Halo 3 Disappointment?

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: blurredvision
...Halo 3 is one of the most balanced multiplayer available on any console.

Not only in terms of the weapons, but also the matchmaking. Over the past couple of days, I had at least 2 games of team slayer that were decided by ONE kill. Most of the time, they're decided by less than 5 kills because of Bungie's matchmaking system. It works, and it works well to keep the game interesting and fun.

Could you elaborate a bit on that? I still haven't jumped in the MP yet, so since I'm a newblet, they won't throw me to the proverbial wolves? But instead put me on a team that will face a very similarly balanced opposing team?

Yes. Everyone starts off as a skill level of 1 in each of the different gametypes - Lone Wolves, Team Slayer, Team Objective, etc. When you start your first game you only play with other people that are of skill level 1 in that gametype. As you play more matches and your skill level goes up, the skill level of your opponents will be the same. Sometimes, they'll be one skill point less or one skill point more. The biggest spread I've seen has been 4 and that was only because two guys were partied together.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: blurredvision
...Halo 3 is one of the most balanced multiplayer available on any console.

Not only in terms of the weapons, but also the matchmaking. Over the past couple of days, I had at least 2 games of team slayer that were decided by ONE kill. Most of the time, they're decided by less than 5 kills because of Bungie's matchmaking system. It works, and it works well to keep the game interesting and fun.

Could you elaborate a bit on that? I still haven't jumped in the MP yet, so since I'm a newblet, they won't throw me to the proverbial wolves? But instead put me on a team that will face a very similarly balanced opposing team?

They keep track of how you perform in ranked matches, assigning a number value to you dependent upon your performance. You start at 1 and work your way up... when the game matchmakes, it'll look first for people with similar skill level (1-3) and put you in those games. You'll never be thrown into a game where you're level 1, and you're playing against level 15s.

Good thing also, is that the level is playlist dependent... meaning if I'm level 10 in Lone Wolves, I can be level 15 in another playlist... I havent even touched the objective gametypes yet, so my skill level there is just 1.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Thanks for the quick responses :beer: I think I'll get involved this weekend. The learning curve I anticipated since I have never been a Halo MP participant was holding me back.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: blurredvision
...Halo 3 is one of the most balanced multiplayer available on any console.

Not only in terms of the weapons, but also the matchmaking. Over the past couple of days, I had at least 2 games of team slayer that were decided by ONE kill. Most of the time, they're decided by less than 5 kills because of Bungie's matchmaking system. It works, and it works well to keep the game interesting and fun.

Could you elaborate a bit on that? I still haven't jumped in the MP yet, so since I'm a newblet, they won't throw me to the proverbial wolves? But instead put me on a team that will face a very similarly balanced opposing team?

Yes. Everyone starts off as a skill level of 1 in each of the different gametypes - Lone Wolves, Team Slayer, Team Objective, etc. When you start your first game you only play with other people that are of skill level 1 in that gametype. As you play more matches and your skill level goes up, the skill level of your opponents will be the same. Sometimes, they'll be one skill point less or one skill point more. The biggest spread I've seen has been 4 and that was only because two guys were partied together.

Sometimes it's misleading and doesn't work out so well in the team-based playlists. Lately I keep getting put on teams that are decent (or just flat out suck), but we end up going against a team composed of players whose highest ranks range from the mid twenties to low forties. Rape ensues.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: R Nilla


Sometimes it's misleading and doesn't work out so well in the team-based playlists. Lately I keep getting put on teams that are decent (or just flat out suck), but we end up going against a team composed of players whose highest ranks range from the mid twenties to low forties. Rape ensues.

Thats what I was dreading, dying so fast and frequently that it takes a long time to learn the map, and the strategy and tactics necessary to be effective.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: R Nilla


Sometimes it's misleading and doesn't work out so well in the team-based playlists. Lately I keep getting put on teams that are decent (or just flat out suck), but we end up going against a team composed of players whose highest ranks range from the mid twenties to low forties. Rape ensues.

Thats what I was dreading, dying so fast and frequently that it takes a long time to learn the map, and the strategy and tactics necessary to be effective.

Heh...I wouldn't worry about it. I'm hardly a veteran of Halo multi-player. I barely played Halo 2 multi-player and I've been enjoying the hell out of Halo 3 multi.

Come join everyone on our Thursday night get togethers if you want to play just for the fun of it. Sure, you may get raped but we'll be nice about it.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: R Nilla


Sometimes it's misleading and doesn't work out so well in the team-based playlists. Lately I keep getting put on teams that are decent (or just flat out suck), but we end up going against a team composed of players whose highest ranks range from the mid twenties to low forties. Rape ensues.

