Halo 5: Guardians

 Xbox One
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 3713 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,945 out of 3713
  2. Mixed: 747 out of 3713
  3. Negative: 1,021 out of 3713
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  1. LoverofjesusMK2
    Nov 9, 2015
    9
    Excellent game.
    While the overarching story falls short, everything else within the game, from the gameplay and level design, to the soundtrack and multiplayer more than make up for it. And the campaign is not at all without it's memorable moments, including the end of a particular story arc that has been a long time coming. The end while a massive cliffhanger, but despite what all of the    Excellent game.
    While the overarching story falls short, everything else within the game, from the gameplay and level design, to the soundtrack and multiplayer more than make up for it. And the campaign is not at all without it's memorable moments, including the end of a particular story arc that has been a long time coming. The end while a massive cliffhanger, but despite what all of the angry trolls giving the game 0s and 1s will tell you, it's no worse than Halo 2, which this game has many similar problems to, particularly involving the advertising and story. And despite what aforementioned trolls keep bringing up about the time spent as both Master Chief and Agent Locke (Chief having 3 dedicated missions to Locke's 12) Chief's missions are about three times as long as those of Locke, and since 3 of Locke's missions essentially boil down to interactive custscenes that can be competed in under a minute, the playtime actually evens out.

    On the other hand Multiplayer is better than ever. Halo's classic with a solid mix of both competitive and casual modes with more of each on the way (Shotty Snipers was last week's "weekend social playlist" and Big Team Battle is being added this week, along with another Weekend social playlist") The online netcode is stellar, and dedicated servers for all playlists and custom games is an absolute blessing on console. A few flaws with multiplayer do come to mind. Several playlists (particularly Free For All, SWAT and Warzone) have horrible spawns. And Warzone, while a great concept still needs some tweaking, since even the slightest bit of momentum from one team often turns the game horrifically one-sided, And warzone assault in it's current state is just bad. These maps were not designed for invasion scenarios. That being said the vast majority of multiplayer is still excellent and provide tons of replayablility.

    Lastly a topic of note are the micro transactions, They are not invasive at all, You can earn even gold rec packs in only a few games making buying them with cash hardly worth it.    … Expand
  2. rubinberrypie
    Nov 9, 2015
    10
    A zookeeper's responsibilities usually include feeding, maintaining and cleaning the animals, diet preparation, behavioral observation, record keeping, exhibit maintenance and providing environmental enrichment for the animals in their care.[3] Some also conduct behavioral or reproductive research on a species and participate in public education through talks, programs or shows. They areA zookeeper's responsibilities usually include feeding, maintaining and cleaning the animals, diet preparation, behavioral observation, record keeping, exhibit maintenance and providing environmental enrichment for the animals in their care.[3] Some also conduct behavioral or reproductive research on a species and participate in public education through talks, programs or shows. They are expected to clean enclosures every day. They look for any signs of injuries or illness in the animals, and in the case of sickness or injury, the keeper is responsible for contacting a veterinarian, and sometimes a zookeeper will assist a veterinarian in a medical procedure.

    Some zookeepers train the animals to make caring for them easier. For example, a zookeeper can train an elephant to lift their feet so that a veterinarian can check them more easily.[4] Some zookeepers are responsible for informing an audience, in an exhibit or presentation, about certain types of animals and their behavioral characteristics. They also talk about experiences with the animal, and answer questions. The keeper is also responsible for lecturing the visiting public on how to behave responsibly toward the exhibited animals.

    Depending on the zoo structure, keepers may be assigned to work with a broad group of animals, such as mammals, birds, or reptiles, or they may work with a limited collection of animals such as primates, large cats, or small mammals.    … Expand
  3. warren-trouble
    Nov 9, 2015
    5
    Disclaimer: I'm not one of those people who hate 343 or love Bungie for biased reasons. I think 343 has been doing an excellent job managing the franchise across various media. This game is just bad.

    Don't buy unless you're a Halo fan and you need it, or if campaign doesn't matter to you and you just want another PVP for some reason? I am the biggest Halo fan I know and even with    Disclaimer: I'm not one of those people who hate 343 or love Bungie for biased reasons. I think 343 has been doing an excellent job managing the franchise across various media. This game is just bad.

    Don't buy unless you're a Halo fan and you need it, or if campaign doesn't matter to you and you just want another PVP for some reason?

    I am the biggest Halo fan I know and even with Halo green tinted glasses on this was the worst Halo ever, right up there with Spartan Assault! How they can vow to do better then Halo 4 (which I enjoyed playing), but perhaps at 343 they view Halo as a Call of Duty and its PVP first then tack on a **** campaign to justify the $60 price tag and the vow to be better was only referring to the PVP?

