The way the story is told-covering past events and the time jump after Halo 5's ending as character moments or reveals, rather than exposition dumps-helps alleviate this to a degree. This game’s events aren’t hard to follow in and of themselves, but the significance of Halo rings, Cortana, and the different factions can be confusing, and are frequently referenced. New players, or people who have forgotten past story beats, may be a little lost.
Without spoiling anything, I’ll say up front that past titles' events significantly inform Halo Infinite's narrative. The game begins in media res, chaining off Halo 5's conclusion. The reality is that Halo Infinite lands somewhere between a true open-world map and traditional Halo campaigns, and the result is largely successful.įirst, the story. There were open-world expectations, but that can mean a lot of things in modern games. Halo Infinite is the franchise’s big chance to put itself back at gaming's forefront, and between the campaign and gripping multiplayer action, it's safe to say that Halo is back.ĭespite the many years of buildup, Halo Infinite's campaign format remained a mystery, until, well, I launched the game and began playing. Some map elements aren't new to video games by any stretch, but they're new to Halo, and work well. A new open-world map design with optional map markers and collectibles, as well as ability upgrades including the brilliant addition of a grappling hook, breathes fresh life into a traditionally linear experience. The writing is mostly strong, the story is compelling, and the cutscenes look great.
The single player campaign that comes with the $59.99 PC game has its issues, but stands as a successful and robust reimagining of what Halo should look like in 2021. It plays fantastically on PC, a weighty mix of classic and modern Halo that brings the past games' satisfying matchmaking experiences into the present.
Thankfully, Halo Infinite’s free multiplayer relieved much of the concern when it dropped days before the game's official launch. There is a mighty weight of expectations surrounding Halo Infinite, following two less positively received main entries and six-year wait since Halo 5's release.