Thats what I was dreading, dying so fast and frequently that it takes a long time to learn the map, and the strategy and tactics necessary to be effective.

It shouldn't be an issue for you, this problem has only cropped up recently and may have to do with my rank and highest skill (although it's only 20). And last night, for instance, I kept getting paired up with players who chose not to use their mics, making teamwork impossible. It seemed like they just wanted to play slayer, so I don't understand why they were in team objective.

Even when I am paired up with players similar in rank/skill, it seems like the other team will have a much higher average highest skill. This has been happening in social too. I guess I just have bad luck as of late.

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: hans030390
However, I don't like multiplayer. It's laggy, there aren't dedicated servers, it takes forever to get in a game (and usually they aren't even against people with my rank), and it just feels broken. Grenades are weak, the main weapon is weak, and things like the shotgun and sniper rifle are still overpowered.

Are we playing the same game? The only time I've really experienced lag was Monday night when my DSL connection went to crap. I had to quit after a couple of games games where I reset my modem and router each time in between. I'm always ranked against people near me.

How can you say the grenades are weak? If you get stuck by a plasma or spike grenade, you're dead. If a frag grenade goes of near you, you're shields are gone and you're just one shot from death.

Sniper rifles take two shots unless you get them in the head. You have to be up close with the shotgun for it to have any effect.

Like I said, are you sure you're playing Halo 3?

Yeah, same game. I'm playing on a 10mbps/1mbps connection, too. It's not insane lag, or anything, but enough that it's noticeable. And yeah, I sometimes have to wait 2 minutes to find a good ranked game. That's unacceptable.

And yeah, the grenades are weak. If it goes off by your feet, it should kill you. It's always been like that in most FPS games, even Halo. I hate it. Also, in combination with the lag, usually the grenade doesn't even take down their shield.

Ok, so maybe it's not the sniper rifle and shotgun that are too powerful...most other guns are too weak. The main gun feels like a cheap toy. I hate having to load over 32 airsoft pellets into a guy without even taking down their shield. The balance is either way to good for me to comprehend, or I'm just too used to every other FPS out there.

I do think these issues are partially because of my network connection. I also get random disconnects at time, too. Regardless, playing on MP is just not that fun in Halo 3. I don't see why people think it's "so great."

Same game, just different opinions. I don't like Halo 3's gameplay that much. I like the first Halo, but not this one.

I will admit, I've been playing Resistance and Warhawk for quite a while now. Grenades kill in one hit, standard weapons feel powerful and not like airsoft guns (well, except the pistol in Warhawk), and I don't get lag on the PSN. I just like how these games play compared to Halo 3, so I have more fun playing them. That is my personal opinion, and I do understand why people like Halo 3...I just wish it was more like the first.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

I don't remember ever noticing lag in Halo 3.

I'm glad the grenades aren't uber. grenade spamming noobs suck. Glad they totally removed them from tf2. They are a crutch for weak players.

I like the matchmaking.

That said, Halo is kind of slow for my tastes. I dunno I was always used to UT and it is hard for me to get used to Halo. I really enjoy it while I'm playing it but once I turn it off it usually stays off for awhile.

The really fun stuff is the custom games like we played on the custom gaming nights. That makes the experience A++ but overall I'd rather play TF2 or COD4 mp.

I wish movement in Halo was just sped up a little more.

 

[JasonSix78]

My thoughts are the same as Yahtzee

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: hans030390

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: hans030390
However, I don't like multiplayer. It's laggy, there aren't dedicated servers, it takes forever to get in a game (and usually they aren't even against people with my rank), and it just feels broken. Grenades are weak, the main weapon is weak, and things like the shotgun and sniper rifle are still overpowered.

Are we playing the same game? The only time I've really experienced lag was Monday night when my DSL connection went to crap. I had to quit after a couple of games games where I reset my modem and router each time in between. I'm always ranked against people near me.

How can you say the grenades are weak? If you get stuck by a plasma or spike grenade, you're dead. If a frag grenade goes of near you, you're shields are gone and you're just one shot from death.

Sniper rifles take two shots unless you get them in the head. You have to be up close with the shotgun for it to have any effect.

Like I said, are you sure you're playing Halo 3?

Yeah, same game. I'm playing on a 10mbps/1mbps connection, too. It's not insane lag, or anything, but enough that it's noticeable. And yeah, I sometimes have to wait 2 minutes to find a good ranked game. That's unacceptable.

And yeah, the grenades are weak. If it goes off by your feet, it should kill you. It's always been like that in most FPS games, even Halo. I hate it. Also, in combination with the lag, usually the grenade doesn't even take down their shield.

