To be honest, I think that there are several elements in the game that make the entire concept of Halo feel kinda dated- elements that have been in every game in the series and are now seen as constants in halo games by the community- things that haven't and will not change. Regarding Halo 4, the game is smooth, the animations are great, and the graphics are very nice, all of which give the game a more modern feel than the previous titles. However, there are some aspects of the entire Halo series, even in Halo 4, that kinda make it feel like something from eight years ago. As much as we're used to having these elements in Halo, I think that they need to go, especially as we move into the next console generation. These elements include...
-Bullet travel time. Sure the companies have the excuse that guns from 500 years into the future may be able to shoot that fast, but the only reason that Halo ever had hitscan weapons is because, back during the creation of the first Halos, our technology wasn't good enough to effectively program actual flying projectiles for every weapon and incorporate them smoothly into the game. However, Bungie and 343 stuck with the idea, and now we still have several weapons in Halo 4 that fire at the speed of light. This might be OK for just the sniper rifle, as it could end up like that 500 years from now, but they shouldn't have it for so many other guns as well. I hope to see 343 incorporate proper bullet travel time with the next titles.
-Aiming stability. The companies behind Halo can excuse the Spartans' flawless aim by pointing out that they're genetically enhanced super soldier, but this was another concept born in Halo's early days that stuck with the franchise to today, despite the fact that we now have the ability to improve them. In Halo, a spartan snipes by awkwardly juggling back and forth in a tap-dance-like movement to avoid enemy fire, but still manages to retain perfect accuracy and achieve smooth, clean headshots. Many halo players, like Psychoduck, fight each other with BRs while jumping and moving in these same motions, and they are afraid to stand still or entrench themselves behind cover (like an actual soldier would) for fear of getting shot. Does any of this sound the least bit realistic? No, and it doesn't even feel like a fight. I've played mobile games (Trigger Fist) that felt more like a battle than Halo. I think that this could be improved by reducing players' accuracy while they're moving, automatically slow players down when they start shooting, providing a slight accuracy bonus while crouched, and things like that. Hopefully this will be changed in future Halo games.
-Sound effects. In my opinion, Halo's sound effects have never really been all that good at all. There are a few nice sounds, like the rumble of a fuel rod gun's explosion in the distance, but the sounds of Halo don't really blend well- they don't engulf you and make you feel like you're in a battlefield. Many of the sounds are just really crappy, like the sound of the Battle Rifle or the banshee bomb explosion when you hear it from a certain angle. Seriously, just take another look at this video, and pay attention to the sound. If you call this the sound of war, the sound of a battlefield, then you have no idea what a battle would sound like (Battlefield 3 could give you a better idea). But the sound effects, and Halo's audio overall, don't sound remotely realistic and are certainly not up to par with many other modern games. Hopefully 343 will also address this issue as we move into next generation gaming and Halo 5.
Overall, Halo has a bit of catching up to do if it wants to keep up with the other games of today. When you compare Halo with a game like Battlefield 3, sure you are entitled to the opinion that Halo is more fun, and you can point out that Halo offers many things that Battlefield doesn't, like Forge, custom games, theater, etcetera. But from a little bit of time playing both games, you'll quickly realize that battlefield is clearly more advanced and capable. It sets a great example for modern and future games- everything is smooth, the graphics are incredible, the objects have realistic physics and react to forces applied onto them, the maps are huge, and detail has been put into every last corner of every environment, and every last line of code. The sound effects are wonderful and really add a new aspect of depth into the player's experience- every gun (which there are many of) makes its own unique sound, each adding diversity to the sound of the battle. You can hear everything, including background noise (built into the map), the sound of your feet crunching into the gravel as you move, your player breathing, his equipment rustling... and not only are the sounds all there, but they're very well refined and they sound amazing. The game overall is extremely realistic and has reached levels that Halo couldn't dream of achieving if things don't change.
Also, I think that Halo should be a third person games. Those feel much better and more realistic, and are often more interactive. Players aren't locked into the same position through every mode in the entire game with their guns pointed forwards. I don't necessarily expect anyone to agree with this, nor do I expect this to actually be implemented into the Halo series, as much as I'd love to see it.
If Halo doesn't change and start modernizing soon, it will begin to lag further and further behind the other franchises, especially with the progression into next generation consoles. However, there is one thing that people need to realize. If Halo is to evolve, things will need to change. A lot. 343 is under extreme pressure to create a game that will really satisfy the community, but currently, the majority of the community is urging the company to bring the franchise to a more classic style, which means to regress- to move backward. 343 may not modernize Halo because they may be afraid of us- they may fear that with more changes to the game, there will come more rage and disapproval from the community, just as there was- and is- with Halo 4. Instead, Halo 5 may end up feeling more like Halo Reach or halo 3 than a brand new improved game, which is NOT a good thing, especially as the rest of the gaming community continues to move forward in time and technology (people need to understand that while Halo 3 was great for its time, it is beginning to show its age).
