Halo as Nostalgia Gaming?

Professor S · 08-22-2007, 02:23 PM

I recently read an interesting set of impressions of Halo3 from IGN

Quote:

Halo 3's campaign is definitely fun. It's hard to compare Halo 3 to other shooters simply because of the flood of memories playing it brings up. Zipping up a grav-lift to take out a Jackal on top of a platform, busting out a fuel rod gun to take on a Covenant tank, watching smarter marines take up cover -- it's all classic Halo taken to the next level. Now bring on the four player co-op.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/814/814567p1.html

We recently had a lively discussion about the lack of innovation in Halo games, but the author brings up an ineresting point, even though I doubt he understood the possible ramifications of it. Is Halo's trademark gameplay, style and presentation qualify as "classic"? In changing the core gameplay experience, would it do more to alientate/"betray" the majority of gamers than it would to entice them?

Example: I know I still get a sense of excitement and a little adrenaline going every time I hear the now famous music from Halo, and I also think its one of the few games that is made considerably better by the use of music and the timing of it. If they were to rework the score, would I still have that same sense of excitement?

Its an interesting thing to consider when discussing the Halo franchise and its place in gaming.

Angrist · 08-22-2007, 02:29 PM

It's definitely an important factor. Maybe that's why I loved Twilight Princess: even though it had nothing incredibly revolutionary, it was just an awesome adventure in one of my favorite universes. It felt great to ride Epona again, explore beautiful areas and fight Ganondorf.

Professor S · 08-22-2007, 03:41 PM

Ever since I started this thread I've had Halo's "action" music stuck in my head.

bumbumbum buuummmmmm..
bumbumbum BUUUUUMMMMMMM....
BUMBUMBUM BUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM....
bumbum bumbumbumbum

Damn it...

Bond · 08-22-2007, 08:53 PM

Well, sure, it's the same thing as Star Wars.

KillerGremlin · 08-22-2007, 09:20 PM

Halo was a major gaming landmark for me. I spent hundreds of hours hacking away at Halo's Co-Op. The game's single player was so much better with two people. Things like the warthog and the 2-weapon limit really suggested that you could have much more success playing with a friend. And that's what I did. Have you guys tried getting through The Maw on legendary by yourself? I always go rocket/shotgun but it makes killing those bastard robots and flood a pain. (Note: The Maw is one of the games EASIEST levels to beat by yourself, it's quite simple to beat by yourself, just not convenient

) When you have another person to distract the robots and keep the flood busy you really have a much easier time. Basically, Halo was the next evolution for the console FPS. Prior to Halo, the last time I spent hours playing a FPS on a console was when Goldeneye was out. Is Halo classic? I'd say so. In 10 years we might be looking back thinking, "man, it was so awesome to snipe those Covenant bastards at night in the The Truth and Reconciliation!" Just like now I look back and go, "dude, I still can kick your ass with proximity mines in the Facility."

Just because Halo stole various elements from Tribes and other games, and just because the single player is a bit of a drag playing it by yourself, and just because the multiplayer didn't have online support or pales in comparison to anything that was out on the PC at the time, doesn't mean the game doesn't have a special place in my heart.

So yes, it's is a classic....just after Half-Life and Goldeneye and Doom.

TheGame · 08-23-2007, 02:23 AM

I actually love Co-op games. Perfect Dark is the first FPS I enjoyed Co-op on.. the original Halo's was awesome too. Halo 2, I didn't enjoy so much though.. Mostly because I didn'y have the time really.

Angrist · 08-23-2007, 04:23 AM

Yeah Perfect Darks coop was great, too bad the framerate was so low. Coop is a great invention by the way, it combines the good of single and multiplayer.

Angrist · 08-23-2007, 04:23 AM

Yeah Perfect Darks coop was great, too bad the framerate was so low. Coop is a great invention by the way, it combines the good of single and multiplayer.

KillerGremlin · 08-23-2007, 04:37 AM

i forgot about perfect dark....i think i got lost in the storm that was half-life at the time

sadly, TFC kicked perfect dark's ass and Half-Life blew everything that wasn't half-life out of the water

Angrist · 08-23-2007, 04:51 AM