Summary
TheHalofranchise is in a strange spot at the minute. ThoughHalo Infinite’s releasewas met with great praise from both fans and critics alike, public perception of the game soon turned sour, with developer 343 Industries failing to meet expectations when it came to the game’s post-launch updates, or lack thereof. But flash forward a few years later andHalo Infiniteis finally starting to look like the game it always should have been, though that hasn’t stopped fans from wanting more from the franchise.
Still one of the biggest Sci-Fi franchises in gaming,Haloshould be much more prevalent than it currently is, and it’s time for Microsoft to start using the franchise a little more. WithHalo InfiniteandThe Master Chief Collectionbeing the best possible options forHalomultiplayer, the next projectHaloshould prioritize is another full-length campaign mode, and while there are countless different directions to go in, it could benefit from borrowing a coreHalo 2feature to start with.
The Next Halo Should Bring Back a Dual-Narrative
Halo 2’s Arbiter Was Controversial But Necessary
WhenHalo 2first launched in 2004, it quickly became one of the most controversial video games of all time, and it was all due to the game’s second playable protagonist, The Arbiter. Just likeMetal Gear Solid 2a few years earlier,Halofans felt as though they had been lied to, with all ofHalo 2’s pre-release marketingfocusing solely on the Master Chief’s fight for humanity on Earth, and no mention at all of a second playable character.
Naturally, many fans' knee-jerk reaction was to hate this new character, especially with him taking up half of the game’s entire runtime. But over the years, this bold dual-narrative has actually become one ofHalo 2’s most beloved features. Not only is The Arbiter a well-written character with an excellent voice performance behind him, but his journey is also pivotal in fleshing out the widerHalouniverse, with The Covenant not getting too much behind-the-scenes action in the originalHalo. On top of that world-building and excellent writing,Halo 2’s dual-narrativeis also a compelling way to tell such a complex story, showing the galactic conflict from two wildly different perspectives and interweaving them fairly seamlessly throughout.
Halo 5 Tried But Failed to Capture the Same Magic
WithHalo 2’s dual-narrative approach being so controversial, Bungie stayed clear of it for its remaining tenure with the franchise, choosing to keepHalo 3andHalo Reachfocused on just one central playable protagonist. But when it came time to make its second game after Bungie’s departure, 343 Industries decided to return to this dual-narrative concept, though it unfortunately didn’t end too well.
Halo 5: Guardians' pre-release marketing promised a big showdown betweenthe Master Chief and new character Agent Locke, another Spartan sent to hunt down the supposedly rogue war hero. In an ironic twist of fate,Halo 5suffered the opposite problem ofHalo 2, not delivering a dual-narrative to the same extent that fans had been expecting based on the game’s marketing, with missions and important story moments divided very unequally between protagonists.
343 Industries Could Still Make a Great Dual-Narrative Halo Game
But all hope for another good dual-narrativeHalogame is not lost. WhileHalo 5has likely put off 343 from attempting another dual-narrative, it really shouldn’t. WhileHalo 5failed to live up to expectations, its general premise was exciting, and the idea of a dual-narrativeHalogame split evenly among two compelling characters is something that would probably be received very well followingHalo Infinite’s campaignthat played things a little too safe.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
