Halo 3 Beta

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-05-20 05:36am

Yeah - I'm actually glad they take these steps (they probably did some trials) beause otherwise Live would simply become chaos as Xbox users desperately try to avoid servers with PC players (teh haxx0rs).

I wonder if you can 'choose' to be Xbox only, PC only, or merged? I imagine they'll force it, and you might be the only console gamer in a server full of far more accurate, responsive PC players.

Count Dooku · Post by **Count Dooku** » 2007-05-20 11:09am

Aaron Ash wrote:I just bought a 360 last week along which came with Crackdown so I've been playing with the Beta too. This is actually my first time playing a console FPS online, as I never bothered to hook my original XBox up to the internet.

I must say I'm pretty impressed at how well it plays, although the bunny hopping is annoying as fuck (especially as PC gaming did a fairly good job at killing it in most games years ago). That it auto-aims like crazy is hilarious but took some getting used to. I think the most impressive part of it are all the matchmaking and player party gubbins though - no other FPS has anything like that so far as I know. Not much use to me of course; as I only bought my 360 last week I don't have any special Xbox friends

And yeah, the Spartan laser is wicked - shame the UNSC didn't think to put an automatic lense cap on it to block the totally useless "holy fuck im over here dodge me" beams.

The auto-aim is actually toned down a lot from Halo 2. I'm not really a big fan of the Spartan Laser...not unless I've got a Warthog coming at me.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2007-05-20 07:31pm

On the topic of melee-ing, I noticed when I played that Bungie to have gotten rid of the lunge that was present in Halo 2. Its still a lot more powerful than it realistically should be, but with the speed boost eliminated, the utility of melee attacks should be a bit more balanced.

Erik von Nein · Post by **Erik von Nein** » 2007-05-20 07:52pm

Noble Ire wrote:On the topic of melee-ing, I noticed when I played that Bungie to have gotten rid of the lunge that was present in Halo 2. Its still a lot more powerful than it realistically should be, but with the speed boost eliminated, the utility of melee attacks should be a bit more balanced.

I haven't notice much difference. If you come across someone in a cramped area it still becomes a "who can press the B button faster" contest. The full game might tone it down, hopefully. But melee seems to be the same.

The one thing I'm most happy about is that the needler is more useful now, even though you can't dual weild them. I always like the design of the thing and the semi-homing exploding crystals part. It's certainly my most favorite weapon, even if it wasn't ever the most practical.

CaptHawkeye · Post by **CaptHawkeye** » 2007-05-20 07:57pm

The one thing I'm most happy about is that the needler is more useful now, even though you can't dual weild them. I always like the design of the thing and the semi-homing exploding crystals part. It's certainly my most favorite weapon, even if it wasn't ever the most practical.

I always found the Needler to be a downright comical weapon. I mean come on, you're being shot at with lots of little pink needles with crappy tracking.

Manus Celer Dei · Post by **Manus Celer Dei** » 2007-05-20 08:38pm

What's the difference between Spike and Plasma grenades? From what I'veh eard they seem to have the same functionality.

ColonialAdmiral · Post by **ColonialAdmiral** » 2007-05-20 08:43pm

I'm quite partial to the Assualt rifle.
Hows it balance out?

The Vortex Empire · Post by **The Vortex Empire** » 2007-05-20 08:58pm

Manus Celer Dei wrote:What's the difference between Spike and Plasma grenades? From what I'veh eard they seem to have the same functionality.

The spike grenade will stick to anything, not just people. The plasma grenade makes an explosion, while the spike grenade sends lots of little spikes flying away from whatever surface it's stuck on, unless it's stuck on a person, in which case it will kill them and send spikes flying away.

I direct all of you to this.

ColonialAdmiral · Post by **ColonialAdmiral** » 2007-05-20 09:06pm

Answers my questions.

Thanks for that link.

Count Dooku · Post by **Count Dooku** » 2007-05-21 12:10pm

Noble Ire wrote:On the topic of melee-ing, I noticed when I played that Bungie to have gotten rid of the lunge that was present in Halo 2. Its still a lot more powerful than it realistically should be, but with the speed boost eliminated, the utility of melee attacks should be a bit more balanced.

I'm not really sure if it's un-realistic. According to the Eric Nylund novels, the Cheif's suit is about 500Kg, and has tiny motors powered by a tiny fusion reactor (that also power his sheild). The 'punch' is pretty darn fast. No matter how wanked out it might be, there is a lot of in-Universe Force behind that melee. I can certainly image a chemically enhanced Spartan-monter-thing putting quite the shoulder into a good punch. How powerful is it compared to a round from a BR, well, we don't know the mass of the round or it's velocity...

I am really glad to see the lunge is gone though.