Halo Series

[Pheonix]

http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3178811

EDIT: For those of you were are usually to lazy to click links, check it out. These are some new game modes.

Generator Defense: "This is where Halo Reach feels more distinct and objective-driven. In Bungie's words, this mode, "pits three Spartans against three Elites. The Elites are trying to destroy three generators before time runs out while the Spartans are trying to defend." When I point out that Elites are fast and tall foes with superior healing, Bakken replies, "Elites may be faster, bigger, and 'healthier' to use your words, but they are also easier to hit, and Spartans have the advantage of being in a pretty well defended position." He further points out that Generator Defense (or as Bungie calls it, "Network Test 1") always plays as, "two rounds of five minutes apiece," with teams switching from Spartans to Elites and vice-versus per round (so players can experience both perspectives). Of course, if the Elites destroy the generators in just three minutes, then the round ends."

"Bakken continues, "This [mode] takes place exclusively on Overlook in the Beta. Defenders have the superior position at the top of a hill, with Attackers trying to claw their way up it." He then describes what happens when a match begins: "We call in a weapon drop where a Longsword flies over and drops off three random power weapons in different random locations on the map. Each weapon pod has a random chance of being a Spartan Laser, a Sniper rifle, or a Rocket Launcher. And those are evenly distributed around the map so that both Spartans and Elites have an equal access to them. So in the beginning, not only are the Spartans running to generators, but people are just running to get the power weapons." On the topic of what gear players will have, he further notes, "In general, the Loadouts are designed to be shared across multiple modes, but you'll definitely see some surprises in this [mode]. They are more in line with the final stage of an Invasion game, which means it?s pretty crazy from the beginning. Add in the [aforementioned] dynamic Weapon Drop, and you get some nice variety." "

Stockpile: his is, "another 'party' gametype that is sort of like Territories meets with Capture the Flag." That is, both teams are racing to capture four neutral flags that spawn on the map and successfully return them to their respective (and active) capture points. Carroll elaborates, "Stockpile flags appear randomly throughout the map at pre-set flag-spawn points. Experienced players will learn the ten or so spots they can appear in the Beta maps, but they won?t be able to predict which ones will be used at any given time."

It's worth noting that points aren't scored instantly once you drop a flag down. You actually have to have the flag at your capture point once a timed countdown has passed. Carroll notes, "Every 60 seconds, any flag inside the capture point will be scored for that team -- even ones being carried by enemies!" He further describes the time breakdown as, "The clock is always running, so in a ten minute game, it scores ten times. So it's the bottom of every minute. [...] There's definitely an ebb-and-flow, and a real spike in intensity and an, 'oh my God get the flag over there' type of feeling." Bakken further points out the time pressure by noting, "If you see the other team holding three flags and there's 30 seconds left, you better start sending a couple dudes over to at least get them out of the capture point when the time runs out."

Looks amazing! This is just the beta too! *faints*

[Wolfgang]

I'm going to be getting on my 360 for some gaming soonish. If anyone wants to play Halo 3, let me know. Of course, if I don't receive any responses soon I'll probably just start playing Bioshock.

[Spartan_117]

Anyone see the leaked(although probably fake) E3 list? It had a game called Halo: Arena on it. If it's real I wonder what it's like.

[Kendrik]

Anyone see the leaked(although probably fake) E3 list? It had a game called Halo: Arena on it. If it's real I wonder what it's like.

Castlevania: Judgment. >.>

Or DOAX.

laaaaawlz I just thought of a Halo-themed beach volleyball game... and fully-armored Spartans feeding each other strawberries by the pool. ...awkward.

In all seriousness, who knows what it could be. But while I'm speculating, I think the Halo license could actually work with a Power Stone style game. I'd play it.

[Spartan_117]

Everything Bungie showed at E3 increase my hype back to Halo 2 levels.

[Wolfgang]

Well, less than a month till Reach, so I'm bumping this up.

Just saw a intro do the team- here. And I must say, I'm kind of disappointed at what it looks like they're doing. Specifically with the player character. Judging from that the player will play as "Noble 6" who is, like in ODST, the mysterious newbie. I really hope they don't make him a silent protagonist like the Rookie. I want a character, not a placeholder.

[Spartan_117]

Well, less than a month till Reach, so I'm bumping this up.

