Gaming

Halo Lost Its Magic And It Isn’t Coming Back

Noah Zuckerman

June 29, 2017

Halo used to be a juggernaut in the gaming industry. Its success is the reason the Xbox even exists today, with Halo serving as the system-selling launch title for the original Xbox. When the 360 came around, Halo 3 continued to sell Microsoft consoles and became the highest grossing game in the series. New Halo titles used to be events for gamers and now, we only get controversial or lackluster entries. Worse still, the series seems to be on life support. There’s no 10^th anniversary remaster for 3 this year and 343 Industries has confirmed 6’s reveal “won’t be soon.”

Halo’s previous success put it as a solid rival to even Call of Duty. However, Halo 3 was a peak from which things only went downhill for the franchise. The next entry we got in the series was Halo Wars, an RTS made specifically to be played on Xbox 360. While different from past games, Wars didn’t sell anywhere near as well as them. Ensemble Studios, the game’s developers, were even shut down before Wars released due to controversy with Bungie.

Then came Halo 3: ODST which, while most applauded what content it had, was panned by many critics. The biggest complaint was that it cost $60 but felt more like Halo 3 DLC than a full game. The final game made by Bungie was Halo: Reach. While many applauded it as a quality send-off from Bungie, many others weren’t fans of the gameplay changes. From what I noticed, this was where the first major wave of people left the fandom.

Bungie left to work on Destiny and 343 Industries was created by Microsoft to continue work on the series. Their first big project in the series was a remaster of Combat Evolved and, despite positive reviews, it wasn’t anything new. Halo 4 ended up being 343’s first big expansion of the franchise. It ended up being an incredibly polarizing game due to major changes in aesthetic, gameplay, and music. This game marks the beginning of the 343 era, but that also meant that Bungie purists lost interest in the series.

From here on Microsoft decided to release a bunch of minor games. We got Spartan Assault and Spartan Strike, a duo of top-down shoot ‘em ups that went under the radar of most gamers. When the Xbox One came out, we got our first teaser for future Halo projects. This included hints at a new game, a mini-series, and even a Steven Spielberg-produced TV show. However, next to nothing shown at the E3 2013 conference ending up coming to fruition for the series besides the Ridley Scott-produced mini-series.

Then 2014 came around and we got the remaster of Halo 2 with The Master Chief Collection. Hyped as potentially being the first system-selling game for the Xbox One, it ended up being incredibly disappointing, with a plethora of bugs and shoddy multiplayer servers. Once more, many fans lost faith in the series. Halo 5: Guardians looked to rectify these mistakes the next year, but it ended up being the most polarizing entry in the series. Most agreed its multiplayer was fantastic. However, it shipped with a campaign many found short and uneventful, it added micro-transactions to the series, and it didn’t even have split-screen.

This game ended up being the last straw for many, myself included. I’m personally no longer excited about this franchise’s future. Halo Wars 2 was a breath of fresh air, but it wasn’t fantastic and it seems to be all we’re getting this year from 343. There are still plenty of chances for announcements throughout the year, but if 343 didn’t have anything to show at E3, that’s most likely a false hope. As bleak as things seem for Halo, 343 seems to be taking their time and focusing their resources on 6. Here’s hoping that the series can regain its lost fanbase and become a respected shooter once more.

View Comments (40)

Cele5tiaL J

It’s sad to see a game that had given me and thousands of other so much nostalgia growing up come to a end. I still turn the 360 on and play H3 time to time. The game is beautiful all around, but over the last few years I can see it taking it’s final breath/plunge. If there’s any hope for the future for this game, please try and save it. Not just for me, but for the thousands of fans that look up to this franchise and stuck by it through thick and thin. Don’t let it become history like everything else humans forget about.
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  Here, here. I do the same thing myself except through MCC on XB1 since I don’t have a 360 anymore. I personally would love to see the series make a grand return but it just seems too far gone at this point.
J.j. Barrington

