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6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 3713 Ratings

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  1. Oct 30, 2015
    0
    Feels like call of duty....

    Plus:
    -No split screen
    -Flat Story

    In short: Halo 5 has lost everything that was halo, playing with your friends in one room.
  2. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    So good!

    First off, the campaign was amazing, due to the relatively simple plot but it still delivers a major twist that will shock many. Cutscenes throughout are action packed and well placed, looking fantastic in 1080p 60fps.The characters should be familiar to people with knowledge of the extended universe, and introduces some really well thought out enemies. The Promethean Knights
    So good!

    First off, the campaign was amazing, due to the relatively simple plot but it still delivers a major twist that will shock many. Cutscenes throughout are action packed and well placed, looking fantastic in 1080p 60fps.The characters should be familiar to people with knowledge of the extended universe, and introduces some really well thought out enemies. The Promethean Knights now take on a more Mgalekgolo (Hunter) type role, capable of absorbing a Scorpion shot, unless you hit their weak spots, giving variety to the gameplay. The host of enemies included vary the pace of combat, with subclasses of all enemies in the game. Squad commands allow you to mix up the way you fight ; Lone wolf, Team player, balanced etc, the revive system encouraging the use of these all new abilities.
    Fluidity is maintained perfectly, due to the sacrifice of split screen, however it would have been nice to include split screen. Textures do seem to lag occasionally.

    Multiplayer is a blast, Warzone and its REQ system allowing for a more open ended, casual style of play, whilst keeping shrewd decision making essential. Team play works brilliantly as the bosses demand focused fire and attention to beat, and the objectives requiring more thought to bring down. Yet again gameplay is fluid as ever! Occasionally the opening cutscenes for the match will glitch, showing an outside view of the map and the spawning rarely places you in the middle of gunfights, but this is very rare. Some may feel forced to use REQs. REQs deliver a variety of weapons, scopes, vehicles and power ups, adding another dimension of thought to gameplay, and the Spartan abilities fuse flawlessly with core Halo mechanics.

    Arena is fast paced, balanced mode with the 1-50 ranking system making a triumphant re-emergence , making almost every game tense and satisfying, regardless of the outcome; victories are often hard fought and narrow, with a virtual playground of opportunities to outwit and defeat your foe. The new abilities work fantastically; thrusters make more escapes and gunfight victories possible, Ground Pound deals massive ranged melee damage and Spartan Charge stuns and damages your enemy. Map design is up to scratch and power weapons can be game changers in THE RIGHT HANDS; they aren't outrageously overpowered, but can subdue the opposition massively. I didn't really notice any problems at all.

    The menu layout is simple and intuitive, but could use a more expansive roster in matchmaking.

    Finally, the music is good, with some aspects of the original Halo style, however it is nothing to behold.

    This game is fantastic, a must buy for everyone, especially die hard Halo fans; it feels like Halo should.
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  3. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Halo really managed to surprise once again bringing a wonderful plot to participate in allowing go to paths that I even imagined, risking his old and established characters and taking them to shady paths all this for us, as something that is reduntante but with an excellent multiplayer, which is quite fast, and aided by 60 FPS.
  4. Oct 30, 2015
    8
    acabo de comprar mi xbox one a raiz de la salida del tomb rider y compre el halo 5 y aparte el gears of war definitive edition y para ser cinser es el primer halo que juego en mi vida y me gusto pero no como para darle mas de 8 la verdad es buen juego pero solo eso!!!
  5. Oct 30, 2015
    9
    Fantastic game and experience. The campaign is great, and fantastically incorporates the wider Halo universe. The multiplayer is nailed in this. Utterly the best multiplayer on current gen, and warzones is beyond fantastic.

    The loss of co op is a big one though. Thats really the only major disappointment here
  6. Oct 30, 2015
    5
    I hate playing video games by myself. I frankly feel sorry for the folks who sit alone in front of their TV's playing games. For me, it's an enjoyable experience with my wife, or my sons. Unfortunately, there's now one less platform for that enjoyment. That Halo now no longer offers split-screen couch coop is a franchise destroyer for me. The games producers certainly didn't have thisI hate playing video games by myself. I frankly feel sorry for the folks who sit alone in front of their TV's playing games. For me, it's an enjoyable experience with my wife, or my sons. Unfortunately, there's now one less platform for that enjoyment. That Halo now no longer offers split-screen couch coop is a franchise destroyer for me. The games producers certainly didn't have this consumer base in mind when they scrapped that feature. I played the first couple of levels BY MYSELF, and do think the designers did a fair job with the next iteration. However, I won't continue the game, just find it too boring to do by myself. ...shame. Expand
  7. Oct 30, 2015
    7
    While a seven out of ten may seem only mediocre, I can promise you this game is highly entertaining and will give you many hours of fun gameplay. However, there are just one too many mistakes made to give this game anything higher than a seven for now. Let's cover the good and the bad.

    Let's start with all the good in this game. First, the graphics are very nice, and the frame rate is
    While a seven out of ten may seem only mediocre, I can promise you this game is highly entertaining and will give you many hours of fun gameplay. However, there are just one too many mistakes made to give this game anything higher than a seven for now. Let's cover the good and the bad.

    Let's start with all the good in this game. First, the graphics are very nice, and the frame rate is always steady. the soundtrack of course is amazing, and the customization goes deep this time (like it always should have been). Although yes the small micro-transactions in-game are a bit sketchy, it's nothing too game altering or invasive. The multiplayer is as fun as ever, and warzone is a much better tweaked version of the previous FireFight mode. Warzone incorporates large team battles with A.I marines to capture and defend bases with vehicles and all. It's a very glorious game mode indeed. Theater mode also makes an appearance and proves once again to be a key feature.

    Now for the bad. These are the things that hold the game back from being rated any higher. First off, no split-screen local play. Seriously? Halo essentially invented co-op online play, and it has also been a key feature separating it from Battlefield or other Call of Dutys. If you have a friend over, you can no longer play split-screen. Shame on you, 343. Another thing that disappoints is the campaign. I'm going to be honest, I haven't finished it yet...and that's because it is not very compelling to say the least. Only getting to play as the Master Chief sometimes isn't very fun, and the character development is non-existant once again. Why do I care about any of these other Spartans? They are made of cardboard and have zero personality. Also shooting hordes of robots doesn't have the same effect as fighting flesh and blood creatures. The cutscenes are also lame and over the top at times; the campaign I truly did not care for. Maybe the last missions are amazing though? I wouldn't know. Another nagging issue that holds this game back a bit - no map veto's for online multiplayer. Ready for Swatnums on Orion again? Because ya can't veto the map selection. Also no forge mode...what's up with that?

    All in all, this game is very good, and I would recommend it to anyone. There are some small issues here and there, but with more practice, 343 I'm sure will one day make a Halo masterpiece.
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  8. Oct 30, 2015
    1
    Campaign is terrible, poor plot that pretty much negates halo 4 and all the books in between that and this game, three of the missions are just 'talk to a couple people, done', not sure what that is about. Some of the boss fights are clearly designed for co-op as your fellow spartans AI is terrible, they're basically window lickers - stupid morons for those not in the UK.

    Multiplayer is
    Campaign is terrible, poor plot that pretty much negates halo 4 and all the books in between that and this game, three of the missions are just 'talk to a couple people, done', not sure what that is about. Some of the boss fights are clearly designed for co-op as your fellow spartans AI is terrible, they're basically window lickers - stupid morons for those not in the UK.

    Multiplayer is also awful, all games are rated and your rating goes up based on games won, so if you play with good friends and later play on your own you're massively out of your depth. 4v4 means that games are very skewed and if someone leaves you're **** No idea why 343i chose to do 4v4 instead of the traditional 6v6. Maps are tiny and all the same, in fact its easy on spawn to be confused about where you are. Power weapons pretty much give the other team free kills until the next power weapon.

    Warzone is the only half decent thing about this game, that and the music, so 1pt for those.
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  9. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    The Multiplayer experience is absolutely amazing, Warzone redefines halo I absolutely love this game! The Campaign is pretty good as well but the multiplayer is a 10/10 for sure!
  10. Oct 30, 2015
    0
    SAD MOMENT IN VIDEO GAME HISTORY: this game is nothing other than an attempt to bring mobile freemium model in disguise of a AAA premium console game just in time for Halloween ! WHAT A TROJAN HORSE !!! There is no future ! Definitely not a console seller ...
  11. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Halo 5, a phenomenal game and a great experience throughout the campaign mode. The first time in years since I've enjoyed a First person shooters and I'm not easily impressed.
    Previous Halo's were good but nothing comes close to this and although the ad campaigns were somewhat misleading, it most certainly doesn't take away the fun. Big time and hot shot reviewers might have something bad
    Halo 5, a phenomenal game and a great experience throughout the campaign mode. The first time in years since I've enjoyed a First person shooters and I'm not easily impressed.
    Previous Halo's were good but nothing comes close to this and although the ad campaigns were somewhat misleading, it most certainly doesn't take away the fun. Big time and hot shot reviewers might have something bad to say about Halo 5 aswell as a small handful of deluded users, but at the end of the day, their opinion doesn't affect me or stop me from enjoying the game.

    The multiplayer modes are fun and a blast to play, haven't had a single hiccup with online play. With a wide range of fun maps and game modes, one could easily spend a lot of time with Halo 5. 343i have done a fantastic job and I hope the next Halo game succeeds just as well as Halo 5.
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  12. Oct 30, 2015
    9
    This game definitely lives up to the hype of expanding the Halo Universe and the story pulls you in for a sequel. This along with the amazing multiplayer makes this a Halo to play for years to come. 343 Industries has taken up the Halo-mantle and made it their own.
  13. Oct 30, 2015
    9
    Everything the reviews are saying about halo 5's campaign are true, the story could be better. But in my experience that doesn't take away from the fact that the level design is top notch and it's extremely fun to play through. The multiplayer might be the best out of any other halo games. Everything just feels good. The new mechanics involving the jet pack boost are extremely satisfying,Everything the reviews are saying about halo 5's campaign are true, the story could be better. But in my experience that doesn't take away from the fact that the level design is top notch and it's extremely fun to play through. The multiplayer might be the best out of any other halo games. Everything just feels good. The new mechanics involving the jet pack boost are extremely satisfying, pretty much every type of gun is now a viable option (the halo 1 pistol is back!), and the req system and wars zone modes are great additions. Halo 5 is probably the best multiplayer experience I've had in years, and while I wish there was a classic big team battle playlist in addition to war zone, I'm pleased to say the game is easily worth the purchase for the multiplayer alone Expand
  14. Oct 30, 2015
    8
    Great Graphics and Game play. Multiplayer is a little frustrating. Warzone is a little broken in my opinion. There seems to be only 2 or 3 maps to play on. Arena is my preferred style and maps are great and tricky. Req packs are a great addition to Multiplayer.
  15. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Un increible juego, mejorando en cada aspecto con respecto a su entrega anterior. Una campaña corta pero bien desarrollada, hubiera sido mejor centrar mas el protagonismo al jefe, pero estuvo bien. Un increible multijugador, en el cual he pasado dias casi completos. Lo recomiendo.
  16. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    What can i say. Yes the campaign (mostly the ending) was not the best but the multiplayer is amazing.
    Its very addicting and rewards you for almost everything you achive. One of the best Halo multiplayers if not the best out yet!
  17. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Halo 5 is a great game that plays just as well as it looks. A fixed 60 FPS is a very welcomed feature and the dynamic resolution is pretty seamless. Multiplayer is very smooth. Network is lag free and co-op is great. Had a friend leave mid game and he dropped without a hitch. If you are hung up on the lack of couch co-op, welcome to 2015. Your are the 1% and need to get over it.
    Story is
    Halo 5 is a great game that plays just as well as it looks. A fixed 60 FPS is a very welcomed feature and the dynamic resolution is pretty seamless. Multiplayer is very smooth. Network is lag free and co-op is great. Had a friend leave mid game and he dropped without a hitch. If you are hung up on the lack of couch co-op, welcome to 2015. Your are the 1% and need to get over it.
    Story is your typical space sci fi. If you expected anything else, that’s your problem.
    Can’t wait for Halo 6.
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  18. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Halo 5 is a beautiful game, I would be giving this about a 8.75 but the trolls have gotten on and are giving it a zero so I have to compensate. The game looks beautiful, the story may not be the greatest in the series but it is solid. Controls are tight as can be, the campaign is short but I think most people will play multiplayer for a long time to come.
  19. Oct 30, 2015
    3
    Halo 5 is a multi-player game with a tacked-on single-player campaign. The advertising campaign promised a epic story-driven campaign involving a conflict between iconic Halo characters. None of that actually happens in the game, which offers a typical (and brief) point-and-shoot experience. This is a multi-player only game in reality. As a point-and-click shooter, it is ok. It looksHalo 5 is a multi-player game with a tacked-on single-player campaign. The advertising campaign promised a epic story-driven campaign involving a conflict between iconic Halo characters. None of that actually happens in the game, which offers a typical (and brief) point-and-shoot experience. This is a multi-player only game in reality. As a point-and-click shooter, it is ok. It looks decent, and plays fine. But that is true of most boring multiplayer shooters these days. Also, there are ominous microtransactions that serve to detract from the experience. Halo is a microtransaction-fueled cash-grab, wrapped around typical but functional) multiplayer shooter with little to offer anyone who has played a multiplayer shooter in the past decade. Expand
  20. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Halo 5 is a pure Halo 5, with all what we loved about it.
    The story become more and more interesting, the gameplay is awesome, fun and exigent.
    Only Locke is a none interesting character... The campain has a lot of epic moments, and large scales battle. The multiplayer is like the golden age of Halo 3!!!! Arena mode is exigent and requiered skills while Warzone is just an awesome
    Halo 5 is a pure Halo 5, with all what we loved about it.
    The story become more and more interesting, the gameplay is awesome, fun and exigent.
    Only Locke is a none interesting character...

