Halo Haters?

[Cpt Tenacious]

Now, I understand that this is a Half-LIfe forum and people aren't really suppose to be talking about other games. But it seems that anytime anyone ever mentions Halo it's in a negative way. Now dont get me wrong I love Half-Life and anything Valve puts out, but i still enjoy the Halo series. I play both games, and man do I like the Half-Life series (Half-Life has better story and emotional moments then halo, so im inclined to enjoy it more, which i very much do) when it comes to Halo it's mostly for the multiplayer though. What are you thoughts?

[Atomic_Piggy]

My main point of hatred is the repitetive levels - Halo 3 is not so guilty of this, but the other two were horrible. Assault on the control is one of the worst levels I have ever played in any video game, ever.

[TollBooth Willie]

First two, cut and paste design, shooting gallery combat and lolleriffic ai.

Points to Halo 3 for variation in the environment, less corridor combat and slightly better ai.

/close

[Raziaar]

The only thing I like about Halo is the cooperative play. They are worthless to me in every other aspect.

[Cpt Tenacious]

The only thing I like about Halo is the cooperative play. They are worthless to me in every other aspect.

But why?

[MiccyNarc]

What I don't understand is the obsession over them. They aren't bad games, they're mediocre. It's something we've seen a thousand times. So why do they get showered with all these accolades? I'll never understand it.

[zombieturtle01]

The only thing I ever liked about Halo was the flood, but HL zombies still win by a long shot.

I've only played and beaten Halo 1

[Smoke]

What I don't understand is the obsession over them. They aren't bad games, they're mediocre. It's something we've seen a thousand times. So why do they get showered with all these accolades? I'll never understand it.

Exactly. Half life was, and still is brilliant, because it gives you new content. It doesn't put you up against opponents that blindy wander around and repeat the same damn phrases every time they see you.

The combat in Halo can be fun at times, like any other shooter. But the thing that drops Halo below the bar is that the combat isn't exactly varied. Once you've taken out a few grunts and elites in a hallway while being assisted by useless friendly ai players, you may as well turn the console off and re-sell your game.

Halo two was nothing more than a coninuation of the storyline, in a bad way. How the hell Bungie managed to change the enviroments but keep the same boring combat style is beyond me. It's like playing ping pong on the moon and having the same gravity, it just doesn't make sense. If a hallway fight is as boring as a full scale assault, why bother playing?

Then there is the fanbase. The Halo fanbase is so irritating it actually rivals the CS comminuty, And we all know what they are like.

What bugs me, and probably thousands of other players, is that Halo was nothing more than a great book turned into an average game. It simply doesn't deserve the hype.

[Ennui]

I agree with Miccy and Smoke.

Halo is a generic, mediocre shooter that doesn't deserve my attention, nor the vast majority of the attention and praise it gets. It's not a bad game, but it's not remotely close to being a great one. There are many other games far more worth my time, and other people miss out on them because they're too busy suffocating themselves with Halo all the time.

Also, I worked at a LAN center for more than a year, where Halo 2 was by far the most popular game (we had PCs and consoles, the latter of which were more popular). I cannot even begin to describe how unbelievably irritating it is to listen to morons who know nothing about good video games tell me about how Halo is the best game ever, and it's got revolutionary amazing gameplay, and hey what's that box up there that says Half-Life, isn't that some strategy game or something?

[Muffin Man]

It's just really mediocre. Alright, but not worth my money. And the online play just annoys the hell out of me. Half because of the community and half because I'm not a big fan of console shooters. I'll play it every now and then at a LAN party, but that's about it.

Best thing about Halo is Red vs Blue.

[Headcrab Pie]

Another thing I dislike is the unrealalistic weapons. I get that Synths arent that real, but this is something I've overheard.
.
"Yeah, Halo's so cool! You get a giant hammer that deflects rockets!"

[Smoke]

It's sad that Halo could have been a fantastic game, well on par with Half life. But they had to made it so damn generic, and cartoony. It's like walking round a nursery school playing guns with toddlers.

It has a great storyline, and they broke it by failing to understand what makes something epic, awesome, or even pretty.

Failures, imo.

[Citrus]

The only good thing about Halo are having 8-way fights between your friends.

The campaign gameplay is so repetative that it becomes a chore to complete some levels.

Loads of Xbox owners upgraded to the 360 simply because of Halo 3. There are not many games out there which would pursuade me to upgrade my PC and the ones that would, would have to be incredible. Halo 3 is definetly not incredible.

[Ennui]

Also it's a pretty ridiculously simple game. I have played Halo PC a few times, Halo 1 on Xbox twice, Halo 2 twice... all at least a year or more ago. I went over to my friend's room and they were playing Halo 3, so I played a round with them, having never played it before, and I beat them all... 20-7-4-2.

[Headcrab Pie]

I went over to my friend's room and they were playing Halo 3, so I played a round with them, having never played it before, and I beat them all... 20-7-4-2.

Hahahahaha! Epic.

[Smoke]

I think we can all agree that pacman is harder than Halo.

And more involving.

[Stigmata]

I ****ing hate Pac-Man. I honestly can't beat the first level. :(

[The Monkey]

I ****ing hate Pac-Man. I honestly can't beat the first level. :(
Same here. I manages to break the first level a while ago after like 20 tries, but after that it was impossible.

[Pulse]

I've always despised the hype behind Halo and its fan base in general, yet I've been playing an awful lot of Halo 3 at my mate's flat over the past month or so and I think its a lot more entertaining than its predecessors. The single player campaign was good fun to play co-operatively and some of the level designs this time round were a lot more creative (the scarab battles were pretty epic, even though they were easy). Of course it was nothing revolutionary as so many Halo fan boys make every instalment out to be, but it was still very entertaining, especially when played with company.

tl;dr - Halo hype and fanbase = moronic, Halo 3 was surprisingly fun to play with others

[SamuraiKenji]

Well let me name off a few of the many thousands of reasons why Halo sucks ass and HL rocks.

Halo

A:some how even though it was destoyed in the last game they always manage to find yet another Halo
B:the weapon limit i mean come on only 2 weapons? thats like......Gordon only being able to use a crowbar and a smg or something and have to switch them out every time theres a new weapon
C:the same monsters every single time i mean theres never anything new anymore.Mabey a few more cars and a new gun and a few more skins to choose from. THATS IT


There are many thousands of other reasons but i shall not name them off.


