10:00 PM on 06.08.2012 |
|
|
Halo 4's new multiplayer wasn't the only thing 343 Industries had to show off this past week at E3, as they also let us go hands-on with Spartan Ops. This mode delivers new content that continues the story after the events of the main storyline are over.
Here, you and up to three others will playing as Spartan-IVs taking on a variety of objective based missions presented in episodic packages. Each week, there will be a new cinematic movie released that furthers the story and offers five new missions to take on. The best part? Spartan Ops content is 100% free. The first mission of the Spartan Ops mode sees the Spartan-IVs heading to the Forerunner planet, Requiem, to stop the Covenant from retrieving some sort of artifact. As the mission progresses, you come to discover that the Covenant are somehow working together with the Prometheans, a technologically advanced alien race left behind by the Forerunners to guard the planet. There's more to the race than being simple bodyguards, but that mystery will be explained in the main campaign.
Three of the Promethean types get shown off in this level. The first ones we came across were the Crawlers, dog-like robots that act as cannon fodder. Next were the Watchers, a quadrocopter-like enemy that stuck to the air and usually kept a safe distance from the player. Lastly, there were the Knights, and these guys made the Elites look like a joke. Equipped with a gun, sword and the ability to teleport at will, these guys were a good challenge to take on even on Normal difficulty.

We also got to see a couple of new guns, one that acts like an assault rifle and another that resembles a shotgun. Cool fact, you remember when Guilty Spark remarked that you needed a certain class of weapon to take on the Flood in Halo: Combat Evolved? Well the weapons the Prometheans use are those guns, according to Franchise Development Director Frankie O'Connor.
Overall the mission took around 15 minutes to complete, with the Spartan-IVs successfully retrieving the Artifact. I love that 343 is offering so much more story content to players, and all for free, too. Plus, all the experience you earn in Spartan Ops and the competitive multiplayer is shared, so either mode will see you advancing your Spartan career.
Assuming each of the five levels are roughly the same size and length, then that's over an hour's worth of content each week. Not bad at all.
343 Industries is currently in the midst of working on the next iteration of the Halo franchise. Unfortunately, without the 5 after the title, there is no guarantee where this game falls in the series cannon. The clues of a ... Yesterday's Halo 4 War Games update has brought more than a few new additions. From weapons, maps, and gametypes, there's a good amount of tweaking here. Chief among them has to be the laundry list of overhauls to the weapon ...
Halo: Spartan Assault is the next project from 343 Industries, a top-down twin stick shooter for Windows 8 powered phones, tablets, and PCs including the Surface. It's an exclusive to Windows 8 devices designed for touch con... Art books have been around for a long time, and they take on many different styles and formats. Titan Books, in conjunction with Microsoft Studios and 343 Industries, has put together a fantastic addition to any Halo fans&rsq...
Remember that wonderful Zelda violin cover? With cosplay and everything? Well Lindsey Stirling is back, this time doing a cover of the Halo theme while an all out Spartan war is happening around her. It's a pretty good cover, and I love how the 405th Halo cosplayers are just battling it out. Microsoft's Nancy Tellem came up on stage to talk about Microsoft's new Xbox Entertainment Studio venture, which will expand the Xbox brand into other media.
The big reveal at the show? A live-action Halo TV show by Steven Spielberg. Hoo boy.
Check out our Xbox One page and our on-going recap of all the news you need to know from today's reveals. Dark Horse has announced a new Halo comic mini-series called Halo: Initiation and is set to follow Spartan IV Sarah Palmer. The comic is being written by Halo 4 writer and comic veteran Brian Reed, while the artwork is being ... Still playing Halo 4's multiplayer but haven't gotten any of the downloadable content yet? Well lucky for you there's a sale going on today where you can get them at a small discounted price.
The War Games Map Pass is running... 343 keeps things simple with its Halo 4 DLC. Three map packs, three maps each, no frills, bonuses, or extras involved.
After the fairly underwhelming Crimson Map Pack, which was littered with sprawling vehicle maps that ...
343 Industries will be bringing a new Forge World map to Halo 4 on April 11th. Titled "Forge Island," the map will allow players to use the in-game map editor to create something using this island themed map as a base for th...
|
|