Just saw a intro do the team- here. And I must say, I'm kind of disappointed at what it looks like they're doing. Specifically with the player character. Judging from that the player will play as "Noble 6" who is, like in ODST, the mysterious newbie. I really hope they don't make him a silent protagonist like the Rookie. I want a character, not a placeholder.

He or she talks. They just aren't showing it for some reason.

[Wolfgang]

Well that's good to know. I still feel iffy about what I've heard of him so far.

[Drewsov]

Well that's good to know. I still feel iffy about what I've heard of him so far.

I'm not going to say that Bungie is great with character. They aren't. Master Chief is one of the most poorly shown protagonists in all of gaming; the one-dimensional Marcus Fenix from the Gears series bypasses him by quite a distance, so that's saying quite a bit.

However... this is Bungie's last installment in the series. They're taking a big risk by not having Master Chief front and center (though something tells me we'll see... something of him), and by introducing new characters. If they can do it - if Noble 6 and his squadmates can comprise a lovable bunch of mismatched rogues, or whatever they have planned - then I think we'll all be in for a treat.

But simply saying that you don't believe that there's going to be much of a character behind the mask when you haven't even touched the single player campaign is... well, it's a bit haphazard.

[Wolfgang]

Well, all I've seen so far is from the clip I posted. They give a little bit of a description of each character... and then Nobel 6 comes along and... next to nothing. So I'm a little worried about them doing a repeat of the Rookie, as I've said.

On another note: If anyone's interested in helping with a machinema my friend and I will be working on one tomorrow at 8 EST. My Gamertag is Wolfgang Hype

[Spartan_117]

I may be online to help you out. Not sure if I can make it at that time.

[wferwfer]

alright we're all hyped for the game, but can anyone help me figure out which store is the best to preorder from? If I know I'm going to buy it anyway, I might as well preorder, but I also want to get the most bestest deal.

[Orodrist]

I watched that clip out of curiosity, and I couldn't keep from noticing how they kept sweeping one another with their muzzles.

Bunch of friggin amateurs....

[wferwfer]

I'm not going to say that Bungie is great with character. They aren't. Master Chief is one of the most poorly shown protagonists in all of gaming; the one-dimensional Marcus Fenix from the Gears series bypasses him by quite a distance, so that's saying quite a bit.

However... this is Bungie's last installment in the series. They're taking a big risk by not having Master Chief front and center (though something tells me we'll see... something of him), and by introducing new characters. If they can do it - if Noble 6 and his squadmates can comprise a lovable bunch of mismatched rogues, or whatever they have planned - then I think we'll all be in for a treat.

But simply saying that you don't believe that there's going to be much of a character behind the mask when you haven't even touched the single player campaign is... well, it's a bit haphazard.

I think master chiefs character is that he doesn't have one, he's just a silent BA work horse of the military and you fill his shoes. Kinda like in Half Life, where Gordon Freeman doesn't even have ANY dialogue. And what do we know of him? He has a beard, glasses, has a good science resume, and does BA things, like the chief, as a silent always working protagonist. Of course Valve creates character depth elsewhere, but the point is that not every game (or perhaps story in general) needs to have you looking into the main characters friggin' childhood or something etc.

Because of all this, I think your point that Marcus has more character is actually a bit off. With the chief, you could pontentially see more character by looking at the psychological role he plays as a the silent shell you take control of, an person that society elevated above other humans, but at the same time stripped of individuality and those dimensions of thought we consider so human through his transformation into their weapon.

I mean I'm kinda giving Bungie more credit then they deserve here, this is kinda how I look at it in the game's universe. And Bungie has talked about looking at chief a bit as I just described him above, but we all know on the drawing board of the original game he was just a cool looking dude with guns. They could have done more in their games to emphasis the Chiefs character, which is his lack of character, but even still his empty shell personal is, to me anyway, more withwhile than Marcus', which is just like "I'm a testoterone, steroid fueled jacked dude who kills stuff with only one emotion and occasionally curses." He's boring, at least the chief is cool.

[Kendrik]

I mean I'm kinda giving Bungie more credit then they deserve here, this is kinda how I look at it in the game's universe

Probably are givin' 'em too much credit, but that's an interesting take that I actually like quite a bit. Good work. You've intrigued me.