    The campain has a lot of epic moments, and large scales battle.
    The multiplayer is like the golden age of Halo 3!!!!
    Arena mode is exigent and requiered skills while Warzone is just an awesome epic and fun game.

    Graphicaly I would appreciate better, but I think they did what they could with the bad hardware of the Xbox One (same things for the ps4 which is also bad).

    Bad reviews are probably from pro-sony media/"players"
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  21. Oct 30, 2015
    8
    The multiplayer is quite fun, and feels like Halo, but the game lost points with its story. The story really just feels like a set up for Halo 6, kind of like how Halo 2's ending was a cliff hanger for Halo 3, like how they set up the ark. Another problem is that the characters are pretty boring with Locke just being every other protagonist who just wants to be good. Also the campaign isThe multiplayer is quite fun, and feels like Halo, but the game lost points with its story. The story really just feels like a set up for Halo 6, kind of like how Halo 2's ending was a cliff hanger for Halo 3, like how they set up the ark. Another problem is that the characters are pretty boring with Locke just being every other protagonist who just wants to be good. Also the campaign is about 5 hours long, and about 2/15 missions you actually play as the chief. The multiplayer is a lot more like traditional Halo, with out the load out **** and perks, giving everyone a fair start. Map control also has a bigger sway,as I lost a few games because one team held the fuel rod. Expand
  22. Oct 30, 2015
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game was honestly beautiful and had great game play mechanics but is undersold by being over hyped. The game has nothing to do with the trailers so if you are buying based on that then don't buy it. The game has no boss battle and ends with a cliff hanger that makes the game feel like it's been cut short.... The multiplayer is okay but is ruined by a lack of game modes for it. Overall the game doesn't live up to what i thought it was... don't buy this game unless you actually need it.... Expand
  23. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Best Halo in years. It runs better than any MP game I have ever played. All the idiots giving this game a zero just show themselves to be utter morons. While I don't think its a 10 I would give it a 9,5, I will give it a 10 to offset all the Sony Fantards who are giving it zero.
  24. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    O halo mais completo de todos. Tirando sua narrativa um pouco aquém aos anteriores, nos outros aspectos principalmente jogabilidade e multiplayer evoluiu e muito.
  25. Oct 30, 2015
    10
    A perfect Sequel for the Halo Saga. Halo is still Halo. The Gameplay, Story and movement are superb and multiplayer is a big step in the right direction. Arena for E-Sport and Warzone for a more casual experience.
  26. Oct 30, 2015
    4
    The cammpaign in boring, graphics are not that good. There are a lot of place where you can see they use low resolution. The story is weak. The mp is ok. You can have some fun playing with your friends. I think you should give it a try, but is just an ordinary game.
  27. Oct 30, 2015
    5
    MY GOD, what a **** of a campaign that was. Probably one of the most pretentious, pointless and laughable campaign's I have played, EVER. Designed just to shambolically waste 6 hours of my life that I desperately want back. I shouldn't need to force myself to play Halo, I never had to do that with any of the other Halo's, not even with Halo 4.
    Man, if you thought Halo 4 sucked, wait till
    MY GOD, what a **** of a campaign that was. Probably one of the most pretentious, pointless and laughable campaign's I have played, EVER. Designed just to shambolically waste 6 hours of my life that I desperately want back. I shouldn't need to force myself to play Halo, I never had to do that with any of the other Halo's, not even with Halo 4.
    Man, if you thought Halo 4 sucked, wait till you get a load of this....
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  28. Oct 30, 2015
    9
    Great game. Wonderful story. Good graphics. The gunplay is consistently excellent, and the maps are well designed and paced. This is the best multiplayer available in a halo game. Moreover, the campaign is top notch. It's a bit short, and we don't know enough about Locke even at the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed this game and am happy to include it in the Halo series. Still the best seriesGreat game. Wonderful story. Good graphics. The gunplay is consistently excellent, and the maps are well designed and paced. This is the best multiplayer available in a halo game. Moreover, the campaign is top notch. It's a bit short, and we don't know enough about Locke even at the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed this game and am happy to include it in the Halo series. Still the best series on any system. Expand
  29. Oct 30, 2015
    9
    If you enjoyed past halo games or any good fps's you'll enjoy this one. After reading so many critic reviews, cant believe how far we've come in our whingeing and whining about things such as "the story was average" or marking down a game because the reviewer didnt like the story. Go and watch a movie or read a book if you want master story telling.

    The story in this halo is no better
    If you enjoyed past halo games or any good fps's you'll enjoy this one. After reading so many critic reviews, cant believe how far we've come in our whingeing and whining about things such as "the story was average" or marking down a game because the reviewer didnt like the story. Go and watch a movie or read a book if you want master story telling.

    The story in this halo is no better or worse than previous halos and im a big halo player (mainly single player) and have loved them all.

    The only real criticism of this game would be that the campaign does feel a tad short compared to the other titles. Otherwise, if your not super spoiled and prefer your games to have masterful story telling and still enjoy good gameplay, this game is great.
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  30. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    Halo 5 is all in a polarizing experience. One the one hand you have a finely enhanced formula that allows for spectacular feats of gameplay, and on the other hand you have a by-the-numbers single player experience and a multiplayer component that takes a step back for every step forward. While Halo 5 continues where Halo 4 left off and expands on it in a number of ways, the final productHalo 5 is all in a polarizing experience. One the one hand you have a finely enhanced formula that allows for spectacular feats of gameplay, and on the other hand you have a by-the-numbers single player experience and a multiplayer component that takes a step back for every step forward. While Halo 5 continues where Halo 4 left off and expands on it in a number of ways, the final product never escapes a level of being simply passable, failing to transcend itself to greatness.

    The single player begins by cruelly cauterizing the open plot threads left by Halo 4's single player and Spartan Ops modes. The state of the Covenant leadership, the situation with Halsey and ONI, Cortana's death, Master Chief's newfound augmentations from the Librarian - all of these elements see an abrupt halt to their existence with one exception that I won't spoil, which has been re-purposed here. It should be noted that the marketing campaign for the single player, hinting towards conspiracy, political intrigue, and confrontation between the game's two pivotal characters Locke and the Master Chief, sees the most minimal development and feels the most shoehorned-in aspect of the single player. The plot is largely forgettable, and squanders the potential the rich Halo universe could have provided here. In place of mystery, intrigue, and the nature of an evolving humankind is a predictable, by the numbers affair filled with one dimensional characters, banal dialogue, and a villain so disappointingly superficial and evil as to evoke the Sith characters from George Lucas' Star Wars prequels. While the game manages to pack in quite a bit of lore from Halo materials far and wide, the result is rather soulless as 343 is in pandering mode almost the whole way through.

    It is surprising, then, that the Master Chief and Blue Team see the least development. Rather than assigning compelling personalities to the most decorated and fearsome soldiers humanity has ever seen, Blue Team simply exists to uphold the co-operative mechanics (for providing real friends different bodies) in place, while Locke's team sees the most screen time and dialogue, with just as little personality. Fred in particular exists almost as a ghost - this Spartan, who is in his skill set the most similar to Chief, doesn't have a moment in my memory where I even remember him speaking.

    Where the story may not be able to keep your interests, the gameplay will probably suffice. Halo 5 makes some fairly well implemented changes to the formula, which results in a more mobile brand of Halo's kinetic action. Level design in the single player works best in the game's "corridor" sequences, which put players at the top of a sloped, wide corridor filled with platforms and corridors of varying elevations, goodies to pilfer, and collectibles to unlock. The artificial intelligence across the board seems to have been simplified, probably to create for a more freely flowing experience whose pace is dictated by the player themselves. While the addition of collectibles into the missions is a nice touch, the developers could have used some restraint to avoid crippling the pacing of the game more than the mission structure does so already.

    Of the fifteen missions in the single player, there are a number of fairly short intermission sequences that allow the player to explore a small environment and get their healthy dose of exposition and worldbuilding. The unfortunate result is a product that is no more effective than the environmental storytelling and ambient worldbuilding found in the preceding Halo titles. I feel that 343 wanted so badly to cement its universe by packing it so densely with lore that it overused this liberty and vacated any sense of mystery or intrigue in its world. While there is some cool lore to chew on from time to time, these sections could have been foregone in favor of a better traditional experience. Instead, the single player never feels like it leaves its first act, simply dumping the player off of a cliff the moment their intrigue is sparked.

    The multiplayer component is similarly hit or miss. While the new 12v12 Warzone mode can provide some tense moments and exciting action, the scoring system in the AI infused mode is easily exploitable, and the lack of variety in maps sorely hurts the experience. In regular modes, social playlists are lacking entirely, leaving a roster of small team competitive modes and a currently broken free-for-all mode. The map designs in Arena are fitting of the mode's name, but feature visually bland designs and not many of them. While 343 plans to add free DLC content, the custom map editor forge is missing from launch, and a number of the total maps promised for Halo 5 will be created using said tool. I believe maps generated in forge are no substitute for in-house content - whether the content is free is no excuse.