HL-HL2-HL2ep.1-HL2ep.2

A:the wide variety of weapons.such as the AR2.now is there ANYTHING like the AR2 or as awesome as the AR2 in Halo? not even close
B:the HUGE variety of enemys to fight. i can name off like 5 right off the top of my head in a instant.I doubt they even HAVE 5 diffrent kinds of enemys in Halo.
C:granted less vehicles but there faster and (at times) way more effective.


And also for this another few thousand reasons buuuut again i shall not name them off.

[Stigmata]

Well let me name off a few of the many thousands of reasons why Halo sucks ass and HL rocks.
A:some how even though it was destoyed in the last game they always manage to find yet another Halo
B:the weapon limit i mean come on only 2 weapons? thats like......gordon only being able to use a crowbar and a smg or something and have to switch them out every time theres a new weapon
C:the same monsters every single time i mean theres never anythin gnew anymore.Mabey a few more cars and a new gun and a few more skins to choose from. THATS IT


There are many thousands of other reasons but i shall not name them offThose are retarded reasons. There have always been 7 Halos, the weapon limit enhances the gameplay (would Counter-Strike be better if you could carry all the weapons at once?), and the HL2 episodes added a total of one new enemy type so that's pretty stupid too.

Halo is good, if terribly mediocre - but not for the reasons you just listed.

[giant384]

i agree that it gets way to much more hype then it deserves. thier are so many more deserving games out there. sadly the consoles noobs revolve around halo. i can understand if they cant get a decent pc or have a pc at all, but still thier are more games on console.

[Shippi]

Eh, I've nothing against Halo really, but I hate the fanboys. Hearing the guys in my class go on and on about bloody Halo3 every day has made me determined not to touch it. All they talk about is how much they owned on xbox live, taking short breaks from bragging about sniping long enough to insult Bioshock for it's lack of multiplayer. >_<

Halo 1 was fun with friends. I think I finished Halo 2, but it was so damned generic I honestly can't remember more than a few moments of the singleplayer. I don't do multiplayer so that's lost on me.

[SamuraiKenji]

Ok Stigmata mabey a couple diffrent reasons but i make a valid point dont i?
I mean i would HATE to have to decide weather to drop the Buckshot or the Crossbow for the Grav Gun.

[Cavalry]

the entire reason behind Halo's success is the multiplayer
If it weren't for Xbox live,Halo would've collapsed,IMO,the folks at Bungie didn't mean for Halo to be what its become
thats whyyou destroy the Halo ring in the original Halo,the marines never knew there were more till Halo 2,and the only reason as to why they made Halo 2 and Halo 3 was because fans were requesting more multiplayer maps,releasing new maps one at a time worked for a while,but it had become necassary to add more weapons and thus,Halo 2 was born,but because Halo 2 ended in a cliffhangar,Halo 3 was also a necassary installment

[CyberPitz]

I couldn't ever enjoy the game. I was bored to tears. And I thought it was just because I'm a mouse/keyboard guy, so I bought it for PC. Worst $20 I've ever spent. *That's including the time I payed for that cheap corner hooker that gave me the clap* I played it, tried to enjoy it. I just felt like I was playing some run of the mill usual FPS with no thought behind it.

[Smoke]

the entire reason behind Halo's success is the multiplayer
If it weren't for Xbox live,Halo would've collapsed,IMO,the folks at Bungie didn't mean for Halo to be what its become
thats whyyou destroy the Halo ring in the original Halo,the marines never knew there were more till Halo 2,and the only reason as to why they made Halo 2 and Halo 3 was because fans were requesting more multiplayer maps,releasing new maps one at a time worked for a while,but it had become necassary to add more weapons and thus,Halo 2 was born,but because Halo 2 ended in a cliffhangar,Halo 3 was also a necassary installment

Actually, that's bullshit. the monitor describes the "others" following suit, right before he tries to kill you for the index.

There were always other rings.

[Samon]

Halo is actually quite fun, and the combat is great on legendary. The main problem is the attention it gets; the game has nothing to it other than shooting enemies. There's actually nothing else to the gameplay. It's a shooting gallery through and through, and as such it doesn't deserve a jot of the praise it gets.

[Cavalry]

Actually, that's bullshit. the monitor describes the "others" following suit, right before he tries to kill you for the index.

There were always other rings.
this is true,but why did none of the marines know?
other then the Oricle and yourself,noone spoke of other halo rings
also,if the series ended at Halo 1,then you can assume that destroying one would decimate the covenants chances of ever going on the Great Journey to join the Forerunners

[DEATHMASTER]

Halo is actually quite fun, and the combat is great.
sig'd

[Ennui]

I've always despised the hype behind Halo and its fan base in general, yet I've been playing an awful lot of Halo 3 at my mate's flat over the past month or so and I think its a lot more entertaining than its predecessors. The single player campaign was good fun to play co-operatively and some of the level designs this time round were a lot more creative (the scarab battles were pretty epic, even though they were easy). Of course it was nothing revolutionary as so many Halo fan boys make every instalment out to be, but it was still very entertaining, especially when played with company.

tl;dr - Halo hype and fanbase = moronic, Halo 3 was surprisingly fun to play with others
Truth. Single-player co-op is the game's only true redeeming feature... but then, it's still not redeeming. Also it seems like co-op play is pretty fun no matter what game you're playing...
I couldn't ever enjoy the game. I was bored to tears. And I thought it was just because I'm a mouse/keyboard guy, so I bought it for PC. Worst $20 I've ever spent. *That's including the time I payed for that cheap corner hooker that gave me the clap* I played it, tried to enjoy it. I just felt like I was playing some run of the mill usual FPS with no thought behind it.
HAHAHA me too. I didn't buy it, actually, but I tried very hard to appreciate Halo PC playing it at work. No dice.

[Samon]

sig'd

*Only on Legendary.

[DEATHMASTER]

thats fine :P

[Samon]

It's nothing I haven't said a hundred times before. You just went and ignored the negative bit. :p

[phantomdesign]

Most of the "hatin'" is that Halo is severely overrated by fan-boys, magazines, etc. If you compare it to hundreds of FPS already available for the PC at the time and years earlier, it's well below "mediocre."

The single-player was horrendously bad with extremely repetitive levels and nothing new to offer gameplay. The only thing that's actually good about the game, and the sole reason why it because so popular, is because the multiplayer is a simple effective way to sit down with some friends in a Dorm room and blast eachother away. (like Goldeneye). Combine that with the complete lack of good FPS titles for the XboX (or any titles at all at the time) it's pretty easy to see why it's popularity took off.

If you like it, fine, but saying it's anything close to the best game ever is a huge stretch from the perspective of a PC gamer.

