campaign.

[plmkoh]

I think it's time industry critics and developers started a conversation regarding open world games. I've stated it many many many times and games like this Halo and also just reviewed Horizon are showing the flaws on why it's such an inappropriate game design.