    In the end, Halo 5 plays it safe and expects its fans to wait patiently for things to improve. I feel many won't.
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  31. Oct 29, 2015
    0
    One of the most disappointing releases of the year. Basically you are looking at 4-5 hour campaign with an extremely mediocre story. Then you get into the multiplayer which has been turned into Call Of Duty, with jet packs, ground slams and a very annoying auto aim feature that I can seem to disable. Split screen has been removed and there is no forge mode. Micro transactions have alsoOne of the most disappointing releases of the year. Basically you are looking at 4-5 hour campaign with an extremely mediocre story. Then you get into the multiplayer which has been turned into Call Of Duty, with jet packs, ground slams and a very annoying auto aim feature that I can seem to disable. Split screen has been removed and there is no forge mode. Micro transactions have also been added for the first time in the form of REQ packs. This doesn't effect Arena mode, but it ruins Warzone by turning it into a pay to win scheme, as nothing is stopping people who choose to fork over cash from spamming the most powerful weapons and vehicles. This greediness is on top of an already overpriced $60 game for the lack of single player content. Halo 5 should be avoided at all costs. Expand
  32. Oct 29, 2015
    2
    The visual and audio are stunning which is something most people can agree upon. The story line felt shorter than most other titles but there were significantly more cut scenes and dialog. The story line was in depth and better explained as you went along each mission unlike in some previous titles. The campaign felt as if it had plenty replay ability in which every play through afterwordsThe visual and audio are stunning which is something most people can agree upon. The story line felt shorter than most other titles but there were significantly more cut scenes and dialog. The story line was in depth and better explained as you went along each mission unlike in some previous titles. The campaign felt as if it had plenty replay ability in which every play through afterwords would unlock new mysteries or places I had not previously noticed or explored. I did not find that the story line felt hopeless or as if humanity were on the edge of annihilation like previous titles. This was a disappointment to me because I felt the hopelessness and the will to fight to the end nomatter what the cost gave halo a unique twist on the series. I was disappointed with how blue teams relationships and story line was handled because it felt very lackluster if not non-existent. Chief also lacked a bunch of screen time in favor of Locke who is kind of an unlikable character. The multiplayer is fun but is unbalanced at times , especially in war zone. The Campaign and multiplayer are two of the last decent ones in the Xbox FPS universe and I look forward to the next title. All in all , it is a great game that some will love and others may not care much for. It is not a halo game like in the past and is something new, so make sure when you play that you don't treat it like a previous title. Expand
  33. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    - The backstory (and thus much of the story throughout the game) is a complete unknown unless you've invested yourself in the expanded halo universe (i.e. the novels, comics, shows or movies)

    - All of your new Spartan abilities are neat, but for some reason they decided to that maintaining ADS while being struck had to go in this game, after introducing it in Halo 4. Effectively
    - The backstory (and thus much of the story throughout the game) is a complete unknown unless you've invested yourself in the expanded halo universe (i.e. the novels, comics, shows or movies)

    - All of your new Spartan abilities are neat, but for some reason they decided to that maintaining ADS while being struck had to go in this game, after introducing it in Halo 4. Effectively guarantees that if you're at medium range and you get caught out, you're dead. It is also incredibly jarring, and ruins the flow of combat in both the campaign and online.

    - No split-screen co-op for Campaign because apparently 60fps is more important than actually enjoying a large chunk of the game with a friend. This fact is not widely advertised, and unless you read Video-game related media (I.e. IGN, Destructoid, etc.) you will have no idea going in.

    - REQ system basically ensures that if your team is at all behind in online, you're going to stay there and lose the match.

    - Graphics still aren't even on par with many PS4 exclusives or other XBOX exclusives (or multi-platform titles on PS4). Cinematics and facial graphics are stellar, but beyond that this doesn't look like a flagship game in 2015.

    - All of the story elements advertised for the last few months are completely missing in the game itself.

    - If you are playing solo, the AI which controls your squad mates is less competent than AI from a PS2 game.

    - New weapons (like the grenade launchers) are pretty useless. Very limited splash damage, take too long to be of any use in fast-paced online combat

    - Actual game mechanics are incredibly solid, and there is still a lot of fun to be had so long as you learn to tolerate the sometimes frustrating issues.

    Ultimately, this is a solid game, but it could have been so much better. The confusing story is baffling (even after having just played through the first 4 games in the last 2 months), the characters are deadpan and lack any interesting features (with the possible exception being Buck, though he is underused), and the irritating mechanical choices (i.e. ADS and REQ system) are frustrating. BUT: The gameplay itself is otherwise solid, and if you're playing this purely for the online you should still have some fun. However, it is difficult to recommend at retail price.
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  34. Oct 29, 2015
    0
    I'm going to rip the multiplayer apart. The barrier to entry in multiplayer is gigantic. If you haven't been playing Halo or some other similar shooter constantly for the past couple of years, you are going to have a hard time. There is no matchmaking, no elo or ranking system, and not a hint of team skill distribution. If you don't put together your team of experienced players you willI'm going to rip the multiplayer apart. The barrier to entry in multiplayer is gigantic. If you haven't been playing Halo or some other similar shooter constantly for the past couple of years, you are going to have a hard time. There is no matchmaking, no elo or ranking system, and not a hint of team skill distribution. If you don't put together your team of experienced players you will get a random bunch. Many people are just hiding collecting points and there is constant logging off if your team falls behind. I know many of you are probably saying this is all typical competitive shooter stuff and you are right. All that BS is here in spades! Plus there is a bit of pay to win going on with the microtransactions. Expand
  35. Oct 29, 2015
    1
    Call of Duty Advanced Warfare sucked but it's better than this. It uses many of the same mechanics. If you are are long time HALO fan you like this, everyone else? Mediocre shooter.
  36. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    amazing game goes back to the old school days equal starts has a high skill gap solid smooth 60 fps looks great at the dynamic resolution great campaign if you are an old school halo fan you'll love it tons of fan service & it being the 2nd entry in the trilogy it has a cliff hanger ending but far better then halo 2's ending it just made me pumped to see what they'll do with halo 6
  37. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    HALO 5 : GUARDIANS demonstrates that 343 Industries is doing a great job with halo, the game is simply magnificent! the only problem is the end of the game,but is not a big problem
  38. Oct 29, 2015
    5
    No mention of master chef
    He was the best cook though!
    Why Microsoft why! I loved his show on fox soo much.
    much better than the stupid hells kitchen
  39. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    This game doesn't deserve the hate it gets, the campaign is pretty good and the multiplayer is PERFECT.

    Anyone who is basing their review on campaign shouldn't even submit it because campaign is only like 30% of the game. The new arena brings back the good old halo 3 days of competitive but even better. Warzone is insanely fun, its just like BTB but bigger and better! This game for sure
    This game doesn't deserve the hate it gets, the campaign is pretty good and the multiplayer is PERFECT.

    Anyone who is basing their review on campaign shouldn't even submit it because campaign is only like 30% of the game. The new arena brings back the good old halo 3 days of competitive but even better. Warzone is insanely fun, its just like BTB but bigger and better! This game for sure has the best MP in Halo history.

    I'm enjoying this game just as much as Halo 3, which I though was impossible.
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  40. Oct 29, 2015
    0
    Game just came out 2 days ago and EVERYONE has finished it already. What else do you need to know about this thing? This entire genre is crap and I pity all of the fans, people that have limited enough gaming experience to consider THIS good. I haven't felt this ripped off by a game since Crysis 3. It's nothing more than a pile of melodramatic hyperbole capable of entertaining a littleGame just came out 2 days ago and EVERYONE has finished it already. What else do you need to know about this thing? This entire genre is crap and I pity all of the fans, people that have limited enough gaming experience to consider THIS good. I haven't felt this ripped off by a game since Crysis 3. It's nothing more than a pile of melodramatic hyperbole capable of entertaining a little more than an infant. I appreciate the game mechanics and the technology that went into making it, but not even the graphics are as detailed as most other AAA titles. You really have to be lacking in experience to enjoy something like this. Doesn't matter though. Look forward to your recycled pile of crap next year, children. Meanwhile, all of the rest of the none Xbone fanboys are playing real video games that are actually worth the money. Expand
  41. Oct 29, 2015
    4
    Overall a disappointment. The production values are very high and the character models look amazing especially in the Story mode. However the the story is lackluster and none of the new Spartans get any character flushed out. The multiplayer is where this game falls right on its ass. The ground-pound is one of the most useless moves you can do. To anyone who has played any Halo game inOverall a disappointment. The production values are very high and the character models look amazing especially in the Story mode. However the the story is lackluster and none of the new Spartans get any character flushed out. The multiplayer is where this game falls right on its ass. The ground-pound is one of the most useless moves you can do. To anyone who has played any Halo game in their life, it's just a perfect chance for them to pelt you with bullets (combined with Radar and the dash move, a way to see the player and evade). The game focuses on power weapons, telling you when they spawn, and encourages good play with them. So to returning Halo veterans, all that skill with the Battle rifle and grenades is almost worthless. Power weapons require very little skill to use and usually amount to 45% of all kills in one match. Most other kills amount to spraying the assault rifle with a bunch of your team mates nearby. Power weapons were important in other Halo games, but they were balanced. Now you just camp in the area of the strongest weapon and constantly get more ammo for it. The multiplayer maps feel a little too small for 4 vs 4 and their layouts can range from simple design to maddening confusing. I completely dislike the zoom-in feature on most guns. In old Halo games it zoomed-in so you couldn't see your hud but got a better shot. The zoom-in feature in Halo 5 is useless on most guns as it lets you look down the sights. This would be helpful... in Call Of Duty, but it's worthless here. Your radical doesn't change in Halo, there's no point. The new req system is... lame. It's a direct clone of Counter - Strike: Global Offensive. This would still be fine if it wasn't used only in one game mode. If you're going to commit to a new system of unlocking, you should apply it to everything. Take a chance, believe in your new system! But they chose to take the safe route, only for those who want to try it. Then why even have it in the first place? So you can drain another $3 from impatient gamers? The multiplayer mode amounts to plenty of sticking together, bullet spraying and camping. No strats, just point, shoot and camp. Does that sound like fun? Overall, Halo 5 tries to change up it's multiplayer but fails to commit to it. Halo is desperately trying to lure Call Of Duty players back to Halo. And as someone who detests the CoD series since Black Ops 1, I can honestly say Halo 5 is almost as bad as CoD: Ghosts. Expand
  42. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    Fantastic game. No issues on launch and the game runs brilliantly. Campaign is a tad short however as huge halo fanboy the story being told was incredible. New multiplayer is the exact re work halo needed to bring something new the table, with an awesome ranking system to boot.
  43. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    este halo si bien no cumple con todo lo que 343 prometió fácilmente se puede decir que es un buen juego y que te deja con un muy buen sabor de boca el multijugador es adictivo cumple lo que promete y la campaña es muy buena para mi mi conclusión es que es chingon
  44. Oct 29, 2015
    8
    the game itself is pretty solid. The multiplayer great.
    However dropping splitscreen for a game FOCUSED on CO-OP in its campaign is beyond ridiculous.
    that and the mediocre story and short campaign really hurt the game in my honest opinion. If the story could have kept up with the quality of other halo media like hunt the truth or some of the books. and if this game had splitscreen and
    the game itself is pretty solid. The multiplayer great.
    However dropping splitscreen for a game FOCUSED on CO-OP in its campaign is beyond ridiculous.
    that and the mediocre story and short campaign really hurt the game in my honest opinion.
    If the story could have kept up with the quality of other halo media like hunt the truth or some of the books. and if this game had splitscreen and had some of the things like emblems not in microtransactions (armor and weapon skins and the like im fine ok with i guess though i rather hate microtransactions). This game could have easily scored way higher in my book.

    I would have given the game a 7.5 but we cant do fractions here on Metacritic
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  45. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    Halo 5 is currently the best game on this generation of consoles. Its multiplayer is more competitive and diverse than any other first person shooter ever released. If you don’t enjoy Halo multiplayer then you shouldn’t consider yourself much of a gamer.

    Only downside you might find is no split screen, but that is a luxury worth giving up when you’re gaining so much more! No top tier
    Halo 5 is currently the best game on this generation of consoles. Its multiplayer is more competitive and diverse than any other first person shooter ever released. If you don’t enjoy Halo multiplayer then you shouldn’t consider yourself much of a gamer.

    Only downside you might find is no split screen, but that is a luxury worth giving up when you’re gaining so much more! No top tier FPS can still support split screen.
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  46. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    I'm really pleased with this new Halo. The servers and matchmaking are very stable for a launch that big. By the way, I would have liked to have a split screen coop. The new mode online mode Warzone is really fun to play.