[The Monkey]

I haven't played Halo 2 or 3, but the first Halo was brilliant, especially the multiplayer.

[Adabiviak]

I think Halo had a good storyline and was fun to play. I don't think it's the best game ever, nor had the best storyline ever, to be sure. As was mentioned before, it apparently got a bad rap from a lot of fans touting its merits (although I have yet to see this - I see more anti-Halo fanboys actually). I don't buy the argument that its levels were repetitve in a bad way, but that's not a discussion for this thread.

[Acepilotf14]

I have had a lot of fun with Halo. It's a good game, now while I would much rather take a game like Mass Effect over it any day, it deserves it's place. Bow, you do realize the first Halo didn't have Xbox Life support, right? Halo 2 was the first to use Live in the Halo series, besides the PC version. The 2 weapon limit is called Encumberance. Yes, it would suck if you could only pick 2 weapons in HL2, but it makes it THAT much tactical. "What will I fight up ahead? Zombies? Should I take the shotgun? Or Combine? Should I take the AR2? Typically, I'm sure you would keep the crowbar as an extra weapon besides those, but it makes the gameplay a lot more tactical to an otherwise boring game. "I have a mauler and he has a plasma rifle, what should I do?"
And the gravity hammer ****ing rocks.

[Cavalry]

sorry,I have the demo on PC,and there is multiplayer,I kinda assumed that it was on xbox live too

[Smoke]

sorry,I have the demo on PC,and there is multiplayer,I kinda assumed that it was on xbox live too

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Please never stop posting.

[Reginald]

My main point of hatred is the repitetive levels - Halo 3 is not so guilty of this, but the other two were horrible. Assault on the control is one of the worst levels I have ever played in any video game, ever.

The only thing I like about Halo is the cooperative play. They are worthless to me in every other aspect.

What I don't understand is the obsession over them. They aren't bad games, they're mediocre. It's something we've seen a thousand times. So why do they get showered with all these accolades? I'll never understand it.


Agreed on all accounts and virtually all other posts in this thread.

[RidleyRockets]

I liked the first 10 minutes of the first mission in Halo. That's all i can say about the good aspects of the game.

[Dog--]

What the ****?

I made a thread not long ago saying how much I hate Halo because of all these EXACT reasons, and all I did was get flamed.

Go to hell! All of YOU!

[Acepilotf14]

Dog, the fact of it is that someone who makes a thread saying something sucks is simply gonig to get flamed because it's a rude and immature thing to do. Now, ASKING people WHY they hate/like Halo is a totally different thing, and people will be more calm about it.

[DEATHMASTER]

Yes, Burn Them All!

[Lone Wolf]

I've only played Halo 1, and I liked a lot of the first bit of the game in the outdoor areas, then it just went bad. I wasn't sure if i was in a new building or an old one that looked exactly the same. Not to mention the excessive amounts of enemies you have to fight.

I think Halo is more just a shoot em up than anything else.

[giant384]

these halo threads will always end in a flame war so it will come sooner or later.

[Acepilotf14]

I've only played Halo 1, and I liked a lot of the first bit of the game in the outdoor areas, then it just went bad. I wasn't sure if i was in a new building or an old one that looked exactly the same. Not to mention the excessive amounts of enemies you have to fight.

I think Halo is more just a shoot em up than anything else.

That game was made in 2001, of course it has those qualities. But, come on, the excessive enemies are what makes it crazy and fun.

[Cpt Tenacious]

Im not so sure that all the levels in Halo 2 were as repetitive as your making them out to be. :hmph:

On another note the combat is a lot of fun on legendary.

[Cormeh]

These Halo threads are pointless.

This is exactly one way Halo gets it's horrible reputation, people will defend it to the death when they simply don't need to.

If you like it, fine - but realise that Halo is hated, viciously more by people than it's loved.

[Smoke]

I'm at a cross between wanting to fight small numbers of very smart, tough opponents, as opposed to limitless hordes of lumbering idiots. Albeit dangerous idiots.

One gives you the chance to think tactically, and keeps you on your toes. Exercises the brain.

The other is just plain gun spam, which can be fun. Think Warhmmer + Tyranids.

[Ennui]

These Halo threads are pointless.

This is exactly one way Halo gets it's horrible reputation, people will defend it to the death when they simply don't need to.

If you like it, fine - but realise that Halo is hated, viciously more by people than it's loved.

* on the majority-PC-gaming internet, at least.

[Vegeta897]

I think we just hate the people who claim it's a fantastic game.

No, it's just an average multiplayer shooter on the most popular console. That is the only reason its popular and doing well in sales. The only reason.

I heard a news bit saying something how Halo 3 is revolutionizing gaming. Bull-****ing-shit. It's the exact opposite, in fact.

[Cpt Tenacious]

These Halo threads are pointless.

This is exactly one way Halo gets it's horrible reputation, people will defend it to the death when they simply don't need to.

If you like it, fine - but realise that Halo is hated, viciously more by people than it's loved.

:dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork:
Don't you insult Halo its my life I love it!!! raaaaaaargh!!!!!!!
:dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork::dork:


So true, there are some crazy fans out there.

[Citrus]

You intended that as a "joke" but its most likely true :|

[Beerdude26]

I actually rather liked the outdoor maps of Halo. I was, however, deathly afraid to enter any buildings. Not because of claustrophobia or anything; I just absolutely feared the repetitiveness, the uncreativeness and the appalling lengths of those levels. A lot of people had told me that Halo was "ABSOLUTELY AWESOME". I kept playing, hoping that the "ABSOLUTELY AWESOME" part would arrive soon. It never arrived.

I then proceeded to make an omelet with my own feces and had ten times more fun than playing Halo.

[Cormeh]

* on the majority-PC-gaming internet, at least.
I disagree, because of the great variety that console gamers have enjoyed from the Playstation and Nintendo 64. (Not FPS exclusively, I'm aiming at a broader spectrum there :) ) I don't want to turn this into a "what is the best FPS" that mutates into "what is the best console FPS" but we all know, collectively on HL2.net where Halo falls flat on it's face in gameplay and design.

We're seasoned gamers for the most part, spoiled for choice these days. There's not a generation goes by with a selection of brillaint titles that go completely under the radar. Microsoft and Bungie have cornered a section of the market and bloated the entire scene by having launch parties, celebrity appearances, TV spots, Superbowl adverts etc etc etc. Halo's reputation has been killed more by the marketing crap than anything else. If wasn't so widely recognised people would certainly be less critical of its glaring flaws.