“Lost ITS Magic”
Death5talker45

I don’t know about you, but I am can’t wait for Halo 6 on the Xbox One X; it is going to be awesome with Master Chief back in the limelight. I never was interested in the new generation of consoles till I saw the specs on the X. I am still playing the Xbox 360E and have all the Halo games except Halo 5.. because not much Master Chief… I think they are going to make an awesome Halo 6
- Edonus
  
  You should play Halo 5……. f$%k all that non sense you heard. The campaign is solid and fun and the multiplayer is unmatched.
  - J.j. Barrington
    
    Almost no one says the campaign is solid.
  - Edonus
    
    Why do you persist? You must love talking to me and I dont understand why. And I dont care what no one else says…. I am talking about what I experienced and I can back it up with more than it doesnt suck. Dont take this as an invite to talk to me.
  - J.j. Barrington
    
    Why do YOU persist?
    
    I find your delusions both sad and hilarious. That’s why I read your comments. I reply to remind you that reality isn’t what you think it is.
    
    I do what I want, lol. That includes responding to you if you reply to me. I take your willingness to put out nonsense as an invite to be critiqued. If you don’t want to be called out, then don’t say dumb stuff in the first place.
  - TSR – Ule #TeamZeRo
    
    Nice comeback J.J. Respect!
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  I would hope so but Halo 5 really killed off most of the fan base in favor of the super die-hards. That’s not to say it isn’t a bad game, but it definitely isn’t as polished as the Bungie era entries. Although you probably have a glimpse of that with Halo 4 on your 360 which was the first step in that direction.
Night Fall

Hey Noah Zuckerman, no they have not. I play with a lot of others on this game just about every day. From the first to last.
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  I appreciate your comment Night Fall. I probably should’ve clarified early on in the article, but by “lost its magic” I’m referring to the vast majority of the old fan base. I’m glad you and your friends enjoy the new games, but there are a staggeringly higher amount of people who can’t stand them, myself included. This is especially sad considering I used to love the series before it, in my eyes and those of many others, went really far down hill.
Edonus

I dont even read these dumb articles like this. The only reason someone would think Halo is any less than it has ever been is because we have these bias uneducated opinion pieces running around. Halo 5 has a bigger active user base than any other console exclusive this gen. You cant even really compare Halo 5 to other games apples to apples because the amount of refinement and content, modes customization….the theatre and forge alone puts the game in the stratosphere beyond any other FPS you could mention.
People attack Halo 5 for the campaign but 1) that is subjective…. you have people judging what they like about the story like it is a fact. I hate that Nathan Drake has never cashed in on one the treasures he found and isnt a rich treasure hunter… that makes him corny….. that is subjective. Same thing when I see people complaining about the Halo 5 campaign. I enjoyed the campaign it has created a very interesting setting for the next game and was fun.
Halo 5 was crazy successful and is still played heavy today….. Halo 6 will follow the same path, no matter how many people make opinion pieces and lie to the gaming community it is too late most of us know. You might catch a straggler here and there and I feel sorry for them but as a whole the Halo community is one of the if not the strongest in gaming.
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  Hey there Edonus, I’m glad you enjoy Halo 5 but you might want to rethink some of what you’re saying here. First off, my article isn’t uneducated if you even read the beginning (which you’ve stated you haven’t) since I talk about how much I’ve played literally all of the games. Second, an opinion isn’t a “lie” it’s subjective just like you start to get at. Just because an opinion doesn’t line up with yours doesn’t mean I’m lying to the gaming community, I’m merely discussing my thoughts on a franchise I used to love and how I hate what has become of it.
- heavenshitman1
  
  You say you don’t read these articles, but here you are. Quite a bit to say on the matter anyways.
  - Edonus
    
    Like I said I didnt read it….. but my comment probably seems like I did. And that is because we have heard this same nonsense and drivel before. I have read other articles like this and they all try to do the same thing the same way and are never based on anything real.
    I play Halo and I am pretty sure I would be aware if the magic was gone.
  - heavenshitman1
    