    1) the loss of split screen was a disappointment and probably, especially considering the games history with it. But I also understand the business decision that statistically most gamers don't use it or use it often, and even most modern games don't have it anymore. But Xbox used to be a company that knew what the gamers wanted (kind of like Sony nowadays) and gave us split-screen instead of being the company that tells us what's best.
    2) The story was the weakest I've seen in the franchise, I felt it often didn't make since and didn't seem to follow 4. I was hoping to know at least how blue team got back together, why they suddenly trust Halsey, what was going on with Palmer's Spartans, where's that dickhead that's in charge of the infinity, is the Didact dead, what's going on with the librarian, is the other Didact dead, you know without reading a bunch of novels.
    3) it did really need more aggression between Locke and Chief leading to a fight (like the ads suggested), and a guardian boss battle, and probably could have used a halo and some flood. The ending was just awful.
    4) The levels felt the smallest and most guided in the franchise. Even the vehicular levels didn't feel large enough to accommodate them. And game has zero replayability!
    5) The player AI was terrible, and 343 gloated in a viddoc about how useful they would be!
    6) The audio and visuals were amazing, even the controls and feel of the game were excellent!
    7) I haven't bother playing the PVP because I just couldn't look at the game when I was done, which is a shame because i hear its the best part.
    8) the req system, maybe it need to be tweaked to feel more rewarding and less grindy and i agree that it has potential to be abused in future titles but we should really worry about that when that time comes and fight that battle then, cause currently its not bad and if it keeps the maps free I'm happy    … Expand
  4. usuario_OS
    Nov 9, 2015
    1
    weak story , short game , more of the same! so goes for anyone who is a big fan himself, another generic shooter. wait wait wait for sale! dont buy!
  5. XboxWeb
    Nov 9, 2015
    9
    Even though Halo 5 has a few technical mistakes and the campaign could have been longer, this is propably one of the best Halo games ever thanks to the really amazing multiplayer! Whole review: http://xboxweb.cz/recenze/recenze-halo-5-guardians-pro-xbox-one/
  6. Neonvirtu
    Nov 9, 2015
    10
    Very, very good halo, the campaign is a little short but packed with action. The multiplayer is the best halo 5 multiplayer experience I have had since halo 3. Warzone is SOOOOOOOO good, love it soooo much.
  7. SkyeMatrix
    Nov 9, 2015
    9
    Halo 5: Guardians is one of the best games this year. The multiplayer has come out to perfection and a great continuation of the epic saga they are telling. The new mechanics have made for some of the most interesting changes in Halo combat through the series. 343 Has taken the story that Bungie has started and really helped make it a deeper story. 343 has started to expand on some of theHalo 5: Guardians is one of the best games this year. The multiplayer has come out to perfection and a great continuation of the epic saga they are telling. The new mechanics have made for some of the most interesting changes in Halo combat through the series. 343 Has taken the story that Bungie has started and really helped make it a deeper story. 343 has started to expand on some of the lore that has been in the book and made a much richer story then the games of past. This is a must play for anyone who owns an Xbox and even if you don’t you should buy one for this game.

    The game came around a large advertising campaign that painted a story of Locke vs Master Chief. This leads into the intro of the game pretty well after you play the first mission as Master Chief you start chasing him down with Locke. Around the mid to late part of the campaign you really get to see the first and really last confrontation between Locke and Chief. After this point you really start to see the game focus on the true story of halo.

    The story was great. It was a great continuation of the forerunner saga. Halo 4 was a high point in the halo story line and this game decided to take that to another level. This game told a great story and a villain that threw me for a loop. The story mainly follows Fireteam Osiris as you play 80% of the mission through Locke’s eyes. I found Locke was a bit lackluster in comparison to some of his team. Each person on Osiris has something special about them. I think however the story would have been stronger if the Locke and Fireteam Osiris was introduced in a non-numbered Halo as there was a lot of story we glanced over as the main meat of the games story was about the guardians. I do feel that the game bringing in Fireteam Osiris will actually improve the game moving forward as the addition of the Arbiter did back in Halo 2.

    We did see the usually flow of Halo missions sniper, warthog, scorpion, and flight. It seemed even though we played the majority of the game in Locke’s shoes, the game truly felt like Halo in the end. With the normal three sided war we always see in Halo you never get bored with the fight. This game has taken that to the next level. The story has one of the most unexpected twisted that even left me at the end torn with how it all went down. The main villain had depth as the story was already built with the character other than the usual bad covenant leader.

