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: - Campaign Wise -
: The 'press back to switch graphics' in CEA was a neat gimmick for stage
: shows, but it was very much a gimmick and should not return. It was too
: slow (potentially fixable), wasteful of hardware resources (not fixable)
: and muddies the memories of very passionate fans who have very fond
: memories of this classic game.
:
: That said, still have a 'classic' and a 'remastered' version but make it an
: upfront menu option on the level select screen. I could reconcile this
: since it would be more along the lines of 'two games in one box' than
: additions to an established game.
: The Classic version should be more or less a straight port. The only
: differences to the original game being high-res rendering, better
: anisotropic filtering on the textures, better anti-aliasing, higher
: texture resolutions and higher quality effects.
: Keep the gameplay tick at 30hz. Fix texture-pop, make it run like silk on the
: Xbox One, but other than that don't fix any 'bugs' unless they make it
: literally unplayable. Add a menu select for the skulls (since we don't
: have multiple profiles for save games) and/or multiple save game system.
: Add a few new control schemes to reflect paradigms from other recent games
: (i.e. CoD's left trigger for sights) and the changes to the controller
: since the Duke. Add LAN and online co-op and it'll be sweet.
: The experience should be something like playing Halo 2 Vista on a modern PC.
: The Remastered version should be more like a remake. Treat the development
: more like 'this is what Halo 2 would be like if it came out today' rather
: than giving an old game a new, ill-fitting, skin.
: To start with, import the content to a modern engine. Whatever 343i are
: working on for Halo 5 would be preferable. Feel free to make the game run
: at 60hz to give us a taste of what Halo 5 will feel like. Make sure it
: has modern niceties like replays and screenshots, scoring, timing, stats,
: file-shares, save-anywhere. Give it all the skulls of Halo 2 and 3, and
: feel free to add whatever else they like. But make sure there are
: easily-selectable 'skull sets' that make sense. e.g. one that is just the
: Halo 3 skulls for Mythicers would be a good start.
: Give it the obligatory graphical overhaul with extra foliage and bump maps
: and wow-inducing shaders (but PLEASE remember less is sometimes more in a
: pure aesthetic sense).
: From here, the developers would have my personal permission to go 'all out.'
: Add new areas and encounters, change geometry to add new routes, FIX
: SNIPER ALLEY .
: In regards to skips like the Outskirts rooftops or Delta Halo hills, please
: don't stop us (NO GOD DAMNED INVISIBLE WALLS) but feel free to do
: interesting things with it: add new trigger zones so that the level
: continues to load and flow properly, add new encounters up there, or give
: us a hard encounter in exchange for skipping some others.
: They can even go even wilder if they want: add a mode to use weapon sets from
: the other games or even just add them (Focus Rifles instead of Beam Rifles
: for Jackal Snipers would be a good move in my book). Go crazy and add a
: mode were players can use Sprint or even Armour Abilities. Why not?
: If they're feeling really brave, they could try re-designing it so online
: co-op (4P?) works better. Perhaps that's something 343i has already been
: working on for Halo 5?
: Bonus Points: sword flying mini-game with distance counter.
: The experience should be something like playing a stripped-down Halo 5 on
: the levels of Halo 2.
: - Multiplayer Wise -
: As the game that pretty much made Xbox Live a thing, multiplayer in H2A
: would be absolutely non-negotiable and deserves more than 7 maps (some of
: which weren't even from Halo 1) and a hacked together gametype for another
: game.
: Having two versions of the same map inside Halo: Reach inside Halo CEA was a
: terrible idea IMO. It was confusing for players and compromised both
: versions of the maps. Instead, have a port and a remake.
: The Port . At a minimum it should possess ALL of the maps. Yes. All
: TWENTY-FIVE of them. Disc (12), Bonus (2), Killtacular (2), Maptacular
: (5), Blastacular (2) and Vista (2). All rendered in high res, with extra
: AA, AF, upped texture res and available to play 4-way split-screen and on
: up-to 16 box LAN.
: Bonus points if they can make H2A LAN with H2 on Xbox/360.
: Extra bonus points if they include online play with modernised net code. No
: need for a full playlists and ranks (they were pretty horrible anyway) -
: even some basic server-browsing would be good enough. Obviously updated to
: use Xbox One party and chat features etc.
: Extra Super Bonus Points: gametype toggles for the more 'controversial'
: aspects of Halo 2 like Super-bouncing and BXR.
:
: Remakes
: If we talk about Halo multiplayer and even multiplayer games in general, I
: think it's becoming clear that this 'release a whole new game every year/2
: years with a whole new progression, set of maps and slightly changed
: rules' paradigm is unsustainable. It's wasteful of content, tiring for
: players to redo and relearn everything and too short to build a worthwhile
: competitive scene around.
: There are no current Halo games playable on Xbox One so there is also no
: excuse about not wanting to split player bases from current games (Halo
: 4). If people want to play on Xbox One, right now they are by definition
: NOT playing Halo.
: So if MS are serious about Halo being a competitive spectator title it would
: be better to keep content from one major release to the next. Even if one
: game's maps aren't ideal for the next release's gameplay: more maps is
: more maps.
: With that in mind, use an early version of Halo 5's MP engine with the
: gameplay stripped-back to be close to Halo 2. Include as many remakes as
: they can that are built with Halo 5 gameplay and features in mind.
: Obviously this would mean replays, screenshots, stats would be in as well.
: Then use H2A as a vehicle to deliver the Halo 5 beta, playing on H2A maps.
: Then when Halo 5 releases, the H2A maps would be included to boost the map
: count and have 'classic' playlists on day 1 that connects with H2A owners.
: Perhaps H2A owners could even buy a discounted digital version of Halo 5
: from inside H2A (probably going to be retail resistance on that one but
: get creative MS marketing!). Of course they'll get Halo 2 style Mark 6
: armour unlocked in Halo 5 straight away as well.
: Make sure it has all of Halo 2's gametypes (you can't have Turf without
: Territories) and feel free to throw proper versions of Zombies and SWAT in
: since this is the game that inspired those gametypes. Include a basic
: Forge on all the maps and you'll have a library of custom content ready
: for Halo 5 by the time it comes out.
:
: ...
: Woah, ok, kinda going off the rails there but whatever.
:
: - Other Points -
:
: CEA had some Kinect features. For the most part they were awful gimmicks. If
: they must support Kinect, they should keep it to main menu navigation with
: voice and gesture. None of this 'GRENADE!' bullshit.
:
: Firefight would be cool. I love Firefight - did I ever tell you that? Just
: ODST style Firefight would rock socks. Drop me and 3 buddies off on an
: infinite version of that Gondola ride in Containment Zone and throw flood
: at us until we die. Awww yeah... 14 year old me would thank you for
: fulfilling his fantasy
: If there aren't enough locations that are good for wave gametypes (my memory
: is hazy), then slice up a few pieces of the levels for linear challenge
: maps. A bit like Spartan Ops but with none of that 'plot' nonsense. Get
: here, do that, kill those guys. Done. How fast can you do 'Off the Rock,
: through the Bush, Nothing but Jackal?' This is, of course, if they're
: feeling particularly awesome.
:
: That's all I've got right now. What is on your Halo 2 Anniversary Wishlist?
Does that all seem feasible if a 2014 delivery date is mandated? If it's an Anniversary title and it came out on 2004, it needs to be on the shelf before 2015. That's a huge list of nontrivial things.