.... anyway on reading that I see I've completely lost track of my original thoughts and topic, but I think there's a sharp, gleaming point amid that rabble of poor sentence structure.

[Acepilotf14]

Double Spacing?

[CrazyHarij]

ive probably played the coop mode of the first halo more than any other offline game. for it's time, it was brilliant.
second game was a disappointment, but halo 3 is simply kickass. its strength isnt that it's varied, but that it's genuinely fun to play. it is designed as a game, everythings insanely well-balanced, lots of unique little details. love the multiplayer to death. the hl2 episodes are far more guilty of being repetitive imho.

[Lone Wolf]

Repetitive? HL2? Every 5 minutes your looking at something different, with different enemies, how is that repetitive?

[CrazyHarij]

ep1 had nothing new except zombines.. aside from hunters, ep2 had no new element combat-wise. same weapons as hl2, the outdoor environments are simplistic and linear, the driving sequences are extremely linear. it's essentially a polished hl2 in a semi-outdoors backdrop. i'm not dissing ep2, i enjoyed it, but let's bring the arguments into a realistic context, shall we?

[Smoke]

ep1 had nothing new except zombines.. aside from hunters, ep2 had no new element combat-wise. same weapons as hl2, the outdoor environments are simplistic and linear, the driving sequences are extremely linear. it's essentially a polished hl2 in a semi-outdoors backdrop. i'm not dissing ep2, i enjoyed it, but let's bring the arguments into a realistic context, shall we?

The point is, Half life has enviroments that involve the player. How many times have you ripped something off the wall with the Gravity gun and flung it at the enemy, or used it to slow their advance by dropping it in a doorway?

The areas in Episode one were not drastically different, but the fact is they were different. The hospital fight with the xombine was immense because while the area was the same, it was pulled off in a new way. Giving you the option to fight or hide, engage one while the others are busy, toss a table into the fray or bypass it all together.


Now in contrast to Halo, the only real thing you can do with the enviroment is to blow things up, push buttons and throw grenades around corners using walls.

[Samon]

ep1 had nothing new except zombines.. aside from hunters, ep2 had no new element combat-wise. same weapons as hl2, the outdoor environments are simplistic and linear, the driving sequences are extremely linear. it's essentially a polished hl2 in a semi-outdoors backdrop. i'm not dissing ep2, i enjoyed it, but let's bring the arguments into a realistic context, shall we?

Yeah, but that's a fairly simplistic and narrow way of looking at what's "new". I could argue a lot of the gameplay encounters in Episode 2 (obviously less so Episode 1) are new, because they constantly change scene per scene. You can't say that for Halo, because it's just shooting gallery after shooting gallery. Linearity is also not a bad trait.

[Glirk Dient]

Halo is a great game. I love it. The halo series has always been about co op and multiplayer. Single player is pretty much worthless and just goes over what the books did. However multiplayer is a lot of fun. It's a game that varies an awful lot and takes a ton of skill to master. Most people don't even get to the point of being good at the game and give up before then. It's a lot of fun to play once you grasp the concept of the game. It isn't about twitch but about strategy and that is what sets the game apart. You don't run through the game with a machine gun or shotgun going on a shooting spree. If you do that someone is gonna shoot your head off before you even know he is there. I guess if your not much of a console gamer then Halo won't be for you. However if your into competitive shooters then Halo is perfect.

[giant384]

since when has new weapons in a game been the deciding factor on whether the game has new gameplay or not? :P

[Dalamari]

Halo is mediocre beyond belief, I didn't even beat the 2nd one until one of my mates did it for me, I just couldn't take anymore of "HOLY SHIT SOMETHING HAPPENED, GO SAVE EARTH!" in the same levels OVER AND OVER. And the multiplayer is fun to play with mates but playing online is just stupid because you get stuck in a room full of 13 year-olds/20-somethings that play beer pong, wear pre-torn jeans that cost $100, and say "dude" far more than they should.

Basically, it's shit

[CrazyHarij]

smoke: the gravity gun is hl2's #1 asset, i agree, but you're basically saying every shooter that doesnt have a gravity gun sucks.
samon: whether linearity is a good or bad thing is largely a perceptual issue, in valves case it tends to detract from the gaming environment, especially when it appears to be an engine limitation
rather than design choice.
giant: imho its all about the implementation and how it affects how the player thinks.

[Samon]

It actually is a design decision, I think. Linearity is the key to Valve's gameplay formula; carefully tuned and polished gameplay that changes scene-per-scene. If you open the maps up, you can't do that.

[Smoke]

smoke: the gravity gun is hl2's #1 asset, i agree, but you're basically saying every shooter that doesnt have a gravity gun sucks.

I'm not saying that at all. I'm simply saying that it adds a myriad of game choices and opportunities that are sorley lacking in Halo. I also said that the level design is superior because it affords the player a wide range of options and challenges for every situation, while maintaining a linear storyline. Which, in my opinion, Halo has failed to do.

[ktimekiller]

My hatred for halo is the fact that

1. fanboys believe it has a fantastic story.

2. fanboys think it is a revolutionary game (back in halo 2, not 3)

3. most fanboys of halo think pc is nerdy. (your playing a game too RETARD!)

Halo is a decent game, i like it. It has a fun multiplayer but it gets praised as the greatest games by the fanboys.

[Acepilotf14]

The story is fantastic, if you'd read the books. I do agree it isn't revolutionary, but it was back in it's time. It was the first well-done console FPS, so it shaped much of the console FPS genre.

[CrazyHarij]

samon: true.. valve are really focusing on the storytelling, the commentary gives that off. it pays off but makes some battle sequences stick out like sore thumbs. the alyx sniping sequence felt like it was reused from hl2 and an interruption in the story, while the end battle was a huge part of the story.
smoke: you can use the exact same argument about hl2's lack of vehicles. they're two entirely different games.

[Wanted Bob]

If it wasnt for the multiplayer, I would be bored of it quick.

I've hosted parties with about 15 friends playing Halo 3. Some of the greatest gaming moments right there (flipping an elephant 300 feet in the air!)

[CrazyHarij]

yeah the multiplayer is awesome. love BTB and shotty snipers! i also got all the skulls, the hayabusa suit makes
ppl think i dont suck until i actually get into a battle.

[Bob Saget]

What I don't understand is how Half Life 2 is the "smart" FPS compared to Halo. The dialogue and writing is better in Half Life 2, but the gameplay is definitely not "smarter" in my opinion. I keep hearing about clever puzzles, and then I never see any. Oh, wow, creating a seesaw with the physics. Shooting energy balls in hooped shaped mechanisms. The puzzles aren't really that puzzling.

