Mentionables 2

Once more, with feeling.

Posted March 29th, 2005
Hearty forum discussion ensued.

We can't believe we're writing this, but here we are once again. As some of you may remember, our initial impressions of Halo 2 were less than positive (but at least comprehensive). Time has passed, and on many topics our reactions have softened; on others they have grown even more resolute. We are having downright, old school fun playing online (when we get time), but some of the same issues just keep coming up. This new list still maintains the first Mentionables as its base; it is an extension. However, this time around the focus is less on augmentation, but more on realistic means of restoring the experience to that of expectation, specifically in the realm of multiplayer (as it is the most open to improvements via downloadable content). Disagreement is welcome, but even then we would hope you can appreciate the underlying goal of the suggested refinements.

Response to the April 18th 2005 Auto-Update

The recent changes brought about by the April 18th 2005 Auto-Update are, for the most part, great. In addition to the bug fixes and reduced screen clutter, the gameplay tweaks are a real blessing. However, while the fixes may in some ways act as a soothing salve to Halo 2's multiplayer experience, they do not heal its wounds. The resolution of several primary issues (and the specific steps taken to resolve some of them) have merely revealed more intrinsic flaws with several of the game's systems and mechanics; in other words, with some of the biggest gripes dealt with, it has became apparent that some of the issues with gameplay run much deeper than initially suspected.

For instance, the increased damage dealt by the melees is outstanding and really allows you to feel confident running around with only a single gun. However, the more powerful the attack, the more often it is used, and the more often it is used, the more times it simply doesn't work. The melee "dash" is an inherently flawed mechanism. It is unnecessary, erratic, and most often uncontrollable, pulling you past enemies and off ledges. Problems of bouncing off of enemies when attempting to melee while running behind them or even when directly facing them have also not been addressed. Also, the old melee had a substantial range but could reach not much farther than the boundary of the character's body, ie. past the point when the character would bump into something or someone else. This made the timing of a running melee relatively difficult, lest you melee too early and miss, or melee too late and bump into the enemy first, reducing the attack to a standing melee. Because you can now get so much closer to an enemy before running into them (a confusing problem on its own), most melee attacks will end up being running ones; not a big deal, but it does reduce the need to hone some semblance of timing or finesse.

Recently playing Halo 1 again also brought to mind the very narrow arc in which a melee used to connect with an aggressor; too much to the left or the right and you'll simply fan. The rather wide arc in which the H2 melee dash will simply pull you in for the hit (or right past) is rather ridiculous when compared to this earlier, simpler attack.

Weakening the pistol (to promote headshots) was the right move given its "misuses" when dual wielded, but I believe that its downgrade, and a failure to take this opportunity to increase the damage dealt by either the Plasma Pistol or Needler, once again exposes not a flaw in anything so insignificant as basic weapon damage but in the present dynamics of the entire dual-wielding system. Now that the melee does enough damage to actually supplement an already weak Magnum, we find its efficacy reduced even further, indeed to the point of uselessness. If certain individual weapons must be rendered impotent in order to allow for balanced combinations (such as the Magnum, PP, and Needler) then it is obvious that the solution lies more in further inhibiting dual-wielding through other means than in reducing the effectiveness of the individual components themselves: perhaps adding a time delay between dropping a gun and meleeing or throwing a grenade, reducing accuracy even further when weapons are fired together, increasing the upwards "walk" even more, making dual-wieldable weapons occur on a map less frequently, or unfortunately, simply packing up dual-wielding as a failed experiment.

It is also disappointing, and confusing, that this opportunity was not taken to add something as simple as a health display, to add the option to totally remove the radar from the screen, to increase the rocket launcher's cycle time between shots, or any other number of reasonable fixes.

As appreciative as we the community are, and should be, for the continued dedication the Bungie crew is showing to producing and maintaining a polished product, the need still exists to critique and question the rather puzzling choices that have been made, both recently in the update and originally in the (supposedly) comprehensively tested release title.

