Halo 3 - now coming to Xbox One. MC Collection.

[dan_tm]

What? Change your speed dynamically according to how much you've jumped? That would be game-breaking. It would be impossible to judge jumps or distances because you wouldn't know how fast you would move. Awful idea.

I don't think he meant that, he probably meant using a Counterstrike-style system. If you jump you don't move much in the direction you were going, just up and down - and when you land your movement speed is dramatically reduced for half a second or so, so you can't bunny-hop away like a mad man.

Personally I love the jumping system in Halo, I'm always figuring out new new jumps around the maps to get places quicker, there's quite a few nice ones to get around the base in HG quickly.

[Kryptonian]

I like lasering people who jump around like loons. Very annoying when it results in me getting my face AR'ed off.

[tyler]

The 2v2 playlist is a good alternative when you have a four. Myself, kryptonian, Kerraig and YaWdiB had some good games earlier, though I don't think Shottys & Snipers on High Ground is a favourite.

[dan_tm]

though I don't think Shottys & Snipers on High Ground is a favourite.

It is when Krypt puts his head directly in line with the reticule of my sniper, just as I planned.

[simms]

I think the problem is that I'm just not good enough at the game to go online comfortably. When I do (and this happened with GoW as well) I just get pwned massively. It's fun for a while but gets old really quickly... my gaming situation doesn't give me the time to dedicate to learning the subtleties of each map and weapon. I'm not that fast or accurate at aiming (with the sticks at least).

Perhaps it's just not for me... I just thought that such a high profile online game as Halo 3 could perhaps have some dedicated options/game modes for complete n00bs to ease them in gently before going into the big bad world.

Don't get me wrong - I'm cautiously optimistic about Halo 3 single player and I'll certainly give it a bash online. Just wondering if it's been tuned to keep the Halo 2 hardcore happy rather than make it a bit more accessible for people who are just too rubbish/old/slow like me to be any good at it.

I agree that the matchmaking was a good attempt at helping here - it was just subverted, don't know how they can prevent this.

MS have this whole 'gamerstyle' thing (don't know what it's called) where you say whether or not you're hardcore or casual etc - this should factor into the matchmaking. Although you'd still end up with similar problems.

I can't help feeling that you are comparing this to something like Mario Strikers where a noob can use a magic mushroom or a super duper charge shot come back from a 5 - 0 loss.* Or the Mario Kart DS blue shell.

If such a random ability was included in Halo 3 there would be meltdown on the Bungie forums. I'm mega shit at Halo 3 and would not enjoy such random abilites. I appericate the skill that comes with practice and knowing each weapons abilities. Once you have clicked with what weapons work at which range and timing of grenade throwing it becomes much more enjoyable even when being at the bottom of the post match score table.

I'm not sure there is any way to make an online game more 'noob friendly' other than provide the matchmaking measures that is being provided. Theres always going to be someone out there who has seemly superhuman abilities or live and breath that game and exploit it. As others have mentioned noobs may not venture into the MM mode and stick to either co-op play or custom matches once the full game it out.

*I have not played Mario Strikers yet so this may or may not be true

[AnimeExpert2003]

Some very very odd criticisms here. There's nothing wrong with the jumping. People who jump too much are easier to kill anyway, as you're a more predictable target.

Why would Bungie make the game noob friendly when it would be easier and make more sense to cater for the people who will still be playing it 2 years later? What's even odder about these complaints is that Halo 3 is way more noob friendly than Halo 2 ever was.

Now for a real complaint: Shotty Snipers

[Shook]

2 v 2 is great...

Except bloody Shotty Snipers is all over it.

Hate that gametype.

[RubberJohnny]

To all the detractors: How would you change Halo Multiplayer? You're starting with a game that isn't broken.

Nintendo take a concept and refine it, adding a few new mechanics (Pokemon, Zelda, everything). Halo seems to be doing much the same thing, and it's to be expected, it has a massive fanbase to please and has to draw in new consumers (which it will do).

I fully expect 10 answers talking about that pistol

[LongHairStu]

Now for a real complaint: Shotty Snipers

The only gametype in which I've won a (non-objective) match, and everyone else hates it.

[Shook]

I was a bit skeptical abut H3 multiplayer, because I was worried that Bungie might overdo it.

