I'll try to be quick on how Bungie ruined my favorite game series of all time. When the very first Halo came out for the original Xbox it was the only non-sports, non-racing game I purchased. It's system link multiplayer reminded me of playing Quake for PC online in the late 90's. I was never a big gamer but the perfection Bungie had achieved in Halo had me hooked. Since then I've bought every sequel on the release date and have been disappointed. Halo 3 felt like the series was righting itself after the hugely dissatisfying Halo 2. Halo Reach looked like the game that would finally fix all the broken pieces and be the perfect game before Bungie gave up the Halo name to Microsoft Studios. It was not that at all. Reach feels like a lazy cop out.
About a month after playing the game I was voice banned. The ban lasted what seemed to be just over month. There is no definite criteria released on how you get a voice ban, on how long it lasts, and how to avoid getting banned again. I'm in my third voice ban since late last year and it has been almost two months of not being able to communicate with teammates. I'm aware I talk trash and even berate my own team when they play horribly. It's a game with a mature rating, people over 18 years old can handle the 'f' word. If they can't, then they can mute me. But alas, I'm just banned from voice for everyone.
The load out options made the game very frustrating. Armor lock ruins the game experience, you think your in an old school run and gun battle and as you think you're taking your last head shot to win the battle and they bust out an armor lock. The only defense mechanism against armor lock is to throw your controller at the middle of your TV so you can't play anymore. The load out options work much better as in game 'pick-ups.' That way everyone isn't running around with special items.
Reach was obviously geared towards the super nerd group, MLG. Major League Gaming. These neck-beards like their game made a certain way and Bungie listened. The problem is there are way more casual gamers than 'pro' gamers. Updated play lists include sections specifically made for MLG, which created another issue. Anyone who thinks they are good want to test their skills against MLG, those who play casually stay in the old playlists. What you get is a huge separation of skill levels. Big Team games are a cluster-fuck of low skill players who don't understand simple strategies, more often than not half the team doesn't understand how to capture the flag. Don't want to play with bad players? Jump to MLG favored playlists, here if you don't have 12 a hours a day to dedicate to honing your skills you will be that guy with two kills a game. Not very fun.
I used to throw away hours a day to Halo 3, it would take a lot to get boring. Halo Reach just isn't fun though. I'm just about done with the game. It's good news that Microsoft is taking over the series. Even better news is that Halo CE is being re-released on the Reach engine. I'll write more on the Halo CE release as information comes in. Bye-bye Bungie, you once were great but have overstayed your welcome.
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