    The new suits made for some of the most fun I have in a shooter for some time. It never seemed overpowered by any means. I never felt as though I needed to use it. That said the moment you charge an elite off the side of a platform to his death you will be trying over and over. Some of the functions seemed more useful than others. The ground pound was so fun to use yet took way too long to execute the move. The charge was amazing. So useful and easy to execute that I found myself using it all the time. The quick strafe was a perfect way to wait for turret fire to get close and still get away just in time.

    The modeling was great and the texturing was awesome. During the game we see many places in the Halo universe and have quite a varied set of environments to play in. The maps were so great as I played through them. The worlds were so dense with action from finding a hidden passage or enemies. It seemed like I could always find a spot to duck out of action to charge my shields. Yet I never felt that the action was ever far from me.

    Now speaking of the multiplayer all I need to say is “I LOVE WARZONE!” This might seem a little off at first but it is super well balanced. You can save your points and get something big that will make a huge difference late game or spend early and get a major jump early. There were so many strategies and I have seen them all work and fail in my time playing. The maps felt great as there was always something to do with whatever you wanted to do.

    Multiplayer has not felt this good since Halo 2. I can see this really being a large staple in the multiplayer community. The battles all seemed balance and fast. Levels all seemed great as they added in verticality to halo with the new suits. The running and climbing up ledges seems to make a huge difference in moving through the level. I found myself not wanting to stop as I started multiplayer and can’t wait to get my old crew back together from the old Halo 2 days.

    Halo 5: Guardians is a must play. The game has the best multiplayer of any of the Halo games and probably any other shooter I have played. The story Halo tells is far ahead of any other shooter you today. When most shooters focus on a multiplayer platform this one focuses on an epic saga. This is a cornerstone game in the Xbox One library and needs to be played by anyone who has an Xbox One.    … Expand
  8. frankwild
    Nov 8, 2015
    6
    Positives:
    1. Graphics are amazing
    2. A full movie of cutscenes 3. Brought back all the guns we love 5. The ability to hop in a handful of different vehicles is satisfying Negatives: 1. Only 3 missions as Master Chief 2. Getting downed then getting revived = Less Badass 3. The story is a pointless, nothing was accomplished during this whole game. The master Chief was in the end    Positives:
    1. Graphics are amazing
    2. A full movie of cutscenes
    3. Brought back all the guns we love
    5. The ability to hop in a handful of different vehicles is satisfying

    Negatives:
    1. Only 3 missions as Master Chief
    2. Getting downed then getting revived = Less Badass
    3. The story is a pointless, nothing was accomplished during this whole game. The master Chief was in the end actually not successful in this game.
    4. Can't stick hunters on their backs anymore!?
    5. Cheif vs Locke? I think this rivalry is just plain awful, how can any spartan compete with 117?
    6. Full fireteams now, reminds me of reach and everyone knows how that game went.    … Expand
  9. writetyper
    Nov 8, 2015
    6
    Decent to good campaign (really fills out the lore of the Halo universe) and one of the first (console) games I've played that implements Aim Down Sights mechanics in a non-obnoxious way. Looks very pretty.

    However, there's a lot of drawbacks - crap ending, the Warden fight gets old real quick and later on the campaign is fairly repetitive, I was mostly just grinding through the    Decent to good campaign (really fills out the lore of the Halo universe) and one of the first (console) games I've played that implements Aim Down Sights mechanics in a non-obnoxious way. Looks very pretty.

    However, there's a lot of drawbacks - crap ending, the Warden fight gets old real quick and later on the campaign is fairly repetitive, I was mostly just grinding through the Prometheans to get to the cool story elements. No splitscreen is a massive drawback. Multiplayer having MICROTRANSACTIONS is taking the rating down a fair few notches - I already paid for your game, don't make me pay for it again. Also Multiplayer seems very unpolished - no forge, very few gamemodes, etc.    … Expand
  10. punkzu
    Nov 8, 2015
    7
    Been a big Halo fan since I picked up CE in early 2004. Halo 4 was a disappointment for me and I saw this as 343s shot at redemption.

    CAMPAIGN -The campaign is not as advertised. The whole epic Locke hunting Chief around the galaxy and having a stand-off campaign as shown in the commercials (even suggested on the cover art!!) simply isn't the storyline. -In fact, there's barely a    Been a big Halo fan since I picked up CE in early 2004. Halo 4 was a disappointment for me and I saw this as 343s shot at redemption.