    They enhanced the controls and now Halo is more responsive then ever. They modernized it faster by not Call of Duty style. It respect the Halo legacy, but still evolve.
  47. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    An epic experience. The campaign is very good, with an epic scale and emotional punch but it has flaws such as the heavy reliance on its own universe, still, there's a lot of fun to be had here and the multiplayer is truly brilliant, it revives the competition soul Halo once had. For any fan of the franchise it's a must own.
  48. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    The campaign of Halo 5 is a real waste of potential, at the end of the adventure you still don't know anything about the story of the majority of the spartans and the adventure is flat and linear, almost boring (almost).
    Fortunately the gameplay is superb, so good that even if you forget why you are fighting hordes of enemies you will never want to stop killing them.
    The multiplayer is
    The campaign of Halo 5 is a real waste of potential, at the end of the adventure you still don't know anything about the story of the majority of the spartans and the adventure is flat and linear, almost boring (almost).
    Fortunately the gameplay is superb, so good that even if you forget why you are fighting hordes of enemies you will never want to stop killing them.
    The multiplayer is well made, just like all the others halo Game.
    Ultimately Halo 5 is a good, solid game but not the masterpiece that I was hoping for...........
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  49. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Only reason it is not a 10 is because the ending was not very informative or conclusive to the present problems in the campaign. It did not have enough closure(and i know they try to set it up for the next halo but still). Only other thing i can nit-pick is graphics and textures. They are not as good as halo 4 was. Lots of jaggys and the waterfalls look absolutely horrendous. I am talkingOnly reason it is not a 10 is because the ending was not very informative or conclusive to the present problems in the campaign. It did not have enough closure(and i know they try to set it up for the next halo but still). Only other thing i can nit-pick is graphics and textures. They are not as good as halo 4 was. Lots of jaggys and the waterfalls look absolutely horrendous. I am talking Halo CE bad. But it was worth cutting a few corners in order to get the 60fps. The campaign story-wise is very good and keeps you on your toes. Gameplay is best of halo series yet, and additions to gameplay do not take away from the halo feel at all. Multiplayer is where halo 5 really shines. I would be close to saying halo 5 multiplayer is the best multiplayer out of a halo game ever. They returned to the roots of halo multiplayer: simple and competitive gaming. No loadout BS. No jet packs. NO armor lock. None of that. If anything they made it even more addictive to play because of great additions such as the short evade, charging, melee, and ground pound. Cant say enough about the multiplayer, especially warzone. Warzone just offers so much more than what halo ever offered. Expand
  50. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. TL;DR Campaign 4/10 | Mutiplayer 7/10 - - Overall 5.5/10

    Review (Campaign) The Halo 5 Campaign had a very good start especially when 343i showed Hunt The Truth. The idea of having all of these intertwining problems (Civil War, Promethean Threat, the Return of the Flood, etc.) sped up the hype train very much. It was also cool to see 343i go back to the roots of Halo 2 by having a second main character in the campaign. Unfortunately at release, it all fell apart. The problems with Halo 5's campaign fall under two categories, the gameplay and the story, with the latter being the worse of the two.

    In Halo 5 Guardians, you have access to squad commands, this is where the person playing as Locke or Chief can command his AI allies to move to position, to attack a target, pick up a weapon, or to revive a fallen teammate. The problem with this though is that the AI do not respond to threats and only follow the specific orders. For example, if you get downed, you can call an ally to revive you. Most of the time, they won't sprint towards you and they won't avoid hostile fire. They're very slow and very very stupid but this can avoided if you do coop. Humans > AI always.

    There are a number of problems however with the story itself. The first is that the Master Chief is not a main character of Halo 5 Guardians. If we consider Locke and Chief as main characters, they should both have an equal amount of game time. Out of the 12 actual gameplay misssions (15 total but 3 are just walk around cutscenes for Osiris), only a 4th of the game has Blue Team involved. I feel like 343i wanted to replace the Master Chief which is very hard to do. Bungie did a very good job at making the Arbiter a main character by giving him good dialogue, good background, and good story revolving around the covenant. Locke on the other hand is a very bland ONI agent that doesn't really get me to have any emotional attachment whatsoever. Campaign is pretty short for a Halo game but it's really the reveal of the villain which sucks the most. A lot of people wanted the flood, mendicant bias, and/or insurrectionists in this Halo and all we get is more prometheans, this time with Cortana as their leader. Most people were tired of the cheesy love story between Chief and Cortana. To top it all off, they end the game in a cliffhanger that doesn't really get the feeling of a good (But annoying) cliffhanger like Halo 2 "Sir, Finish this Fight.". In short, Characters are bland, the story is bland, and the cliffhanger is disappointing. I guess 343i is really related to Bungie (See Destiny).

    Final Score: 4/10

    Review (Multiplayer)

    Unlike the abysmall launch of Halo: Master Chief Collection, Halo 5: Guardians had a very solid launch with little to no server issues (EAST US). As a person who bought MCC day one, I felt that 343i didn't do a satisfactory job at fixing the game (With coop not even having a stable frame rate above 10). I was really concerned that the same may happen with Halo 5 but luckily I was wrong. With that being said, the game doesn't really innovate beyond Warzones which is the redeeming factor of the game.

    Almost all the spartan abilities (Thruster Packs, Ground Pound) were either already in the game or are just gimmicky and unnecessary. There is no real use for Ground Pound and for Spartan Charge whatsoever and yet people claim that these changes are innovative. It feels as if that 343i couldn't add in anything new to improve the game but tried to balance what features were already in Halo 4 (Thruster Pack [AA] and Sprint). Due to this, grenades are much more powerful and you die much faster than in other Halo which is disappointing. Despite these changes, Warzone is without a doubt the most innovative addition to the Halo franchise and I love it a lot.

    Warzone is a 12v12 game mode that pits 1 team vs 1 team vs neutral enemies. This forces players to not only kill the enemy team and secure bases, but to work with others at taking out AI enemies that spawn in. There is a problem with this which whoever gets the last hit takes all the points (Someone can snipe an enemy from a mile away and take all the points) but it is a really cool idea. I loved it the moment I saw the game mode at E3. If 343i can fix some of the balance issues in the game and make more warzone maps (Or even allow us to make them in forge), they've got a really good game ahead of them.

    Final Verdict 7/10

    Conclusion: Halo 5 is another divisive game just like Halo 4. There are the fanboys on Metacritic who give the game 9's and 10's blindly buying whatever 343i gives them and the haters who give this game a 0. I don't think either of them should be allowed to review games because Halo 5 needs criticism but not hatred. 343i is improving Halo but I do not believe that this is the game that will turn the franchise around after Halo 4/MCC. Hopefully they'll get it right next time with Halo 6. Good luck Spartans!

    Final Verdict 5.5/10 - Better luck next time!
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  51. Oct 29, 2015
    0
    So far I am not at all happy with this release.

    1 had to reinstall 3 times to get the damn thing to correctly install 2 NO split screen, it should have been an option, and at the very least they could have added support for offline co op split screen 3 micro transactions. 4 boring campaign that lacks any choice motivation and comes across as being led around by the nose.
    So far I am not at all happy with this release.

    1 had to reinstall 3 times to get the damn thing to correctly install

    2 NO split screen, it should have been an option, and at the very least they could have added support for offline co op split screen

    3 micro transactions.

    4 boring campaign that lacks any choice motivation and comes across as being led around by the nose. Players have no input other than following along a predetermined path , predetermined actions and events. one might as well sit back and just watch the AIs play the game. As a gamer of over 30 years I can tell you the best days of FPS have long since past. These days it is pay to win, pay to advance, pay for a hat. Where once FPS required thought and planning, now it is run and gun drop and pop you back. No costs for death, No thought required..

    The best part of Halo was sitting down with my peers and playing together. By removing split screens, 343 has hollowed out the game. No more can my friends arrive at a house settle in for the day and leave when our fingers are worn and our heads are aching.
    No longer can I enjoy running missions with my son, instead he has to watch me play or I watch him. we had so looked forward to running Halo 5 together, he is old enough to no longer need to be carried and we had planned to put the game on hard and battle our way through together.

    All of that has been cut to cater to the whims of online multiplayer, 343i has disgarded the very people who supported Halo through thick and thin. We were patient when 343i dropped the ball ref MCC. We forgave them and looked forward instead of placing blame.

    yet 343 has abandoned the split screen crowd , not even provided a campaign split screen .

    this is likely the last 343i game I buy. The game designers have decided to focus on twitch players in the 10-30 group and is completely ignoring the players who helped Microsoft Bungie 343i build the brand of XBOX and HALO.

    thanks guys way to be loyal to those who were loyal.

    4 REQs ( seems like every game wants to be an RNG SKINNER BOX)

    5 online only.

    6 plays like COD

    7 super fast re-spawns means no real death penalty. Resulting in sloppy play styles and suicide runs....

    it really is a shame the way these large release high profile games are all adding RNG , PTW. Halo COD Destiny all feel like games designed around Tryhard kids and are deliberately designed to get players addicted to the RNG...

    If I feel different a few days from now I will change the score , but for now I am not at all happy how 343i is just following the pack instead of leading the way.

    What happened to playing a FPS on a level field where everyone has an equal chance. Halo 4 was a PITA to play because
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  52. Oct 29, 2015
    0
    I don't have the time to enjoy multiplayer, and the campaign story wasn't just bad, it was abysmal, I beat the campaign on heroic in 7 hours of straight gaming and in the end I wanted to grasp some hope that the ending was gonna be good but instead all I felt was that the narrative could not have been more disjointed and **** up then it was. It is nothing like hunt the truth, it isI don't have the time to enjoy multiplayer, and the campaign story wasn't just bad, it was abysmal, I beat the campaign on heroic in 7 hours of straight gaming and in the end I wanted to grasp some hope that the ending was gonna be good but instead all I felt was that the narrative could not have been more disjointed and **** up then it was. It is nothing like hunt the truth, it is nothing like the ad campaign, they never really wanted to hurt the chief there was no stress about locke and the chief really hashing it out. In the end they portrayed locke as if in equal standing to the chief and made one of my most favorite characters a villain who made positively no sense. The end of the game left me both mystified and tremendously frustrated as all it made me feel was that the whole campaign was the prolouge to halo 6. This review is based on the campaign experience which is honestly why I bought the game and I cannot be any more angry with how **** the campaign is. Expand
  53. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    The following is only a review of the campaign on Legendary.

    I'll start with the positives. In true Halo fashion, the encounters you'll face in Halo 5 are incredibly diverse with interesting enemies and smart enemy AI. Every fight feels crafted to challenge the player, while still having more than 1 solution. The guns, while less imaginative as previous Halo titles (half the weapons are
    The following is only a review of the campaign on Legendary.

    I'll start with the positives. In true Halo fashion, the encounters you'll face in Halo 5 are incredibly diverse with interesting enemies and smart enemy AI. Every fight feels crafted to challenge the player, while still having more than 1 solution. The guns, while less imaginative as previous Halo titles (half the weapons are just some variation of the assault rifle), handle really well and encourage movement and precision. From a gameplay standpoint, I'd say the campaign gets a solid 9/10.

    But that's about the end of the good stuff. Here come the negatives.

    There is no splitscreen co-op. Honestly, I think the Halo series has probably been the best co-op experience up to date, and if your friends have XBones and a copy of the game themselves, you can still play co-op via Xbox Live. However, nothing beats the co-op experience of sharing a big screen sitting next to each other on the couch passing the controller off to the 5th guy on every death. I remember having a blast spending hours with my friends tackling the Halo campaigns every time a new title would come out. I was looking forward to doing the same here, but sadly, Halo 5 is devoid of this experience. The reasoning for the absence of this core feature is because they wanted to keep the game at 60FPS. If your wondering why they couldn't just bite the bullet to include the feature, it's because ---the gameplay is tied to the frame rate---. This means that if they reduced the framerate to 30 FPS for splitscreen, the game would move at half the normal speed. This is a problem that could have easily been fixed early in development if they just based the game's pace on the XBone's internal clock, rather than the running frame-rate, but they didn't. Instead, they made the biggest rookie mistake a game developer could make and shipped the game without fixing it. Inexcusable.

    The story doesn't make a whole lot of sense at first. In nearly every other Halo game, they've done a good job at introducing the setting to the player. In previous Halos, the player knows who they are fighting and why before the first mission. In Halo 5, they throw you into the middle of a battle between Forerunner dudes and Covenant on the first mission. Are these the same Covenant we were fighting in Halo 4? Why are the Covenant shooting at the Forerunner dudes? Why is Dr. Halsey in Covenant Custody? Where did the Arbiter go and what happened to the peace between Humans and Elites at the end of Halo 3? All these questions will be buzzing in your head as you mindlessly shoot at the shiny things that shoot back at you.

