It’s been 5 years since we last saw Master Chief, as he and Cortana were left in an empty ship awaiting a rescue team. Within that period, two Halo games were released before Bungie left the series in the hands of a new studio, 343 Industries.

Stepping onto the mantle of something as adored as Halo is no easy task, especially when taking the reins from a studio that has earned its admiration. Halo 4 makes the start of a new trilogy and is possibly the best Halo game made so far.

Halo 4, Review, FPS, Shooter, Master Chief

Halo 4 begins 4 years after the events of Halo 3, with Cortana waking Master Chief from cryosleep aboard The Forward onto Dawn. After a brief introduction, a group of Covenant attacks, and then you plummet to a new world called Requiem. Here is where you meet the crew of the UNSC Infinity, and this is where 343 Industries does something new.

Instead of telling a brief story, 343 attempts to include a large amount of Halo lore from books, animated series, and games. Characters address issues such as the moral dilemma of initiating the Spartan II project and the longevity of an AI.

Things that were previously ignored in Halo games are now brought up. It is definitely a change of pace from previous games, but if you are like me and read all the books or saw any of the animated or live-action series based on this beloved franchise, then you will be in for a treat.

I bring up the lifespan of an AI because 343 places Cortana in the spotlight of Halo 4. As an old AI construct, Cortana has exceeded the predicted lifespan and is beginning to show signs of rampancy.

Right after Cortana wakes Chief from cryosleep, she begins to show signs of deterioration, including a screeching voice, violent emotional outbursts, and difficulty processing tactical data. She and Chief have also kept each other safe, but now it’s up to Chief to keep Cortana from insanity, creating a much more personal story that puts their relationship to the test.

Master Chief and Cortana may be dealing with their own personal issues, but a new enemy has risen to take the place of the Flood parasite. Requiem is an amazing planet full of secrets, and some are better left alone.

Halo 4, Review, FPS, Shooter, Master Chief

For brevity, a new enemy has risen to eliminate humanity as a potential threat and retake its position as the apex race. Master Chief must now do what Spartans were designed to do: to protect humanity at any cost.

Halo 4 has had a massive graphical upgrade, making it the best-looking Halo game so far. The new planet of Requiem hosts an array of areas from past Halo games, such as forests and deserts, but adds new Forerunner architecture that looks stunning.

Textures look pixelated up close, though, and the overuse of lens flare is distracting at times. Although the Xbox 360 has aged, these new visuals are an impressive feat; it’s obvious that Microsoft spared no expense in bringing this beloved franchise to life.

The combat mechanics of Halo 4 have been modified while remaining loyal to traditional elements. The new and old enemies will require you to use every weapon and piece of equipment available to you.

Regardless of the situation, whether you fight one of the heavily armored Promethean Knights or the classic Elites, you will have a weapon designed for the task. Eliminate an enemy shield and then melee them to finish them off, or sneak behind an enemy and perform a vicious assassination attack, still remains a viable tactic.

Halo 4, Review, FPS, Shooter, Master Chief

But what good is being a genetically modified solider if you have no one to fight, fortunately you won’t have no shortage of enemies. Halo 4 will have the Covenant Elites, Grunts, Jackals, and Hunters, as well as new Promethean enemies called Knights, Lurkers, and Watchers, who want nothing more than your extermination.

The Covenant relies on the same strategies as the Prometheans: teleport, summon support, revive allies, throw grenades back, and provide shields for friendly forces. The objectives are a simple mash of moving from one marker to the next, but combined with vicious opponents and a stellar atmosphere, you’ll forget. These new adversaries are a welcome addition to the Halo universe and worthy opponents.

Besides the story, gameplay, and multiplayer, another significant part of Halo has been the soundtrack. Sound effects that didn’t exist in Halo before have been introduced, such as heavy metal boots hitting the floor. Every weapon has been redone to sound more lethal or alien, with human weapons sounding more lethal or alien.

Neil Davidge has done a phenomenal job of retaining the original feel of Martin O’Donnell, while establishing itself within a new trilogy. Whether you are shooting hostiles or approaching your next objective, the soundtrack will have you engaged in each level.

Halo 4, Review, FPS, Shooter, Master Chief

Halo is responsible for making online console competitive gaming what it is today. The multiplayer mode, now called Infinity, takes place during and after the events of Halo 4. Infinity consists of the map creator Forge, the post-single-player cooperative campaign Spartan-Ops, and the competitive mode War Games.

The most radical changes to multiplayer are the use of loadouts, the default sprint, the kill camera, kill streaks, and instant respawn. The Forge map and playlist creation mode have been updated with new items, but it may be weeks before creative minds can fully utilize these tools to make interesting creations.

War Games hosts plenty of competitive options for those seeking to test their skills against human opponents. Right now, 10 maps and 10 modes are available, including classic modes such as deathmatch, team deathmatch, domination, capture the flag, and free-for-all. Previous modes like Grifball and Flood, previously known as Zombies, have been modified to feel more like competitive modes than a custom game.

Spartan-Ops replaces Firefight and offers five episodes, each comprising 5 missions, set after the events of the campaign. Only one mission is currently available, and 343 plans to release new missions weekly with no additional cost.

These short missions allow you and up to three friends to tackle a series of missions following Fireteam Crimson, which consists of a team of Spartan IVs, to repel Covenant and Promethean forces to establish bases on Forerunner structures.

Halo 4, Review, FPS, Shooter, Master Chief

As you complete challenges and kill other human players, you’ll earn experience, which can be used to unlock new gear, gain levels, and earn cosmetic items. Halo 4 gives you a wide range of options to create your own personal Spartan IV.

You are constantly earning experience from the rewarding leveling system that grants you points for every contribution you make. Halo 4 marks Bungie's departure and welcomes 343 Industries as the new developer. It delivers an emotional return for Master Chief in the stunning campaign, showing that 343 intends to maintain the same high quality that Bungie upheld.

The competitive multiplayer picks up where Reach left off, and Spartan-Ops may prove its worth in the coming weeks or fall in the shadow of the main campaign. There is no doubt that Master Chief has returned with a bang.

Halo 4

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