Ok, so maybe it's not the sniper rifle and shotgun that are too powerful...most other guns are too weak. The main gun feels like a cheap toy. I hate having to load over 32 airsoft pellets into a guy without even taking down their shield. The balance is either way to good for me to comprehend, or I'm just too used to every other FPS out there.

I do think these issues are partially because of my network connection. I also get random disconnects at time, too. Regardless, playing on MP is just not that fun in Halo 3. I don't see why people think it's "so great."

Same game, just different opinions. I don't like Halo 3's gameplay that much. I like the first Halo, but not this one.

I will admit, I've been playing Resistance and Warhawk for quite a while now. Grenades kill in one hit, standard weapons feel powerful and not like airsoft guns (well, except the pistol in Warhawk), and I don't get lag on the PSN. I just like how these games play compared to Halo 3, so I have more fun playing them. That is my personal opinion, and I do understand why people like Halo 3...I just wish it was more like the first.

I think your problem is that you are trying to play Halo 3 like any other FPS out there. You need to realize a frag grenade alone will not kill someone, but you have to shoot them some first. Realize that if you are at medium range out in the open, unloading with the assault rifle is a bad move. Bungie has taken steps to eliminate any advantage due to lag, and a great example of that is melee. If you and another guy smack at the same time, it doesn't give it to whoever gets the signal to the host fastest, but rather whoever has less health will lose, and the other player will still take some damage, but it will be reduced. This was annoying to me at first because with Halo 2 I got in the habit of smacking fast to try and beat the other guy to the punch, but now I'm smacking first, but allowing my adversary to plug a few more shots into me before the smacks.

It's easy to blame poor performance on the game being "broken." I do it too when I start sucking it up, but I know it's just something I'll have to get more accustomed to as I go on.

COD4 is fun (at least from what I know from the Beta), but I'm not going to get it for a few more months. I figure with so many games coming out I might as well keep playing Halo for as long as I can to save me some $$.

 

[MonKENy]

Originally posted by: JasonSix78
My thoughts are the same as Yahtzee

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was just about to post this!!! This guy is spot on when he reviews games. I 100% agree with it.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: hans030390
Yeah, same game. I'm playing on a 10mbps/1mbps connection, too. It's not insane lag, or anything, but enough that it's noticeable. And yeah, I sometimes have to wait 2 minutes to find a good ranked game. That's unacceptable.

And yeah, the grenades are weak. If it goes off by your feet, it should kill you. It's always been like that in most FPS games, even Halo. I hate it. Also, in combination with the lag, usually the grenade doesn't even take down their shield.

Ok, so maybe it's not the sniper rifle and shotgun that are too powerful...most other guns are too weak. The main gun feels like a cheap toy. I hate having to load over 32 airsoft pellets into a guy without even taking down their shield. The balance is either way to good for me to comprehend, or I'm just too used to every other FPS out there.

I do think these issues are partially because of my network connection. I also get random disconnects at time, too. Regardless, playing on MP is just not that fun in Halo 3. I don't see why people think it's "so great."

Same game, just different opinions. I don't like Halo 3's gameplay that much. I like the first Halo, but not this one.

I will admit, I've been playing Resistance and Warhawk for quite a while now. Grenades kill in one hit, standard weapons feel powerful and not like airsoft guns (well, except the pistol in Warhawk), and I don't get lag on the PSN. I just like how these games play compared to Halo 3, so I have more fun playing them. That is my personal opinion, and I do understand why people like Halo 3...I just wish it was more like the first.

Lag can occur in any game. Even with a dedicated server a bad hop to it can fvck up your game. PC, console, etc.

Grenades have never been one hit kills. They're damage has been increased from Halo 2 (was decreased from Halo 1) to make them more effective. Sniper/shotgun too powerful? The sniper isn't "easy" to use. Shotgun is only worthwhile up close. Like stated in other threads - you have to know what weapon to use in what situation. Having a shotgun doesn't do you shit against a mid-range opponent with an AR, BR, Brute Shot, etc. And the main gun isn't meant to be overly powerful, but is meant to kill within one clip. If you're not doing so, you're doing something wrong. (Used in conjunction with grenades, two grenades + 1 clip should be able to kill two people)

Again, a lot of it is just your own personal preference. Not everyone likes Halo.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: JasonSix78
My thoughts are the same as Yahtzee

That site sucks out loud.

 

[EvilComputer92]

Originally posted by: chrisg22

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Very linear. Typical run, shoot, run, shoot. The controls are strange. The music is boring and unimaginative.

you basicially described HL2 ep2 right there

yep I really didn't like Ep2. Hell, HL 2 is OK, but having to use a f'ing flashing all the time is irritating as hell.

