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[ViewtifulJC]

I don't think anybody who's been following this game regularly needs any review to tell them anything. You know everything the game contains at this point. I'm pretty sure you made up your mind about it less than a week from release.

 

[Nirolak]

I don't think anybody who's been following this game regularly needs any review to tell them anything. You know everything the game contains at this point. I'm pretty sure you made up your mind about it less than a week from release.

I would argue reviews are usually for people who are on the fence or haven't been following a game to the point they're getting it anyway.

 

[Barkley's Justice]

from the polygon review:

Campaign and Multiplayer modes for Halo 4 were played at a review event held by Microsoft in early October of 2012.

This to me is another problem in the whole games industry / games journalism paradigm. What's the point of "reviewing" a game with publisher reps pacing all around, within a set time limit? It's bullshit.

To polygon's credit, they continue:

A second campaign playthrough was also completed on retail code provided by Microsoft.

 

[i-Lo]

Any video review worth watching that isn't too spoilery?

 

[Tashi]

I would argue reviews are usually for people who are on the fence or haven't been following a game to the point they're getting it anyway.

I would agree with this.

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

from the polygon review:



This to me is another problem in the whole games industry / games journalism paradigm. What's the point of "reviewing" a game with publisher reps pacing all around, within a set time limit? It's bullshit.

To polygon's credit, they continue:

Understandable, media events are not ideal for that reason.. On the flip side, they gave publications a lot of time to think about their time with the game, work on the review a bit, and then they gave em the retail copies last week (I believe). I guess what Im saying is, its better than them only having a super short time with the game a bit.

Any video review worth watching that isn't too spoilery?

Don't watch the IGN video review, I turned it off half way..too many location spoilers. After that I have been too afraid to read any of the reviews, and apparently there a few set pieces spoilers floating around in some of them.

 

[szaromir]

Well to me Halo CE is still the best in the series campaign wise. MP maybe Halo3 was the best but even now when i went back to it, it felt way too slow. SP wise i thought it was above average at best. Reaches SP was much better than 3 for me. And even that one doesnt come close to CE imo.

Halo 3 campaign is amazing, apart from the last two missions which I think are quite bad. The quality and variety of the first seven missions is second to none though. Every encounter is based around a different idea, play differently yet evolves around the same gameplay loop.

 

[Jb]

from the polygon review:



This to me is another problem in the whole games industry / games journalism paradigm. What's the point of "reviewing" a game with publisher reps pacing all around, within a set time limit? It's bullshit.

To polygon's credit, they continue:

There's a article from kotaku on that event, where they say reps were very hands off and let them play at their own pace for two days.

Besides, you wouldn't want a game like Halo 4 to leak.

 

[Quick Mustard]

GameTrailers Review will be after the embargo has been lifted on footage, Monday.

https://twitter.com/Dinfire/status/264135198847946752

 

[Jonny Rizzo]

This thread reminds me of this segment on the GFW podcast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEpdWpFjTEU

 

[OldJadedGamer]

I don't think anybody who's been following this game regularly needs any review to tell them anything. You know everything the game contains at this point. I'm pretty sure you made up your mind about it less than a week from release.

I was waiting on reviews since my glass was half empty due to the switching of developers.

 

[Rickenslacker]

This thread reminds me of this segment on the GFW podcast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEpdWpFjTEU

oh you know what i think you might be right, thank you for being the first and only one to bring that up.

 

[Syriel]

from the polygon review:
This to me is another problem in the whole games industry / games journalism paradigm. What's the point of "reviewing" a game with publisher reps pacing all around, within a set time limit? It's bullshit.

To be fair, I've gone to some of the MS review events before (not for Halo 4, but for other titles) and they've basically consisted of the following:

1) MS rents out local meeting room space.
2) Everyone has a dedicated system setup.
3) Food is provided at regular meal times.
4) Devs and PR reps are on hand for interviews or if you have a specific question, but they don't bother you. If you never walk up to them, your interaction is basically "Hi" and "Bye."
5) Depending on the space rented, hours are either all day or 24/7. You're free to come/go as you please.

