Review: Halo 4 (Xbox 360)

By Wayne Webb

With a bunch of sequels from long-unning franchises disappointing me lately, it’s refreshing to see one not only good, but actually great. Halo’s back and better than ever.

By Wayne Webb

With a bunch of sequels from long-unning franchises disappointing me lately, it’s refreshing to see one not only good, but actually great. Halo’s back and better than ever.

In Halo 4, the Master Chief is alive and well for more of his back-story is coming to light along with the ever-present Cortana, although in this episode the latter seems to have turned into a self-involved angst-ridden teen from a MTV show about the meaning of life and humanity. That is the worst thing I can think to say about Halo 4. One character is annoying. That’s the extent of bad things in this game. This is an excellent campaign and multiplayer experience.

If you are familiar with Halo games then you’ll know what to expect and that it delivers on the promise made by previous versions in spades. What you won’t expect is the truly stunning graphics, and in particular the faces of the actors in the cut scenes. For the first time in a long while it took me a few seconds to realise that I was not looking at film but at a digital person in close up. They look that good and as the game progresses the scenery and the cinematic pieces just get better.

There are new guns, new levels and modes for multiplayer maps. The multiplayer has been changed with a clean and new look and feel that contains all the excitement that you expect from multiplayer matches, but also new levels that really tax your attention and don’t allow you to survive based on your familiarity with the older games. The addition of Promethean weapons has really shaken up the fighting dynamic and added some powerful cannon like equipment.

It truly is a stunning game and worth a perfect score. I did not expect that the latest chapter in a game I had played previous versions of would be this different and yet familiarly good at the same time. Considering the quality of the product and the longevity of the Infinity Missions, Waypoints and Campaign modes this is one of the best buys for the gamer this year.

Pros: Amazing graphics, engaging story, new weapons and enemies, fantastic multiplayer, value for money
Cons: Cortana being too angst ridden.

5 Shacks Out Of 5

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