    The graphics are bad. Now hear me out: I don't mean this from a technical standpoint. If you look closely at your character's hands and weapon, you will notice a lot of fine details (such as leather wrinkles, carbon fiber materials, etc.) that were definitely not present in previous Halo games. There are also many points where there are lots of particle effects flying around, yet performance remains stable. What I mean when I say the graphics are bad is that it is often very hard to discern important features from the visuals. For instance, in true halo fashion, different elites will have different strengths based on the color of their armor. However, you really won't be able to tell red armor from silver armor unless you stand right next to them. If you're sniping or just shooting from a distance, all you can really see are silhouettes and weapon fire. This is a result of poor lighting, which was not present in previous games.

    Additionally, there are a few spots where environment textures get blurry and you can see vertices on environment features (such as rocks).

    In the end the game is a resounding "Okay." The lack of core features, bad writing, and poor graphics are offset by the quality of the gameplay itself, which remains fantastic. If you were hoping for a split-screen experience, you can skip this game, because 343 Industries doesn't know how to use a goddamn internal clock.
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  54. Oct 29, 2015
    1
    This game is an incomplete mess. At launch this game is missing a ton of gametypes as well as missing split screen, lan, and forge mode. The graphics are sub-par with flickering shadows, a resolution that is constantly wavering between 720p and 1080p, and a framerate that is only locked at 60fps when you are in close range, enemies that are mid to long range will stutter around at 30fps orThis game is an incomplete mess. At launch this game is missing a ton of gametypes as well as missing split screen, lan, and forge mode. The graphics are sub-par with flickering shadows, a resolution that is constantly wavering between 720p and 1080p, and a framerate that is only locked at 60fps when you are in close range, enemies that are mid to long range will stutter around at 30fps or lower.

    Halo 5's map selection was advertised as the largest and most varied for any Halo game to date. This is untrue,many of the maps that came with the game are just forge maps that took no effort for the dev team to make. Besides that we are given 5 true arena maps, 3 of which are just remixes of midship, if midship were 3 times larger and filled with clutter. I haven't bothered to play any of the warzone maps, due to that mode's use of microtransactions.

    The story is just bad and plays out like fanfiction. I'll leave it at that to avoid spoilers.

    Other gripes: aiming feels clunky due to deadzones and aim acceleration, ranking system does not match players by rank, Master Chief is only in 3 out of the 15 missions, weapon sounds seem weak. ADS blocks part of the screen when zoomed in on certain weapons despite functioning the same as previous games, effectively making this mechanic a downgrade.

    I don't know what is going on at 343 but the fact that they continue to release broken and unfinished games every year is a major problem. Their we'll fix it later mentality will kill this franchise. It's beyond my understanding how Bungie was able to release fully functioning Halo 3 way back in 07 filled with features and customization options after 3 years dev time, yet 343 with a larger staff and an equal amount of time can ony manage a game with about half the content of H3.
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  55. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Excelente juego, la campaña para disfrutarla al 100% debes buscar todos los datos y calaveras, excelente historia mejor que las que presentaba Bungie en su tiempo lo de 343i se siente la profundidad de la trama y no solo disparar como loco. Multijugador muy bueno sigue siendo Halo a pesar de los cambios nada que te cueste trabajo acostumbrarse
  56. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    This game does not deserve anything below a 5 and anyone who rates it below a 5 is not giving a serious review. While the campaign isn't the greatest in the series I would still rate it ahead of halo 4 and halo 2. The new squad mechanics are cool, but halo has always had dodgy AI and this game is no different. The Spartan abilities and Semi-ADS game mechanics are fun and work well. TheThis game does not deserve anything below a 5 and anyone who rates it below a 5 is not giving a serious review. While the campaign isn't the greatest in the series I would still rate it ahead of halo 4 and halo 2. The new squad mechanics are cool, but halo has always had dodgy AI and this game is no different. The Spartan abilities and Semi-ADS game mechanics are fun and work well. The audio in the game is fantastic and the technical aspect of the game is incredible.

    Where this game really shines is the multiplayer. It is the most fun I've had in multiplayer since I bought my Xbox One. All the new abilities bring a high-action and fast paced multiplayer that has not been seen before in Halo. The game, for the most part, is well balanced and the multiplayer is stable. I've been dropped from games a couple times, but nothing out of the ordinary for an online game. Warzone is fun, but I can't say much about it because I've spent so much time in arena! A side note about Warzone, IT IS NOT PAY TO WIN. Every time you rank up you get a pack, every time you get a weapon commendation you get a pack, and you are able to buy a gold pack about every 6-10 arena games depending on your performance. Those claiming the game is pay to win don't understand how the game works.

    In conclusion, the game isn't perfect. However, if you enjoy Halo, if you appreciate a story that isn't all about chief, and if you enjoy a fast paced and action packed multiplayer experience, buy the game. I love it, and I think if people would actually give it a chance, they would love it too.
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  57. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    Honestly very disappointed for an exclusive and got hyped for nothing while halo 5 isn't a bad game per say it's nothing great either and surely nothing special like it was hyped to be and should being an exclusive and all. It's not suppose to be just another average shooter like CoD or other shooters on the market that you can play across multiple platforms it's halo a title that isHonestly very disappointed for an exclusive and got hyped for nothing while halo 5 isn't a bad game per say it's nothing great either and surely nothing special like it was hyped to be and should being an exclusive and all. It's not suppose to be just another average shooter like CoD or other shooters on the market that you can play across multiple platforms it's halo a title that is suppose to be more and draw people over to Xbox one. At end of the day they took more steps back then forward and tried to play it safe and copy and pasted other shooters on the market versus what they at least have done with past sequels and did with halo 4 where while not mine or most halo fan's favorite with halo 4 they at least tried moving forward with more customization and progression then ever before while still maintaining that halo feel but just was poorly executed in the end. With halo 5 they decided to remove a lot of that customization and progression that they added to multiplayer and instead went backwards while copying and pasting from other shooters on the market and it shows as it's not only nothing new and special but lacking in comparison to last halo 4 for sure. Even cod bo3 will have more customization and progression with its multiplayer and campaign then halo does now which is sad considering the story and lore behind halo that devs could use to draw creativity from with everything and not just story.

    For example Spartans should not all be identically the same and they should have some form of different progression towards each Spartan that makes each Spartan and character feel like who they are lore wise like they tried to do with classes in halo 4 but just poorly executed the idea and could have been fixed and improved upon with halo 5 instead of taking the easy route like older shooters normally do and just make everything identical and the same. This is suppose to be Xbox one's biggest exclusive and they not only remove spilt screen which was one of its biggest draws that set it aside from a lot of today's games and shooters but they developed a poor story and campaign that is just average and what you expect from other shooters but not the halo franchise and honestly it isn't nothing special visual wise for next gen consoles that is for sure as I own both Xbox one and PS4 and honestly halo 5 looked like halo 4 visually in my opinion but just slightly better which I am sure had to do with the decision to go with 60 FPs versus better visuals at end of the day. Honestly not like people game at 4k resolutions no matter what gaming platform as the average person/gamer games on 1080p for the most part or even 720p for some so anything 30 to 60fps would have been more then fine on the average TV and still run smooth while looking good.

    Bottomline while it is smooth running and still halo it is nothing special with a sub par campaign and story that does nothing to draw you in and a multiplayer that is lacking and just a copy and paste job of other shooters in the gaming market and considering the the track record of 343 studios and the mess that MCC was I would say Microsoft needs to hire new team to take over Halo franchise before it's too late as 343 studios clearly not fight team of devs for halo franchise. Even the new microtransactions in multiplayer are a copy and paste job lol. So unless your fanboy who has halo goggles on you will be better off looking for another shooter and it pains me to say this since I disliked both ghosts and advanced warfare and wouldn't normally reccomend this franchise but you gonna be better off with Black ops 3 from the beta I played and what I have seen and read about the campaign or this fun and pretty successful franchise of Rainbow six with titles siege and division that's for sure.
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  58. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    The game is simply amazing, it's the next gen Halo I was expected, very smooth with 60fps, awesome graphics and a very fluid system combat, excellent storytelling and see the arbiter and buck back was very very nice! It's a 9/10 for me because the campaign is a little short (16 hrs in legendary) and no splitscreen, but when forge come out (and others game modes) it's going to be an 10/10,The game is simply amazing, it's the next gen Halo I was expected, very smooth with 60fps, awesome graphics and a very fluid system combat, excellent storytelling and see the arbiter and buck back was very very nice! It's a 9/10 for me because the campaign is a little short (16 hrs in legendary) and no splitscreen, but when forge come out (and others game modes) it's going to be an 10/10, the game feels like Halo again (Not like Halo 4) and I feel the same emotions like when I play Halo 1-3 almost 10 years ago, best Halo game so far! Expand
  59. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    The game is incredible, a the best gameplay the all Halos, amazing Graphics and fantastic history, The best multiplayer in the Halo history, warzone is epic, the arena mode is so balanced
  60. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    Fluid. Smooth. Lag free. Even matchmaking coop it has. Good story, not the best, but told you the right way. For me its a truly halo series game. Its has it all. It has unique online modes. New grinding stuff.
    Not a single drop on FPS, best solid to date shooter game in market.
    Graphics is not the best ever, but is a truly next gen. I have no complains. Just buy it seriously, there is
    Fluid. Smooth. Lag free. Even matchmaking coop it has. Good story, not the best, but told you the right way. For me its a truly halo series game. Its has it all. It has unique online modes. New grinding stuff.
    Not a single drop on FPS, best solid to date shooter game in market.
    Graphics is not the best ever, but is a truly next gen.
    I have no complains. Just buy it seriously, there is no regret. If you ever loved the story, graphics, gameplay or online of halo, you get it all better now with this one!
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  61. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    Halo 5 continues on what is probably the greatest gaming franchise in history. The graphics are great, the lighting and textures are amazingly done. The story is very good if you've followed past ho games. This is actually my favorite halo game I've ever played. Just very aspect of the game is fantastic. The gameplay is the best gameplay of any game I've played this year far and away theHalo 5 continues on what is probably the greatest gaming franchise in history. The graphics are great, the lighting and textures are amazingly done. The story is very good if you've followed past ho games. This is actually my favorite halo game I've ever played. Just very aspect of the game is fantastic. The gameplay is the best gameplay of any game I've played this year far and away the best overall game I've played this year and one of my personal favorites EVER! Its just so well polished and balanced. Free dlc,it just seems like 343 and Microsoft really care about the quality of games they give to gamers and it shows. Beast of a game point blank!! Expand
  62. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    GOOD:Best in HALO history multiplayer / Innovative war zone / Arena specializing in e-sports / Brilliant sound / Fixing 60fps BAD: Mediocre campaign
  63. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    The game play feels pretty good, but I'm only in this for the online ranked play, as fluid as the gameplay feels, the maps are pretty terrible from a competitive standpoint, I'm really hoping some DLC or some forge-type stuff will be released soon because the maps that you currently have to play ranked on are some of the worst designed maps I've ever seen in any FPS game ever, I do likeThe game play feels pretty good, but I'm only in this for the online ranked play, as fluid as the gameplay feels, the maps are pretty terrible from a competitive standpoint, I'm really hoping some DLC or some forge-type stuff will be released soon because the maps that you currently have to play ranked on are some of the worst designed maps I've ever seen in any FPS game ever, I do like the gun balance so far though, grenade blast radius is still a little too high, but I know that's not going to change. I could go on and on about minor things (grenades bouncing funny off different surfaces) but I won't, I hope they continue adding stuff, need more than 2-3 maps. Expand
  64. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    I just started playing Halo 5 last night and I am blown away! It is so nice to play a game that was strictly designed for the Xbox One rather then being an upgraded title that is also on Xbox 360. The graphics are stellar, the gameplay is addicting as hell, and it does a great job honoring the past titles. If you are a fan of Halo, heck if you are a first person shooter fan, you owe itI just started playing Halo 5 last night and I am blown away! It is so nice to play a game that was strictly designed for the Xbox One rather then being an upgraded title that is also on Xbox 360. The graphics are stellar, the gameplay is addicting as hell, and it does a great job honoring the past titles. If you are a fan of Halo, heck if you are a first person shooter fan, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Halo 5 guardians! I am not a big multiplayer fan, but I find myself wanting to play Warzone and Arena. Lastly, people need to quit complaining about the lack of split screen! Honestly with Xbox Live I would rather play co-op online and have the whole television screen to myself. Expand
  65. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    Halo 5 is the least complete Halo game to be released since Halo 2 way back in 2004. 343 definitely focused their efforts on tweaking the formula to get the game to play the way it does now, and in its own right it's a fun shooting experience. The problem with Halo 5 is that it doesn't see unification of the various elements that comprise it, and feels rather soulless as a result.

