Halo Infinite in the test: The wait was worth it

Hallo: The Master Chief Collection is a remaster of first-person shooting computer game from the Halo Saga for the Xbox One console, which went on sale in the United States on November 11, 2014, and also in Europe on November 14 of the same year. It contains Halo 1 Battle Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3 and also Halo 4 with its full multiplayer settings with extra content. But also in 2014, Halo 3 DST was added as compensation for errors in the matchmaking that the collection brought at the start. All video games got visuals renovations for its launch, however Halo 2 was designated HD as in Halo: Fight Evolved Wedding Anniversary. The computer game includes access to the collection in actual image called Halo: Nightfall, in addition to access to Halo Multiplayer Beta 5: Guardians, which was offered for a restricted time. On March 12, 2019, it was revealed for computer as well as December 3 of the same year, the collection was released for Windows 10 on the Vapor system. Originally included just Halo Reach, however the various other video games would come as they were introduced. Presently the collection is complete in Windows 10 with: Halo Reach, Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Wedding anniversary Halo 3, Halo 3 DST as well as Halo 4.

The release of a new Halo game is always a monumental event without exaggeration. Because no other video game character is so closely linked to the Xbox as the Master Chief. The green armored Super Soldier dressing for 20 years now rows of aliens from the screen and has gathered at this time a large and loyal fan base around him who have always had high expectations for the series. And the now appearing Halo Infinite is no different, it is the first major series some for over six years.

For all the anticipation Infinite has also already caused quite a frown. On the one hand, the game went through a not unproblematic development, which was extended last year again. And halo on the other hand must Infinite also make the difficult balancing act, equally satisfy the loyal fans as collect the numerous newcomers, is for the Infinite, the first series part.

Notice regarding the rating The when the multiplayer of Halo Infinite Free2Play and beta is already playable separately, we evaluate in our test, the overall package of campaign and multiplayer. Our score should you though initially as preliminary look. Because depending on whether there should be the official launch of the multiplayer on 8 December to major technical problems, it may be that we adapt the score again, although we currently do not assume.

We discuss in this test both the campaign and the multiplayer of Halo Infinite. Use the navigation you can quickly jump to relevant sections.

Table of contents

Campaign: Introduction and Story Campaign: Gameplay Campaign: Hub areas and ancillary activities Campaign: Technology Multiplayer: introduction and basics Multiplayer: Maps and matchmaking Multiplayer: The Battle Pass

showdown on Zeta Halo

The campaign of Halo Infinite playing time after the events of Halo 5: Guardians and can be at least in its basic features quickly summarized. Super soldier Master Chief is collected in space floating from a pilot who for a long time will bear only the name Echo 216. In orbit, the partly destroyed Ring world Zeta Halo This tells the Chief that the alien group has the exiles under the leadership of War chief Charm the armed forces of the people defeated in the ring and all hope is lost.

Spartan 117 is of course precisely such situations familiar and plunges shortly afterwards in the battle with the exiles, accompanied by a new AI companion who is simply called the gun. Because it is in the course of the story several mysteries to solve: What to look for the exiles on the ring? What is the exact function of the weapon? What's for Halo 5: Guardians happened? And what exactly is the mysterious harbinger up, which appears after a few hours in the story?

Developers 343 Industries a spiritual Reboot wanted to create the series with Halo Infinite and use of for the story of a similar Knifes as 20 years ago. Without much knowledge we are in fact thrown here in a conflict and having to go to a number of issues on the ground. The game is betting that players eager inside to chase these bread crumbs and the old halo hare in the newsroom that has actually worked well, while it had the newcomers much harder. Also, because to face the second part of the campaign new, with more general questions and pace to the successful, albeit open finals is tightened again noticeable.

Evil and cool Good

That would not really work without appealing antagonists, and therefore it is all the better that Halo Infinite provides a perfect evil squad in the form of the exiles. Charms hatred of the man is formally regarded him and moreover he gathers a whole range nosed Spartan-hunters and other subordinate to itself, with which it gets to do the Master Chief in the course of the campaign. The game sketched while the exiles and their motivation on the ring quite understandable, thereby making them a real highlight of the game.

But not only the dark side managed 343 Industries, as well as the new allied supporting characters are a real asset to the series. Pilot Echo 216 adheres particularly the story in the first part very much in the background, but like still as latent annoyed delivery helpers of the Chiefs that actually want to go home. And the subtle weapon in keeping with its snappy sayings so well with the Master Chief that they play takes the place in Infinite, the Cortana long held — we want to see in the future in any case more of her!

Many question marks for newcomers

By the way, Cortana is a good keyword and also part of the greatest criticism we have at the story of the game. Because series new newcomers are left completely in the rain at Infinite: Who with terms such terms like Cortana, Dr. Halsey, the Alliance, the blood fathers or just the concept of a halo ring can not start anything, the skull is quick to achieve the skull of the entire carving question mark.

