Halo: Master Chief Collection Catch-All

Now if only they ported the Halos to PC.

TexasRay wrote:

I'm worried about their "eSports" MP comments and "arena" focus. I interpret that to mean a more COD type that focuses on k/d ratios and kill streaks and less on Offense/defense objective type modes. Basically, more Slayer and control and less CTF and Assault.

As I understand it, "arena" here refers to the classic style of Halo games: weapons spawned in the map, fixed/known player spawn locations, timed rounds, the absence of loadouts/perks, etc.

Halo fans used the phrase "arena shooter" a lot when Halo 4 came out, in reference to what the earlier games were and Halo 4 wasn't. So I'm pretty sure that's what they're referencing here. I don't think it means less CTF/Assault, as I think the way the game does those is very much within the definition of "arena shooter".

Tamren wrote:

Now if only they ported the Halos to PC.

There was a time when the Halo titles appeared in SteamDB, and I was hoping that's what was happening.

But with the MCC announcement, I gave up on waiting and bought the Halobox One.

Tamren wrote:

Now if only they ported the Halos to PC.

I think it's time people got over that idea. How well did the first two even sell (bearing in mind the Vista requirement for 2)?

Tamren wrote:

Now if only they ported the Halos to PC.

I completely agree. I remember playing the original Halo on PC, and quite liked it. If only Microsoft wouldn't forget their other primary platform... I'd love to play this collection, but don't feel the need to get an XBOX One just yet. The price drop is kind of tempting, but meh. I have too many games to catch up with for the systems I already own.

*Legion wrote:

As I understand it, "arena" here refers to the classic style of Halo games: weapons spawned in the map, fixed/known player spawn locations, timed rounds, the absence of loadouts/perks, etc.

Halo fans used the phrase "arena shooter" a lot when Halo 4 came out, in reference to what the earlier games were and Halo 4 wasn't. So I'm pretty sure that's what they're referencing here. I don't think it means less CTF/Assault, as I think the way the game does those is very much within the definition of "arena shooter".

That makes sense. In my head I have it the other way...I associate Halo 4 with their attempt to be more 'arena like' and away from what had made the previous versions MP so great.

Added the official launch trailer to the OP, and here it is again:

Check out the final moments... I'm seeing some brute and multi-spartan action I don't think I've ever seen before. (Around the 1:20 mark.) Any ideas?

I think the end clips are previews from Halo 5

JC wrote:

I think the end clips are previews from Halo 5

Sweet!

In other news, Nightfall is going to suck?

http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/71...

dRailer wrote:
JC wrote:

I think the end clips are previews from Halo 5

Sweet!

In other news, Nightfall is going to suck?

http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/71...

No big surprise there..

dRailer wrote:
JC wrote:

I think the end clips are previews from Halo 5

Sweet!

In other news, Nightfall is going to suck?

http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/71...

Bummer. My wife and I really enjoyed Forward Unto Dawn, so I had pretty high hopes for this.

TheGameguru wrote:

No big surprise there..

I don't know. As I said, the web series was realm good, as my wife and I watched it when they cut it into one cohesive film. With Ridley Scott, I expected it to deliver a better experience.

I'm a little from Column A a little from Column B on if Nightfall was going to suck. Ridley Scott's name is always a bonus, and Forward Unto Dawn was really quite fantastic, in my opinion... but something about "we're giving the entire season away for free with the Collection, and we've pretty much completely dismantled that part of our company and fired the remaining staff" did not bode well.

Excellent review from Polygon - http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/7/707...

Surprise, surprise... we are in for a treat!

Did Ridley actually DO anything related to the show or did they just pay him some cash in order to use his name?

dRailer wrote:

Excellent review from Polygon - http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/7/707...

Surprise, surprise... we are in for a treat!

It's just sitting there on my console waiting to be played. Early access would be so nice right now.

But man, they had to feel pretty damn good about their game with reviews out so early. Looks like it is getting glowing reviews everywhere.

Microsoft has been killing it with their exclusives as of late. Forza Horizon 2 and Sunset Overdrive both released to overwhelming praise, too. Hopefully Halo 5 is on that trajectory.

Jayhawker wrote:
dRailer wrote:

Excellent review from Polygon - http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/7/707...

Surprise, surprise... we are in for a treat!

It's just sitting there on my console waiting to be played. Early access would be so nice right now.

But man, they had to feel pretty damn good about their game with reviews out so early. Looks like it is getting glowing reviews everywhere.

