: All of the above for me. Well, except the low number of Master Chief levels.
: I've felt that they should have left him in the cryo pod for a few games
: and focused on other stories, like ODST and Reach did. Then I would be a
: little more forgiving on some of the changes they made. It would have been
: more interesting to see them start their own new trilogy in Halo 4 with
: new characters rather than retcon the one Bungie just finished.

: Spartan III team on the other side of the galaxy encountering a strange
: looking group of covenant? And they're looking for a possible hidden
: forerunner who might still be alive? And using new models of vehicles and
: weapons? Cool, I want to hear that story, and it in no way effects they
: story I just finished.

It's better to do something simple, and execute it well, than to go for something complicated, and fumble at every corner.

Halo 1? Super simple plot, likeable characters, simple-yet-meaningful twist, and lots of wayside mystery that didn't affect the story and theme. Result? A multimillion dollar game that saved the Xbox.

ODST? Super simple plot, likeable characters, simple-yet-meaningful side story, and lots of wayside exploration that only enhanced the story and theme. Result? A fantastic exploration of the Halo universe that had nothing to do with the Chief or Cortana.

Halo 4? Overcomplicated plot, confusing motivations, an entire slew of unlikeable characters, and it required you to read comics and novels just to understand what was going on. Result? Eggheads.

Halo 5? See "Halo 4" above, multiply it by 5.

And that's just the crowd that was into the story, not even getting into the multiplayer, or lack of splitscreen.

I dunno. I mean, if "Aliens" is getting a proper sequel decades down the road, maybe there's hope to go back and actually do right by Bungie's Halo someday. I'm honestly surprised that Microsoft has had this much approval of 343i's mismanagement, all things considered.