Half Life 2 and it's spinoffs are a sack of shit. Unimaginative Level Design, linear gameplay, dull graphics, everything reeks of crappy quality. I thought it was so overrated when it first came out on the PC. It hasn't changed since it came to the 360. Only good thing Valve ever made was HL1 Portal and TF2.

Halo 3 was a disappointment in terms of graphics, but on everything else I'll say it played well both online and offline. It's story not too original, but it presents it well. The campaign is short, but each level is interesting and unique. Multiplayer is where the game shines. At least for me, it was a $60 well spent.

 

[tatteredpotato]

The graphics aren't as great as they probably could have been, but look at how solid the game runs. You can go into a saved film and run the game at like 3-4x speed without any hiccups. Personally I would rather have the saved films than marginally better graphics and smaller levels.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
Who here is disappointed with Halo 3? With the way the story ended? With how the multiplayer is shaping up? Is this enough for Call of Duty 4 to take the title #1 Shooter of 2007?

multilayer is the best in any fps EVER!
single player i have not finished yet

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: MonKENy

Originally posted by: JasonSix78
My thoughts are the same as Yahtzee

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was just about to post this!!! This guy is spot on when he reviews games. I 100% agree with it.

I enjoy Yahtzee's posts, too, but anyone agreeing with 100% of any one reviewer's in-depth testimonial says more about that person's susceptibility to the power of suggestion than the reviewer's accuracy.

 

[The Green Bean]

I've been playing the game on Heroic and damn it's pretty damn hard. This is the first halo I've played and it's great for SP and MP I don't know how long it will take me to complete SP... I keep dying and I'm only on the 3rd level.

 

[gi0rgi0]

Dont see what the big deal is. Plays and looks like Halo 2.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Here is how Halo 3 ranks in my list of games...COD4 > DOTA > Halo 2 > Halo 3. I don't know what it is about the game. The maps are sucky. I can't BXR or BXB. The ranks don't mean shit. I can easily beat some general dude, all a high rank means is that they've played a lot of games. Sure it's a good game, but I think COD4 is the "Best Shooter of 2007". It's just awesome.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
The ranks don't mean shit. I can easily beat some general dude, all a high rank means is that they've played a lot of games.

No, it doesn't mean that. You can only become a general if you've played a bunch of ranked games against people with similar skill. If you suck it up, your skill will go down. I JUST hit 20 today, as it was fluctuating between 17 and 19 for a good week, some games I played great, others I was dead weight. You cant get to be a general if you suck... now, you CAN get to gunnery sgt if you're junk because that is mostly just based on number of games you play.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
The ranks don't mean shit. I can easily beat some general dude, all a high rank means is that they've played a lot of games.

No, it doesn't mean that. You can only become a general if you've played a bunch of ranked games against people with similar skill. If you suck it up, your skill will go down. I JUST hit 20 today, as it was fluctuating between 17 and 19 for a good week, some games I played great, others I was dead weight. You cant get to be a general if you suck... now, you CAN get to gunnery sgt if you're junk because that is mostly just based on number of games you play.

You can get any rank if you play enough, but it will take a hell of a lot longer because you'll need a ton of experience. It's easier to just get your skill rating up to skip up to the next ranking. I recently played with a Brigadier, though, and he talked a lot of trash about how he was ranked so highly, but his stats and lackluster play said otherwise.

 

[TheUnk]

Originally posted by: Beev
I *LOVED* Halo 1, and was super excited for Halo 2. I got it, was extremely underwhelmed, and now I couldn't give two shits about Halo 3.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: R Nilla

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
The ranks don't mean shit. I can easily beat some general dude, all a high rank means is that they've played a lot of games.

No, it doesn't mean that. You can only become a general if you've played a bunch of ranked games against people with similar skill. If you suck it up, your skill will go down. I JUST hit 20 today, as it was fluctuating between 17 and 19 for a good week, some games I played great, others I was dead weight. You cant get to be a general if you suck... now, you CAN get to gunnery sgt if you're junk because that is mostly just based on number of games you play.

You can get any rank if you play enough, but it will take a hell of a lot longer because you'll need a ton of experience. It's easier to just get your skill rating up to skip up to the next ranking. I recently played with a Brigadier, though, and he talked a lot of trash about how he was ranked so highly, but his stats and lackluster play said otherwise.

For officer ranks, you need 1) experience AND 2) skill. So for me to become a general, I need 600exp AND Skill 50... if you've got 600exp, and only say 5 skill in any ranked match, you'll stick at Gunnery Sgt until you make the skill level.