Microsoft has been killing it with their exclusives as of late. Forza Horizon 2 and Sunset Overdrive both released to overwhelming praise, too. Hopefully Halo 5 is on that trajectory.

IGN -
"[Editor’s Note: You may notice there’s no score on this review at this time. Due to full review copies arriving just a short time ago, we were unable to sufficiently test both single-player and multiplayer modes ahead of tonight’s embargo. Therefore, we’re taking additional time to evaluate The Master Chief Collection before assigning our final score, but in the meantime we’re providing you with our full impressions as they exist today. Provided full multiplayer testing is possible, you can expect to see our final review by the time Halo: Master Chief Collection comes out on November 11.]"

IGN didn't feel like they had enough time with the game (fully functional, as currently multiplayer is not live) yet to post a SCORE for their review, but they posted the review. The pre-review, I guess. Appetizereview? You get the idea.

Anyway... I'm in your same shoes. I'm hoping Halo 5 brings something new and revolutionary to the mix; something "next gen." It'll be the first true foray for the Halo series into the next generation and I hope it shows. (I also hope that they haven't spent too much time fixing up MCC's old titles. Specifically I'm hoping Team B was working on MCC while Team A has been perfecting Halo 5... hopefully... since right after Halo 4.)

JC wrote:

Did Ridley actually DO anything related to the show or did they just pay him some cash in order to use his name?

Exactly. Video game companies stupidly chasing big names is so old. Such a waste. WTF does Scott have to do with Halo? Blomkamp was perfect for Halo, and he was relatively unknown then. Paul McCartney doing a song for Destiny? Are you kidding me? And there are countless other examples, especially of companies blowing a big part of their budget on a voice actor.

People don't care about big names, they care about a quality product.

Ridley Scott's Alien and Prometheus are pretty good bases to work from in recreating Halo, and he has produced a lot of TV. I think he was a solid choice, even if the product doesn't live up to expectations.

Jayhawker wrote:

Ridley Scott's Alien and Prometheus are pretty good bases to work from in recreating Halo, and he has produced a lot of TV. I think he was a solid choice, even if the product doesn't live up to expectations.

I'm not saying he doesn't have the ability to do a good job. I'm questioning if he was really involved and if so at what level?

They could have simply given him the script and said "what do you think?" and gotten 2 pieces of feedback and suddenly it's "A Ridley Scott production!!"

JC wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Ridley Scott's Alien and Prometheus are pretty good bases to work from in recreating Halo, and he has produced a lot of TV. I think he was a solid choice, even if the product doesn't live up to expectations.

I'm not saying he doesn't have the ability to do a good job. I'm questioning if he was really involved and if so at what level?

They could have simply given him the script and said "what do you think?" and gotten 2 pieces of feedback and suddenly it's "A Ridley Scott production!!"

What I read is that his production company is involved but not Ridley himself.

JC wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Ridley Scott's Alien and Prometheus are pretty good bases to work from in recreating Halo, and he has produced a lot of TV. I think he was a solid choice, even if the product doesn't live up to expectations.

I'm not saying he doesn't have the ability to do a good job. I'm questioning if he was really involved and if so at what level?

They could have simply given him the script and said "what do you think?" and gotten 2 pieces of feedback and suddenly it's "A Ridley Scott production!!"

Exactly. Yes, Scott has done some truly great sci-fi. Will he do truly great Halo? Does he even want to?

Jayhawker wrote:

Ridley Scott's Alien and Prometheus are pretty good bases to work from in recreating Halo

Now all I can think of is a Spartan running away from a rolling Halo, refusing to sidestep it.

*Legion* wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Ridley Scott's Alien and Prometheus are pretty good bases to work from in recreating Halo

Now all I can think of is a Spartan running away from a rolling Halo, refusing to sidestep it.

hahhaha exactly!

*Legion* wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Ridley Scott's Alien and Prometheus are pretty good bases to work from in recreating Halo

Now all I can think of is a Spartan running away from a rolling Halo, refusing to sidestep it.

All I can think of is atrocious storytelling that thinks ending each plot line with a giant question mark is "arty" bc, you know, arts and stuff.

FYI, Major Nelson is streaming MCC right now.

Jayhawker wrote:

FYI, Major Nelson is streaming MCC right now.

Where?

Kurrelgyre wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

FYI, Major Nelson is streaming MCC right now.

Where?

It was twitch, sorry. I saw him broadcasting in my activity feed and jumped in from there. He was mostly taking tours of MP maps.

There is a launch invitational going on this weekend. Figured some people here may enjoy seeing some pros playing.

http://www.twitch.tv/halo

A couple days and counting down!