It's no secret that developer 343 Industries is taking the Halo campaign experience in some bold new directions with Halo 5: Guardians. Instead of telling a solo story in which the Master Chief takes on hoards of Elites, Grunts, Brutes, and Prometheans "lone wolf" style, Spartan 117 will always be accompanied by a trio of fellow soldiers: Blue Team.
Let's also not forget that a for a large portion of the game, you won't even be playing as the Chief. Much like Halo 2, this fifth chapter in the Master Chief saga will put players in the shoes of another character, this time Agent Locke. And, much like Blue Team, Locke will be rolling with three companions at all times as well. They make up Team Osiris and will play in a similar collaborative fashion.
So why has 343i opted to veer off the traditional "Master Chief alone" style story? Well, for one, let's not forget that the Chief used to have Cortana's voice chirping in his ear. Thanks to the events of Halo 4, she's no longer around to do that. So, in a way, this merry band of companions will help fill that void. However, the real reason I think we're seeing this push for a more collaborative experience, is the studio's new focus on social play.
If you look at the shooter landscape today, it's dominated by socially-connected experiences. Games like Destiny and Borderlands are doing things in the online co-op space that make prior Halo entries look archaic by comparison. As such, I think 343i's team-oriented take on the campaign this time around aims to scratch that itch, be it ever so slightly. Whether playing with friends over Xbox Live or by yourself with AI companions, Chief will be able to issue commands, revive downed allies, and more.
To me, that's not the Halo experience I've come to know and love.
Call me a traditionalist. Heck, call me a loner! But the truth is, I really enjoyed running through these games completely alone. It was this epic feel of Chief bearing the weight of the entire universe on his shoulders that had me sucked into Microsoft's sci-fi universe. Am I the only one who feels this way?
That said, I have no intention of throwing the baby out with the bath water here, and I hope you take the same approach. The harsh reality here is that the FPS landscape is evolving at rapid pace, and Halo has to keep up or its going to be left in the dust. I'm just praying that it doesn't lose its identity in the process.
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