5 Best And 5 Worst Things About Halo Infinite Multiplayer
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VOICE OVER: Aaron Brown
WRITTEN BY: Aaron Brown
Welcome to MojoPlays and today we're breaking down the best and worst things about Halo Infinite Multiplayer. For this list, we'll be examining all the things 343 did right and wrong with Halo Infinite Multiplayer whether it's still in “Beta” or not. We have no doubt that 343 will continue to improve their free to play model moving forward but these are the things we love and the things we don't in its current state. Our worst entries include an inability to turn off crossplay and the time it takes to respawn while our best entries include its weapon selection and map design.
Script written by Aaron Brown
In any multiplayer game outside of Battle Royales, the amount of time it takes you to respawn into the game is crucial and can oftentimes turn the tide of the fight in your team's favor. Many online multiplayer games even have the option to simply press a button to respawn instantly. Halo Infinite doesn’t have any such button prompt and instead players have to wait an agonizing 10 seconds to rejoin the fight. This might sound miniscule, but as the seconds tick away with the rival team inching closer to victory, all you can do is watch is torture. On the flip side of this is the inconsistent Time to Kill. Understandably the shields play a major factor here but unloading an entire clip into an enemy that simply walks up and one hit melees you is controller breaking levels of frustration.
Jumping into a multiplayer game is a lot like jumping into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim. Lots and lots of flailing around before you finally figure things out. Thankfully, 343 implemented a new feature of Halo Infinite with Academy which not only walks you through the basics of combat but also lets you test out the game's numerous weapons and find out that some of them even have a secondary fire. While not especially deep or an absolute necessity besides popping a few achievements, it’s still a nice feature for those entering the Halo universe for the first time and the ability to play a few rounds against bots also helps give you an idea of the maps and modes you can expect to play before loading up to set foot in the real battle arena.
As in any modern online multiplayer game, the option for crossplay is becoming more of the standard than a novelty. However this also brings with it new challenges as those playing on PC generally tend to have the upper hand given their level of control and speed versus console players. While this is mitigated by the addition of aim assist on console, those playing on PC have another advantage that console players can’t match: cheating hacks. Aim bots and players shooting through walls is becoming more commonplace the longer the game is available and with currently no way to disable crossplay on consoles, many gamers are simply at a massive disadvantage that could be easily remedied by having the option available. 343 admits they knew cheating would be an issue, but as of the time of writing there is still no way to disable crossplay with PC.
Multiplayer games live and die by their weapons, literally, and thankfully the new additions to the Halo arsenal slot well into the established loadout the series is known for. While some of the weapons are less effective than others, looking at you Disruptor, they all have their own benefits in combat. The Heatwave is a personal favorite. The returning favorites even feel punchier with this version of the standard Assault Rifle feeling the most well rounded since the series began. More than a few weapons even come with alternate fire modes which is always a welcome option for the varying strategies from one encounter to the next. While the entire catalogue of weapons did not make the jump to Infinite, the newcomers and returning favorites are some of the best versions in the series to date.
One of the best things about Halo multiplayer has always been the rewards for your abilities. The better you play, the better sets of armor you have been able to unlock to display your level of achievement. When it was announced that 343 was making Halo multiplayer free-to-play, many were worried this would lead to a heavily microtransaction-ed experience. And while 343 assured fans this wasn’t going to be the case, so far they don’t seem to be following through on that promise. With many armor pieces, yes pieces, not sets, being locked behind the Battle Pass completely and it taking possibly 100s of hours to unlock any full armor sets without paying, 343 is crippling what could possibly be the best Halo multiplayer since its inception. This won’t be a big deal to many players but it’s certainly going to cost those wanting to look their best.
Along with weapons, maps are the most crucial part of making a multiplayer game successful. And thankfully this is an area where Halo Infinite shines. With a selection of wide-open areas and tight corridor maps, there’s something here that can adapt to anyone’s play style. The addition of the Grapple Shot makes traversal across these maps, whether open or close knit, a breeze and some even contain secret areas filled with a stockpile of special weapons and power ups. Watching a Pelican fly in overhead and drop off ordinance ignites thrilling moments where both teams attempt to claim the reward for their own to turn the tide of the match. With open lines of sight and nowhere to hide thanks to the new traversal mechanics, there’s no room for camping here.