    The
    Halo 5 is the least complete Halo game to be released since Halo 2 way back in 2004. 343 definitely focused their efforts on tweaking the formula to get the game to play the way it does now, and in its own right it's a fun shooting experience. The problem with Halo 5 is that it doesn't see unification of the various elements that comprise it, and feels rather soulless as a result.

    The game's single player is rife with banal dialogue, interchangeable cookie-cutter characters, and a meandering story that's constantly broken up, seemingly never leaving its first act. I don't understand the high praise the storytelling has been getting: Cortana's back in the picture, shattering the impact of her death in Halo 4, and what's done with her character is nauseatingly trite, as is the big bad of the story, the utterly unimaginative Warden.

    While the focus of the marketing for Halo 5 was directed on the confrontation between Locke and Chief, the result of this conflict is almost laughable and forgotten in favor of a larger plot thread that begins to materialize as the story progresses. Along their journey players will run into characters from established Halo canon such as Halsey, The Arbiter, Blue Team, Buck, and everybody's favorite, Sarah Palmer. The new and returning characters from Halo 4 lack any depth or charisma, existing as vehicles to ferry the character from mission to mission. You may have even forgot, for instance, that Halo 4 had a shipboard AI that would interact with you every now and again in that game. The AI appears here to deliver a couple of lines of dialogue before disappearing, never to be seen again. I see this as a missed opportunity, since the nature of artificial intelligence seems to be such a big part of the story.

    In fact, much of the single player is filled with missed opportunities. Here we have the Master Chief and Blue Team, the most decorated group of Spartans in existence, and the game can't even devote half its time to filling their shoes. What's worse is that the Spartans of Blue Team are characterized even more poorly than their counterparts in Locke's squad, Osiris, existing merely to provide co-op players with vessels to play the story without cloning the Chief. The Arbiter, in the meantime, wages war against a dying Covenant on his home world, which sees its newfound leadership terminated (in hilarious fashion, destroying an entire game mode's worth of setting up from Halo 4), and the faction on the brink of collapse. The Elites probably feature the most banal characterization of the bunch, almost bordering on self-parody with their references to honor at all costs, death and glory in battle, suicide over capture, the list goes on. The worst part of Halo 5's story is the Guardians themselves. We're told but never shown the capabilities of the colossal constructs, which simply float around in the skybox environments silently. While an attack from the Guardians should seem an ominous threat from an invincible foe, the story manages to generate no tension because so little seems to be at stake. We're never really given a look at humanity at large, so it's hard to get a grasp on what you're fighting for here. The most destruction you ever see one cause is when it happens to knock a few platforms loose on an elevator.

    Fortunately the core mechanics of Halo 5 are tight and fairly sound. Shooting is responsive, and the entire arsenal of weaponry is effective in specific areas. Sprinting, clambering, boosting, and ground-pounding add a bit of extra spice to the formula, and the single player level design accommodates for the new range of movement abilities. Much of the levels in the single player are simplified into very large, down sloping corridors with a number of elevations and side-paths filled with goodies for the player to pilfer. Though this design is repeated throughout almost every level, it is these sections which are the most fun part of the game: they fit with the evolved with the shooter mechanics, unlike the boring vehicle sections or gauntlets where the player is restricted to just a couple of weapons poorly suited to the task at hand. Legendary difficulty in Halo 5 definitely feels the most artificially so of any Halo game as a result of the Promethean enemies, who are almost improved from Halo 4. Another trouble area is the collectibles: their inclusion into the main story mission breaks the pacing of the game further, as the player is ignoring the task at hand (and the three or four characters trying to direct the player if he/she wanders off for more than a few minutes) to find them. These really should have been saved for the "hub" missions, which are short intermissions meant to pad the mission list, or provide a "breather" from what's been happening in the story, I guess.

    The multiplayer is missing features and sees one of its major modes infiltrated by the dreaded random number. I won't say much more about it - it's incomplete, and disappointing at launch
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  66. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    All we see from HALO 4 but better, amazing story line, Campaign is not the best of the series but is a great installment, Wide open scenarios and great variety of weapons and enemy, art is simply beautiful.
  67. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    Great multiplayer due to dedicated servers and smooth 60 FPS. Ranking system makes the game worth playing for competitive players. There will also be free DLC maps released over the course of the game's lifetime.
  68. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    at first I hated it (Multiplayer) I dont know why people didn't like the campaign better than any FPS campaign on the next gen. Has awesome cutscenes gameplay was exciting and the story is interesting. The focus on this game was multiplayer. They decided to be different and get rid of the whole class idea thats in every single FPS today. First I hated that...but the more I played realizedat first I hated it (Multiplayer) I dont know why people didn't like the campaign better than any FPS campaign on the next gen. Has awesome cutscenes gameplay was exciting and the story is interesting. The focus on this game was multiplayer. They decided to be different and get rid of the whole class idea thats in every single FPS today. First I hated that...but the more I played realized how great and balanced it is. Making it super addicting...I cant pu the controller down now i got over my period. Unlike alot of other players. Expand
  69. Oct 29, 2015
    5
    Here is a quick summary. Multiplayer is 'fine' you have modes you would expect to see in a halo game. However, the maps are kinda bleh and not memorable, you also have less modes than other halo games. Warzone is.... Boring... It reminds me a lot of how 343 hyped Spartan Ops and it ended up falling flat... Yeah that's Warzone. I much rather have Big Team Battle. That was at least fun.Here is a quick summary. Multiplayer is 'fine' you have modes you would expect to see in a halo game. However, the maps are kinda bleh and not memorable, you also have less modes than other halo games. Warzone is.... Boring... It reminds me a lot of how 343 hyped Spartan Ops and it ended up falling flat... Yeah that's Warzone. I much rather have Big Team Battle. That was at least fun. Single player is cookie cutter storyline and you okay 80+% as Spartan Locke's team... AI is pretty dumb too.

    Detailed.
    Multiplayer. I would have to say with any Halo game I spend most of my playtime on multiplayer. I am always happy to see not only competitive modes, but also fun modes like Griffball or infection. This game just has your standard multiplayer options with an additional mode new to the series called Breakout. It's kind of fun, you have a team of 5 each with one life. As for the other modes they all fall flat since it is just a few of 343 maps which each one lack creativity. They don't even bring back any of the fan favorite maps like what other Halo games have done. It makes even a fun mode like Breakout get old FAST since you're only playing on 3 very similar maps. They don't really even have any landmarks that help you identify position.

    WarZone. A cool idea but really slow and really boring. You capture points, kill 'bosses' that are so far off the battle path it just seems like getting to them takes longer than actually killing them. My biggest complaint with this mode is that when you buy REQ pack 90% of the packs are items belonging to this mode. Granted, you can sell them to earn REQ points back but it's still annoying to get something worth 10,000Req to only get 3,000 back.

    SinglePlayer.
    Typical 343 thinking lack of ammo means challenge basically forcing you into picking up weapons you really don't like because they put more than 3 minutes into coding them. Enemies however do die faster than they did in Halo 4 but the story is sooooooo boring.

    Customization. About the same level as it was in Halo 3 except less customization on Emblems and includes micro transactions that give you random pieces you may not want and won't be able to sell...

    For a Halo game this is disappointing. For a game in general it's OK
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  70. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    +Looks INCREDIBLE, with awesome art direction and formidable technical prowess
    +Great sound design and score
    +Most satisfying, tight gameplay and controls the series has yet seen +Warzone and Breakout=BRILLIANT +Very balanced multiplayer maps +Excellent enemy A.I. in campaign +Campaign levels are very well thought-out +Epic storyline... -That occasionally feels rushed -Mostly
    +Looks INCREDIBLE, with awesome art direction and formidable technical prowess
    +Great sound design and score
    +Most satisfying, tight gameplay and controls the series has yet seen
    +Warzone and Breakout=BRILLIANT
    +Very balanced multiplayer maps
    +Excellent enemy A.I. in campaign
    +Campaign levels are very well thought-out
    +Epic storyline...

    -That occasionally feels rushed
    -Mostly one-note characters
    -Some of the new weapons aren't as good as they should be
    -No split-screen
    -Having to wait for Halo 6 to get the next chapter of the story

    Overall score: 10.0/10.0. Quite possibly the best game in the series so far. Well done, 343.
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  71. pmz
    Oct 29, 2015
    9
    halo 5 is what any halo fan need and its the best halo multiplayer ever...campaign is good but not the best..Halo 5 is not the best halo,the 343 give us a very good game with amazing multiplayer and good story this time
  72. Oct 29, 2015
    4
    This game is a embarrassment. The graphics are a joke. Campaign is boring. This game is not Halo at all.
    It was tough to play especially when it got intense with multiple enemies and explosions the resolution drop to a point where it was just blurry. The A.I. is very bad and most of the time just stand around lol. Spartan Locke could have been a cool character but fell short. Master Chief
    This game is a embarrassment. The graphics are a joke. Campaign is boring. This game is not Halo at all.
    It was tough to play especially when it got intense with multiple enemies and explosions the resolution drop to a point where it was just blurry. The A.I. is very bad and most of the time just stand around lol. Spartan Locke could have been a cool character but fell short. Master Chief felt like a side character. I would wait for a price drop, I wish I did.
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  73. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    Dear 343, stop worrying about how to make a halo game and learn how to make a GAME. The only thing that matters is: is the game fun? The answer here is no. First up story: keep it simple and engage players with epic consequences. No one gives a f*** about Cortana! The story is messy, convoluted and boring, with cheesy forgettable characters. Second up gameplay: an improvement on halo 4Dear 343, stop worrying about how to make a halo game and learn how to make a GAME. The only thing that matters is: is the game fun? The answer here is no. First up story: keep it simple and engage players with epic consequences. No one gives a f*** about Cortana! The story is messy, convoluted and boring, with cheesy forgettable characters. Second up gameplay: an improvement on halo 4 (yay) but ultimately still boring as well. All of your levels are just shooting galleries with no creativity. The promethian enemies are boring, which is not helped by the fact you have 3 types of guns for every tier which all do the same thing. Cut the number of guns and instead and make them more diverse to make battles more interesting. The second part to this is stop reusing old ideas! How many times do we need to blow up a reactor? Steal ideas (i.e. put your stamp on it) don't copy them. Multiple perspectives in halo 2 was fun because the covenant was an interesting enemy. Here no one cares about locke! We care about masterchief so let us play as him! Big mistake having no offline co-op as this made the game stand out. On top of that the music scores are pathetic! Take some money out of the graphics budget and pay a proper orchestra instead of this electronic crap with no character. Epic sound enhances the atmosphere of battles! So ultimately what happens when you have a weak story, boring missions, no offline co op and no atmosphere? A boring game that i can't even play with my friend! When it comes down to it, halo exists only to service its most die hard fans because there is nothing here for anyone else. Expand
  74. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    It's hard not to be disappointed by Halo 5's campaign, the story is confusing, requires an understanding of Halo's extended lore and has weak characters that fail to provide you with any emotional connection.

    The game makes a bold choice and relegates Master Chief to the sidelines for the majority of the game, giving you control of Spartan Locke. Master Chief has been the face of xbox
    It's hard not to be disappointed by Halo 5's campaign, the story is confusing, requires an understanding of Halo's extended lore and has weak characters that fail to provide you with any emotional connection.

    The game makes a bold choice and relegates Master Chief to the sidelines for the majority of the game, giving you control of Spartan Locke. Master Chief has been the face of xbox for some time now, so to see someone else take center stage is refreshing... or at least it should be. The problem is Locke is just about the most dull character you could possibly imagine. He takes orders without question and has about as much depth as paddling pool.