    CAMPAIGN
    -The campaign is not as advertised. The whole epic Locke hunting Chief around the galaxy and having a stand-off campaign as shown in the commercials (even suggested on the cover art!!) simply isn't the storyline.
    -In fact, there's barely a storyline to admire and of what there is, like with Halo 4, it requires a knowledge of the EU to understand the background/characters which is a bad decision imo (this hampered Halo 4 too).
    -Playing as Locke for 80% of the time is also something I wasn't invested in. The Master Chief IS Halo. -Ultimately it's forgettable, the first Halo campaign imo to be so. I didn't like Halo 4's campaign but at least it was quite memorable. Makes me wonder what the hell 343 have been doing for 3 years.
    -Level designs, like the story, are also pretty boring/repetitive, no major set pieces to enjoy like the double scarab takedown level in Halo 3 for example. Again this is was a similar problem in 4.
    -Didn't care for the squads who were pretty unintelligent AI with 0 character investment.
    -(I read about all of the above before playing so I was at least prepared for the disappointment and was conscious of it as a consolation).
    -Also very short, 6 hours ish, for being 15 levels long.
    -It does look great visually however, very slick. Prometheans are more enjoyable to face than in Halo 4. That's honestly all I can say is good about it.

    MULTIPLAYER
    -Multiplayer is much better than in 4. The Spartan abilities are a welcome addition to the series (campaign too I should add), nice and fresh idea. Good way to solve the unbalanced armour abilities in Reach and 4. -343 have separated old from new too: Old style Halo is back - balanced, same loadout, weapons around the map type gameplay in Arena. And indeed it generally does feel like the old Halo days thank goodness with the new feature of Spartan abilities fitting in nicely.
    -And then Halo 4 style unbalanced craziness in Warzone, taken to the next level with REQ packs, different gun sights as an example etc. This works in Warzone because the maps are huge, AI plays a part and it's 24 players hence the in-your-face, skill based competitiveness of Arena doesn't really come into it - it's more of a social experience so I think things being unbalanced actually helps the vastness of the maps become more hectic, more varied and hence more enjoyable on a casual level. Put simply, I like it.
    -I'm pretty neutral on REQ packs
    -Lobbies are horrible, no gamertags visible. I didn't think lobby design could get worse than 4 but 343 somehow managed to top it.
    -Maps are visually very samey, hence boring and repetitive to look at. And a mere 3 Warzone maps. Some decent layouts however, particularly to suit the new abilities.
    -Armour customisation aesthetically looks slightly better than in 4, again pretty bad though compared to Reach and 3's artistic approach.
    - Very few gametypes - why on earth so few I don't know.
    - Overall I like but don't love halo 5's multiplayer. I did not like 4's.

    SUMMARY
    -Ultimately with 4 and now definitely 5, Halo has become an odd parody of its past self.
    -Terribly disappointing campaign - I honestly have no interest in what's to come in Halo 6. None at all.
    -Multiplayer is a decent outing which I will certainly play again and more than 4 but not religiously like I did with 3 and Reach (didn't have Live for 2), it's just not polished enough overall like the latter 2.
    -I truly don't think I will buy Halo 6 until at least a year or so after it comes out when it's half price and then it will only be to see what has come of the franchise, not because I really want it as a fan anymore which really saddens me.

    I never did a 4 review, would probably give that 5/10 for reference. The other main series games (CE, 2, 3, Reach either a 9 or more likely a 10). For this, I'd say 5/10 for campaign, 8/10 for multiplayer (7 overall is me being generous I'd say).    … Expand
  11. aa3IRAQI
    Nov 8, 2015
    9
    This game is a masterpiece! As a Halo fan for years I absolutely think this game is a perfect installment in the evolution of the series. I waited a while to review this game because I wanted to see whether it holds its entertainment value and surprisingly it not only maintains it but increases it.

    The campaign mode is fun and the story isn't as good as Halo 2 but just as good as Halo 3    This game is a masterpiece! As a Halo fan for years I absolutely think this game is a perfect installment in the evolution of the series. I waited a while to review this game because I wanted to see whether it holds its entertainment value and surprisingly it not only maintains it but increases it.

    The campaign mode is fun and the story isn't as good as Halo 2 but just as good as Halo 3 and superior to Halo 4. They are going in a different direction and it does take some getting use to for the different POV the story takes on. The story does maintain interest and has a descent ending. I give the story an 8/10.

    The multiplayer is absolutely amazing and is the only thing that keeps me logging in a couple hours a day. They aren't having any of the matchmaking issues that the Master Chief collection had. The upgrade system is just perfect and easy to understand unlike the abomination they're running in Black Ops 3. I give the Multiplayer 10/10.

    The only thing this game is missing is Forge mode which I expect for them to include in an upcoming update. That's the only reason this game doesn't get 10/10.

    All things accounted for, this game gets a 9/10.

