Halo 4 Review: A Triumphant Rebirth For Master Chief

The game also features some RPG-like find and fetch quests, which are made all the more difficult by the presence of foes, and which offer an appropriate challenge when tackled on the higher difficulties. While some could have been forgiven for expecting Halo 4 to be a retread of the best features and gameplay types of past Halo games, they will be surprised at how fresh and challenging some sequences of the campaign are. It is a shame that there is so much good content left out for the hidden Terminals - and that exploring that content requires leaving the game for Halo Waypoint (which compromises on the pacing of the campaign), but it's far from a fatal flaw. The game's gunplay and impressive arsenal of guns really come into their own in the multiplayer, which is a huge joy. 343 have introduced 10 excellent multiplayer maps, including the excellent Ragnarok and Settler, which can be enjoyed in both War Games and the new Spartan Ops mode. We get the usual multiplayer game modes like Capture the Flag and King of the Hill, and though Halo 4's multiplayer has certainly moved closer to a Call of Duty model, it is far from a clone, and the Spartan-on-Spartan training modes, and the co-op of Spartan Ops combine to make this a fantastic experience that will give COD a run for its money. The Spartan Ops mode might lack something of the replayability of the old Firefight mode, but it is excellent all the same, and the content is exceptionally entertaining. It takes the form of a downloadable series of 10 episodes for Gold subscribers, including engaging cutscenes and enough content to ensure players will come back for each entertaining episode. Verdict An exceptional return to form for a franchise that was in danger of losing its way entirely. 343 have recrowned the king of the XBox, thanks to stunning visuals, exceptional sound and immersive, hugely entertaining gameplay. Master Chief is back, and he's brought a lot of what made Halo great in the first place. The game's single biggest achievement is in its ability to recapture our imaginations and our hearts: 343 have made Halo important again, and that simply cannot be underestimated. It feels right to consider Halo a tent-pole property again. Halo 4 is released on November 6th. Buy it, seriously.