After the multiplayer, the story campaign of Halo Infinite will also be released on December 8. While playing, MeinMMO author Tarek Zehrer noticed: It could provide one of the best co-op experiences in the Halo series. If the feature didn’t come until 2022. Why, you will learn in his report.
What is Halo Infinite? This is the latest installment in the Halo series and officially the sixth part after Halo 5: Guardians. Infinite has been in development for over 6 years and has been delayed multiple times. Now it finally continues, and players can once again don the armor of Master Chief.
What exactly could I play? Thanks to a preview build, I was able to play the campaign of Halo Infinite for a limited time. But that was enough to get me familiar with the basic mechanics of the new “Open World” of Halo Infinite. Yes, for those who didn’t know: Halo Infinite basically offers an open world.
It is not as open as, for example, in The Witcher 3 or other open-world giants but is divided into large hubs. However, these are quite large. Instead of mostly linear sections, as known from earlier Halo installments, this time there is a lot of space for exploration, shooting, and various side activities.
This game world is the largest and at the same time the most challenging new feature in Halo Infinite for me. After playing, I’m not entirely convinced, but I can already say one thing for sure: This campaign could only fully develop its potential with the co-op mode.
Huge Halo playground with all the freedoms
Once you get past the first, still quite linear missions, you will enter the first large hub. From then on, the game opens up, and it is more or less up to you what you tackle when and where.
Beside the main mission, there are various side activities you can pursue:
- There are enemy strongholds that you can capture.
- You can hunt high-ranking targets.
- Throughout the game world, there are audiologs, weapons, and other items scattered.
For this, you now also have a large map available that shows you the various activities:
Here you see a high-ranking target. 
These are your unlockable upgrades. 
By freeing UNSC strongholds, you can unlock additional support. 
There are audiologs to find in the game world. 
Here you see a tower from the first mission that you need to investigate. 
There are many approaches. I stormed through the front door. 
Here you see the first section you can explore.
The structure of the open world, with all its activities and possibilities, is somewhat reminiscent of the second mission from the first Halo game. There, you drove around in the Warthog and had to destroy three Covenant towers.
The approach and order were completely up to the player, and the area was relatively large. This principle is followed throughout the Halo Infinite campaign.
If you now think of strongholds and other open-world games like Far Cry and are worried, just as I initially was: I can reassure you. Taking the first stronghold was a blast.
- For example, in Far Cry, you basically need only a sniper rifle to easily take out the enemy’s downright stupid AI.
- In Halo, however – even on normal difficulty – you can’t just blindly charge into a base/walk/fly in. Well, you could, but you will quickly realize that the enemies will make your life difficult.
- Because the AI is at a very good level, and enemies react smartly to what you are doing. Nevertheless, with a bit of caution and the many options that the game world offers you: Taking down the base went quite well.
But while I played all this, including the first main mission, a thought kept recurring: This campaign could probably offer the best co-op campaign of all Halo installments. And that is the little but fine catch that remains in the back of my mind.
A co-op would be the best in this campaign, but it won’t come until 2022
I don’t choose the word ‘playground’ randomly. The game world is exactly that: A sandbox.
Because with the absolute freedom, the gameplay flow, and the side activities, Halo Infinite is almost predestined for a co-op mode for me.
- Thanks to grappling hooks, vehicles, and aircraft, you can move around quickly and can always jump directly into the next battle.
- It would be even better if you could take at least one friend with you to venture out together.
- I also have to praise the incredibly good gameplay flow of Halo Infinite, which is already a lot of fun in multiplayer. The campaign also has a really good gaming feel. It’s just fun to rush through the enemy masses as Master Chief and kick them with the huge selection of weapons.
- The developers at 343 Industries have done an outstanding job in my opinion. It simply doesn’t get boring to play this game. Although the game world offers little variety and gives few reasons to explore aside from fights and side missions.
The possibilities to exploit this sandbox, to complete side missions together, and simply to cause all sorts of nonsense – yes, that would be a proper bonus.
Until now, it was tradition to have a co-op and even splitscreen mode available in a Halo right from the start. The major, sad exception is Halo Infinite. Although the co-op mode has already been confirmed, unfortunately, it will not be part of the game until May 2022. (via polygon.com)
This is almost the biggest catch for me in the Halo Infinite campaign. Because my buddy and I have basically celebrated every Halo release by playing through the story together. We now have to delay this tradition at least.
The campaign will certainly entertain well solo, but it seems like an essential part is missing that would significantly enhance it.
The new freedom works, but something is also missing
I’m not completely convinced by the new hub concept yet. Yes, the game world and its freedom mostly work.
Yes, I have plenty of fun, thanks to the gameplay, the enemies, and the way 343 has built the game world. Still, I miss some things that made Halo what it is.
In the sections I have been able to play so far, I have missed the memorable, truly epic moments from earlier campaigns.
Do you remember the end of Halo 3, where you escape in the Warthog from the exploding Halo ring? Or Halo 2, where you drive across the bridge in the Scorpion tank? Such wow moments are a bit lacking. However, there are now others when you pull off some crazy move in Halo Infinite.
But the locations seem less varied so far in contrast to earlier campaigns that send you from one interesting place to another.
However, the connection to the epic story is somewhat missing. Maybe it will improve throughout the campaign. Nevertheless, I look forward to playing through the story of Halo Infinite properly soon and finding out what awaits the Chief.
Because in terms of gameplay, Infinite is definitely one of the strongest Halos for me. The package will be truly complete when the co-op campaign finally comes next year. But what do you think? Do you miss the co-op campaign? Or does it not bother you to wait a bit longer?
If you want to know what’s happening around the Halo multiplayer: Recently, there was an incident in the subreddit, because after death threats, one of the largest forums for Halo Infinite was shut down for days.