[Vegeta897]

Half-Life 2 rewards your intelligent use of the physics in combat and gameplay. That is why it is intelligent, and not a shooting gallery like Halo, as Samon said.

[Bob Saget]

Tossing a chair at a zombie requires intelligence?

[Vegeta897]

Please re-read the last few posts, I really don't want to repeat what's been said already.

The physics in HL2 offer infinite variation in gameplay and combat.

The point is, Half life has enviroments that involve the player. How many times have you ripped something off the wall with the Gravity gun and flung it at the enemy, or used it to slow their advance by dropping it in a doorway?

The areas in Episode one were not drastically different, but the fact is they were different. The hospital fight with the xombine was immense because while the area was the same, it was pulled off in a new way. Giving you the option to fight or hide, engage one while the others are busy, toss a table into the fray or bypass it all together.


Now in contrast to Halo, the only real thing you can do with the enviroment is to blow things up, push buttons and throw grenades around corners using walls.

[soulslicer]

Halo suffers from a disease called Mass Advertising imo. I mean, the game is okaaayyy, but it's like, "omfg, halo 2, the greatest game ever" and there were halo 2 posters all over my countries bus stops etc. when there were much better games at that time that were not well known or advertised.

[AzzMan]

I really hope all these Halo haters arent the ones praising HL2's AI, all of the human combine were pretty much a few levels below retarded...

[Bob Saget]

I admit that the gravity gun and more moveable objects is a huge plus, but how is that intelligent? It still means you're tossing things at enemies or making barriers. I don't understand how that's more intelligent. More exciting and more varied but not more intelligent.

[Vegeta897]

lol... Sounds like this is becoming an argument of semantics.

Surely you can understand that there are always more creative ways of playing the game as you've just admitted to how well the phsyics work with combat. The more intelligent you are, the more interesting things you will think of doing.

[soulslicer]

I really hope all these Halo haters arent the ones praising HL2's AI, all of the human combine were pretty much a few levels below retarded...

I really hate it when people say that. If only the combine could move faster and had higher hp! You would see how epic they are. Arghh!

[AzzMan]

I really hate it when people say that. If only the combine could move faster and had higher hp! You would see how much longer they stand there as you empty a clip into their face as they do nothing to defend themselves. Arghh!

Fixed

[soulslicer]

Fixed

Bullshit. Combine Ai are very good at working with squads. Unlike most shooters, their Ai is dynamic as they create automatic flowpaths in their surroundings. Means, A physics object in front, use it for cover. Also, if you are in trouble, call your other soldiers to flank you. Furthermore, if you are the only one left, run to a safer place to fire from. Lastly, throw a grenade when you are out of the line of site. Shoot them, and they run for cover. And there are many more aspects to combine ai.

Just because you doubleshotgun your way through, you think their ai is shit. Play the whole game with your machinegun.

[AzzMan]

Bullshit. Combine Ai are very good at working with squads. Unlike most shooters, their Ai is dynamic as they create automatic flowpaths in their surroundings. Means, A physics object in front, use it for cover. Also, if you are in trouble, call your other soldiers to flank you. Furthermore, if you are the only one left, run to a safer place to fire from. Lastly, throw a grenade when you are out of the line of site. Shoot them, and they run for cover. And there are many more aspects to combine ai.

Just because you doubleshotgun your way through, you think their ai is shit. Play the whole game with your machinegun.

I pretty much did use the machine gun the entire game, or the pulse rifle, on hard too, and yes I still believe their AI is shitty. I honestly think the Marines in the 1st HL had much much better AI then the combine, and the original FEAR enemies completely smoke them.

[Sparta]

The original marines don't have better A.I. but you can certainly see their A.I. in use much clearer than the combines. The combine enemies are capable of the same thing, the problem is that Valve decided along the way that by making the combine fast moving tactical enemies, the gravity gun was much harder and less fun to use. So they opted to make the combine simpler and now everyone loves using the gravity gun to smash their faces with various objects.

Seems like a logical choice, but i do wish on harder difficulties the A.I. would show off a bit.

[Warbie]

Half-Life 2 rewards your intelligent use of the physics in combat and gameplay.

There's sod all intelligent use of physics in HL2's combat. The gravity gun is used to chuck things at bad guys (returning a grenade is as good as it gets), and that's pretty much it. Infact, there's nothing intelligent about HL2's combat at all. It's overly simple (the words point and click spring to mind) and way too easy.

HL2 does many things well, but combat isn't one of them.

[ShadowX]

Halo:CE was great, Halo 2 was a major disappointment, Halo 3 was their last chance at redemption but failed.

[Acepilotf14]

Okay, you want to see how multiplayer can be fun? Heres a good moment today while I was playing XBL. There was an enemy warthog, full of guys, about to go. I chuck a power drain at it, and they are all like 'wtf?'. I go up and kill em all.
Overkill.

[Wanted Bob]

Okay, you want to see how multiplayer can be fun? Heres a good moment today while I was playing XBL. There was an enemy warthog, full of guys, about to go. I chuck a power drain at it, and they are all like 'wtf?'. I go up and kill em all.
Overkill.

Heh, nice. For me, a great moment was sticking a hog with two people in it, then sticking it again in mid air. Best Double Kill ever.

[DEATHMASTER]

gotta love that stuff :cheers:

[Cpt Tenacious]

Halo:CE was great, Halo 2 was a major disappointment, Halo 3 was their last chance at redemption but failed.

Fail is the first word that comes to mind when were talking about the highest selling game of all time.

[Pesmerga]

Fail is the first word that comes to mind when were talking about the highest selling game of all time.

Highest selling game of all time? Halo 2 has approximately 8 million copies sold worldwide, while 24 others (before Sep 4th, 2007) have beaten that "record" by up to 12 million.

Halo 3 isn't even near the top. http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/the-top-10-best-selling-game-franchises/532199

[Javert]

Halo is alot like religion. Love it all you want, but don't f-ing force it on me.

[Cpt Tenacious]

Highest selling game of all time? Halo 2 has approximately 8 million copies sold worldwide, while 24 others (before Sep 4th, 2007) have beaten that "record" by up to 12 million.

Halo 3 isn't even near the top. http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/the-top-10-best-selling-game-franchises/532199

Thats what i heard.