My overall point is that Halo really feels like an 'arcade' shooter, with a lack of realisticness and versatility. I think it's time we change this.
-Bullet travel time. Sure the companies have the excuse that guns from 500 years into the future may be able to shoot that fast, but the only reason that Halo ever had hitscan weapons is because, back during the creation of the first Halos, our technology wasn't good enough to effectively program actual flying projectiles for every weapon and incorporate them smoothly into the game. However, Bungie and 343 stuck with the idea, and now we still have several weapons in Halo 4 that fire at the speed of light. This might be OK for just the sniper rifle, as it could end up like that 500 years from now, but they shouldn't have it for so many other guns as well. I hope to see 343 incorporate proper bullet travel time with the next titles.
-Aiming stability. The companies behind Halo can excuse the Spartans' flawless aim by pointing out that they're genetically enhanced super soldier, but this was another concept born in Halo's early days that stuck with the franchise to today, despite the fact that we now have the ability to improve them. In Halo, a spartan snipes by awkwardly juggling back and forth in a tap-dance-like movement to avoid enemy fire, but still manages to retain perfect accuracy and achieve smooth, clean headshots. Many halo players, like Psychoduck, fight each other with BRs while jumping and moving in these same motions, and they are afraid to stand still or entrench themselves behind cover (like an actual soldier would) for fear of getting shot. Does any of this sound the least bit realistic? No, and it doesn't even feel like a fight. I've played mobile games (Trigger Fist) that felt more like a battle than Halo. I think that this could be improved by reducing players' accuracy while they're moving, automatically slow players down when they start shooting, providing a slight accuracy bonus while crouched, and things like that. Hopefully this will be changed in future Halo games.
-Sound effects. In my opinion, Halo's sound effects have never really been all that good at all. There are a few nice sounds, like the rumble of a fuel rod gun's explosion in the distance, but the sounds of Halo don't really blend well- they don't engulf you and make you feel like you're in a battlefield. Many of the sounds are just really crappy, like the sound of the Battle Rifle or the banshee bomb explosion when you hear it from a certain angle. Seriously, just take another look at this video, and pay attention to the sound. If you call this the sound of war, the sound of a battlefield, then you have no idea what a battle would sound like (Battlefield 3 could give you a better idea). But the sound effects, and Halo's audio overall, don't sound remotely realistic and are certainly not up to par with many other modern games. Hopefully 343 will also address this issue as we move into next generation gaming and Halo 5.
Overall, Halo has a bit of catching up to do if it wants to keep up with the other games of today. When you compare Halo with a game like Battlefield 3, sure you are entitled to the opinion that Halo is more fun, and you can point out that Halo offers many things that Battlefield doesn't, like Forge, custom games, theater, etcetera. But from a little bit of time playing both games, you'll quickly realize that battlefield is clearly more advanced and capable. It sets a great example for modern and future games- everything is smooth, the graphics are incredible, the objects have realistic physics and react to forces applied onto them, the maps are huge, and detail has been put into every last corner of every environment, and every last line of code. The sound effects are wonderful and really add a new aspect of depth into the player's experience- every gun (which there are many of) makes its own unique sound, each adding diversity to the sound of the battle. You can hear everything, including background noise (built into the map), the sound of your feet crunching into the gravel as you move, your player breathing, his equipment rustling... and not only are the sounds all there, but they're very well refined and they sound amazing. The game overall is extremely realistic and has reached levels that Halo couldn't dream of achieving if things don't change.
Also, I think that Halo should be a third person games. Those feel much better and more realistic, and are often more interactive. Players aren't locked into the same position through every mode in the entire game with their guns pointed forwards. I don't necessarily expect anyone to agree with this, nor do I expect this to actually be implemented into the Halo series, as much as I'd love to see it.
If Halo doesn't change and start modernizing soon, it will begin to lag further and further behind the other franchises, especially with the progression into next generation consoles. However, there is one thing that people need to realize. If Halo is to evolve, things will need to change. A lot. 343 is under extreme pressure to create a game that will really satisfy the community, but currently, the majority of the community is urging the company to bring the franchise to a more classic style, which means to regress- to move backward. 343 may not modernize Halo because they may be afraid of us- they may fear that with more changes to the game, there will come more rage and disapproval from the community, just as there was- and is- with Halo 4. Instead, Halo 5 may end up feeling more like Halo Reach or halo 3 than a brand new improved game, which is NOT a good thing, especially as the rest of the gaming community continues to move forward in time and technology (people need to understand that while Halo 3 was great for its time, it is beginning to show its age).
My overall point is that Halo really feels like an 'arcade' shooter, with a lack of realisticness and versatility. I think it's time we change this.
.
