Here’s How Halo Infinite Will Rise Above Previous Entries In the Series

Last week, Microsoft aired its long-awaited Xbox Showcase, which featured a number of big reveals. But nothing was bigger than Halo Infinite, the latest chapter in the best-selling series from 343 Industries. With this game, the developer looks to push further than ever, with a plan in place to support it for several years without the need of any sequels. What it has in store has yet to be seen, but we could be looking at additions to the single player campaign, as well as multiplayer. We’ve only seen bits and pieces of the game in action thus far. However, there’s enough here to assure that Infinite could be the most expansive entry in the series to date. And yes, that’s including Bungie’s legendary first releases. How can Infinite stand apart from its previous entries? Well, let’s take a look at the various elements involved…

No, Its Graphics Aren’t Xbox 360 Quality
During the presentation, some people felt slightly underwhelmed with the game’s visuals, feeling that they were about on the level of the original Xbox 360 release. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind here. First, 343 is developing the game with the Xbox Series X in mind. That means it’s going for a 4K approach right out of the gate. What we’re seeing in the video below indicates something that doesn’t represent what you’ll see on a big-screen TV. The final result that debuts later this year should be absolutely stunning, with its vast landscapes and epic action.
Not to mention the fact that the game will run at a beautiful 60 frames per second on the Xbox Series X, and possibly the Xbox One X as well. Older Xbox One consoles could run slightly slower, but the higher-end hardware will keep it moving steadily along. That should put it on par with how the current Halo: The Master Chief Collection performs, if not better. So, don’t let the video fool you. 343 has a beast under the hood here, and when it’s unleashed, it’ll likely blow you away.

The Gameplay and Combat Are Stepping Up the Pace
Classic Halo experiences have been well preferred by fans over the years, who like the old- school feel of what Master Chief can do. While Halo Infinite looks to bring that back to some degree, there’s also room for this old dog to learn new tricks. In this case, the grappleshot, which some might also call the “grappling hook.” This is demonstrated within the gameplay footage above in a couple of ways. First, you can see Chief using it to move up to higher areas with ease, instead of needing to run around on foot. But, more importantly, he can also use it during combat, grabbing onto objects and possibly even using it against enemies. (There is a cooldown meter you’ll have to watch out for, however). Not only that, but the baddies themselves also appear to be stepping up in terms of what they can do. Sure, there are the low level grunts that just shoot at you and run, doing the same thing they always do. But then there are the bigger ones, the ones that aren’t afraid to throw exploding Banished at you or try to pound you into the ground. And keep in mind, this is just from the footage we’ve seen in the demo. A recent image from the cover art for the game, featured below, shows that Master Chief may face one of his biggest foes to date. We haven’t seen him in action yet; but more than likely, we will. This, along with refined Warthog controls, could make Halo Infinite the best-playing game in the series yet. We’re excited to jump in.

We Haven’t Even Seen Multiplayer Yet
There was talk last week that 343 Industries wouldn’t be able to include multiplayer in Halo Infinite in time for its launch later this year. They quickly stepped up and shot that rumor down, indicating that it would be good and ready. The reason it came into question is that we haven’t seen it in action yet. But the developer knows how vital it is to make Infinite a success.
Case in point, when Master Chief Collection launched a few years ago, it did so without the functioning multiplayer that left a lot of players feeling burned. Since then, 343 has been trying to make it up to the community, finally reaching the point that it’s not only sustainable, but also better than ever before. So, of course, it knows that there’s a lot on the line when it comes to making sure that Infinite’s multiplayer is up to par. The real question is what we’ll see. Forge? More than likely, since it’s a popular feature. Returning modes? That’s a definite. New modes? A possible Horde mode of some kind? Those are also possible, since Infinite is acting as an evolution of the series. The only real question is how well it’ll support cross-play, since some people will still be playing on previous gen consoles like the Xbox One and Xbox One X. We’ll see what comes in the months ahead, as Microsoft has already promised more footage to come ahead of Infinite’s launch this holiday season. But there’s a lot to be excited for, Halo fans. Stay tuned.