Halo Infinite Campaign
Patience Is A Virtue For Halo Infinite Fans
Last month saw the release of the Halo Infinite multiplayer beta which was a success for many of its fans. Marking the return of the classic Halo gameplay many grew up with, the warm reception served as hype for the game's campaign. After all, if the PVP was this good, surely it would ring high hopes for the single-player experience. Unfortunately, well for the hours leading up to its release, that hype had to be muted. In a rare move, largely out of covering bases, Halo Infinite's devs at 343 Industries had made a controversial decision.
That decision was to lock the campaign content behind a timeframe window, enforcing players to download access to it. This meant that say, hypothetically, die-hard Halo fans who, somehow, were able to obtain an early disc copy, wouldn't be able to play the campaign. That is, until 343 themselves release access online. Trying to run Halo Infinite from the disc ahead of time led to reports stating that only the multiplayer was accessible. In an official report, 343 themselves apologized for the inconvenience.
Master Chief Suits Up One More Time
This decision was made, more than likely, to ensure that everyone plays and has access to the game at the same time. What makes this awkward are those who have obtained the physical retail copy, whether it be at a midnight launch or at a time before 10 AM PT. For us in the East Coast, we weren't able to try out the Halo Infinite campaign until 1 PM EST in hindsight. Consider Halo as Xbox's flagship series and it's hardly a wait, considering the last full-campaign Halo game was many years ago.
Still, with all this waiting around, it's shaping up to be Master Chief's most anticipated adventure yet. Historically, 343 Industries had done a good job picking things up where Bungie left off. After Bungie formally ended its exclusivity with Microsoft and developed the Destiny series, 343 ushered in a new era for Halo fans. As one who is very limited to the knowledge of Halo, this will be a pure analysis from someone who wouldn't consider themselves a Halo fanatic.
Finally, The Halo Infinite Campaign Begins
Despite everything, answering the question of whether Halo Infinite is worth it is entirely dependent on the player's history with the franchise. Fortunately, players like myself who are getting into Halo for the first time in almost two decades can breathe easier. Throughout my first level, it wasn't long until I was Master Chief, hopping across space cargo, stomping on grunts, and Banished alike. The campaign begins with Master Chief and his squadron being defeated by a high-ranking Banished member known as Atriox.
Not to be confused with Aatrox from League of Legends, the hulking Brute overwhelms Master Chief and tosses him overboard into deep space. A rogue ship known as Echo 216 finds Master Chief in stasis, saving him, and reboots his system. Unfortunately for Echo 216, these turns of events are what prompt Master Chief to commit to a full-on one-man-army revenge plot. The lone ambush begins and it does a great job introducing the gameplay of Halo Infinite.
Halo Infinite? More Like Halo Eternal?
The thrill of being a powerhouse against an entire fleet was surprisingly enjoyable, especially when gameplay revolves around a cool gadget Chief has. The grappling hook solves so many problems before they arise, including mobility and evasion. The way the hook works is that it latches onto any solid surface, pulling Chief towards it. If it's a level above, he will climb himself up with ease. How this took me by surprise was how consistent the gadget worked. There was never a moment where I felt like it was working against me and reaching out-of-reach enemies as possible by closing the distance.
The variety of weapons the game throws at you, including classics such as the Plasma Rifle and the Needler, was also a plus. This is a way to get the player acquainted with what is made available. Ammo depots that correspond to the type of weapon, kinetic or energy, are also color-coded. Gameplay is fast, encouraging the player to keep moving even amongst the strong opposition. Being a sitting duck results in death despite having regenerating shields. After a while, I felt like I was playing a modern Doom game, which was definitely a positive in my eyes. If Halo gameplay was like this, I would have stayed invested a long time ago.
Halo Infinite Has Something For Everyone, Single Player Or Multiplayer
After wowing many players, both veteran and newcomers alike, with its multiplayer beta, the single-player campaign was bound for greatness. 343 Industries continues to listen to fans who may not be multiplayer virtuosos who just want to fight against AI. There's something in Halo Infinite for everyone. Whether it's the competitive nature of online battles or the compelling nature of the campaign, those who engage in both will get the most mileage out of their Halo experience.
Halo Infinite is available on the PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.