No one really wants to play Oddball 343. Of all the features to be left on the cutting room floor, the option for players to choose what game they want to play against their friends is one of the most egregious. While many of the new modes like Strongholds and Total Control are fun, others like Stockpile are just confusing and usually end up turning into games of Deathmatch. The recent Fiesta mode in which players start every match of Slayer with randomized weapons was a lot of fun and we would love to see more modes like that in the future. However, being at the mercy of a randomized selection of game modes hoping for the one you want leads to a lot of players bailing before the match even begins in hopes of getting Slayer on the next round.
Equipment has been a series mainstay since the days of Halo 3 and while it has certainly been a point of contention within some of the Halo community, Infinite has the best balance of power ups since Bungie introduced the first batch all those years ago. Series mainstays like the active camo and overshield return but are now joined by a batch of new and mostly useful power ups. Our personal favorites have to be the Grapple Shot whose abilities are by far the most versatile, allowing you to pull off moves like this, this, this, and this. The Grapple Shot is followed by the close second The Repulsor which not only returns projectiles to its sender, but is also capable of stopping a vehicle dead in its tracks. Not all of the new equipment is as useful as these but at least none of them are useless.
343 has all the ingredients to make Infinite multiplayer THE definitive Halo experience but it has some serious pacing issues when it comes to progression. While free-to-play has become an industry standard within a short amount of time, 343 took that model and opted for a different approach. Instead of players earning their XP from how well they play during the match, most of the progression is tied to challenges, which while this is nothing new in the F2P market, making these challenges the main way of leveling up causes most matches to be nothing more than players focusing on challenges instead of playing the objective which should never be the case. Why should I play my heart out for the same XP as the player who never fired a shot the whole match? What is even the point of the medals I’m earning, 343, if they don’t give me XP?
Nothing else feels like Halo. From the speed of combat to the power trip of being a Spartan, there’s a reason Halo multiplayer has been going strong for two decades and three console generations. While Bungie pretty much nailed the entire formula right out of the gate, improvements in technology and minor tweaks to the tried-and-true formula have certainly helped move the series forward and keep the combat fun and engaging for all those late night sessions of “Just one more game”. These days gamers are spoiled for choice when it comes to multiplayer offerings but the gradual learning curve of combat in Halo means it's accessible to everyone from novice to veteran. Don’t ever change, Halo, we love you just the way you are.
WORST: “TTK & TTR (Time to Kill & Time to Respawn)”
In any multiplayer game outside of Battle Royales, the amount of time it takes you to respawn into the game is crucial and can oftentimes turn the tide of the fight in your team's favor. Many online multiplayer games even have the option to simply press a button to respawn instantly. Halo Infinite doesn’t have any such button prompt and instead players have to wait an agonizing 10 seconds to rejoin the fight. This might sound miniscule, but as the seconds tick away with the rival team inching closer to victory, all you can do is watch is torture. On the flip side of this is the inconsistent Time to Kill. Understandably the shields play a major factor here but unloading an entire clip into an enemy that simply walks up and one hit melees you is controller breaking levels of frustration.
BEST: “Academy”
Jumping into a multiplayer game is a lot like jumping into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim. Lots and lots of flailing around before you finally figure things out. Thankfully, 343 implemented a new feature of Halo Infinite with Academy which not only walks you through the basics of combat but also lets you test out the game's numerous weapons and find out that some of them even have a secondary fire. While not especially deep or an absolute necessity besides popping a few achievements, it’s still a nice feature for those entering the Halo universe for the first time and the ability to play a few rounds against bots also helps give you an idea of the maps and modes you can expect to play before loading up to set foot in the real battle arena.
WORST: “No Crossplay Disabling”
As in any modern online multiplayer game, the option for crossplay is becoming more of the standard than a novelty. However this also brings with it new challenges as those playing on PC generally tend to have the upper hand given their level of control and speed versus console players. While this is mitigated by the addition of aim assist on console, those playing on PC have another advantage that console players can’t match: cheating hacks. Aim bots and players shooting through walls is becoming more commonplace the longer the game is available and with currently no way to disable crossplay on consoles, many gamers are simply at a massive disadvantage that could be easily remedied by having the option available. 343 admits they knew cheating would be an issue, but as of the time of writing there is still no way to disable crossplay with PC.