I've never felt "rushed" at a review event, any more so than playing thru a disc at home. IF anything, it's more like a return to playing as a kid, when you'd get a new game, crack it open and play til you beat it.

 

[DaBuddaDa]

To be fair, I've gone to some of the MS review events before (not for Halo 4, but for other titles) and they've basically consisted of the following:

1) MS rents out local meeting room space.
2) Everyone has a dedicated system setup.
3) Food is provided at regular meal times.
4) Devs and PR reps are on hand for interviews or if you have a specific question, but they don't bother you. If you never walk up to them, your interaction is basically "Hi" and "Bye."
5) Depending on the space rented, hours are either all day or 24/7. You're free to come/go as you please.

I've never felt "rushed" at a review event, any more so than playing thru a disc at home. IF anything, it's more like a return to playing as a kid, when you'd get a new game, crack it open and play til you beat it.

Not to derail too much, but if that's all that's involved, why do it at all? I mean, why should Microsoft spend the money on all that?

 

[Das-J]

Not to derail too much, but if that's all that's involved, why do it at all? I mean, why should Microsoft spend the money on all that?

Controlled environment. You're much less likely to have a reviewer's experience impacted by things like distractions, shitty internet connections, etc. when you remove the variables and put them in a single room.

 

[Ramblin]

Controlled environment. You're much less likely to have a reviewer's experience impacted by things like distractions, shitty internet connections, etc. when you remove the variables and put them in a single room.

And you pump them full of joy juice.

 

[FStop7]

Jeff simply just doesn't have good taste in FPS games in my honest opinion.

Halo ODST - 4 Stars
Halo Reach - 4 Stars
Halo 4 - 4 Stars
COD Black Ops - 4 Stars
Battlefield 3 - 4 Stars

Syndicate - 5 Stars

Not saying those are all five star games, but wat? I still like Giant Bomb and crew, but I don't exactly go there for their takes on FPS games...

I think Jeff gives too much credit to games that attempt to break the norm. Syndicate's single player was atrocious but its co-op seemed to be interesting. It's almost like he scored the game based on that piece of it. I think it sounds like he penalized Halo 4 for playing it safe, story wise. Obviously, I haven't played the game yet so it remains to be seen if I agree - but I'm the type of person that would probably lean the same way. It sounds like Halo 4 does play it safe, perhaps to its detriment. That said, I have no doubt there was a lot of internal debate at 343 over risk taking and what they could or could not get away with trying to do with Microsoft's golden franchise.

And besides that, a 4/5 or 8/10 is hardly a bad score. The game sounds great and I'm really looking forward to Tuesday.

 

[MarauderShields]

GameTrailers Review will be after the embargo has been lifted on footage, Monday.

https://twitter.com/Dinfire/status/264135198847946752

Well they love spoilers so that makes sense.

 

[Jake Tower]

Well they love spoilers so that makes sense.

I love you, Marauder Shields.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Well they love spoilers so that makes sense.

*opens video*

*final boss fight with zombie Sgt. Johnson or some crazy shit*

"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU"

 

[Syriel]

Not to derail too much, but if that's all that's involved, why do it at all? I mean, why should Microsoft spend the money on all that?

Usually for title security. Microsoft doesn't do it for all of its titles, but I think it's happened for nearly every Gears and Halo release (except maybe Halo Wars). It doesn't really matter who you trust. If you keep physical control of your code, then there is no risk of leak.

The MS events have always been open as far as doing what you want to do. The PR folk may help get a group together for a MP session if needed, but that's the extent of it. They were also helpful in the past when the TV they were using had a custom component cable and I needed their tech guy to dig it out in order to setup a direct feed capture box.

The only real "unfair advantage" such events have is with regards to the multiplayer. It is a lot easier to coordinate a team when you're doing it LAN party style with everyone in the same room versus using headset in a PUG online.