343 Industries misses it — yes, it does not even try — in the game at least a rough summary or orientation to give. Of course, a satisfactory exposure could of course be read or look at the net, this solution is still unfavorable. While Halo fans are likely to be completely picked up by the story, it is well possible that Infinite will lose newcomers. Anyway, if not incentive enough for the gameplay should be enough to bite through the story.

Incidentally, if you want to prepare Lore-Technisch for Halo Infinite, we would have a few tips for you:

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more on the subject

Hallo Infinite: You want to prepare for you? These videos help with the understanding of Lore

So grandiose can be Shooter Gameplay

Fortunately, the actual gameplay has far less confusion potential for fresh lings, because this is by far our absolute highlight of the game. As usual, we see to happen from the eyes of the chiefs and ballers on the way through a spaceship, a blood fathers plant and then on the surface of Zeta Halo whole armies of banished warriors in Nirvana. And these runners simply feel fantastic, which has several reasons for several reasons.

Of course, on the one hand, the tools, say, weapons that the Master Chief brings to the battle. The creaking bid includes both a number of old favorites such as the precise burst weapon BR or the Assault Rifle, as well as a number of new (alien) -cruel as the skewer, which gives a huge bolt, or the mangler, a compact shotgun of the banished which can be amazingly precise at a distance.

Without exception all weapons have enormous satisfactory hit feedback, and it is about an absolute high feeling to make the methane tank on the back of the small scary grunt aliens or to sink precise salves in the heads of the monkey-like breed. It is supported by the powerful and recognizable weapons sounds, some of which have burned in — including the dull UMM of the sniper rifle — already burned into our hearing center and make the gun play to a real bliss.

on the hook

Congenital partners for the weapons are the equipment, of which the gripping hook turns out as a versatile genius stroke. We are not only able to cover ourselves quickly through the terrain or pike at the last moment, but can also use weapons and explosive energy nuclei to us or attack opponents.

Equipment: gripping hooks orientation sensor

The gripper hook has the chief from the beginning, later he finds, among other things, an adjustable shield or thrust nozzles that remain a bit behind the genius of gripping hook, but still further options for the battles against the banished, especially since they can be upgraded (they can also be upgraded. For example, with reduced decay duration or electric shock for gripping hooks).

Together with the melee attacks and the various grenade variants (splinters, nail, plasma), Infinite allows regular battle choreographies. This can then look like that, for example, we first pull ourselves with the gripping hook to an elevated position, then do the first enemies with grenades and a ranged weapon, then jump down, switch to the shotgun, to avoid the page of shots, only In order to throw the remaining enemies a collected energy core into the visage before weighing ourselves at the last moment with the gripping hook. The fighting in Halo Infinite are like brutal dances, which work so well that they can make addictive. And yes, we speak of experience.

Chartering enemies

An important component of this excellent gameplay loops are, of course, the opponents, which especially fell with their variation and at the latest from the third of the four levels of difficulty, make Spartan-Hell neatly hot. Mostly we face the already mentioned Grunts, Brutes, Elites and Jackals, which in many cases not only passed through the levels and avoid grenades, but also realize when our energy seventh is down and then adhering to aggressive.

For relying on panic, the elite and brute specimens can ensure that with energy-worthy or their bare fists on us to tower on us and then require lightning fast action. In addition, the chief has to be around with the Hunter, huge worming, which always occurs in the double pack and are thickly armored. He also meets Zeta Halo on the completely new opponent style of the skimmer. These flying beasts shoot with bolted weapons on us and become dangerous especially in the group.

Incidentally, this pleasant change in enemies also affects the ever-spreaded boss fighting, which partly requires certain tactics. The elite-upper chalk locomotive, on which you meet after a few hours of play in the big banner fortress, can be invisible, so the use of the motion sensors recommends. We do not want too many spoilers, but later copies, for example, attack them from vehicles or want to draw a huge hammer over the helmet.

Fortunately, Infinite for all conflicts gives us the appropriate tools to the hand, which always gives us the feeling of being a powerful super soldier. Hallo Infinite is actually the perfect Master Chief fantasy on this point, which of course, especially fans of the series will be happy. However, a fantasy that can only be experienced alone. Because a coop mode is not on board to the launch, which disappear one of the largest pluses of previous parts.

So open like never

The core gameplay of the game is therefore a true high enough enjoyment and that is important to know if we consider the rest of the campaign and especially the game world. Because after the comparatively linear entry, Halo Infinite releases us into the first of several hub areas on Zeta Halo, which are clearly more open than in previous series parts, but far from the dimensions about a Witcher 3 or Far Cry 6 are removed.

