Halo: Reach

I'm not gonna lie... I enjoyed ODST a heck of a lot more than I was expecting to (though it does feel like more of an expansion than a full-priced standalone). I enjoyed it enough that I played through the whole game after borrowing it from a friend and then I even snagged a used copy for myself for a great price. I think it has all the stuff inside so perhaps I'll be good to go for the beta. As strong as the core gameplay is, and it is very strong, the engine was definitely in need of an update, so for me that is probably the most exciting thing about Reach.

They need to make Firefight have matchmaking and support up to 16 players for Reach. I don't know if the engine could handle that, but Firefight was the best thing that came out of ODST. I think one of the big discoveries in gaming trends of this generation is that people love to play cooperatively.

It looks like a delight.

Yeah, seems like they are kinda drifting away from the super competitive game types.They finally figured people enjoy stuff like Rocket Race and playing with modifiers more then camping around corners.

Holy shit, JETPACKS.

That was rather excellent.

Almost makes me want ODST for the beta, almost.

I can only imagine that I will be encountering at least a thousand times more of the jetpack asshats I met in Red Faction's multiplayer. It seems like somebody was always finding a way to exploit the jetpacks in an annoying fashion in that game.

That said, jetpacks in Halo should still be a ton of fun (or a "blast" if I'm feeling punny), and I'm kind of surprised that it took Bungie this long to include them in a Halo game.

Well, that's definitely a Halo game.

Downloading the Beta now. I'll post some thoughts after my eyes stop bleeding.

Just so you know, the beta clocks in at 1 GB, so make sure you have the space to download it.

We need to get all the Chewers together Monday for some multiplayer madness.

I may stop over at the local Gamestop today to see if I can my hands on a cheap used copy of ODST so I can get in on this.

Is there a specific time that the beta is going to be unlocked?

I have off work Monday and I'm more then willing to stay up late for this.

I believe 1AM Pacific but you might want to double check me.

If you like the Halo, you will like Reach. It's Halo (with jetpacks!).

The two maps that are being used during the Friends and Family portion are gorgeous like H3 maps and complex like some of the better H2 maps. If they are par for the course, Reach will do all right by me.

Bid a fond farewell to the BR though. The DMR and Needler Rifle do not fit the same role even remotely. Nice at distance, terrible up close.

On Bungie's website, they are saying that the beta will drop "late Monday morning". So I would guess either 10am or 11am.

it's slowing downloading now!

Would a used copy even work for this, or do you have to buy a new one?

Tempting, either way.

Anybody else stuck in MAtchmaking?

If it's the ODST campaign disk, it works. I'm borrowing a copy from a friend and I'm downloading as we speak.

nevermind!

Yeah, but you'll need the disk to launch the beta. You'll have to have ODST in your drive to play it.

So it's disk based, not code based then? Like the Crackdown/Halo 3 beta? Cool.

Right-o.

Also, apparently (still at work, haven't DLed it yet) there are server issues, and matchmaking with parties isn't really working.

It's up and running pretty good now. playing as we speak. anybody wants to join, i'm col jenkins

Hello, 'Playlist data pending download', I guess that you will be my nemesis today.

I'm not sure I understand this game as anything beyond a product designed to reap some profits. Is there even a single-player component this time around?

A huge single player component. This is a multiplayer beta.

This beta is a lot of fun. Gotta love the jetpacks. I think that Headhunter is my favorite game type right now.

I got the beta up and running last night and had the time to get 2 rounds in. I kept it simple and stuck with Slayer.

First round was a 4 on 4 Team Slayer, and my team won, but I wasn't much help in the end. I got in about 5 kills that time which wasn't enoughto keep 2 guys on the team who were friends and talking to each other form commenting that "the kids on our team suck" ... Oh well, it was still a good time and I was still getting used to the new button layout and working on some failed experiments with the class perks. I only used the dash and the cloak, and just as a heads up, the cloak is useless if you turn it on while you are charging at some dude who is already looking at you. Duh on me. I did ok though, and I at least attempted to be a team player and a couple of my kills were pistol assists, so I go to feel useful to a degree.

Second round was 8 person Slayer Free For All, and I fared better. I was actually in the lead for a bit, longer than I would have expected. Eventually though, I guess the other players got adjusted a little quicker than me and by the time it was over I ended up right around the middle of the rankings for the round, which is just fine with me. I got executed a couple of times, but I got a double kill by grenade in for good measure at one point as well.

Good times. (ETA: I'll try to get back on from time to time. Chewer Halo 3 was fun the few times I got in on it. Looking forward to more, if it happens.)

Played a bit yesterday with Eric C and Spike. It's a good time.

Anyone else want to play this or Halo 3 add me.

GT: Spasmalytic

It's a sequel to a successful game about shooting aliens. I'm not entirely sure you should be worrying massively about artistic integrity and rich rewarding storylines at this stage.

A game is made in order to be profitable. Look out gaming industry, blunderbuss has you figured out!