    P.S. don't waste your money on Call of Duty BO3!    … Expand
  12. eonkid99999
    Nov 8, 2015
    9
    Awesome campaign, great multiplayer - fast, awesome game, great fun to play. Story is awesome and leaves you excited for the next installment But the lack of split screen, unskilled friendly AI and overfocus on co-op leaves people wanting more.
  13. SeanGamerDays
    Nov 8, 2015
    9
    Halo 5 dosen't stand from it's previous multiplayer, of course because of it's Split-Screen removal. Obviously, I like the campaign better, and the shooting' fo'sho! And i think this should beat Bungie with their Destiny, but sometimes, I kinda miss Split-screen so much...

    I hope there will be Split-Screen soon, without 60fps holding Split-screen fans from it's attention...
  14. Quantiumviceroy
    Nov 8, 2015
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First off the multiplayer:
    -The gameplay is so fast it is pretty much on par with destiny speed and almost titanfall speed.
    -The beeping noises that play every time you do pretty much anything are basically ear cancer.
    -There is no split screen even for campaign (sorry, you dont get to play with your friends who come over or your siblings anymore)
    -Once again you can't play as elites
    -The smart scope is basically just ads in disguise
    -The spartan abilities are literally carbon copies of mechanics from other games
    -The maps are pretty much all garbage
    -In warzone, you start off with power weapons from packs instead of actually finding them on the battlefield like normal halo games
    -rocket launcher, battle rifle and sniper rifle skins are literally eye cancer
    -The countdown to when power weapons are going to spawn is just a noob magnet and makes everyone wait at the spawn location
    -the amount of hits you can take when your shields are down is about 1/3 of previous halo games