If you've ever done a LAN party with friends (come on, you know you did it in college) you have a good idea of the atmosphere of a Microsoft review event. Biggest difference is that the TVs, headphones and chairs at the MS event are probably better than what you had in college.

This isn't to say that some publishers don't go over-the-top.

 

[Lingitiz]

I think Jeff gives too much credit to games that attempt to break the norm. Syndicate's single player was atrocious but its co-op seemed to be interesting. It's almost like he scored the game based on that piece of it. I think it sounds like he penalized Halo 4 for playing it safe, story wise. Obviously, I haven't played the game yet so it remains to be seen if I agree - but I'm the type of person that would probably lean the same way. It sounds like Halo 4 does play it safe, perhaps to its detriment. That said, I have no doubt there was a lot of internal debate at 343 over risk taking and what they could or could not get away with trying to do with Microsoft's golden franchise.

And besides that, a 4/5 or 8/10 is hardly a bad score. The game sounds great and I'm really looking forward to Tuesday.

Honestly, I'm okay with another Halo that doesn't take alot of huge risk.
I feel like for 343's first game, its absolutely vital that they nail the basic feel and forumla for Halo to as high quality as possible.

What I would like to see though for Halo 5 is a big change in campaign structure, especially since the team will have had a chance to really gel together and feel comfortable enough going in different directions.

Besides, the core fundamental flow of the game seems different enough across all modes that it's something that I really want to get a feel for.

 

[Hindle]

What did Edge give the game?

 

[Silly.Mikey]

Halo 3 campaign is amazing, apart from the last two missions which I think are quite bad. The quality and variety of the first seven missions is second to none though. Every encounter is based around a different idea, play differently yet evolves around the same gameplay loop.

You see i dont feel that way at all. As soon as i start that game i wanna skip that whole jungle and base missions and go straight outside with the hog. Then theres that "interior of a mouth" looking flood mission which is frustration on a disk and incredibly boring. This game has fun moments and others i would have taken out all together. Plus the story dialogue is just cheezy as hell, and if u havent played the passed games your completely lost. The story telling is average at best. Not to mention how Arbiter is just kinda pushed on the side as if his missions in Halo2 never happened. And this to you, is the pinnacle of Halo games....well, not me.

 

[Hindle]

It seems they made the game more linear. Lol unbelievable, at least Destiny will be here soon.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

What did Edge give the game?

8. They liked the campaign, but were not won over by changes to the multiplayer.

 

[wwm0nkey]

It seems they made the game more linear. Lol unbelievable, at least Destiny will be here soon.

Not really at all.

 

[Arnie]

8. They liked the campaign, but were not won over by changes to the multiplayer.

And that's what I expected my opinion of the game to be, too.

<3 Edge. The paragraph about the blatant stealing of COD's mechanics was specifically brilliant.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

And that's what I expected my opinion of the game to be, too.

Fine by me, I play Halos for single player.

 

[Arnie]

Fine by me, I play Halos for single player.

I'm the opposite, but I still enjoy Campaign immensely the first time through.

 

[HocusPocus]

Awesome scores. Looks like even the lower scores had to nitpick it. Sign of a truly great game.

 

[Trey]

And that's what I expected my opinion of the game to be, too.

<3 Edge. The paragraph about the blatant stealing of COD's mechanics was specifically brilliant.

It's an efficient summary.

But I disagree Halo ever had a beautifully balanced weapon set. It's been pretty static, and it worked, but the games have been truncated to the premier headshot-capable weapon, grenades, and the power weapons in every Halo. That's less than half of the sandbox being represented.

 

[OldJadedGamer]

Not to derail too much, but if that's all that's involved, why do it at all? I mean, why should Microsoft spend the money on all that?

Almost all publishers do this for almost all large games. I think Konami even flew people to Japan for reviews of MGS4.

 

[Silly.Mikey]

It's an efficient summary.