I am not one to look a gift-horse in the mouth, but if it's already dead, I have no problem beating it for a while. ;)

Essentials

• Show Health on the HUD beneath the Shield gauge. This would alleviate so much of the perceived randomness of damage in general. Whether this is implemented universally or though a new profile option to choose different HUD styles is open to discussion. It is a complete mystery to me why this gauge was removed.
• Fall Damage should be reactivated, even as an option for those who would like it.
• Allow players to turn off or modify which text messages are displayed on screen regarding who-killed-who and what ammo has been picked up, especially for split-screen play. (We are pleased to report that the public's cry has been heard on this point. Thanks, gents :).
• Speaking of clutter, have an option to totally remove the radar from the screen when not in use. It looks neat, even reminiscent of the Marathon HUD but boy, does it get in the way.
• Have the shotgun fire more pellets to reduce the randomness of the damage inflicted.
• The Plasma Pistol needs to be reinstated to its former "glory", ie. to be able to kill someone with less than 26 shots to their body (19 to the unshielded).
• Boost the Battle Rifle damage, if only slightly. The Magnum could use a little more punch as well (when used on its own at least).
• Reduce or refine the seemingly random grenade damage (or at least send me a memo explaining their intricacies).
• For both grenades and melees, increase both the damage and range (if only a little), and make a slight time delay when dropping a paired weapon to do either, making it a legitimate compromise to pick up a second gun (please follow this link for a more in-depth description of the issue). An actual melee range increase, instead of just a dash range extension (don't get us started on the dash), might also solve some of the problems encountered when attempting to melee a running opponent in the back and missing aparently due to his/her feet sticking out behind them...
• This is their chance to correct one of the sequel's greatest confusions. Make the Needler do something. Anything.
• Remove mid-air lunging with sword and/or reduce lunge distance slightly (or, arguably, all together).
• Make the blast radius of the rockets huge (limiting its use in close proximity), but make it take forever to cycle between shots and reload.
• The "freezing" effect of the energy weapons could still add a crucial variation to the weapons.
• The inclusion of other tried-and-true H1 levels: Damnation, Chill Out, Hang 'em High, Damnation. As we've mentioned elsewhere, despite Bungie's disclaimer that they just wouldn't be as fun in Halo 2 as in Halo 1, they seemed to have a lot going for them, considering, for one, that the less powerful Battle Rifle would allow players to venture into more of the map's open areas without fear of immediate death by long range Pistol.

Not nearly as crucial, but important nonetheless...

• Place an option to turn off vehicle damage for some old school fun.
• Sidearms: Holding only 2 weapons is a basic tenet of Halo gameplay. However, while nodding approvingly at the new, faster Magnum and shaking disapprovingly at the demoted Plasma Pistol a thought occurred: Could gameplay be tuned in such a way to allow the possession of two weapons as usual, but also allow for a weaker sidearm to be carried in addition to them? With a little creativity and weapon balancing, a few light weapons could be set aside as true sidearms, not powerful enough to be worth taking up a weapon slot, but quick enough to fall back on or mop up with. All weapon exchanges could continue as usual (hold X to pick up, tap Y to exchange between the main two, etc.) but by relocating the flashlight to a direction on the d-pad perhaps the white button could be reallocated to offer a quick switch to a third weapon of last resort. It's just a thought, but I think the premise holds promise.
• The portable gattling gun (or the ability to hoist and carry turrets): Let's go over this again. No really, I think we've got it nailed.
• It must be large... and powerful. If the weapon exists at all there is no point cutting it's firepower short for the sake of balance. The scales must be evened in other ways...
• It should be fairly accurate. At least as accurate as the jeep's gun or slightly more so.
• Holds a lot of ammo but cannot be reloaded; when its empty you just have to drop it (or, if sufficiently handicapped in other ways it could have unlimited ammo, I suppose).
• The mini-gun will still take up one weapon slot (two weapons can be held) but the player may not switch to or use their secondary weapon (ex. pistol, shotgun, etc.) without first holding X and completely dropping the mini-gun.
• Holding X while carrying the gun will exchange it for another weapon if one is available, or if not, will cut it loose, dropping it to the ground leaving you with only one weapon. (Or, as brought up by Cunbelin, it could merely be operated as a turret with no worries of weapon switching when it is used. Not as fun perhaps, but that is an option.)
• As noted above the Y button will not switch between weapons but instead will switch "modes". A carrying position will have the gun lifted up, unable to fire, but running and dodging speed will be almost normal. The actual firing mode, the gun leveled at a target, will greatly decrease maneuverability, but the smack you can lay down should compensate for that.
• The analog trigger should also be utilized. A slight pull will spin the barrel up to speed, while only full depression of the button will begin firing. The spinning barrel would emit a slight whine alerting keen adversaries of your ambush but that is just the price you pay to have the gun warmed up.

We may add to this as inspiration comes to us.