    Campaign
    -Story is so flat and stale i wouldn't even call it 2D but 1.5D
    -The entire plot is something out of a fanfiction website
    -Cortana suddenly has a "I WANT TO BE AN OVERLORD" complex
    -Cortana is physical being now which makes no sense
    -Cortana has clothing
    -Cortana looks ugly and is not even hot anymore
    -Cortana is the antagonist for some reason
    -Locke is a try hard angsty person
    -highest number of missions in a halo game, shortest campaign
    -WALK AND TALK MISSIONS
    -it would have been cool is you could shoot allies in the walk and talk missions making them turn on you like in the command center in halo ce, but no, you are forced to keep your gun down. WTF
    -Enjoyed how halo was unique in the way you are a bada$$ lone wolf fighting an entire army of aliens? well guess what? Now you get a fireteam like in call of duty, battlefield and every other generic shooter.
    -instead of dying, you now get downed and have to get a teammate to pick you up, otherwise you have to wait a whole minute to respawn
    -because the coop campaign is now online, you get inconsistencies with your teammates. what you see on your screen is not what is happening on your teammates screen. If you are teabagging an elite, you friend will see you teabagging the air instead.
    -The music is out of place most of the time and is a failed attempt to remake the original soundtrack
    -The arbiter appears for a few missions but now sounds like a crazy cultist revolutionist instead of the awesome bada$$ we all used to love
    -There are no good memorable lines in the dialog. Remember quoting halo and sounding cool? well not anymore.
    -The voice acting is awkward and lines are cheesy
    -everything is really clunky like in halo 4
    -all the battles feel the same with similar room geometry
    -enemies kill you pretty much instantly with your shields down
    -now you can get beaten to death by a grunt
    -jackels sound like something an 80s cartoon bird character
    -you cant stick hunters for some reason
    -"boss fights" with warden eternal every hour or so
    -the game assumes you know all of halo's expanded lore
    -you cant pick up the skulls and hit people with them anymore. now if you pick them up, they just disappear
    -Locke, not Master Chief, is the evident main character. Master Chief levels were just thrown in the game to try to satisfy people who wanted to play as their favourite green super soldier, but there are only 3 of them.
    -    … Expand
  15. gab19
    Nov 8, 2015
    10
    Huge improvement over the disaster of Halo 4 , multiplayer finally feels like old school halo no more of the cod cloning, halo finally feels like a halo game. The game runs amazingly at 60 fps with no frame drops graphics are stunning, Only letdown is the campaign you only play master chief in 3 mission which is abit disappointing and the story isn't that great overall this is definitelyHuge improvement over the disaster of Halo 4 , multiplayer finally feels like old school halo no more of the cod cloning, halo finally feels like a halo game. The game runs amazingly at 60 fps with no frame drops graphics are stunning, Only letdown is the campaign you only play master chief in 3 mission which is abit disappointing and the story isn't that great overall this is definitely a game of the year contender.… Expand
  16. Juggalo
    Nov 8, 2015
    1
    worst game ever, campaign doesn't make sense, multiplayer is unfair , every single of it is flawed. They should reboot it in every way. i mean come on they ruined the whole entire halo franchise.
  17. y0gurtm4
    Nov 8, 2015
    10
    Super game! very nice graphics. play every day in multiplayer!
    all my friends liked it. not enough companion to IOS, so that you can communicate with the clan.
    good Russian localization! shooter number 1 this year! Thank you, 343.
  18. Pelikan94
    Nov 8, 2015
    10
    Halo 5 is a really good game it deserves much better reviews.Multiplayer is so fun the best Halo multiplayer I have ever played.Campaing is Awesome but the story is complexed because you can't really get into it if you haven't read comics and books.
  19. edison400
    Nov 7, 2015
    4
    Feels like a below average campaign. Too short. online co-op wouldn't work for me and a friend when using the same router in the same building. Also feel a bit cheated that hunt the truth, spartan ops, and the added cut-scenes to Halo 2 for the anniversary, doesn't connect to story either at all or just not very well.
  20. noscoperaiders
    Nov 7, 2015
    9
    Between being and Xbox exclusive, a different studio working on halo,a divided ,and at times nit-picky, fan base, and this halo making more changes than any other game in the series, there will be people that will say "this sucks", "343 ruined halo",or "its a garbage game". While I respect peoples opinion, that doesn't mean I don't recognize blind hate. Halo 5 may not be the best halo butBetween being and Xbox exclusive, a different studio working on halo,a divided ,and at times nit-picky, fan base, and this halo making more changes than any other game in the series, there will be people that will say "this sucks", "343 ruined halo",or "its a garbage game". While I respect peoples opinion, that doesn't mean I don't recognize blind hate. Halo 5 may not be the best halo but it still manages to be a great one. Halo 5 has been re imagined from designs, visuals, and most notably the game play. Since Halo 3, I've always wanted spartans to play like their portrait in the cut scenes and novels instead of slow weak bullet magnets and now with sprint, thrusters, clamber, ground pounds, smart scope, and spartan charge, halo 5 is not only fast and intense but makes me not wanna go back to other halos. It's game play improves both campaign with larger/more packed levels and smarter/larger scale of enemies to multiplayer with balanced/flushed out maps and competitive/all-out war game modes. In fact its multiplayer is my favorite in the series with csr ranking system returning, arena with classic and new competitive modes and the all new warzone with large scale combat against spartans and ai. Both complement each other too. Halo 5's the first halo where I've really taken the competitive playing serious since many of my games have ended close and have made me already show many emotions (anger, happiness, frustration, relief, empowerment, weak, etc) and when I got tried of screaming and calling out from arena, I would switch to war zone where variety of unlockable weapons and vehicles joined with 24 players/ai made for chaotic and over the top explosive battles and craziness. And as before, if I started not taking it seriously over felt to loose I would jump back into arena for more focused and competitive games. Which ever you choose, you earn points towards req packs which give you random weapons, vehicles, armor, boosts, etc. that most you can use for war zone and some non game changing things like armor for arena. You can also purchase these but what makes this fare versus other micro-transactions is not only do you have the option to use in game money but to use a lot of these, you need to get kills/points to build a meter to use them so if your not good it doesn't matter how much you buy if you cant reach the level to use it. And it makes the progression more rewarding. As for campaign, the story follows both master chief/blue team and the new agent locke/fire team Osiris as chief and blue team have become AWOL and lockes team has been sent to bring him home until devastating events caused by forerunner beings called the guardians risked humanities destruction. For one I did enjoy playing the campaign as the levels are large with more routes/hidden passages, larger scale of enemies, incredible set pieces/visuals, many hidden collectibles/Easter eggs/special weapons, and 4 player coop online. Its a blast to play alone or with friends. The story however is a little mixed. The main plot and the so called "greatest hunt in gaming history" really doesn't live to the name with rushed events, lack of blue team, and a mix of both 3 missions just made to "take a break from the action" to a cliff hanger that make it story feel short and underwhelming. That said, its not just another mediocre shooter story as it has some good moments from the dialogue between character and Intel to jaw dropping moments like chief fighting locke or the first time you see a guardian rise. Recommend playing with friends on heroic or harder for a true lengthy experience. My main complaint though about this halo is its cut back of features for its launch. While some cuts like forge and big team battle are temporary, other things have been cut including split-screen, voting in matchmaking, customizing chest/shoulder/wrist/& leg pieces are now just one armor piece, file share, screenshots/video making in theater that still just goes for pvp and not campaign, and social playlists. Now while these do seem like little nitpicks as well as the fact 343 will be adding loads of content through its launch (as we speak shotty snipers has just been added with more reqs, patches, free maps, forge, and big team battles being planned to be added soon) I still can't help this has been one of the smallest launches content wise for a halo game in a while. That said, it still has plenty to keep you busy from its addicting multiplayer and game play, its great progression system, and a solid campaign. It might not be as beloved as say halo 1-3 but it is for sure NOT A BAD GAME and way better than halo 4 as well as my favorite multiplayer in the series.… Expand
  21. awesomepianoman
    Nov 7, 2015
    0
    No splitscreen, the game play feels like a cartoon, the cut scenes are made for little kids. Not for players who grew up with Halo. 343 has swindled all existing Halo fans into buying a game that is not Halo. It would be a good game if it was named something else and not associated with the Halo series.
  22. Maximale
    Nov 7, 2015
    4
    From the Beginning, before the game would come out, I knew it would be bad. How? an exclusive to the XBONE. Games w/ their corporations exclusive to a singular console always are bad, ignore them. In short, this game has a lot of flaws in both the campaign and multiplayer. Campaign has a confusing plot and some enemy types that either have one of the following: Bullet SpongeFrom the Beginning, before the game would come out, I knew it would be bad. How? an exclusive to the XBONE. Games w/ their corporations exclusive to a singular console always are bad, ignore them. In short, this game has a lot of flaws in both the campaign and multiplayer. Campaign has a confusing plot and some enemy types that either have one of the following: Bullet Sponge Technology, Stupid AI, and quite frankly, not the best gameplay. Multiplayer has a lack of modes and you will get killed instantly. I have found plenty of people hacking and things of the sort. if you want a semi comporable shooter for the next gen, get Black Ops III.… Expand
  23. BrunoAvila
    Nov 7, 2015
    10
    graphic and music is excellent, best in the series. the story coherency and consistency is the best in the series. multiplayer mode is the best in the series. enemies are also more fun to kill. no more flood semi-zombies. enemies move fast. my only complaint is that some missions are ridiculously short, there are few but luckily there are 15 missions and there are some missions that aregraphic and music is excellent, best in the series. the story coherency and consistency is the best in the series. multiplayer mode is the best in the series. enemies are also more fun to kill. no more flood semi-zombies. enemies move fast. my only complaint is that some missions are ridiculously short, there are few but luckily there are 15 missions and there are some missions that are absolute joy. excellent work… Expand
  24. desa0510
    Nov 7, 2015
    10
    This is just the best Halo multiplayer ive ever played, the campaign left me hanging after tha cliffhanger like in helo 2, but i enjoyed every moment of it.
  25. Silentwalker
    Nov 7, 2015
    3
    Here I was hoping for an amazing campaign and awesome multiplayer yet here I am giving the game a 3/10. Why? Because it didn't live up to the hype or expectations and what we got was a half-baked campaign at best and a multiplayer where aiming feels like you're shooting at ghosts that aren’t there and connecting to servers outside your region results in many missed kills because hitsHere I was hoping for an amazing campaign and awesome multiplayer yet here I am giving the game a 3/10. Why? Because it didn't live up to the hype or expectations and what we got was a half-baked campaign at best and a multiplayer where aiming feels like you're shooting at ghosts that aren’t there and connecting to servers outside your region results in many missed kills because hits wouldn't register.

