Halo 5: Guardians makes its debut

The long awaited continuation of the beloved Halo series has made it’s way into the spotlight of many gamers eyes. With one Halo game already under their belt, developer 343 Industries promised to deliver an experience unlike anything that came before it. It’s initial release reviews have been mostly positive.

“Halo multiplayer has never been better,” Trusted Reviews reviewer Stuart Andrews said, giving the game an 8/10.

He explains that the games two multiplayer modes, Arena and Warzone, both offer unique experiences for players of all types. He says Arena is the closest thing to old school Halo multiplayer since old school Halo multiplayer.

“What’s interesting about Arena is how stripped-back and old-school it feels. The maps are simple, easy-to-learn and clear of clutter,” he said.

Another important component is the addition of Warzone, a large 12 v 12 team battle on some of the biggest maps the series has with AI controlled enemies thrown into the mix. The games can be won in one of two ways, capturing all three points on the map and then destroying the enemy team’s power core, or by killing enemy players and boss enemies to earn Victory Points, whoever reaches 100 points first is the winner.

“-combining player vs. player tactics with player vs. environment combat… it's one of the best new ideas in not just this series, but the shooter genre in general,” Gamespot reviewer Mike Mahardy said.

Halo 5 now holds the title of most successful launch of any entry in the Halo series, but there are still those who aren’t impressed.

“Halo 5 is a jumble of half measures, trying to cram in ideas from other games but lacking the courage to change up the series’ formula beyond these superficial shifts. The result is an underwhelming experience that is unlikely to entice new fans while frustrating longtime followers of the series,” Breitbart reviewer Noah Dulis said.

The story in Halo 5 has clearly been pointed out as the weakest link, but it’s undeniable that Halo 5: Guardians has been a huge success, both in the eyes of the public and most critics. However, despite this great launch, there’s no chance of Halo 5 winning Game of the Year.