BEST: “Weapon Selection”
Multiplayer games live and die by their weapons, literally, and thankfully the new additions to the Halo arsenal slot well into the established loadout the series is known for. While some of the weapons are less effective than others, looking at you Disruptor, they all have their own benefits in combat. The Heatwave is a personal favorite. The returning favorites even feel punchier with this version of the standard Assault Rifle feeling the most well rounded since the series began. More than a few weapons even come with alternate fire modes which is always a welcome option for the varying strategies from one encounter to the next. While the entire catalogue of weapons did not make the jump to Infinite, the newcomers and returning favorites are some of the best versions in the series to date.
WORST: “Rewards”
One of the best things about Halo multiplayer has always been the rewards for your abilities. The better you play, the better sets of armor you have been able to unlock to display your level of achievement. When it was announced that 343 was making Halo multiplayer free-to-play, many were worried this would lead to a heavily microtransaction-ed experience. And while 343 assured fans this wasn’t going to be the case, so far they don’t seem to be following through on that promise. With many armor pieces, yes pieces, not sets, being locked behind the Battle Pass completely and it taking possibly 100s of hours to unlock any full armor sets without paying, 343 is crippling what could possibly be the best Halo multiplayer since its inception. This won’t be a big deal to many players but it’s certainly going to cost those wanting to look their best.
BEST: “Map Design”
Along with weapons, maps are the most crucial part of making a multiplayer game successful. And thankfully this is an area where Halo Infinite shines. With a selection of wide-open areas and tight corridor maps, there’s something here that can adapt to anyone’s play style. The addition of the Grapple Shot makes traversal across these maps, whether open or close knit, a breeze and some even contain secret areas filled with a stockpile of special weapons and power ups. Watching a Pelican fly in overhead and drop off ordinance ignites thrilling moments where both teams attempt to claim the reward for their own to turn the tide of the match. With open lines of sight and nowhere to hide thanks to the new traversal mechanics, there’s no room for camping here.
WORST: “No Game Mode Select”
No one really wants to play Oddball 343. Of all the features to be left on the cutting room floor, the option for players to choose what game they want to play against their friends is one of the most egregious. While many of the new modes like Strongholds and Total Control are fun, others like Stockpile are just confusing and usually end up turning into games of Deathmatch. The recent Fiesta mode in which players start every match of Slayer with randomized weapons was a lot of fun and we would love to see more modes like that in the future. However, being at the mercy of a randomized selection of game modes hoping for the one you want leads to a lot of players bailing before the match even begins in hopes of getting Slayer on the next round.
BEST: “Equipment”
Equipment has been a series mainstay since the days of Halo 3 and while it has certainly been a point of contention within some of the Halo community, Infinite has the best balance of power ups since Bungie introduced the first batch all those years ago. Series mainstays like the active camo and overshield return but are now joined by a batch of new and mostly useful power ups. Our personal favorites have to be the Grapple Shot whose abilities are by far the most versatile, allowing you to pull off moves like this, this, this, and this. The Grapple Shot is followed by the close second The Repulsor which not only returns projectiles to its sender, but is also capable of stopping a vehicle dead in its tracks. Not all of the new equipment is as useful as these but at least none of them are useless.
WORST: “Challenges”
343 has all the ingredients to make Infinite multiplayer THE definitive Halo experience but it has some serious pacing issues when it comes to progression. While free-to-play has become an industry standard within a short amount of time, 343 took that model and opted for a different approach. Instead of players earning their XP from how well they play during the match, most of the progression is tied to challenges, which while this is nothing new in the F2P market, making these challenges the main way of leveling up causes most matches to be nothing more than players focusing on challenges instead of playing the objective which should never be the case. Why should I play my heart out for the same XP as the player who never fired a shot the whole match? What is even the point of the medals I’m earning, 343, if they don’t give me XP?
BEST: “Combat Evolved”
Nothing else feels like Halo. From the speed of combat to the power trip of being a Spartan, there’s a reason Halo multiplayer has been going strong for two decades and three console generations. While Bungie pretty much nailed the entire formula right out of the gate, improvements in technology and minor tweaks to the tried-and-true formula have certainly helped move the series forward and keep the combat fun and engaging for all those late night sessions of “Just one more game”. These days gamers are spoiled for choice when it comes to multiplayer offerings but the gradual learning curve of combat in Halo means it's accessible to everyone from novice to veteran. Don’t ever change, Halo, we love you just the way you are.