    Turns out 343 decided to remove the region restrictions, matching Aussies with Americans. And as someone living in Australia if you're connecting to a server in America you're not going to have a good time with a ping over 200ms.

    The single player story sucked, it left you with a Halo 2 style ending and left many players thinking, wait *Spoilers* *Spoilers*
    Cortana is the bad guy now? What? *Spoilers* *Spoilers*

    Locke is just as strong as chief when the chief should have been beat down in less than 5 seconds. Hmm. The campaign felt linear and very repetitive too. You fight the same boss over 6 times! Amazing.

    And why am I only playing as the Chief for 2 levels? Wow that sucks. At least it's a long campaign... Oh wait, I finished it in less than 6 hours. /sigh

    The multiplayer levels feel very poorly designed where jumping off accidentally happens a lot, and spawning at the edge of the level facing the outside boundaries don't help. And don't get me started on the broken spawning. Just hope that you don't spawn in the same location more than twice or you're going to give the enemy team an easy win.

    The aiming as I said is terrible, the removed all the auto aim from the previous halo games and implemented their own bullet magnetism. So if you aim near then you're going to hit them anyway regardless if you're reticule isn't actually on your target.

    Warzone feels like Pay to Win, I've opened over 20 packs and yet to see any heavy drops like scorpions or wraiths. All I've got are Mongoose and Ghosts. Where if you decide do drop your hard earnt money you're more likely to get these heavy armored vehicles.

    But one you use them they're gone forever so the cycle continues! I guess they need to feed their children some way right?