[Vegeta897]

There's sod all intelligent use of physics in HL2's combat. The gravity gun is used to chuck things at bad guys (returning a grenade is as good as it gets), and that's pretty much it. Infact, there's nothing intelligent about HL2's combat at all. It's overly simple (the words point and click spring to mind) and way too easy.

HL2 does many things well, but combat isn't one of them.
If you think the last battle in Episode 2 was point and click, you are terribly mistaken.

[Pesmerga]

Thats what i heard.

So you're either basing the quality of a game based on sales (which is argument by consensus), you're using information from hearsay, or you're simply lying.

[Acepilotf14]

So you're either basing the quality of a game based on sales (which is argument by consensus), you're using information from hearsay, or you're simply lying.

Democracy!

[Stigmata]

So you're either basing the quality of a game based on sales (which is argument by consensus), you're using information from hearsay, or you're simply lying.What he was talking about was that Halo 3 is the highest-grossing entertainment ever for its first 24 hours of release. Higher day-one sales than Spider-Man 3. Whether that means anything in terms of game quality is up for debate*.



*No it's not, because it means nothing. :p

[Sparta]

If you think the last battle in Episode 2 was point and click, you are terribly mistaken.

He hasn't played Episode 2, he was talking about Half-Life 2. Its a shame too because the a.i. in Episode 2 is so much better than that of Half-life 2. Mostly thanks to the Hunters though, which are my favourite enemies since the Half-life assasins.

[Corp. Sheepo]

So you're either basing the quality of a game based on sales (which is argument by consensus), you're using information from hearsay, or you're simply lying.

Wikiality!

Colbert ftw

[Atomic_Piggy]

The HL marines don't have better AI, they simply soak up bucketloads of damage.

[Samon]

I think it's that Half-life 2 is more multi-tiered, varied and developed in its gameplay, as opposed to Halo which is just “block of enemies” “block of enemies”. I wouldn't call the combat in HL2 particularly dynamic or engaging as a whole, but they have done so much to elevate themselves away from that kind of FPS restriction that it doesn't matter.

[Cerpin]

80% of all Halo haters would be indifferent or have a positive attitute towards the game if it wasn't so hyped. It seems that all the stir, or lack thereof, around a game is causing more opinions about a title rather than the actual game.

Which is stupid and retarded.

[Bakurei]

I still hate the first two halos but I love Halo 3. I really didn't even want to buy this game. But then I decided to buy it just for the mp, turns out the sp was a blast as well (legendary co-op rocks).

[Warbie]

You don't have to sound so guilty for liking Halo 3 ;) It easily offers the best co-op fps experience there has been and the MP is great fun (2 vs. 2 ftw).

When I get bored of story driven shooters and want a something that offers a good challenge, something that tests my skills and demands practise to master, I load up Halo 3. The best fps experience i've had in recent years has been 2 player co-op on Legendary with 5 or 6 skulls added - after that the combat in other fps seems so basic.

[99.vikram]

There's sod all intelligent use of physics in HL2's combat. The gravity gun is used to chuck things at bad guys (returning a grenade is as good as it gets)
That is probably the least imaginative way to use the GG ever. Besides using it for cover and to smash enemies, have you ever assembled little physics traps before big fights at Nova Prospekt or Follow Freeman? No? I'm not surprised.

Infact, there's nothing intelligent about HL2's combat at all. It's overly simple (the words point and click spring to mind) and way too easy.

HL2 does many things well, but combat isn't one of them.
Utter BS. If I can get a FEAR fanboy to play HL2 and call it one of the best games ever, it's combat is certainly as good as any other game out there (and I've played most of them). Every enemy down to the last CP takes cover and tries to flank.

As for Halo, it's unworthy of discussion. Halo simply throws many enemies from many directions and milks every combat scenario till the gamer is playing just to justify the purchase. Which was your favorite level from the Halo games? The mind numbing flood levels? Or maybe the generic filler mazes? How many specific firefights from Halo stick out in your mind? I'm not talking about the awesome ways in which you killed hordes of enemies - how many times did the game shock you and kick you in the nuts?

[mastag]

I was impressed with Halo 1's earlier bits...I didn't see the flood coming, that was a great surprise.

However, after that, the level's seemed to never change. ever.

Halo 2 had a similar campaign, but the online play was great.

Haven't played halo 3 yet.

[Cormeh]

The funny thing is, the biggest criticism for the Halo series I have is one that I don't see made by many people.

The characters are bloody awful. Except perhaps the Arbiter who has a fairly interesting story to pursue, other than that the characters are a pile of ass and cliches.

Especially Johnson.

[Warbie]

That is probably the least imaginative way to use the GG ever. Besides using it for cover and to smash enemies, have you ever assembled little physics traps before big fights at Nova Prospekt or Follow Freeman? No? I'm not surprised.

On the contrary - i've experiemented with the gravity gun. Messed around blocking doors and dropping stuff on bad guys. I've made little traps just as you mentioned, which I found fun in a sandbox, combat with hindsight kind of way. The novelty soon wore off, though. Why spend 10-20 minutes setting up a trap when faced with an inept foe? Why make the task more complicated?

When first confronted with the combine i'd pick up an object, use it as cover, sneak around, make little bases. It was fun. After a while, after discovering that you could pretty much just stand still and squirt bullets at them, it started to feel a little bit silly and unnecessary. So, back to running about, shooting bad guys and chucking things at them - something i'd wager the majority of people here reverted to once the honeymoon period of the gravity gun had worn off.

[99.vikram]

The funny thing is, the biggest criticism for the Halo series I have is one that I don't see made by many people.

The characters are bloody awful. Except perhaps the Arbiter who has a fairly interesting story to pursue, other than that the characters are a pile of ass and cliches.

Especially Johnson.
It's hard to notice the little flaws when there are so many bigger ones out there.

[Cormeh]

It's hard to notice the little flaws when there are so many bigger ones out there.
I've already made it perfectly clear that we're all smart enough to know where these flaws are.

[nurizeko]

I enjoyed Halo one, never played Halo 2 or 3.

My thoughts on Halo is that its fun to play, and a good banter game with friends on a console, but I don't want bungie to bear my children.

:)

[HunterSeeker]

I played Halo once and did not enjoy it (it was co-op non the less). Combat felt very repetive, there are many games Id rather play co-op on. Also, am I the only one that thinks the design of the spartans is ugly?

[Acepilotf14]

Spartans looks badass.

