Exploring the world of Halo Infinite

As parents of teens, we know that gaming is one of the most popular pastimes. In our home, we instilled a "no play until homework is done" policy when the kids were very young. Luckily, that has stuck. As a gamer myself, I know how quickly time can pass once you get emerged into the play. That goes for any game. Even to this day I play about a half an hour of games on my devices right at bedtime. Somehow, I manage to sleep very well. I know, I know, it's not suppose to work like that. But maybe it's the type of games you play?  It's a way to wind down the day and clear my mind, maybe?

We've discovered, like many parents, that gaming was a way for our kids to connect with friends during lockdown. He proved that he could manage a good night's sleep while maintaining decent marks at school. But one of the things we've always tried to do is learn about what games the kids were playing and also who they were playing with. 

Most of the reviews out today on games are done by adults - hard core gamers. But for the average family with older kids, we hope that we offer a different perspective. After all, we raced out to get our hands on gaming consoles at some point for the kids (okay, and us). Now we need to know about the games!

We streamed the big Xbox announcements together earlier this year to see what was launching. Now that we're in the thick of holiday season we turned our attention to the most recent launch of HALO INFINITE created by 343 Industries. 

This launch announcement was exciting. Even I could see how this title continues to draw much attention and excitment. Just jump on the conversations on Discord or Twitter and you'll get the picture.

My teen has played every edition to date and it was the one that he was most interested in checking out. It's been five years since the last Halo release so the anticipation for fans of the franchise was high.  Of course launching during exam time was a test in time management!

On December 8, Halo Infinite launched to fans around the world on multiple platforms (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Steam, with Xbox Game Pass memberships, and free-to-play for multiplayer)

KEY FEATURES to this new campaign... 

Zeta Halo: considered the most expansive of all sets in the franchise's 20 year history, this sprawling ringworld sees the Master Chief journey across closed-quarter warships, vast forerunning interiors and more. 

Master Chief full-play: this is it. Players are Master Chief throughout the play as they unlock secrets of Zeta Halo and pursue the mysteries of the UNSC and Cortana.

Explore More: along side traditional missions, players can also explore freely and complete side missions earning better gear and discover hidden secrets. 

Player's Choice: while players move through the game and complete missions, they can now do so on their own pace and own time. 

So, what we know so far...

This is a single player campaign. A multi-player experience is actually offered free (with in-game purchases) for a wider audience but runs separately. As the single player, you take on the role of Master Chief (a "Spartan" supersoldier) as you explore Zeta Halo (aka Installation 07). Following along the story line and completing the missions satisfies those who prefer a more linear play and yes, at your own pace. But exploring the open world offers more creative play and what we were most excited to see. 

The freedom to take side quests offers players what feels like endless play time. And for die-hard fans of the franchise, this game is loaded with cleaverly hidden Easter Eggs and jokes. Spot the original Xbox Console? or a Giant Sandwich? Collecting Skulls is also a classic fan favourite and they aren't that easy to find! 

One of the newest features in the game is the Grapple Hook - where you aim it on to an object and it will pull you towards it. 

Halo Infinite seems to give original fans of the franchise a bit of nostalgia. I'm told that when Halo 4 and 5 came out there were a lot of changes to the game that made it more modern but the hard core fans were lukewarm to the releases. In this latest version, they've brought back familiar enemies, weapons and vehicles that seem to please old and new players to the title. 

As a parent, if you think it's "just a shooting game" know that there's strategy involved and the challenges of seeking and exploring are fun. Although there are times when it feels like mindless shooting - which can feel a bit uneventful, the quests make up for that. My guess is that it's purposely created that way to help players take a mental break. 

The story that is set in the year 2560, is rich in Halo Infinite and very much part of the game. In the past, the stories didn't really contribute to the overall experience. In this campaign, it gives every character more personality including the enemies. Master Chief in this game feels more human with more emotions. 

What we also noticed was how the sky changes from day to night while you play. That's pretty neat. The expanse of the massive Halo Ring is ambitious and impressive to say the least. 

And yes, the score is amazing! The original soundtrack (you can also listen on Spotify) is breathtaking and I've been playing it in the background as I work. As Spin.com describes the soundtrack, "Halo Infinite feels like a modern take on classic Halo, and a large part of that is the flawless sci-fi soundtrack that places players straight on to the ringworld of Zeta Halo. Composed by award-winners like Gareth Coker and Joel Corelitz among others, the score fuses themes new and old to bring a breathtaking familiar, yet exciting musical experience for every step of the way."

And more Halo news...

The announcement of a new Halo TV series has also made headlines recently. This live-action series will land on Paramount Plus and will star Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief. It's expected sometime in 2022. 

There's also a six-part Halo podcast we found on Spotify (Xbox) that follows a Memory Agent -- tells the story of a special agent behind enemy lines who has no memory of who she is.

And if you're curious (like me!) about the terminology used because there is SO MUCH in this incredible franchise, there are sites dedicated to everything Halo -- halopedia.org is one. Just be prepared to dive deep into this incredible world. 

*Thank you to Microsoft/Xbox for providing us with early access to Halo Infinite for a preview.