    After Halo 5 all I can say is give up 343, you had your chance at Halo and it's time to pass the torch to a better developer    … Expand
  26. maximumgame
    Nov 7, 2015
    5
    Mediocre. Campaign was half-assed, the story overall is just a setup for the next game. Not much of anything happened and should be a $20 prequel/teaser for halo 6. This game was a tech demo, you get 60 fps almost always thanks to their dynamic resolution but I paid for a game, not a tech demo. The requisition system is there for money grabbing, you get far too little for the amount ofMediocre. Campaign was half-assed, the story overall is just a setup for the next game. Not much of anything happened and should be a $20 prequel/teaser for halo 6. This game was a tech demo, you get 60 fps almost always thanks to their dynamic resolution but I paid for a game, not a tech demo. The requisition system is there for money grabbing, you get far too little for the amount of hours you put into the game to unlock packs. This is to be expected so that you can be squeezed for cash once you get fed up with the grind for req points.… Expand
  27. Chadleeozz
    Nov 7, 2015
    10
    This game is a masterpiece from start to finish. The visual beauty and musical score alone make this game a real treasure for us Xbox owners to have. Multiplayer is finally back to form in this game!! the new game modes take Halo to an entirely new level. The gameplay is fluid,responsive, balanced and rewards skilled players. Ignore some reviews in here( I seen one guy give a bad ratinThis game is a masterpiece from start to finish. The visual beauty and musical score alone make this game a real treasure for us Xbox owners to have. Multiplayer is finally back to form in this game!! the new game modes take Halo to an entirely new level. The gameplay is fluid,responsive, balanced and rewards skilled players. Ignore some reviews in here( I seen one guy give a bad ratin saying he has to pay for dlc for more modes when 343i has already announced all dlc is free lmao try harder Sony troll.… Expand
  28. Sir_Harris
    Nov 7, 2015
    8
    THIS REVIEW COMES FROM AN EXPERIENCED HALO FRANCHISE PLAYER

    Advantages: - Beautiful graphics and level designs - Amazing amounts of armor customization in multiplayer - New game modes that may entertain some - Entertaining to play (regardless of the poor story) - Cool cut scenes Disadvantages: - MICRO-TRANSACTION IN MULTIPLAYER WTF 343. THE **** YOU DOING - Poor story - You    THIS REVIEW COMES FROM AN EXPERIENCED HALO FRANCHISE PLAYER

    Advantages:
    - Beautiful graphics and level designs
    - Amazing amounts of armor customization in multiplayer
    - New game modes that may entertain some
    - Entertaining to play (regardless of the poor story)
    - Cool cut scenes

    Disadvantages:
    - MICRO-TRANSACTION IN MULTIPLAYER WTF 343. THE **** YOU DOING
    - Poor story
    - You play more Locke then the main protagonist himself
    - From where you are with a set of 3 other characters in the campaign, you get lower health thus get taken down easier, and when the other Spartans AI are as poor as the grunts suicidal run it is abysmal.
    - Small story, think it was around 16 missions? (I did not check for specific)

    Overall, I would say the game is a good buy if you are in it for the multiplayer, as, like all Halos, it is fun and entertaining to play. However, if you want to play the single player only avid Halo fans should find it interesting (like myself) as it is quite dull and I think new members to the franchise should defiantly start their halo experience with a different Halo campaign.    … Expand
  29. viperbooman
    Nov 7, 2015
    9
    Beat campaign on solo-heroic, and about 16 hours into multiplayer
    Pros
    -Excellent level design -Varied encounters -Graphics -Frame rate -Online stability -Immaculate gunplay (probably the best gameplay in series) Cons -Short campaign -Lackluster story (never care about characters or whats going on, feels like its all a teaser for halo 6) -Online ranking system (too luck based)    Beat campaign on solo-heroic, and about 16 hours into multiplayer
    Pros
    -Excellent level design
    -Varied encounters
    -Graphics
    -Frame rate
    -Online stability
    -Immaculate gunplay (probably the best gameplay in series)
    Cons
    -Short campaign
    -Lackluster story (never care about characters or whats going on, feels like its all a teaser for halo 6)
    -Online ranking system (too luck based)
    -Not enough multiplayer maps
    -Not enough game modes (although they do have bonus modes on weekends and are adding more)
    -No split screen Co-op or multiplayer
    Overall:
    About an 8.5/10. If you don't plan playing online wait for a price drop, if you will play online it deff will be worth it. If 343 provides a better and longer campaign, and provide more maps/game modes halo 6 can be the best in the series.    … Expand
  30. darrenb1988
    Nov 7, 2015
    8
    Campaign was great, but shorter than id like, game play is brilliant, Multiplayer is fantastic, the only problem i have is the ending, it felt like a Halo 2 style ending, didnt really enjoy the cliffhanger ending, other than that, its a great game
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Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best Xbox One Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 101 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 101
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 101
  3. Negative: 0 out of 101
  1. The Jimquisition
    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.
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  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]
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