    The missions themselves are mostly repetitive rooms full of enemies and cover, not nearly as fun as the wide open of spaces of Halo 3. The game does have a few vehicle based levels with wider spaces and these tend to be more fun. Then theres the boss battles, or rather boss battle, ctrl+c, ctrl+v, ctrl+v, ctrl+v.

    There is however a great selection of weapons, that sound great when fired and have plenty of variety. It's also the best feeling Halo game ever made. You feel more like a spartan super soldier here than ever before with charge attacks, boosts and clambering which all aid in feeling like an enhanced warrior. Oh and the super smooth frame rate is not bad either.

    Whilst Halo 5's campaign falters, the multiplayer generally fairs much better. There are two main multiplayer modes as well as a plethora of others, the two main ones being Arena and Warzone.

    Arena is classic 4v4 and it's great, thanks to the new spartan movement abilities the game is fast paced and tactical, as the abilities allow you to dash in and out of cover and away from grenades etc. The maps are well balanced although they do all have a similar feel, not in the way they look but in terms of layout.

    Warzone is a large 12v12 mode with some AI in the mix too. The large scale, AI and plenty of vehicles make it chaotic fun. It also has something called a REQ system. You gain REQ points for completing matches and with them buy packs of cards containing vehicles and weapons which you can all upon during the game. It seems complicated at first but I got used to it after a couple of games. The REQ system is also where things get mirky as you can also buy the card packs with real money. You can only call upon a limited number of weapons and/or vehicles during each match but still, it is dangerously close to pay to win.

    Halo 5's weak campaign and poor story hurts but most people play Halo for the multiplayer and luckily that's the games strongest area.
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  75. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    This game is truly amazing. The campaign is mindblowing!! Not made for the casuals or posers who don't know the Halo lore. It's very complicated and confusing if you're not up to date with it but then again the game does have a big 5 on it so you should know better than to skip any of the entries. The level design is amazing as well (exept missions 4,9 and 11) Almost every mission playsThis game is truly amazing. The campaign is mindblowing!! Not made for the casuals or posers who don't know the Halo lore. It's very complicated and confusing if you're not up to date with it but then again the game does have a big 5 on it so you should know better than to skip any of the entries. The level design is amazing as well (exept missions 4,9 and 11) Almost every mission plays differently with different combinations of weapons and vehicles. There is always more than one way of dealing with the groups of enemies you encounter, some people are just too dumb or too lazy to see the breakable walls, hidden weapons and vehicles. On the multiplayer side, Warzone is a great addition because it plays in a unique all out war way where kills aren't always the most important. Tho its lacking more maps for warzone and many classic game modes it's quite enough to keep you entertaining until the loads of free dlc arrive. Overall I give it a 9.5. Although it's not perfect. It's one of the best Halo I've ever played and definitely a fan service heavy lore campaign, but not for the casuals. Expand
  76. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Halo 5 is an impressive start for the franchise on the next gen consoles, graphics are sharp, gameplay is crisp, everything you expect from a AAA title. The story is a bit lacking but overall enjoyable, especially if you have taken the time to read up or listen to the expanded universe such as Hunt the Truth or Fall of Reach. Multiplayer seems to have been a major focus by 343 as theHalo 5 is an impressive start for the franchise on the next gen consoles, graphics are sharp, gameplay is crisp, everything you expect from a AAA title. The story is a bit lacking but overall enjoyable, especially if you have taken the time to read up or listen to the expanded universe such as Hunt the Truth or Fall of Reach. Multiplayer seems to have been a major focus by 343 as the gameplay is excellent, plenty of modes, dedicated servers for overall good connections, lots of customization with the new REQ system allowing unlocks similar to packs from Advanced Warfare or Counter strike. Overall the game itself is amazing, not perfect but just shy in my opinion.

    PS. To all the people giving 0 scores, if this game had 32 bit graphics sure I can see the 0 score, however with a game as polished as this if you don't like the story or the franchise in general that's no excuse to rate this game any lower than a 8 in my honest opinion. makes me mad when people only rate 0 or 10, it doesn't help people make a honest decision on this title which is why they even read the reviews.
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  77. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    I have played all the Halo games. I primarily play Halo for the campaign, not multiplayer. I am 3 hours into Halo 5 campaign and I have to say this is very good. The play mechanics are buttery smooth. The game feels like a AAA title from the cut scenes to the non-stop action. The music and sound effects are some of the very best in gaming industry. The graphics are detailed.I have played all the Halo games. I primarily play Halo for the campaign, not multiplayer. I am 3 hours into Halo 5 campaign and I have to say this is very good. The play mechanics are buttery smooth. The game feels like a AAA title from the cut scenes to the non-stop action. The music and sound effects are some of the very best in gaming industry. The graphics are detailed. Overall, I am very pleased with 343's effort and taking a bit of a risk with agent Locke. Expand
  78. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    So far this has by far been my favorite Halo game to date, I find the 60 frames and amazing sound quality adds a satisfying feel to the game. The Campaign is the first I've ever actually enjoyed playing through on Legendary, and it a lot of fun to play. Multiplayer is competitive, fast paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. Warzone is a lot of fun and a well crafted game type. Halo 5 certainlySo far this has by far been my favorite Halo game to date, I find the 60 frames and amazing sound quality adds a satisfying feel to the game. The Campaign is the first I've ever actually enjoyed playing through on Legendary, and it a lot of fun to play. Multiplayer is competitive, fast paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. Warzone is a lot of fun and a well crafted game type. Halo 5 certainly has it's issues, but nothing that any Halo game hasn't had. I can't stop playing it and I encourage you to buy it. Expand
  79. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    Amazing entry of the Halo series. The multiplayer is top notch and the arena gameplay feels simply amazing and satisfying. The warzone mode adds a unique MOBA twist to it and it just feels satisfying pulling a come from behind victory. It really is a game mode for everyone. Attack bases, defend bases, go after AI, vehicles, on foot . . a game mode with everything.
  80. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Campaign: 6.5/10
    It was alright, but they could have done it much better.

    Multiplayer: 9/10
    One of the best gunfight mechanics and it's extremely satisfying when you know how to use every weapon or ability to your advantage. However the skill gap is very big, and teamwork is vital, so getting flogged by a good team can happen.
  81. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    This game is fantastic. The multiplayer runs smooth and the campaign is interesting. Had lots of fun playing as Locke and you cant go wrong with Nathan fillion. Didn't have any connectivity issues with is amazing considering the track record with games this year. Sucks that some people have given it a zero. I think the consensus is that you will either really love this or hate it.
  82. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    Its certainly not a bad game. However, the staples for me are not there any more. No split screen, not a great SP campaign or story and the multi-player just doesn't feel like Halo any more. That said, I'm loving the new mp game types quite a lot, especially the arena based one (except for warzone odly enough, thought I would have liked that the most)

    I don't regret my purchase, but I
    Its certainly not a bad game. However, the staples for me are not there any more. No split screen, not a great SP campaign or story and the multi-player just doesn't feel like Halo any more. That said, I'm loving the new mp game types quite a lot, especially the arena based one (except for warzone odly enough, thought I would have liked that the most)

    I don't regret my purchase, but I don't think I'll be buying Halo 6 at launch, nor do I think I'll be playing Halo 5 for much longer.
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  83. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    Great game. Love the singleplayer but the multiplayer is just freaking Awesome! It's been a long time since I truly enjoyed the halo multiplayer but now the love is back! Warzone is a blast and the ultimate halo modus.
  84. Oct 29, 2015
    8
    After playing the master chief collection I have to admit this is one of my favorite Halos, the campaign is a must play with friends. The multiplayer is very entertaining the new modes are a joy to play, it has options for people who like both small arenas and open large combat. highly recommended.
  85. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    The best halo.
    So many people who complain about the story.. well, let's be honest here, Halo never had a really good or amazing story, it was always simple and ok at best.
  86. Oct 29, 2015
    8
    Game is good, but ending almost as bad as Halo 2. And try not to play it solo on high difficulties, bots are insanely stupid and useless. And why only 3 missions for Master Chief of 15 total?
  87. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    Halo 5 for me is heart breakingly disapointing, yeah it does play very smoothly due to its consistent frame rate, but the graphics are quite lacking to be honest, they are like the frame rate, smooth. But are incredibly low in textures, especially in most of the multiplayer maps. Environments just look bland, like some of the walls are made out of plastic. I have also been having networkHalo 5 for me is heart breakingly disapointing, yeah it does play very smoothly due to its consistent frame rate, but the graphics are quite lacking to be honest, they are like the frame rate, smooth. But are incredibly low in textures, especially in most of the multiplayer maps. Environments just look bland, like some of the walls are made out of plastic. I have also been having network issues, seeing other players magically zip across the map, then being killed by this certain player due to all my seemingly accurate bullets having missed their target due to them lagging out. In every single 4v4 game type i have played, if a player leaves or gets kicked mid-match, never once has the recently departed player gets replaced with another player. Thus leading to lob sided/unbalanced matches. And what comes with that is a domino effect, where due to the fact that one side is down a player, another may quit due to the unfair aspect of uneven sides. Warzone is quite frankly a chaotic mess which is has been solely designed for leg shooting, cod loving 12 year olds. Plus you receive req cards which grant mostly temporary weapons, gear and bonuses like overshields and damage buffs. You can slowly earn these cards through only playing warzone or buying them with real life currency, so if you buy as many packs as you want, that is a lot quicker than earning them through playing the game naturally, so in my mind that's pay to win. I also heard 343 officially stated that the campaign is around 10 hours on legendary difficulty, where its been around 7 for me, which even with modern standards now, that is still short. Also the campaign is fairly tedious with overwhelming amounts of typical and generic shooting gallerys. I also dont like a few npc's within cutscenes saying things like "The master chief just does what he wants" in a disrespectful manner. All in all its a solid shooter with a fair campaign, a good amount of maps, but its one game i'll play only for the next week or so, then trade it in. Expand
  88. Oct 29, 2015
    2
    Great gameplay and great sound doesn't take away from a mediocre campaign that is about 5 HOURS long. A very disappointing game from 343 industries. I guess this was made as a multiplayer game first and they figured any campaign is better than no campaign. For me this game is far worse than Halo 4 and it was made with the view that people understand the extended universe. If u don't youGreat gameplay and great sound doesn't take away from a mediocre campaign that is about 5 HOURS long. A very disappointing game from 343 industries. I guess this was made as a multiplayer game first and they figured any campaign is better than no campaign. For me this game is far worse than Halo 4 and it was made with the view that people understand the extended universe. If u don't you will be so lost in the campaign.

    3 story missions with Master Chief and a boring and bland Locke, destroyed this game for me.
    Multiplayer though saves it.
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  89. Oct 29, 2015
    0
    Very dissapoiting and short story.... With terrible ending. The worst Halo so far. 60 fps is good for shooters but graphic is really lame... So 60 fps isnt good argument.
  90. Oct 29, 2015
    6
    The worst Halo for me and cannot understand any publication giving this game 9/10 as this game is definitely not nearly perfect. I play Halo for the story and its rich universe and this is the weakest entry yet. The plot is convoluted and you spend little time as the main character which is just bizarre. Graphics are just OK, as game contain low res textures, poor lighting and have seenThe worst Halo for me and cannot understand any publication giving this game 9/10 as this game is definitely not nearly perfect. I play Halo for the story and its rich universe and this is the weakest entry yet. The plot is convoluted and you spend little time as the main character which is just bizarre. Graphics are just OK, as game contain low res textures, poor lighting and have seen lots of pop-in. Multiplayer is the games saving grace but warning to any new Halo players it is very competitive. The lack of local co-op is also very annoying as it has been a staple of my Halo experience for years. IF you buying Halo 5 for the campaign AVOID, if you are buying for multiplayer it maybe worth your time if you are very good at fps. Expand
  91. Oct 29, 2015
    2
    This is the worst Halo game I've ever played... It looks amazing, but the campaign is horrible, flawed, and trying to work with the AI is impossible. The AI are garbage I've seen n64 games with better AI. It seems at this point 343 is just trying to make money off the Halo name. I couldn't wait for the campaign to be over it was that damn boring...The only thing this game has going for itThis is the worst Halo game I've ever played... It looks amazing, but the campaign is horrible, flawed, and trying to work with the AI is impossible. The AI are garbage I've seen n64 games with better AI. It seems at this point 343 is just trying to make money off the Halo name. I couldn't wait for the campaign to be over it was that damn boring...The only thing this game has going for it is the nice soundtrack and Warzone. I honestly wouldn't waste your money on this.. Expand
  92. Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Having a read at the negative reviews, it seems like the entire premise of it being negative is that the game doesn't include split-screen.

