Ever since Microsoft announced Halo 4's impending 2012 release at E3, I can't help but feel both excitement and apprehension. Halo is without a doubt the most prized exclusive franchise for the Xbox 360. As such, it stands to reason that the success of this next trilogy will prove to be an influential factor in the overall success of the Xbox platform. With Bungie moving onto bigger and (arguably) better things with Activision, 343 Industries has some seriously large shoes to fill. While the new development studio certainly has their work cut out for them, the right approach could bring a much needed fresh take on the franchise. So, if you reading this Microsoft, here are five things to consider when developing Halo 4:
5. New Enemies - While we've all grown to love the various enemies of the Halo universe, it's time to introduce some fresh blood to spill. With the Chief floating through the far depths of space with only Cortana by his side, 343 could really take advantage of this "clean slate" Bungie has provided them with and create something entirely new. The large structure we find our hero floating towards at the conclusion of Halo 3 opens the possibly to introduce a new civilization that could present themselves as either and ally or foe. Don't get me wrong, I love the various Covenant enemy types, I'm just getting a bit sick of listening to the sound of squealing Grunts.
4. New Engine - This is almost certainly not going to happen, and it saddens me terribly. Sure, creating a new engine would take time and would inevitably push the game's release back a bit, but let's face it, the graphics in the Halo franchise are nothing to write home about. It's likely that 343 will pull a Treyarch and use the Reach Engine for their next title, saving money and time on the development side of things. Fortunately though, there are rumblings that the color palette will be seeing some changes, as purple will likely be removed altogether. Purple has been a staple color in all of the Halo titles, so it will be interesting to see if 343 Industries follows through on this and what kind of effect it will have on the overall aesthetic.
3. Emphasis on Character Development and Story - I love the Halo universe, and while its approach to storytelling has certainly been comparable to many story-based games out there, it doesn't hold a candle to the interactive techniques seen in games like Uncharted and BioShock. The developers have such a rich and unique universe to craft a story within, let's just hope they take advantage of the opportunity and not simply play it safe like prior Halo titles - though I must say Reach's endgame moment was quite spectacular. Judging by the teaser trailer at E3, it looks like the relationship between Cortana and Spartan 117 will play a large role in the overall plot and development of these two characters. Let's just hope they are taking notes on how Irrational Games has been handling character development with BioShock Infinite.
2. Open Level Design - The Halo series is known for its sandbox-esque level design, providing the player with enough freedom to approach each level as they see fit. The prior campaigns are at their best when they give the player this freedom, so please 343, don't funnel us down a narrow path.
1. Same Great Gameplay - While the universe is compelling and each installment's campaign has provided a solid experience, Halo has always been about the multiplayer. The reason Halo succeeds in this area so well is because Bungie keeps things simple. They've fine tuned movement speed and weapon balancing so well, anyone can pick up a controller and have fun right away. Unlike other incredibly fast shooters with so many customization options like Call of Duty, Halo provides an unparalleled level of accessibility. It's essential that 343 focuses on keeping the fundamentals intact. If they can focus on providing a balanced gameplay experience that emphasizes quality over quantity, they'll be headed in the right direction. I for one was never a huge fan of the armor abilities; I always preferred Halo CE's simplistic approach that provided the player with only over-shield and invisibility power-ups. There is a reason after all why it remains the undisputed fan favorite.
There you have it, our rather brief wish list for Halo 4 (believe me I could go on all day). Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments section below.