[Glirk Dient]

Are you guys serious? I think 95% of you only hate Halo because of it's hype. I am seeing a lot of BS answers. People saying Halo 3 SP is nothing but the same thing over and over haven't played the game through on legendary. It sucks on easy because every enemy dies from you walking up and shooting it. However on legenday you will get your ass kicked for being a nub. Such as on the level witht he control room there is a part with 6 brutes. You could charge at them but you will die right away so you can either sit back and wait for them to move up and out maneuver them and kill them off 1 by 1 or you can use the grav lift to jump up and grab the shotgun and BR and pick them all off. Not to mention Halo has replay value that the HL series doesn't Hl has a much better story than the Halo games(the books are much better and actually worth a read). Halo has replay value because theres a lot to unlock and it will change the gameplay. Not to mention co-op is always fun.

But enough of SP, it's fun for a bit but not worth buying the game. MP is where it's at. Theres plenty of different game types and it takes an enormous amount of skill and practice to be very good at the game. There is a reason people get payed to play the game. Not only does it take skill but you need to "know" your enemy. It is all about positioning yourself right so you have the advantage or can run if your getting your ass kicked. Not to mention map/weapon control is huge. There is an enormous amount of teamwork when you are playing against another team. Also there are plenty of other game types that make it lot's of fun to just mess around and even custom games are great. You can make a map where you race around a track, you can play a zombies or ninja variant. These kinds of things make Halo fun and worthwhile to play. So saying you played it with a friend once and didn't like it is a terrible excuse to use for any game. You most likely played single player and got lost and didn't know ho to move or you played multiplayer, got lost didn't know how to move and got your ass kicked and didn't like the game because your no good at it and can't figure it out. Seriously guys, come up with better excuses.

I could easily say I hated the HL series because all you do is run around and shoot. The whole game. It is so repetetive because that's all you ever do and once in a while they give you something different to shoot at. Not to mention theres no replay value because all you would do again is shoot at more stuff all over again. Worst game ever.

[CptStern]

I think 95% of you only hate Halo because of it's hype.

I cant speak for everyone else but it's because it's dull ..dull and boring, not at all interested in halo 3 even though I own the first and second game

and hate is too strong a word .."meh" is better and far far more damaging ..hate implies you care somewhat ..meh means just that: "meh"

[CyberPitz]

I cant speak for everyone else but it's because it's dull ..dull and boring, not at all interested in halo 3 even though I own the first and second game

and hate is too strong a word .."meh" is better and far far more damaging ..hate implies you care somewhat ..meh means just that: "meh"

Agreed, I thought it would have been fun at first, but upon playing it, I was spoiled with games I actually enjoyed playing...Thus it gets a meh/10

[jondy]

Whups.

[Samon]

I could easily say I hated the HL series because all you do is run around and shoot. The whole game. It is so repetetive because that's all you ever do and once in a while they give you something different to shoot at. Not to mention theres no replay value because all you would do again is shoot at more stuff all over again. Worst game ever.

Except that's not the case at all. So it's a bit of a bullshit argument, really.

[99.vikram]

However on legenday you will get your ass kicked for being a nub.
Getting your ass kicked is not equal to having fun. It has boring sh*tty levels and enemies that look like they were made from plastic with bright lights tacked on. It's no fun to play so ultimately it doesn't matter how difficult it is.

Not to mention Halo has replay value that the HL series doesn't Hl has a much better story than the Halo games(the books are much better and actually worth a read). Halo has replay value because theres a lot to unlock and it will change the gameplay. Not to mention co-op is always fun.

Co-op is fun because co-op in any game is fun. I play Doom co-op sometimes, but that's no indication of how good Doom's SP is.

But I agree on the books bit - they are awesome and very entertaining. The books are the best part of the Halo franchise, IMO.

MP is where it's at. Theres plenty of different game types and it takes an enormous amount of skill and practice to be very good at the game. There is a reason people get payed to play the game.
The same can be said of UT 2004, Quake 3 Arena, Counterstrike or any other triple A Multiplayer title. Why buy the Halo games at all when so many others do both SP and MP better?

[giant384]

Are you guys serious? I think 95% of you only hate Halo because of it's hype. I am seeing a lot of BS answers. People saying Halo 3 SP is nothing but the same thing over and over haven't played the game through on legendary. It sucks on easy because every enemy dies from you walking up and shooting it. However on legenday you will get your ass kicked for being a nub. Such as on the level witht he control room there is a part with 6 brutes. You could charge at them but you will die right away so you can either sit back and wait for them to move up and out maneuver them and kill them off 1 by 1 or you can use the grav lift to jump up and grab the shotgun and BR and pick them all off. Not to mention Halo has replay value that the HL series doesn't Hl has a much better story than the Halo games(the books are much better and actually worth a read). Halo has replay value because theres a lot to unlock and it will change the gameplay. Not to mention co-op is always fun.


if you are talking about replay as in beating an achievement then thats pure bs. also the unlocks that you achieve when getting skulls will die of enjoyment after a day.

also i dont see how hl vs halo would change in replay value if you say legendary makes it re playable. another word for it is hard mode....i do agree that co-op can take the games replay value much farther.

[Kadayi]

In the name of research (for unnamed project) I elected to play through Halo 1 recently and despite some nice touches (the two gun aspect I liked, and it has a reasonable story) I have to say after a while the game play becomes incredibly boring and repetitive. Admittedly I'm playing it solo (PC user), but I'm struggling to find the motivation necessary to play it through to it's conclusion. I definitely think Sterns 'meh' rating is a fair assessment of how I feel towards it as well. For my sins I've got Halo 2 to play through as well....:sleep:

[CptStern]

halo 2 is more "meh" than the first one ..especially meh near the end

[sea]

Halo is a series with great production values and robust gameplay mechanics and features, but fails at applying them with any sort of originality or tact.

[Warbie]

also the unlocks that you achieve when getting skulls will die of enjoyment after a day

I couldn't disagree more. The skulls add so much to Halo 3's co-op. They take what was an easy, throw-away piece of co-op fun and turn it into an awesome test of teamwork and skill with the most brutal and visceral combat i've seen in a fps. They are what make it so good! Seriously, I often wonder whether some of you guys have spent any time with the game.

[Vegeta897]

You most likely played single player and got lost and didn't know ho to move or you played multiplayer, got lost didn't know how to move and got your ass kicked and didn't like the game because your no good at it and can't figure it out. Seriously guys, come up with better excuses.
Funny, I never had that problem with Half-Life.

"lulz my game is more harder than urs lol so its obv better"

[CyberPitz]

I buy a game for both multiplayer and single player. Usually, I want to like both ends before I say the game is awesome/sucks. And it's not like Halo's MP is so unique I couldn't get the fun elsewhere...

