Halo Infinite is a stunning new entry in the long-running sci-fi shooter series, with new mechanics and ideas that should delight fans.
Halo Infinite is the culmination of years of lore and anticipation. It’s the sixth main entry in the Halo series, which fans have been waiting for since the end credits of Halo 5: Guardians. After the game missed its release window alongside the Xbox Series X| S, Halo Infinite is finally here. It brings with it a lengthy campaign as well as a separate, free-to-play multiplayer component, both of which are fantastic. This entry is an intriguing sci-fi drama with a laser-focused narrative, intriguing characters, and satisfying gunplay. It’s a comfortable return to what players have always loved about Halo. But it isn’t without twists and turns to propel it to new heights. It might be years later, but Halo Infinite is an exciting conclusion — and beginning — for a beloved franchise. It feels just like coming home again, only we’re wiser, battle-hardened, and ready for a new challenge this time around. Much of the excitement that comes from jumping into Halo Infinite’s campaign is continuing the convoluted Halo 5: Guardians’ story. This one is a lot less frustratingly obtuse, thankfully. But t’s still a very familiar narrative for Halo fans, with some surprising yet welcome changes along the way. Players land on the new Zeta Halo ring, which acts as the new open-world landscape in which they’ll complete a variety of missions to advance the story. That’s all after an emotional beginning, where players meet Master Chief once more after all these years. The story kicks off with Chief as he’s found drifting in space by UNSC Pelican Echo 216’s pilot. After remaining stranded around the remains of a defunct Halo ring, the pilot brings Chief aboard. Then, he re-routes his power to getting Chief’s suit back up and working. Soon we’re reliving Halo: Combat Evolved once more. Chief looks up, right, left, and down to calibrate his sensors, and his first words are reminiscent of the Halo of old: “I need a weapon.” From there, the duo crash onto the damaged Zeta Halo ring. There, they discover an AI construct known as “The Weapon.” She had been instructed to contain Cortana, who had gone rampant between Halo 4 and Halo 5, and delete herself after doing so. While she has memories of Chief giving her this task, the Spartan is unable to recall it. With The Weapon in tow, Chief sets off for answers. This is all while combating the Banished, a band of mercenaries that broke off from the Covenant. The story plays out at a satisfying clip. It combines close encounters with powerful enemies, found artifacts, and interactions with The Weapon. The Weapon is one of the game’s rare low points. She’s an irritatingly quirky AI companion who lacks Cortana’s much-needed maturity. She constantly titters away with jokes and asinine comments.