    Well you may be a fan and its still probably a fine game, 2 was the last I played.
    But I think he means commercially the game doesn’t stand out anymore, especially in light of various other modern shooters
  - TSR – Ule #TeamZeRo
    
    I mean, have you seen the backlash Guardians got? Halo became a game with Microtransactions that basically had a pass-a story that didn’t really add much to the campaign. And Guardians also sold way less than any other main series titles.
  - Noah Zuckerman
    
    I played Halo too you know. I played every single one that came out including Wars 2, even after 5 disappointed me.
- J.j. Barrington
  
  Didn’t read, but you sure wrote a lot about it, for something you didn’t read.
  - Noah Zuckerman
    
    Thanks for the support
- QUIMICOMORTAL
  
  Except its the lowest on sales and scores of all the main halos!
  
  I know you hate facts and hide on the “bias media” argument 24/7, but , no ones really believe you!
  
  🙁
  - Edonus
    
    You are a Sony shill that goes into Xbox articles spreading fake and negative information. Halo 5 is a complete success that has generated tons of money and kept a bigger active player base than any Ps4 game there is. I dont need anyone to believe me because facts speak for themselves.
    
    Just like people are starting to wake up and see what I have seen for a long time….the BGM…….
    
    OH and stop talking to me 3 three legged pony.
WSHH Recycle Bin

LOL! Click Bait Cunt
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  Actually, click bait is typically an article that makes you feel compelled to open it with shady journalistic strategies. I even stated my opinion in the article to avoid that happening. So you could say it’s the opposite of click bait.
TwoLiterSoda

I’m not a halo fan but this article is nonsense lol
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  Why do you think so? I see it as a discussion of my own opinion and a look at what has become of the series? If you could clearly articulate what you mean, I could keep your obviously very strong thoughts in mind going forward with my articles.
NoNeedToArgue

it has. halo 4 was such a let down and 5 just gave us a bait and switch approach
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  I know right! I remember being so excited for Halo 4 to be very underwhelmed. Halo 5’s campaign was also exactly how you describe it
QUIMICOMORTAL

It has, really, but it is not in bad shape either.
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  Halo Wars 2 definitely helped out but I disagree. Halo almost died when Halo 5 came out due to 343 not really listening to the majority of its fan base. The vast majority of old Halo fans have moved on by now. That isn’t to say this is what I want since I want nothing more than for an old favorite of mine to be good again, but it isn’t very realistic
Hvd

i think you lost your journalist magic dont write another story again.
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  I’m sorry you think so, Hvd. What about it do you not like? Do you just disagree with my opinion or is there something wrong with the peer-reviewed and heavily-edited writing that we could take into consideration moving forward?
SEGA_FAN_KAIN

You are a philistine.
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  Thank you I try
Vulcanproject

I think the series has been on a downhill slope since Halo 2. Halo 3 wasn’t as good as 2. 4 wasn’t as good as 3. 5 wasn’t as good as 4. This gradual descent is stark when you compare the last main game, Guardians, against the original two. Classic games for all eternity.

You’re only as good as your last game and the Halo series is barely above generic sci fi shooter right now.
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  Halo 2 is definitely my favorite despite the ending. However, I do love Halo 3 quite a bit
- TSR – Ule #TeamZeRo
  
  I agree with this one mostly.
heavenshitman1

I’m no XBOX goer, and haven’t followed the Halo series. But I’d suggest there is Truth to the article.
I remember having intense multiplayer bouts on Halo 2. A game at the time flagshipping the XBOX brand in the console world.
Since then, I’ve heard very little of Halo. Saw review for 3 and think that pushed 360 but haven’t heard much after that
- Noah Zuckerman
  
  As an Xbox gamer, I’m very sad to agree with you.

Gaming

June 29, 2017

Noah Zuckerman @https://twitter.com/zuckermancho

I spend most of my days working towards my Writing and Rhetoric degree at the University of Central Florida, but I spend a lot of my down time keeping up to date on the best TV, movies, and video games the industry has to offer. Here I put all of that extended time to use discussing each of them in-depth.