343 Industries’ era of the Halo franchise hasn’t been universally praised for its campaign storylines. The 2012 release of Halo 4 introduced a somewhat undercooked new enemy faction, while Halo 5: Guardians in 2015 stirred debate with certain narrative choices and presented an occasionally unbalanced dual protagonist setup. Halo Infinite from 2021 was appreciated as a reconnection to the series’ core essence, but some felt its pace could have been smoother.
After its latest name change, Halo Studios appears to be leading a new era of the Halo franchise, and we hope this new phase will consistently prioritize single-player campaigns. Although the campaign in Halo Infinite provides a solid foundation for future installments, it might profit from adopting a different strategy regarding NPCs.
The Next Halo Campaign Should Add More NPC Allies
Halo Campaigns Used to Be Packed to the Brim with Colorful NPCs
In many instances during gameplay in Bungie’s original Halo trilogy, Halo Reach, and a significant part of Halo 3: ODST, players would frequently find themselves battling alongside a team of non-player characters (NPCs). Typically, these NPCs were robust UNSC Marines who could engage in combat with the player and even jump into Warthogs to deal damage while on the move.
Regular encounters with NPC allies such as the Marines in Halo games contributed to creating an immersive experience where each action felt like a small contribution to an epic galactic conflict, thereby emphasizing the grandeur of the game’s universe and storyline. Additionally, these interactions subtly built the world by illustrating the significant difference in abilities between ordinary Marines and the Spartan super-soldiers.
The interactions with the Marines in Halo added depth to the universe of Halo. Many Marines had distinct voices that suggested they had complex personalities and intriguing backstories. As players fought alongside these characters, they formed a connection with the NPCs, particularly recurring named allies like the Shipmaster from Halo 2, the Arbiter from Halo 3, the squadmates of Alpha-Nine in Halo 3: ODST, and Noble Team in Halo Reach. The way these characters were integrated into gameplay made them feel more lifelike.
Halo Infinite’s Campaign Felt a Little Lonely
In Halo Infinite, Master Chief arrives at Installation 07 only to find that many of his Spartan and Marine companions have been killed by Atriox’s Banished forces over the past six months while he was adrift in space. The majority of the game’s story unfolds without any NPC allies accompanying the Chief, with only a few Marines that players can rescue from Banished encampments available for assistance.
Despite the logical reasoning behind it based on the game’s storyline and the potential for stronger connections with new characters like the Pilot and Weapon, the fact that Halo Infinite has fewer allies does give the impression of a more limited scale, which contrasts with the game’s open-world design.
The Next Halo Campaign Should Feel a Little Livelier
As a devoted Halo fan, I’d love to see the next campaign dive even deeper into the series’ origins. To achieve this, it could revive consistent NPC interactions that were a hallmark of earlier games. Instead of just playing solo, the upcoming Halo should introduce Marines or similar allies who engage in combat alongside me. These companions wouldn’t just be there for show; they would actively contribute to battles, enhancing the immersion and narrative depth of the game world. This interaction would organically build tension and stakes within the gameplay itself.
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2025-01-08 17:33