[Vegeta897]

And should we not consider the amount of mods and maps you can get with Half-Life 2? Surely that could be considered as adding to the replay value or perhaps a new category of game quality entirely. I really don't think mods should be ignored simply because they don't come with the game.

[CyberPitz]

Very good point. I like to think that the mod community is what makes the game truly shine. Sure, it's not the same game, but think...without that game, would the mods exist?

[kupocake]

The characters are bloody awful. Except perhaps the Arbiter who has a fairly interesting story to pursue, other than that the characters are a pile of ass and cliches.

Especially Johnson.
Johnson isn't supposed to be anything more though. In the same way that the Drill Sergeant in Opposing Force is overtly parodying Full Metal Jacket, Johnson is clearly the Sergeant from Aliens, right down to him barking 'Move it Marines, They ain't paying us by the Hour'. In fact, most of the human elements borrow from Aliens, and I think they're easily the most fun bits. The Pillar of Autumn is just a less detailed Sulaco. The Halo Marines' dropship has a similar front heavy, tailed design and his its own 'take no shit' female pilot. Halo Human weapons all have the feeling of something just along from what we have now, just as Aliens strived for.

The problem with that is that in a uniformly brilliant game, those elements would look like a fantastic and clever homage. As it is, I barely believe that designers were shared between the Human and Alien elements. For all their AI, the Covenant are awful enemies to look at. They just try too hard to be outlandish, which is odd when the game takes so much from Aliens for it's human elements. Scary alien races are all about things that look familiar, twisted in some way. There is no clever subversion of male pregnancy or 'giant penis shaped thing' fear that makes the Alien films work. They just whacked bits of bright coloured plastic on some vaguely humanoid frames et voila!

In fact, the Covenant may be a far more intelligent design than I want to give them credit for. If it's not Penises and Pregancy they're trying to sell the game's horror dimension on, there's still something to be said for dressing the Covenant like a Gay Pride Parade. I mean, play over X-Box live, and you get called a Fag pretty often anyway, so the Halo demographic should logically fear a violent race that commands flotillas of Fuschia coloured space ships across the universe in search of ring shaped objects. Yeah, you heard me. Halo is a relic of Hetero-centric oppression and that, ladies and gentlemen is the real reason why the FABULOUS! Half-Life 2 dot net hates it.

[Stigmata]

I loved the fact that Halo's enemies weren't a boring gray/black/green. They actually had color for once.

[99.vikram]

...
Sig'd. :D

[Jintor]

Johnson isn't supposed to be anything more though. In the same way that the Drill Sergeant in Opposing Force is overtly parodying Full Metal Jacket, Johnson is clearly the Sergeant from Aliens, right down to him barking 'Move it Marines, They ain't paying us by the Hour'. In fact, most of the human elements borrow from Aliens, and I think they're easily the most fun bits. The Pillar of Autumn is just a less detailed Sulaco. The Halo Marines' dropship has a similar front heavy, tailed design and his its own 'take no shit' female pilot. Halo Human weapons all have the feeling of something just along from what we have now, just as Aliens strived for.

The problem with that is that in a uniformly brilliant game, those elements would look like a fantastic and clever homage. As it is, I barely believe that designers were shared between the Human and Alien elements. For all their AI, the Covenant are awful enemies to look at. They just try too hard to be outlandish, which is odd when the game takes so much from Aliens for it's human elements. Scary alien races are all about things that look familiar, twisted in some way. There is no clever subversion of male pregnancy or 'giant penis shaped thing' fear that makes the Alien films work. They just whacked bits of bright coloured plastic on some vaguely humanoid frames et voila!

In fact, the Covenant may be a far more intelligent design than I want to give them credit for. If it's not Penises and Pregancy they're trying to sell the game's horror dimension on, there's still something to be said for dressing the Covenant like a Gay Pride Parade. I mean, play over X-Box live, and you get called a Fag pretty often anyway, so the Halo demographic should logically fear a violent race that commands flotillas of Fuschia coloured space ships across the universe in search of ring shaped objects. Yeah, you heard me. Halo is a relic of Hetero-centric oppression and that, ladies and gentlemen is the real reason why the FABULOUS! Half-Life 2 dot net hates it.

Ladies and gentlemen, a post of EXCEPTIONAL brilliance.

[Samon]

If it's not Penises and Pregancy they're trying to sell the game's horror dimension on, there's still something to be said for dressing the Covenant like a Gay Pride Parade. I mean, play over X-Box live, and you get called a Fag pretty often anyway, so the Halo demographic should logically fear a violent race that commands flotillas of Fuschia coloured space ships across the universe in search of ring shaped objects.

****ing rofl.

[[Matt]]

Johnson isn't supposed to be anything more though. In the same way that the Drill Sergeant in Opposing Force is overtly parodying Full Metal Jacket, Johnson is clearly the Sergeant from Aliens, right down to him barking 'Move it Marines, They ain't paying us by the Hour'. In fact, most of the human elements borrow from Aliens, and I think they're easily the most fun bits. The Pillar of Autumn is just a less detailed Sulaco. The Halo Marines' dropship has a similar front heavy, tailed design and his its own 'take no shit' female pilot. Halo Human weapons all have the feeling of something just along from what we have now, just as Aliens strived for.

The problem with that is that in a uniformly brilliant game, those elements would look like a fantastic and clever homage. As it is, I barely believe that designers were shared between the Human and Alien elements. For all their AI, the Covenant are awful enemies to look at. They just try too hard to be outlandish, which is odd when the game takes so much from Aliens for it's human elements. Scary alien races are all about things that look familiar, twisted in some way. There is no clever subversion of male pregnancy or 'giant penis shaped thing' fear that makes the Alien films work. They just whacked bits of bright coloured plastic on some vaguely humanoid frames et voila!

In fact, the Covenant may be a far more intelligent design than I want to give them credit for. If it's not Penises and Pregancy they're trying to sell the game's horror dimension on, there's still something to be said for dressing the Covenant like a Gay Pride Parade. I mean, play over X-Box live, and you get called a Fag pretty often anyway, so the Halo demographic should logically fear a violent race that commands flotillas of Fuschia coloured space ships across the universe in search of ring shaped objects. Yeah, you heard me. Halo is a relic of Hetero-centric oppression and that, ladies and gentlemen is the real reason why the FABULOUS! Half-Life 2 dot net hates it.

THREAD CLOSED... NO MORE COMMENTS NEEDED!!:thumbs::cheers::E