But I disagree Halo ever had a beautifully balanced weapon set. It's been pretty static, and it worked, but the games have been truncated to the premier headshot-capable weapon, grenades, and the power weapons in every Halo. That's less than half of the sandbox being represented.

It depends who you talk to. If you talk to people in here they only use the long range ones anyway and would make every gametype play exactly the same.

I think that if you remove bloom from Reach, the gun balance is absolutely perfect. Id replicate that minus the bloom everytime. Its perfect that way.

 

[palpabl_purpura]

Screw you MS for not bringing Reach, Halo4 to PC. What am I supposed to do? Play Killzone on my Ps3?

 

[Toddler]

WRONG THREAD DUMBASS

 

[Mr.Fresh]

Screw you MS for not bringing Reach, Halo4 to PC. What am I supposed to do? Play Killzone on my Ps3?

Killzone 2 not 3. Lol

 

[soulassssns]

Screw you MS for not bringing Reach, Halo4 to PC.

HAHA Fail! PC doesnt even have Halo 3 and you want Reach and 4? Not happening.

 

[BigTnaples]

Love everything I am hearing about this game. I have to say I will miss the needle rifle though, was my favorite new gun from Reach.



(Though I suppose it would be a bit crowded with the carbine, BR, DMR, Light Rifle and the needle rifle as well..)

 

[Mr.Fresh]

HAHA Fail! PC doesnt even have Halo 3 and you want Reach and 4? Not happening.

I remember they days when people said it wasn't worth getting a 360 cause all the exclusives are on PC.

Edit: Then after Gears Microsoft shut that down lol

 

[palpabl_purpura]

HAHA Fail! PC doesnt even have Halo 3 and you want Reach and 4? Not happening.

Make a Bundle with Halo 3, 4, and Reach. Hell, even throw in OSDT- I'd pay for that just to get my hands on Halo 4 and Reach.

 

[Silly.Mikey]

HAHA Fail! PC doesnt even have Halo 3 and you want Reach and 4? Not happening.

With windows 8 having xbox live support, i wouldnt put it passed them eventually.

 

[Baconsammy]

This thread reminds me of this segment on the GFW podcast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEpdWpFjTEU

You might want to read the thread. It turned out to be quite the opposite of that podcast segment. The only people upset are people crying about scores that are too high.

see:

JESUS THAT'S SOME GOOD REVIEWS.

Have there been any reviews put up that are critical of the game instead of being a glorified PR write up?


Like the campaign is short & still not on par with the first Halo game?
Or that the multi-player has barely evolved over the years & is still playing catch up to Halo 2?

 

[chickdigger802]

So, still no review for gametrailer?

Doritos check bounce?

 

[Baconsammy]

So, still no review for gametrailer?

Doritos check bounce?

Their review has campaign coverage in it. They can't release the review until the campaign embargo ends on Monday.

 

[See You Next Wednesday]

JESUS THAT'S SOME GOOD REVIEWS.

Have there been any reviews put up that are critical of the game instead of being a glorified PR write up?


Like the campaign is short & still not on par with the first Halo game?
Or that the multi-player has barely evolved over the years & is still playing catch up to Halo 2?

 

[BigTnaples]

JESUS THAT'S SOME GOOD REVIEWS.

Have there been any reviews put up that are critical of the game instead of being a glorified PR write up?


Like the campaign is short & still not on par with the first Halo game?
Or that the multi-player has barely evolved over the years & is still playing catch up to Halo 2?

Is this a serious post?

 

[Silly.Mikey]

Is this a serious post?

I like to read the terrible ones too just to get an indicator of what they might have done badly.

 

[Prologue]

Their review has campaign coverage in it. They can't release the review until the campaign embargo ends on Monday.

But so does the IGN video review. I closed it about +30 seconds in

 

[levyjl1988]

Gametrailers seems pretty late with their Halo 4 Review. I wonder what they are going to give it... 9. something...