And in these hub areas, we are free to either drive the story with major missions — for example, by exploring an excavation facility of the banished or destroyed gigantic aircraft moons — or to devote us one of the numerous minor activities. And there are some of them:

Conquer the outpost Save our UNSC squads Destroy propaganda travels Switch off high-ranking opponents Find Spartan improvement seeds Banished fortresses Find hidden audiology Detect Mjölnir cabinets (for cosmetic items in multiplayer)

Neighing Activities: Output Blood Fathers Artifacts Spartan Ferns Burned-fortresses Propaganda Furze Navy Troops High-ranking Goals Mjölnir Cabinet

The first-mentioned outposts are distributed over the entire map and act after completing the banished fighters posted there as fast travel points and replenishment stations, in which we can request weapons, marine units or vehicles. Their pool is initially limited, stronger vehicles, such as the mighty Scorpion tanks, we can only order if we have gathered enough bravery. We sock this virtual currency when we liberate marine troops from the lines of banned or destroy the distributed propaganda travels.

The crux with the hubs

This step is logical in particular in the light of the series history — finally already opened Halo 5: Guardians his level hoses again and again — the implementation proves to be rather bumpy. Because the secondary activities all feel quite generic and above all in the later course according to the notorious blocked and vary over the duration of the campaign also not really — at most in the construction of the banished outposts.

Even the rewards do not really tickle and act overall too weak, because even without saving Marines you will find enough weapons and vehicles on Zeta Halo. After all: The raining of Spartan skills with the Spartan cores hidden in the game world makes a mood, because this in turn increases the feeling of power in the fighting, for example if the gripping hook opens an overhead.

Much worse weighs but the graphic Trustees, which Zeta Halo lies on the day during almost the entire campaign. While there are some chic lighting effects to see and also the foresight is just impressive on the mountainous or hills, but basically the world presents itself as the always same mix of rock formations, trees, the huge hexagon pillars and smaller water surfaces, which is completely complicated Reminiscent of Scandinavia on which one saturates quickly. Snow areas as in the first halo or other biomes? Unfortunately, there is not, but later we are trusting at least through a few moved swamps.

And apart from a couple of a few angry animals and the opponent troops distributed everywhere, Zeta Halo also stagnate with liveliness or optical highlights, which make the world's sustainable or desirable to explore — apart from the numerous hidden audiology that have a few extra and well-suited story appetizers contain.

No exploration

How evil will take this weakness to the game, it is also dependent on how much you pack the core gameplay. Despite the open-hub weaknesses, we have a large part of the optional tasks, simply because the fighting made so much fun. But not all will feel like that and then the most disappointed by Zeta Halo — understandable, because after all, this is the greatest innovation of the game.

After all: Halo Infinite does not force us to clamp the side activities or even to whirl, even if it pushes us here and there in this direction. Because a straightforward passage of the main missions is of course also possible — but of course with a little less options and accordingly a little smaller master Chief Power fantasy. And so in the end the somewhat sobering realization remains that the hub areas would probably have not even needed, because Infinite has its greatest strengths in the linear main missions.

That the Campagnentempo itself can be determined makes a prognosis difficult for an average playing time. For example, we have done a lot in the hub areas and were at the heroic level in just over 15 hours through what infinite in this way with ease on the first playing time at the Halo campaigns.

Vehicles: Warthog Ghost Scorpion

Collected, at that time, we did not have everything long ago, so it is quite possible to spend 20 hours and more on Zeta Halo. Anyone who follows stringent only the main story will probably need about half of that time. In any case, it is important to know: The difficulty level can be adjusted later, but already completed missions can not be played again. But — and we'll pack that now in a spoiler -

Warning: The following paragraph contains spoilers

After the final, you come back to the hub world again and can do all the non-completed activities or search collective objects.

A feast for the ears

Technically, Halo Infinite does not make a doubt about Halo Infinite on the Xbox Series X that the longer development time has held him without presenting optical WOW moments. Especially liked the gloomy blood fathers buildings and the banished outposts, basically there are many beautiful effects and sculptural textures to see, the frame rate remains wonderfully liquid at all times, but what the trusted hub areas can still be completely compensated..

The sound side of the game is well suited almost triumphal. The soundtrack spoils the ear both with newly recorded series classics and new compositions in places for real goose bumps, and the wonderfully local sound effects are sometimes used playfully if we can only place an invisible bassist only on the basis of his voice. The German voice output also pleases, for example with the partly very series-referential and core one-liners ( I need a weapon ) of Tobias Bucket, who speaks the Master Chief and otherwise actors like Bradley Cooper or Gerard Butler lends his voice. Listening value are also the innumerable linguistics of the opponents, especially those of the Enough Grunts, which make the already grandiose fighting happen a little better.