    I understand, this may be an issue for some however it was announced a while back that Halo 5 had no split screen, so reviewing a game negatively for something which was announced to be missing from the game is absurd. It would be like me
    Having a read at the negative reviews, it seems like the entire premise of it being negative is that the game doesn't include split-screen.

    I understand, this may be an issue for some however it was announced a while back that Halo 5 had no split screen, so reviewing a game negatively for something which was announced to be missing from the game is absurd.

    It would be like me reviewing Forza 6 and complaining the game doesn't include guns.....they're not supposed to be in the game. Most of the franchises now focus on online multiplayer, gone are the days of split screen, this holds true with most games, not just Halo 5.

    Other than that, the game has been enjoyable on 4 player co-op, still not had any connection issues... YET! Fingers crossed this continues after the shambles that was MCC.

    Not finished the story yet so can't comment on this "terrible" ending i've been reading about. Online has been a lot of fun.

    Warzone's are just crazy battles, headshot only Slayer's are really fun also, especially with the way the guns feel now.

    All in all it's been an enjoyable experience so far. While I believe the negative reviews to be legit, they seem to be from people who have bought a game expecting something to be in it which wasn't .... it takes a 20 second google search to check before buying the game, this would be my advice.

    I'm sure this won't be taken well.....
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  93. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    This really does kill me writing this review as I am a major fan of the series, and so wanted to be in awe of this first next-gen episode in the series but playing the campaign something just didn't sit right with me throughout.

    The gameplay of the campaign lets the series down in my opinion! Don't get me wrong the graphics, sound / score and story are all up there for me but what lets
    This really does kill me writing this review as I am a major fan of the series, and so wanted to be in awe of this first next-gen episode in the series but playing the campaign something just didn't sit right with me throughout.

    The gameplay of the campaign lets the series down in my opinion! Don't get me wrong the graphics, sound / score and story are all up there for me but what lets it down is the gameplay of the campaign!

    Most levels if not all seem "grindy" and just filler content to get you to the next cutscene! It almost has a feel of it's the same level just with a different surrounding and sometimes a different skin on the enemies. I would even choose the gameplay of Reach over this as it stands which is saying something!
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  94. Oct 29, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "Oh John!" ....... "Cortana?" Some fighting. "Cortana, is that you?" ....... "John". And more fighting and battling. "Cortana, where are you?" ....... "Johhhhn!" And more fighting. Around this point in the game I couldn't help but laugh a little and wonder to myself just how much more convoluted and lacking creativity and inspiration could this series get in its story telling and lore. I mean is this it? The further adventures of an augmented modified hero and his love affair with a neurotic self-aware transcendant turned goddess computer program? 343 is, or has backed itself into a 'virtual' story telling corner. There are certainly interesting 'elements' in the story fabric, but it is not knitted together well. And while the fighting and production value ramp up the heat, the story does not or is it lore I would tell sitting around any campfire. Being an artist/painter I am amazed at what is being done graphically digitally in gaming and this developer has designed an attractive illusion. It was fun to look around in some of the environments, explore a little. Actually, one of the more touching moments in the game was during one of the none fighting missions later in this 'saga'. You are in an encampment with Dr. Halsey, the Arbiter, your team, and numerous elites, grunts, and a few humans gathering and sharing intel and plans for the next operation/mission. Just walking around and listening in as the grunts and elites banter was fun. The music is very good, so much so that at times I felt it overpowered everything else going on in the game. Beethoven experienced this when composing his overtures and oratorios. His musical efforts became stand alone pieces. I completed the campaign in roughly 10 hrs. in normal mode (a bit of looking around for skulls, data caches, and environmental vistas and detail), 1400 kills, and a few deaths caused by falling off some of those beautiful vistas, being pushed off in one instance by team members, and killed by enemies. At times I felt as though I was playing alone due to the 'behaviors' of my team members. Most notably during combat. Sometimes they would just stand around doing nothing behind an obstruction or even out in the open during the heat of action. And of course the enemies would zero in on me primarily. I can't really grade the multiplayer, although I tried to play it. Don't care for micro transactions utilized in competitive modes in any game where it gives advantages other than skill. I enjoy playing Halos' multiplayer modes when it is with known friends only (there continues to remain for me an absurdity in these times that people attempt to destroy each other in the virtual world globally in a game and they don't have any knowledge of who those others may be, and for what?). I played this game in two 5 hr. sessions. A kind of mini-marathon. I have no interest in playng it again. When the next installment arrives, I will probibly play it. But I will be reticent based on what I have experienced with this 'episode'. The story, like the production values, needs to evolve. The writers, like their 'Arbiter', need to have a little grit, courage, risk, and exercise some creativity and not pander to the previous successes, expectations, and influences. How about a story ''arrived at' rather than one 'expected'. There is plenty of nerdy goodness in this fifth episode but little Shakespeare. There could have been some real pathos, but it is only hinted at. Expand
  95. Oct 29, 2015
    10
    There are many reasons to hate this game, but at the end of the day playing it is really just fun. I can have a crappy warzone match but I'm guaranteed at least one crazy moment. Arena feels good (really good) when I do something amazing, especially when accompanied with the medal announcer voice. Split screen is gone, but playing with Xbox live friends is still a blast and full of funnyThere are many reasons to hate this game, but at the end of the day playing it is really just fun. I can have a crappy warzone match but I'm guaranteed at least one crazy moment. Arena feels good (really good) when I do something amazing, especially when accompanied with the medal announcer voice. Split screen is gone, but playing with Xbox live friends is still a blast and full of funny suicide legendary attempts. The Witcher 3 is probably GOTY for me, but Halo 5 does get both laughs and the adrenaline pumping like no other. Expand
  96. Oct 29, 2015
    8
    Obviously the Hype train took it to a whole new level and if you were expecting what they were promoting...well you'll be a bit disappointed...but I quit paying attention to the marketing campaigns after one to many disappointments. That said HALO 5 is solid, it's no 10/10 or a game changing experience but all in all both the SP and MP are all around fun. The gun play is ok..some guns areObviously the Hype train took it to a whole new level and if you were expecting what they were promoting...well you'll be a bit disappointed...but I quit paying attention to the marketing campaigns after one to many disappointments. That said HALO 5 is solid, it's no 10/10 or a game changing experience but all in all both the SP and MP are all around fun. The gun play is ok..some guns are pretty amazing but it's no Destiny when comparing how the shooting mechanics work...the Prometheans are boring as hell...I hate them, can't stand them...they are simply not fun to kill...thankfully the Covenant make up for the promethean blandness and are pretty dam cool to watch and kill :). All in all I enjoyed the game and felt I got my monies worth. Played on Heroic at first, and will play another run through on normal to look for skulls and get mission intel. If you're a fan of the HALO series this is definitely a must have and 343 really made up for the debacle that was MCC and HALO 4. Expand
  97. Oct 28, 2015
    4
    Buying this game I had no expectations. I have been a long time Halo fan since Halo: Combat Evolved back in 2001. I have probably logged more hours in Halo games than any other game. That having been said, this game looks like Halo, has iconic characters and guns from Halo, but this game does not feel like Halo. I'm not sure how else to describe it. Little things really. For example, whenBuying this game I had no expectations. I have been a long time Halo fan since Halo: Combat Evolved back in 2001. I have probably logged more hours in Halo games than any other game. That having been said, this game looks like Halo, has iconic characters and guns from Halo, but this game does not feel like Halo. I'm not sure how else to describe it. Little things really. For example, when you fire the Battle Rifle it almost seems as if it is not burst firing because the fire animation seems so much more rushed than the old Battle Rifle. Just the subtle smoothness of weapon handling does not feel the same. Grenades feel rushed as well and are much harder to predict where they will go than they were before in previous Halo games.

    As for the story, it was underwhelming as well, but the more I play this Halo, the more I feel like playing The Master Chief Collection instead. I think much of the problem is this game was not developed by Bungie- It is just a Microsoft franchise now and they don't have the experience to pull off what Bungie did for years.
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  98. Oct 28, 2015
    1
    Repetitive, bland and boring game-play. The graphics are not next gen and the story makes no sense at all. I don't get all the hype, this is nowhere near a 10.
  99. Oct 28, 2015
    0
    As a long time Halo and Xbox fan, this game is utterly disappointing. Sure it looks great, but the story is lame and playing online doesn't have that Halo feel anymore.. Not to mention there is a huge lack of maps and variety. This should not have the Halo name. II highly recommend you play it somewhere before buying.
  100. Oct 28, 2015
    9
    I'm in pretty strong disagreement with a lot of the critics about this game, mainly with concern to the story. I personally thought it was brilliant, moving the series in a new direction and setting up a fantastic jump-off point for Halo 6. I also want to stress what others have been saying: FAMILIARIZE YOURSELVES WITH THE LORE. That cannot be stressed enough. The missions are tons of funI'm in pretty strong disagreement with a lot of the critics about this game, mainly with concern to the story. I personally thought it was brilliant, moving the series in a new direction and setting up a fantastic jump-off point for Halo 6. I also want to stress what others have been saying: FAMILIARIZE YOURSELVES WITH THE LORE. That cannot be stressed enough. The missions are tons of fun though, harder than they used to be given the increased number of enemies in each area. But already I can think of a few absolutely great moments from the campaign that I think I'll remember for a while to come. The only complaint I will make is a very noticeable lack of characterization for the new characters, especially disappointing for Blue Team, making their debut in the games universe.

    From the little I've seen of the multiplayer, it's very fun. I played a Warzone match that surprised me with just how balanced it was. With REQ (Requisitions), boss and AI enemies, and a large, evolving map, it would be easy for it to devolve into a **** but it is incredibly well done. I'm also very glad they made SWAT a highlight; it has always been my favourite Halo game mode.

    Now, even though I give the game a solid 9 for great campaign and excellent online, I need to lambast 343i for their omission of split-screen. I have been quite upset that I can't play this with my roommate, as we have played through every other game, and I have heard the sad stories of many others who feel like they've lost something that helped connect them to friends and family. The decision to omit split-screen for a 60 FPS framerate is, in my opinion, absurd. This 60 FPS movement has gained traction out of nowhere, for no purpose, and frankly I'm sick of it. I couldn't give two **** if The Last of Us 2 is 60 FPS, and the same goes for any other that has been or will be announced. When you leave out such a core feature from your game to please your publisher with ammo for their marketing, you need to look at yourself as a developer and think again. If you stop advertising 60 FPS, there will be no riots. There will be no pushback. No one cares. It's a gimmick, and an excusable one until it starts making your games less fun. I hold out a strong hope that both 343i and Microsoft will see the error they've made here, but until then, shame on them for ripping out a major organ of the Halo series' body.

    Halo 5 is great.
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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 101 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 101
  2. Negative: 0 out of 101
  1. Jan 20, 2016
    65
    Halo 5: Guardians is okay. Its campaign is rubbish, but the multiplayer is solid thanks to the foundation it’s built upon. Warzone is a really enjoyable experience, and while combat is still mostly about tossing grenades and hitting the melee button, the whole Requisition gimmick adds some much-needed flavor to proceedings.
  2. CD-Action
    Jan 12, 2016
    75
    The latest Halo is a big deal only for hardcore Halo fans. For me the single player campaign was unbearably pompous and despite 1080p and 60 fps the visuals are not as breathtaking as they once were in Halo 4. The game builds a solid foundation for Halo 6, but it’s not one of those games you absolutely have to play. [13/2015, p.48]
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Jan 4, 2016
    91
    With a more accessible and engaging story and solid new designs for the Prometheans, Halo 5 is a major improvement over Halo 4. Warzone is a great addition to the multiplayer, though the mode seems to have some game balance issues. [Nov 2015]