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H.B.M.C. wrote:Thanks to Halo, we don't have health bars any more (you just sit in the corner sucking your thumb until your health recharges). Thanks to Halo, more and more games limit the weapons you can carry (I tend to like FPS's that contain loads of weapons).

The first Halo had a health bar... and I like having a limit on how many weapons you can carry. It adds a bit of realism.

*I* think it's a great game, as does a fair chunk of the gaming populace. Before you jump out with the whole 'only kids like it' statement, don't forget that Halo is one of the most heavily marketed Xbox series and it's probably going to be the first game that a kid is going to see when they buy an Xbox. Besides, the multiplayer isn't actually that bad when it comes to the commmunity, as kids and griefers get ignored or voted out by experienced players.

I think the story was original enough, and I don't see how it 'dumbed down' FPS games at all. Half-life, Duke Nukem, and Doom all had very stock-standard gameplay. Half-life was certainly a great game in its own right, bringing a very solid story, cutscenes and easy-to-mod multiplayer, but Halo was certainly not a 'simple' or 'dumb' game when compared to other FPS games, even in the present day. Its gameplay is no worse than Half-life's.

Seriously, H', I think you're just playing the role of 'hate it because it's mainstream and kids like it' guy.

No, because it's a mediocre game.

Yes, a regenerating health bar/shield thingy that just recharged. Now every FPS has that.

'Realism'? What's realistic about being able to only carry two guns (regardless of size).

H.B.M.C. wrote:No, because it's a mediocre game.

Yes, a regenerating health bar/shield thingy that just recharged. Now every FPS has that.

'Realism'? What's realistic about being able to only carry two guns (regardless of size).

I will concede that weapon size was an issue, but this was partially fixed by allowing dual-wielding. And the first Halo actually had a health bar as well as the recharging shield. It was a traditional health bar, that you replenished by finding health packs (which weren't common at all).

I don't see how not applying a limit to weapons makes sense though. Why should Gordon Freeman or the Doomguy be able to carry around a shotgun, machinegun, melee weapon (crowbar/chainsaw respectively), grenade launcher, crossbow, and handgun without being overburdened at all?

I'm really not trying to start a flamewar here, I'm just saying that Halo is far from mediocre. Mediocre games don't sell millions of copies. MMOs are an exception to this; people often get into them for constant social gaming.