But instead we have a near perfect FPS online experience.

Can't find anything wrong with it really.

I bloody love it I do.

Well done Bungie, that's what I say.

[scottcr]

Oh, yeah. I'm sure when Scott plays splitscreen on his Jap Import Pokemon Limited Edition N64 with his mates and gets a drubbing he's not moaning about stuff.

[Caprylate]

The only gametype in which I've won a (non-objective) match, and everyone else hates it.

I love shotty snipers, it gives me two of my favourite guns with unlimited ammo, what's not to like? Plus it gives people who ordinarily don't use the sniper a chance to use it and improve.

Team Rockets is crap, but that is more down to the fact that new rockets suck, slow, with very little splash damage.

[ZOK]

Is this shotty snipers simply a game type where you're armed with a shotgun and a sniper rifle, or is there more to it than that? Because if that's all it is, it sounds lovely, and I'd be interested to know why people dislike it so much.

[Kryptonian]

Is this shotty snipers simply a game type where you're armed with a shotgun and a sniper rifle, or is there more to it than that? Because if that's all it is, it sounds lovely, and I'd be interested to know why people dislike it so much.

Probably cos those 2 weapons suffer from alot from latency and clipping.

[ZOK]

Will that matter though if you just play against people in the UK?

[Shook]

Is this shotty snipers simply a game type where you're armed with a shotgun and a sniper rifle, or is there more to it than that? Because if that's all it is, it sounds lovely, and I'd be interested to know why people dislike it so much.

If you're good with snipers and shotguns it must be great, but I'm shit with sniper rifles so for me it just feels limiting.

There's a certain breed of 'pro' player that loves it; probably has something to do with improving their sniper skill. These people dominate, which can make it anything but fun if you just dropped in for a quick game.

Then again, I don't like all rocket games either. Boring.

Even with Halo's full quota of weapons on a map it never feels like there's too many. The weapon balance was designed that way.

It's just more fun.

[Phelan]

Team Rockets is starting to really fuck me off.

Jump, shoot, jump, shoot...and I already hate the jumping enough.

It's tedious and boring, and lacks a lot of skill.

Shotty Snipers is growing on me as I get better with the rifle although the lag is still effecting me slightly.

High Ground is becoming my least favourite map as the battles seem to take place mostly at the gates and becoming a grenade throwing mess.

Wheras Valhalla is pure class and Snowbound can make for interesting battles thanks to the shield doors. However, the shotgun on Snowbound becomes the best weapon simply because you hide near doors till someone runs round and BLAM. Splattered Spartan.

But the jumping. I still can't get used to fighting people who are like startled kangaroos - for me it takes away the sense of battle. Strange sounding I know, but you have to realise that I get kinda absorbed but people jumping all over the place just pissed me off because it tends to take me out of the zone. Just a personal thing.

Tyler - you are master sniper right? How the hell do you get to the part of Valhalla that I'm about to explain.

Say the gun turret is the right side of the map...well from the turret walk sideways tillyou are against the wall...then back

till against the rocks. There is a ledge up there where I watch a guy snipe from...an amazing point to get people from. BUT HOW do you get up there?? I couldn't figure it out.

Actually I'll just show you - firing arcs included!

[dan_tm]

I don't think I've ever seen tyler up there before, I'm just going to pop on now and check it out...

[edit]

It wasn't a BTB Slayer was it? Maybe it's only reachable by Banshee.

[Mr Ben]

To be fair I was really really bad when I came back. People were running past me and I couldn't track them at all. I'd spray my bullets all around a player like a blind man trying to kill a ninja by pissing on him. My grenades went the wrong way etc. I used to use Legacy controls, inverted. When I came back I could only use regular, non inverted. I felt really slow and cack handed. Having experienced that I understand how unrewarding it can be for a new player to take part at first. "Grab the laser" "huh?", "he's below you!" BOOF! Asassinated. etc

Now I'm happily mediocre!

This is what I was like when I came back (assuming the 360 didnt freeze). I'm utterly cack handed now, and trying to BR someone in the face/head from range is extremely hard for me now. Sniping? LOL NO! I'm even pretty crap at melee'ing anyone, usually getting beat down when I know I should have killed them (they have no shield and I've shot them to shit before getting close).

