It has been five years since Halo 3. Five years since we last saw the Master Chief, drifting through space. Halo 4 picks up as faithful AI Cortana decides she must wake up our green-clad hero as they drift towards a mysterious artificial planet. From there, it’s business as usual as you’re asked to mow down hordes of colourful aliens with a wide variety of reliable weaponry. Only it’s somewhat different. From the sound design to storytelling techniques, everything has been slightly re- worked. It’s Halo, but not as we know it.
This is because Halo 4 marks the handover of custodial duties from series creators Bungie Studios to 343 Industries, and the beginning of a new trilogy. This game marks the introduction of new enemies dubbed Prometheans. Cunning and powerful, these ancient adversaries interact with each other in unique ways to make the player constantly rethink their strategy. The campaign is frequently stunning; 343 retains the core gameplay which made the series popular while mixing it up with new elements and features such as the inclusion of a sprint ability by default. The story has seen a lick of paint, with plot threads pulled in from disparate ends of the Halo mythos. The cut scenes use performance capture technology and are frequently stunning; 343 Industries want you to care about the gold-visored protagonist this time around, and attempt a gutsy character study that goes way beyond what was achieved in previous titles.
Multiplayer is the same story, it’s similar yet different. A host of weapons from previous games return, joined by some new friends like the superbly satisfying Railgun. Combat has been rejuvenated by the introduction of ordnance drops; rather than a mad dash at the beginning of each round for the shiniest toys. Weapon locations are far more unpredictable leading to more consistently exciting encounters. In short it’s great fun and should make a respectable assault on the top of the Xbox Live most played list.
343 have done the impossible on this one. It isn’t without fault (checkpoints are sometimes a little sparse, and the story is at times slightly baffling), but overall it marks a highly competent first attempt which more than lives up to the legacy left to them by Bungie.