With some fantastic map design, a collection of straightforward but highly engaging modes for both large and small groups, excellent weapons and gear options, and those delightfully bouncy and sticky grenades, Halo Infinite’s multiplayer modes put it in the top tier of competitive shooters. It’s so nice when a game actually lives up to sky-high expectations! Halo Infinite has been one of the most anticipated games out there since it was first announced three years ago, and for its multiplayer component to so fully deliver on the series’ classic feel while also keeping up with the modern-day competition in the FPS genre is a huge achievement. What We Thought About Halo Infinite's Multiplayer It dug a deep hole for Halo Infinite to try and climb out of – particularly given that Infinite tries to both tie up 5’s loose ends and keep the existing storyline going, while also serving as the aforementioned “spiritual reboot” meant to welcome in new fans. Halo 5, unfortunately, followed up by derailing any momentum that 4 had built by, among other narrative crimes, barely letting you play as Master Chief.

Halo 4 certainly has its issues, but its focus on Master Chief’s relationship with a Cortana who was rapidly succumbing to rampancy gave it a memorable and commendable emotional core. Speaking of previous Halo games, the only concern I had heading into Halo Infinite that I really had to worry about was the story. “Hey Cortana, What the Hell Is Going on in Halo?” While Infinite’s indoor spaces did wow me at times and there are certainly some impressive vistas across its outdoor landscape, Infinite looks perfectly good at best, but not jaw-droppingly so as Halo 1, Halo 2, and Halo 4 did before it. Halo games, like many major first-party efforts, have often been graphical showcases for their respective consoles – including 343’s own Halo 4, which elicited a late-in-the-generation “How did they do this on the 360?” kind of reaction to its gorgeous graphics back in 2012. On a related note, I also wish Zeta Halo was a bit prettier. In Infinite, that same thing is true on a grander scale. All of that space proves to be a natural fit for what’s always been a sort of sandbox-style shooter at heart, where unexpected things happen. The change from the traditional linear series of combat arenas to letting you freely explore the Zeta Halo ring where Infinite takes place marks the first time developer 343 Industries has broken from the blueprint that Bungie drew 20 years ago.

It doesn’t quite recapture the environmental variety or memorable story of the original trilogy, but it’s still a thrilling return to form for one of gaming’s most beloved series, and for Master Chief himself. There’s a lot to do in this expansive playground, and completing its never-dull-or-overwhelming list of activities earns more combat options and, ultimately, more fun. By shifting to an open-world map while retaining the classic gameplay both on foot and in its iconic vehicles, it offers a level of freedom in combat not seen in any prior Halo game. Halo Infinite’s single-player campaign, like a new generation of Master Chief’s MJOLNIR armor, powers up a 20-year-old series, by both returning to its roots and blazing new trails to build off of.

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