I enjoyed what I got to play of it despite my Stormtrooper skills

[dan_tm]

Regarding Phelan's sniping spot, yes it is reachable by foot. It's not an especially amazing spot though as you're open to fire from pretty much 60/70% of the map while up there, it's sort of like that tower on Blood Gulch but with even less cover. Although saying that, I managed to get about 10 kills up there before anyone noticed me.

There's a little ledge that runs along that wall structure a bit which would give you a bit more cover (from 2 especially) but it's either very hard to get to due to the rocks above preventing you from jumping to it properly or there's an invisible wall stopping you from getting up there. After spending a couple of rounds trying to make it up I think it's the latter.

[Phelan]

Regarding Phelan's sniping spot, yes it is reachable by foot. It's not an especially amazing spot though as you're open to fire from pretty much 60/70% of the map while up there, it's sort of like that tower on Blood Gulch but with even less cover. Although saying that, I managed to get about 10 kills up there before anyone noticed me.

There's a little ledge that runs along that wall structure a bit which would give you a bit more cover (from 2 especially) but it's either very hard to get to due to the rocks above preventing you from jumping to it properly or there's an invisible wall stopping you from getting up there. After spending a couple of rounds trying to make it up I think it's the latter.

Cheers for checking that out. I noticed that it's very open BUT no one has a clue where the shots are coming from for ages.

I only spotted him by sheer luck when I was in a fight as he caught me eye. Crouched down sniping makes it hard to spot the person.

[Raff]

Coincidentally I just found that spot, didn't get a chance to test it with a sniper though. You shust jump on to the rock and sit behind it, not tricky at all.

[dan_tm]

You shust jump on to the rock and sit behind it, not tricky at all.

You can get a lot higher than where I'm imagining you were, jump up from that rock you were hiding behind and you can land on a bigger sloped rock above, jump up again and you can crouch into a little gap making yourself a bit more concealed. You should be just below a ledge cut in that big wall structure, it looks like you should be able to jump and crouch into it but I've not been able to in the couple of attempts I had earlier.

[Phelan]

You can get a lot higher than where I'm imagining you were, jump up from that rock you were hiding behind and you can land on a bigger sloped rock above, jump up again and you can crouch into a little gap making yourself a bit more concealed. You should be just below a ledge cut in that big wall structure, it looks like you should be able to jump and crouch into it but I've not been able to in the couple of attempts I had earlier.

That sounds like the spot that guy was in.

Only reason I got him was because my mate was driving the warthog and I ate through his shield with the minigun.

[SeanR]

so, I finally tried the beta yesterday.

my final comment, at the end of the first round was:

"and how is this different from the previous two games?"

to which no one could do anything but agree with me.

I hope the single-player story mode thing is better...

[Phelan]

so, I finally tried the beta yesterday.

my final comment, at the end of the first round was:

"and how is this different from the previous two games?"

to which no one could do anything but agree with me.

I hope the single-player story mode thing is better...

Actually it feels a lot different to Halo 2 multiplayer.

But hey, everyone has their own opinion

[SeanR]

Halo2 was clunky with a big arse gun on screen spoiling the FOV too... especially dual wielding

[Asura]

Halo2 was clunky with a big arse gun on screen spoiling the FOV too... especially dual wielding

That might be true, but it's for a reason - at least in Halo, you don't get the feeling of running around as a disembodied TV-headed monster, with a gun strapped to your chin.

[McCoy]

so, I finally tried the beta yesterday.

my final comment, at the end of the first round was:

"and how is this different from the previous two games?"

to which no one could do anything but agree with me.

I hope the single-player story mode thing is better...

Why are people expecting it to be massievely different. Halo 2 multiplayer was great and the pinnicle of console online gaming for the way it worked. Maybe you didn't like it but lots and lots of people did. Exactly what were you expecting from a sequel?

It's basically Halo 2 multiplayer with some cool tweaks and new maps. Which is fine by me.

[Petrousgyre]

so, I finally tried the beta yesterday.

my final comment, at the end of the first round was:

"and how is this different from the previous two games?"

to which no one could do anything but agree with me.

Well how could they not? Such incisive wit, doubtless they cheered and applauded too.

And who could blame them?