Bungie has announced that they are implementing penalties for rage quitters in the final build.

I think this is both good and bad. Good, because if you want to have a serious game you'll be more likely to finish if you are winning; bad, because sometimes I have only a short time to play and am wondering if this will penalize me when I have to leave.

I think that's nothing but good. The games generally have a time limit, you know? Plan ahead.
People quitting games early(along with 13 year olds with mics) were the worst thing about Halo on LIVE.

Now if only we can penalize 13 year olds with mics.

I can't wait for this game. Strangely I'm also looking forward to Destructoid's WE'RE SO HARDCORE THAT WE'RE BOYCOTTING HALO hilarity.

I haven't wanted to see about the game since the beta, so last night I caught up on some videos and previews, and I need this now. It's weird to think that this is Bungie's last go in the Halo universe, but it's a little sad that they won't have another shot at Master Chief.

The new live action trailer is pretty neat as well.

What they need to implament is the need to press a button to enter a game lobby after each game. Get rid of those dip shits that login, go see a movie and derank for game after game.

This may break me into buying a 360 S.

Forge was a great but flawed tool for Halo 3. The new forge tools and Forge World are turning it into something completely other. No more dicking around with an object to get it placed just right. Orientations can be locked, positions can be nudged, pallets can be changed (within reason), objects can be set to float or phase without having to resort to tricks and hacks. And a wide variety of open forgeable spaces.

I'm not much of a forge guy, made a couple of maps in my day but that's it. But put these tools in the hands of some of the more *ahem* dedicated members of the Halo community and we are going to see some ridiculous, playable maps. It's as close to open source as we're likely to see on a console.

I'm a bit on the fence about buying this. Wanna do a legendary run for the first play through. Who's with me?

I'm in.

Even with other people, I think Legendary would kick my ass, but I'd be willing to give it a shot.

I’m terrible at Halo and I’ve managed to complete Halo 1, 3 and ODST on Legendary on co-op. It’s never as bad as you think it’ll be. Kinda looking forward to it.

Besides which I’d be down for a Heroic ‘warm up’ playthrough first and I’m sure other Nate would as well.

I'm in, I already have 1 other person, maybe two but we can use a fourth if there's overflow here.

I lack a place to express my geek properly, so if y'all don't mind, I may use here. Offer up a preview for those that haven't been following Reach news as closely as I have. I'll highlight a different aspect of the game, bring some enlightenment to those in the sewer that want it.

Armor Abilities

These replace the power ups from the previous Halos and the equipment from Halo 3. Each is a reusable ability that can be used for either a limited amount of time (with recharge) or intermittently. AAs are chosen as part of a loadout on respawn (a loadout consists of the AA, starting weapons, and number/type of grenades).

Not all Armor Abilities are available in all games or even at all times in all games. Armor Abilitity access is customizable in custom games and Firefight.

Here they are, all to the best of my knowledge:

SPRINT - Just like it sounds, your spartan gets a brief burst of speed to evade fire, make crossing large maps less tedious, or rush someone for a melee. Can be absolutely terrifying when the sprinter has a hammer. Boring but effective.

JETPACK - Spartan can fly. The controls are remarkably easy to use. You can feather the jet pack to stay aloft but low for longer periods, or blow your fuel and get real high real fast. There is fall damage in Reach so going too high is risky. You're an easily recognizable target while aloft and jetpack users are recognizable by the bulky pack on their back (unlike the other AAs). Many of the maps in Reach have vertical components which make jetpacks very useful.

ARMOR LOCK - The spartan becomes completely invulnerable (and completely immobile) for the duration of the lock. Projectiles and nades go bouncing off. The spartan emits an EMP pulse which will lower nearby shields when the lock is removed. Useful and irritating when used properly, but a nade at the feet when the lock goes off is an easy fix.

ACTIVE CAMO - Predator style invisibility that screws up your radar and your enemies radar. Just like camo in the earlier halos, the slower you go, the more effective it is... in this case it lasts longer as well. The camo-ed person is always in the middle of the radar disturbance.

EVADE - This is the elite "jump out of the way of the nade" move. Can be used to jump out of the way of nades, bullets, melees orlunge toward an enemy for a sweet sword lunge.

All of the above were in the Beta. The next two were not.

HOLOGRAM - A hologram runs forward in the direction of your choosing, complete with radar blip. Confuse your friends, fun at parties. Use it to flush out campers or as the old "helmet on a stick" ploy.

DROP SHIELD - This is effectively a medic ability. It drops the equivalent of a bubble shield with a regen that will block enemy fire while healing all within. Unlike the H3 bubble, it is not only timed but will only absorb a specified amount of fire.

Did I forget anything? Was this useful/entertaining or silly fanwankery? I'll hit up new weapons tomorrow if y'all like.

I probably shouldn't, but I'm 96% sure I'm going to be tempted into getting the bundle.

I'll be expecting invites for Co-op (even though supposedly the co op difficulty is greatly increased from previous games) or online when you guys see me playing this.

PINK TEAM