Reviewed: Halo Infinite - Game of the Year 2021
Halo Infinite is my game of the year 2021.
This review's a little late, but figured there's no more apt time to release this then when Microsoft announced their acquisition of Activision-Blizzard for a whopping $70B.
Not that 343i have anything to worry about - Halo Infinite is a wonderful game - so precisely put together, it's like a Swiss clockwork of a dream, nostalgic and vintage in all the right parts, and yet holds its own against all the zoomer generation shooters of today.
Spartans/Master Chief may move a little slower and there's a higher TTK but there's nothing quite like outplaying your opponent in a 1v1 duel, using the environment, finely tuned movement tech, and a fun assortment of weaponry that delivers a delicious crunchiness with every shot fired and connected hit.
Multiplayer is so much fun, the maps very enjoyable and the ranked system never feels like a grind.
The singleplayer campaign is also top notch, with an open world that is a joy to run around, with a sandbox of guns and movement options to approach challenges your way.
The only criticisms I can level at Halo Infinite is that its battle pass/microtransaction store is a little stingy, a little pricier than I'd like and the armor customization options is more restrictive than past titles. But they heard the community on the Battle Pass and acted fast to turn things around at the end of last year. What's more, the entire game, both the multiplayer is free-to-play and the campaign is free with Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft and 343i even pulled an Apex Legends, surprised dropping the multiplayer mode earlier than expected and earning the goodwill of the community with their solid handling of their returned esports - the Halo Championship Series - so far.
I think with this, 343i have long proven they can step out of the shadow of Bungie, and made Halo their very own.
Finally, John Carpenter just tweeted out that he loves Halo Infinite - and if the Master of Horror says it's good, then you know it's friggin' good.
