A Bold Claim

[Flibbity Floid]

 

I get into a decent amount of "debates", most notably over on Xbox360Achievements.org. I like to argue pro's and con's of people's opinions versus majority of people on that site (and everywhere) that like to assume someone's opinion is stated as fact. In some cases, these yahoo's DO believe what they're saying is truth. I mean, why should you NOT agree with some booger picking know-it-all that Modern Warfare 2 is the best game out there? He's got to be right, right?
Wrong.

It's not even that it's a blatant statement that makes it wrong. Halo: Reach is the best game out there.

 

Yeah. I said it. Oh you thought I was joking? *slaps knee* Well think again.

 

From a consumer, avid gamer and varied strategists POV, it's true. No game out there at the moment offers the variety, innovation and range that Halo: Reach does. In most of those arguments, even the haters tend to agree with me. What makes it so much more different? Full on evolution. The game is constantly being "made over" without touching the core aspects since launch.

 

Campaign: The main story is offered in many ways but in truth, it's a departure from the main idea of Hope. Granted, Noble Team goes balls to the walls in trying to save Reach but their eventual losses bode the sad fact that even Spartans die. Another note is that except for Jorge, they are all SPARTAN III's. These are much more expendable and cheaply made Spartans, but it in no way takes away from their skills and determination. Either way, Chief was a symbol for getting the job done and making sure it was done with minimal civilian/partnered casualties. Noble team was dismantled piece by piece but in such a way that you couldn't help but respect them for their effort. Gameplay-wise, the 4 player co-op tied in with a full team of AI Spartans was a grand addition story-wise and difficutly-wise. It takes forever, but when they're around, Noble Team is invincible!

 

Firefight: The "Horde Mode" addition made popular from Halo3: ODST, the additions only make it seem much more enjoyable. A fantastic set of maps are offered along with game types as well as the added lists over the past few months. Don't like playing with a team? Load up some Score Attack for single player Firefight! Want to mix it up a bit? Score Attack Doubles allows you and a buddy to take on the covenant as a dynamic duo.

 

Theater: Before we endured the amazement of Bungie Pro (kick to the balls COD Elite???) for a low annual price, it was just a file share option via Bungie.net or your Live profile to see your stats. Now? Full on recording manipulation! Show the world exactly what you saw when you took out that whole team alone! Or take the time to make a more cinematic trailer-esque styled video ala Zoid et Bitts. The moments for posterity are well worth the MSP.

 

Forge: Bigger and better than before, much like theater, no game (Until the possiblity of Theater in BF3) has a Map Editor (on this scale anyway) or a theater mode. These are 2 aspects that keep players constantly creating and sampling thousands of maps and videos/screenshots.

 

Multiplayer: This is where it's at. Again, I cannot stress the variety of it. Mainly b/c one of the biggest complaints I hear from haters is all on the Armor Effects. Seriously? It's probably the best addition since it fully changed the linear way the MP was played. I've mentioned the horrid cheesy yet working strategies from the less-skilled. The effects give you branches of offensive and defensive capabilites. Constantly being blwon up by grenades? Armor effect. Always a walking target? Hologram or Active Camo. There's something for everyone BUT the fact that it's as diverse and everyone is constantly using different things requires many different ways to sample. You can't beat 'em all but taking the time to strategize may save the game in the end. Either way, if they bother you THAT much - Classic Halo is very much a playlist. It is NO ENHANCEMENT specific. If that's not enough, then you're clearly born with a cock shaped spoon in your mouth. Time to start spittin' bitch. There are over 10 kinds of gametypes in the standard section alone. NO game has that many as well as just about every one is fucking enjoyable or has a purpose. Daily/weekly challenges and commendations offer you to try and play on these lists. Need 9 headshots in one game? Fly on over to SWAT which is headshots only! Need 15 kills in one match??? Load up some Infection, 1-CTF or Grifball for 3 ROUNDS in one GAME for lengthy opportunities!

As if that were enough? No, back to the variety, let's look at the maps. Reach shipped with about a dozen maps for MP. Some are only available in competitive, some Invasion and some Firefight. However, Map Packs aside (priced at only 800 MSP and BOUND to be put on deals in the near future), Bungie has taken the liberty to include Created maps from the Forge world. So it's like you're getting new free maps! I've definitely grown on a bunch that I thought were just useless.

Much like the addition of new maps, they're STILL adding playlists and game types. Firefight Doubles was originally a random limited addition and is now a constant. The DLC option has changed from the individual pack to a separate Slayer and Objective list for all DLC.

One of the things (it didn't really need) but also added to motivation were Super Jackpots. Randomly, you were able to win about 15k if you were lucky BUT so long as you loyally finished and continued matches. Now, there are playlist jackpots as well as weekly/double-triple/weekend/super jackpots.

 

Now that the keys were pretty much handed over to 343 Industries, I still feel Bungie has their heart built into this franchise and it will not die for a long time. The game is highly addicting to the fanbase and really pushes the envelope with giving the fans the biggest bang for their buck. There is literally something for everyone that is a fan of the series and anyone who complains about being shafted is one seriously selfish mook with an intelligence span the width of a mosquito's dick. You like to point and shoot? Well now you just have a whole menu of options on how you want to do it.

 

[Travers36]

I'm hacking the site to superimpose an image of me armor locking in front of Bitts.