After A Tough Patch, Halo Infinite Is So Again

I’m an uncompromising, loud-mouthed Halo apologist, however even I fell off of Halo Infinite. Regardless of 343 Industries’ newest recreation feeling simply pretty much as good as a Halo recreation ought to, its unusual, staccato launch and lack of latest maps surrounded it with an air of perpetual stagnation for almost two years. As such, I performed it on and off from its November 2021 launch till the tip of final 12 months, after which simply type of forgot about it.

Then, in February of this 12 months, 343 cleverly referred to as on its unbelievable group to assist spice issues up, providing a number of new maps in official playlists that gamers may simply discover and luxuriate in (relatively than having to make use of the customized recreation browser to seek out Forge-made maps). Nevertheless it wasn’t till final month’s providing, a brand new playlist referred to as Squad Battle that mimics the Massive Group Battle of yesteryear with maps that outdated Halo heads will know, that Infinite actually began to sing.

You’ll be able to lead a horse to water, however you’ll be able to’t make them drink. Equally, you’ll be able to inform me that I ought to get again into Halo Infinite, however you’ll be able to’t make me do it when Overwatch 2 and the new Nicki Minaj Name of Obligation operator are proper there. However in case you’re my fiance and also you’re dogged sufficient, you’ll be able to no less than get me as well up Halo Infinite once more out of curiosity—particularly in case you inform me there’s “extra outdated maps.”

Halo Infinite Squad Battle received me again into the sport

The Squad Battle playlist debuted in July 2023 and gives a contented medium between the chaotic 12v12 Massive Group Battle matches and the much-less-forgiving 4v4 face-offs. The 8v8 video games are a mixture of conventional Slayer matches and a few objective-based modes, they usually’re all set on maps made by the Halo group. Extra importantly, all the maps are from outdated Halo video games. Sure, meaning Valhalla is again. Rejoice, Spartans.

I don’t even notice the legendary Halo 3 map is a part of the rotation till I queue up for a recreation and see photographs of its evergreen bushes, its ankle-deep water, and its hulking, futuristic buildings because the match hundreds up. Dazed, I stroll out onto the angled ramp on one finish of the large, sunlit valley and am hit with a violent wave of nostalgia, adopted instantly by the cockpit of a Banshee. Growth, splattered.

What follows is a match that’s one of the best Halo Infinite has ever felt because of a mixture of its rock-solid gunplay and the near-faultless structure of a traditional Halo 3 map. New weapons just like the Commando are good for the dimensions and scope of Valhalla, permitting me to choose off gamers tenting in a faraway Forerunner construction whereas nonetheless serving a objective when one in all them drops out of the sky and onto my head.

I spam grenades into the cave working alongside the aspect of the valley wall, similar to I did again in 2007. I bounce a Warthog by the gravity cannon and flip end-over-end towards the hill within the heart of the map, similar to I did again in 2007. I snag a sniper rifle and creep alongside the sting of a rocky outcropping, popping heads with a maniacal giggle, similar to I did again in 2007. The Halo Gregorian chants are ringing in my ears, the bass drum is thrashing in my chest.

The subsequent match is on Exile, a Halo 4 map set on the web site of a downed UNSC ship. As soon as once more, there are autos galore, and nooks and crannies for enemies to cover in, rifles in hand. I bounce in a Banshee and streak straight as much as the sky, careening down towards a lone enemy Spartan like a peregrine falcon, swooping up and away from the bottom on the final attainable second. I’m grinning ear-to-ear all through the match, unaware of the rating, unbothered by loss of life. Why does this really feel so significantly better than the rest in Halo Infinite?

Positive, there have been sprawling open maps with enclosed areas dotting the terrain and autos simply ready to be ridden for the reason that recreation launched. And certain, the weapons and motion mechanics, which expertly stability older Halo physics with extra trendy FPS expectations, have all the time been nice. Possibly that is all one huge train within the energy of nostalgia, and I’m solely this gassed about Halo Infinite as a result of it gave me a bit of Rat’s Nest as a deal with.

However possibly, simply possibly, Halo Infinite has all the time been this good. It simply wanted a well-known conduit, a recognizable face, to remind you of that.