Halo Infinite on the Xbox One For the test we played Halo Infinite exclusively on the Xbox Series X. However, we are already working on a tech check that dedicates the performance and potential features of the Xbox One version of the game. The publication is planned for this week.

Halo Infinite: The Multiplayer

The Multiplayer part of Halo Infinite started in mid-November 2021 and is playable thanks to Free2Play concept for all with an Xbox, PC or mobile device (over cloud gaming), even Xbox Live Gold is not mandatory. Thus, especially for newcomers, the entry-level stroke is pleasingly low and unlike in the campaign 343 Industries Halo Fresh lings in the multiplayer noticeable takes on the hand.

For, for one thing, there is a compact tutorial that teaches the basic control and combat maneuver and, on the other hand, can be switched to various levels of true games well in properly created matches, and allow the relaxed training rounds, without immediately of real players to get inside on the socks.

Same weapons for all

Basically, the Multiplayer of Halo Infinite makes use of many elements of the old series parts. Unlike many other modern shooters, Halo Infinite whistles for example on individual loadouts, instead we all draw here with the same startup armament in the fight, by default, the assault rifle, pistol and grenade are. Both in Arena (4 against 4) and in the Big Team Battle (12 against 12), it is then to control important power weapons on the cards and of course fulfill the respective objectives, for example to keep a skull ball as long as possible or the flag of the opposing State teams.

The identical starting prerequisites also mean that infinite is more than other shooters on the actual can. While you can swim in the Big Team Battle modes here and there with the crowd, especially with Arena's good map knowledge, target accuracy and very good agreements with the team are asked to succeed.

If you have never played a halo multiplayer, you probably have to get used to the high time-to-kill, because Halo does not fall immediately if you shoot you in the small ZEN, instead, precise salves are needed to first need the Put the energy seventh of the counterparty to burst and then give them the rest with one in the best case individual headshot.

Staying is worth it

As a result, Infinite has a comparably steep learning curve — especially with the weapons whose peculiarities you have to wait for themselves — the persistent thunderstorms remain with clear I will better reward better moments. Anyway, you will probably not forget the first own successful double-kill or heaven-based Wasp flyer. In addition, the multiplayer games are simply very fluffy and great, thanks to the identical movement and weapon gameplay of the campaign.

As in the campaign, the varied weapon arsenal as well as the equipment as the gripping hook (which are only temporary upgrades here) for a pleasant sandbox character, also here is of course the advantage of who knows the respective peculiarities of weapons and Co. and before also to use everything. For example, the shock ammunition of the disruptor can weaken several nearly intermediate players and the VK78 Commando requires a special recoil equalization.

Basically, 343 Industries actually managed to mix the fame of older halo multiplayer (especially Halo 3 and Halo Reach) with more modern elements (for example sprint). And in a way that feels properly and not fueled together and that is probably the biggest praise we can make the team, especially from a fan view.

Ten maps are so far in the game and all have designed themselves as well-designed in our numerous test rounds and, above all, proven varied. For example, we duel in the interleaved streets of a big city district, hunt us in a power plant the balls around the ears or round on Behemoth a gigantic blood father construction in the desert sand. Although we have not spied on a potential all time classic such as Blood Gulch from Halo 1 or Lockout from Halo 2, it is possible, of course, that there will be taxed in the future.

In any case, the number of matchmaking playlists should be adapted in each case, because with a total of three arenas and a BTB player list is still quite manageable, especially since single modes are scrambled here too. Who is the currently too lean, which can also tackle their own games with multi-varied options and, among other things, for example, reduced physics, infinite ammunition or other spikes. On the other hand, a wedding drop: The Forge LevelEditor is not on board yet and will be submitted later in the next year.

Patient Battle Pass: Already gradient, but not very healthy

Similar to the campaign, the multiplayer also has a wonderfully functioning gameplay core, which ensures great entertainment alone. However, not all players inside their motivation from playful improvement, but need progress. And exactly at this point Halo Infinite is still weakening. Similar to other shooters, there is a Battle Pass that you Level over XP Points and that you can use to you in the form of XP boosters or arms, with which you can then adjust your own character.

The great initial problem of slow levels has now counteracted 343 Industries with updates, but the system continues not ideal, but because it collects a large part of the XP points about challenges and that its own performance is not considered separately with completed matches.

And in the mentioned character adjustment, the other, annoying side of the Free2Play model. For in the theory, there is a tremendous wealth of armor parts, colors, effects or more, in practice, 343 Industries hides these but in many cases either behind the payment barrier or makes them very late in the Battle Pass. That dampens the desire for the regular bolts on the own armor of course enormously. Especially if you are used to earlier series parts. But here again explicitly mentioned that it is purely optical gimmicks to which it goes here. A pay2win does not exist in Halo Infinite and on the excellent playful component of the multiplayer neither the battle pass, nor the mixed adjustment system impact.