Only one week until the Halo: REACH Multiplayer Beta goes live, so I thought I'd make a thread for all of us to talk about our experiences while playing.
Here is a rough overview of the major details for those who aren't up to speed...
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- ACCESS -
In order to access the Multiplayer Beta, you need to have a copy of Halo 3: ODST. The Campaign disc has an "Extras" menu. You will use this menu option to, first, download the Beta, and then to play the Beta each time after that. Bungie have said that the Beta will run for about 3 weeks, give or take a couple days.
- SPARTANS vs ELITES -
During the Beta, you will play as either a Spartan or an Elite. This is similar in some regards to the previous 2 online multiplayer Halo games, with a couple major differences...
1 - The Spartan soldiers are of the Spartan III variety. This means that they are not as large, or as powerful as the earlier Spartan II type. The Master Chief in previous games was a Spartan II, for reference. So, you are bigger than the ODST soldiers, but a little smaller than a Spartan II. Due to the fact that you are a Spartan III, you have a regenerating shield, but DO NOT have regenerative health. Health kits will be spread throughout in order to replenish health. Also, falls from great heights will harm or kill you if you are reckless.
2 - The Elites were nerfed a bit for Halo 2 and 3 multiplayer in the hopes of creating balance. But in Reach, the Elite is purposely made more correct to their original intent. The Elites are big, fast and very deadly. They have regenerating shields AND health. Because of their larger size, they take more damage before being killed, but they are also a much larger target, so it all sort of evens out in the end.
For scale...
- LOADOUTS -
One of the major changes for Reach will be the addition of Loadouts. Upon starting the game, or at each respawn, you will be given the choice of a selection of loadouts. These will include various primary weapon, secondary weapon, grenade count and Armor Ability (more on those later). These will vary depending on what playlist you are in, what game type is being played, and even what is going on IN the current game. Pick the one you want, or that suits the current needs of the battle, and go at it. You can still pick up dropped weapons on the battle field, but now you can have a little more choice as to what you start with.
For example...
- ARMOR ABILITIES -
Another major change happening with Reach is the addition of Armor Abilities. In Halo 3, you had access to various equipment that you could use, but it was a one time use thing. Bungie wanted to change that a little, and make them more useful, thus spawned Armor Abilities. These are chosen along with your Loadout, but instead of using them once, they can be used many times, depending on which ability and how long its recharge time is. A meter above the radar in your HUD shows your currently equipped ability, and it's current charge level. Here are the ones that will be available in the Beta...
Jet Pack - (Spartan & Elite)
Just like it sounds, you can now fly. Press the button for a small burst to get up to a high ledge, or hold it longer to get a birds-eye-view of the battlefield. But be wary. You will be very easy to spot up there, and if you go too high, as discussed earlier, a fall from large heights for the Spartan III soldiers will harm or kill. Also, you cannot carry objective items while flying, so don't think that you will just grab the flag and fly away.
Armor Lock - (Spartan only)
This is like your own personal Bubble Shield. You drop to one knee, and engage an overcharge on your shield, making you completely invulnerable. If engaged long enough, at the end of your overcharge, you will emit an EMP burst that will deplete shields and immobilize vehicles. So even though you were a sitting duck while locked, you shouldn't be messed with up close.
Active Camo - (Spartan & Elite)
You already get the main idea behind this one from previous games. You go invisible, making you harder to detect by the enemy. But for Reach, it has been tweaked slightly. For one, the amount that you are "cloaked" depends on your movement. Stand still and don't fire, and you are totally invisible, but start to move around and you become more opaque rather than totally invisible. But also new is the fact that using the Active Camo jams the radar of everyone around you. So, you might be invisible, but everyone knows you are there... somewhere.
Sprint - (Spartan only)
Also new for Reach is the ability to sprint. Just like it sounds, you can run in short bursts to get in and out of cover quickly, or use it in large bursts to cover great distances quicker. You cannot fire while running, and like with the Jet Pack you cannot carry objective items either.
Evade - (Elite only)
Just as the Spartans have the ability to Sprint, the Elites have a handy new Evade maneuver at their disposal. They can quickly dive forward, backward or side to side in order to quickly get into, or out of, battle. They can evade twice with a full ability meter, though it recharges quite quickly, so it can be used fairly regularly. But like with the Spartan's sprint, you cannot fire or carry objective items while evading.
- WEAPONS -
There are a few new additions, and a few old favorites coming back to Reach.
Returning - (UNSC)
Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, Rocket Launcher and Spartan Laser. All of these play very similar to before.
New for Halo: Reach - (UNSC)
New for Reach are the Grenade Launcher, Magnum Pistol and Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR). The Grenade Launcher can (obviously) fire grenades, but if you hold the trigger when firing, you can delay its detonation until you release it. The Magnum returns, much like it was in Halo 1, with a 2x scope and great headshot ability. The DMR takes the place of the previous games Battle Rifle, but instead of that gun's 3-shot burst fire, the DMR is a single shot, powerful mid-long range rifle.
Returning - (Covenant)
Plasma Pistol, Needler, Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer. All of these play very similar to before.
New for Halo: Reach - (Covenant)
New for Reach are the Needle Rifle, Focus Rifle, Plasma Repeater and Plasma Launcher. The Needle Rifle is very similar to the Spartan's DMR in that it is a very precise mid-long range weapon, though if a players shields have been removed, 3 more shots will cause an explosion, like the standard Needler. The Focus Rifle is roughly a combination of the Beam Rifle and Sentinel Beam. It fires a constant stream of plasma, but it has a large scope and great precision. The Plasma Repeater is a faster firing version of the old Plasma Rifle, and is comparable to the Spartan's Assault Rifle. The Plasma Launcher will lock on to targets after a short period of tracking, and then fire slightly homing plasma rounds at the enemy which explode on impact. Think of the Halo 3 Missle Pod, but with plasma rounds.
- MAPS -
There will be 4 maps playable in the Beta, all differing in order to test out the various game types and scales of battle.
Powerhouse
An asymmetric map that is built into part of a hydroelectric power station.
Overlook
Also an asymmetric map, but this will only be used for the specific "Generator Defense" gametype during the Beta.
Swordbase
An indoor map, possibly an ONI research base, with many levels and walkways.
Boneyard
The largest multiplayer map, used in the Beta for the "Invasion" gametypes.
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There have been quite a few more changes to the game with regards to rankings, customization and gametypes, as well as the return of screenshots, film clips, and community features, but I think this post is big enough as is. I've covered many of the main details, but if anyone has any questions, I'll do my best to answer. I'm not the MOST knowledgeable Halo fan ever, but I do really enjoy it and follow it quite a lot, so I can fill in any details if I know them. This Beta should be a great time, and the final game is shaping up to be quite an experience. Next week will be the start of a fun time
