As of today, we are officially two month away from the most
awaited Xbox 360 exclusivity: Halo 4. Getting closer to the launch usually
means that you already know what to expect, but for a title as massive as Halo,
with a new production team, things can be very secretive. So we decided to
share everything we know about the game’s new loadout, classes, weapons and
classes.
Undoubtedly what makes the most difference in a player’s
look is the helmets. The image below is some of the many available design that
will be available, but some are only found in the special edition of the game,
such as Recruit (with Collector's Edition), and Strider or Scanner with the
season pass. In addition, virtually all helmets have now additional cosmetic
skins, and as expected, some skins are only available when preordering the
game.
For the chest armor, the same options found in the helmet
part apply here: Recruit and Fetus armor can only be obtained by preordering respectively
the Xbox 360 and collector's edition and some of them will also have special
skins.
Stances are something totally new in Halo 4. What it is by
base is making your very own Spartan-IV stand in précised pose to show off its
might and glory. The postures will be visible during the pre-game screen, when
you are loading the match.
Finally the rest of the body armor, including Visors,
Shoulder piece, legs and forearm will all be customized in depth, with
different manufacturer style, and can be changed when it comes to color or even
skins. Pretty simple right?
So what about the most important thing in the game which is
the weapons? Well, since Halo 4 introduces a new race with their own armory,
the game has now a lot of extra weapons, split into Forerunners, UNSC and
Covenant.
The Forerunners weapons are by base very advanced
technologically speaking in comparison to both UNSC and Covenant gear. Bringing
nine new weapons (including an unveiled one until now), Forerunners armory is
powerful and full of new gameplay trick to take into consideration.
The Pulse Grenade is a weird new type of explosive. Once
detonated, it creates an EMP powered sphere that lasts about two seconds before
exploding, which as you would guess hurts quite a lot.
The Light Rifle is a dual mode gun. When the player fires
from the hip, the weapon fires short bursts of three shots. But when the player
zooms in, the weapon fires only one shot, that is more accurate than the other
mode. Think of it of a combination of the UNSC DMR and Battle Riffle.
The Scattershot is a Z-180 Close Combat Rifle, Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator,
a leading Forerunner weapon that was used to pull out the race’s defenses late
in their war against the Flood. This weapon acts as a shotgun for the alien
race, and can disintegrate your enemies into dust particles. One fun thing
about this gun is that although it cannot hold more than five rounds, this type
of energy bullet can ricochet, and can be used to kill enemies hiding behind a
corner if you find the right bouncing degree.
The Boltshot is a Promethean pistol, carrying about 10
charged energy bullets. The Boltshot is believed to be a counterpart to the
Covenant Plasma Pistol, which can be charged to fire one strong incendiary
round.
The Suppressor acts like the UNSC Assault Rifle or the
Covenant’s Storm Rifle to the Prometheans. It fires both of short light attack
in rapid succession that can accelerate during the burst.
Finanly the last weapons we know about are the Repeater, the
Incineration Cannon, the Binary Rifle (which is believed to be another type of
sniper rifle) and a final unannounced gun.
For our loyal UNSC Spartans, their biggest fight is about to
begin this year. Between Wargames and Spartan Ops, the mighty human race will
have a newly updated armory, with even updated weapons.
The BR85HB SR Rifle Service, or simply known as BR, is a
know gun built by Misriah Armory. Charged with a 36-bullet clip (or 12 in burst
mode), this gun is one of the most popular one of the Halo series. The BR will
offer its famous three bullets bursts, and use the hitscan technique to define
the point of impact of each shot in a burst. For each burst, the reticle will
not be expanding, but we noticed a slight recoil that is easily compensated by a
pro-player. In career mode, the BR will be unlocked when reaching the rank
Major Grade III.
The M395 Designated Marksman Rifle, or DRM is mid-range to
long-range combat rifle produced by Misriah Armory. The DMR kill, at best, with
five well placed bullets and will have a less pronounced bloom and a firing
rate than its Halo: Reach version. The DMR is now much easier to handle at long short range,
and will hold 14 bullets in comparison to the 15 in the M392 DMR.
The M45D Tactical Shotgun is a 6 round close quarter assault
rifle. Not much is known about the gun, except a more sci-fi look to the
previous Halo Reach shotgun.
The MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System is the standard
issue Assault rifle of the UNSC forces after the war against the Covenant. Not
much to explain here, since the gun didn’t change from the two previous titles.
The Sniper Rifle System 99 Anti-Material Series 5 is every
Spartan’s favorite weapon. Once held in multiplayer matches, this gun can
change your entire score in one round, armed with four bullets. Altough more
comfortable to be used from Halo 3, the Sniper Riffle is harder to fire from,
if you are used to Halo Reach.
The M41 SSR Anti-Vehicle/Assault Medium Weapon is the UNSC’s
Rocket Launcher. Holding two rockets per clip, it's a perfect companion to
large maps with lots of vehicles.
The Anti-Vehicle M6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle is a
four shot energy weapon. Dubbed as the Spartan Laser, this weapons shoots a
beam of energy that is undeniably effective for destroying vehicles and enemy
infantry. This is the most powerful weapon in the UNSC armory, even stronger
than the Rocket Launcher.
The Asymmetric Carbine Recoilless-920, or Railgun, is a
compact linear accelerator chain that fires a single highly explosive
projectile, delivering incredible speed and strength and explosive kinetic power
against any type of target. Like the Spartan Laser, you will be required to
power your shot before firing.
The M6H Personal Defense Weapon System is a Spartan’s best
friend. This sidearm is surprisingly effective on reasonably large distance,
and has proven its worth on the battlefield.
The M739 Light Machine Gun, or Saw, is a heavy weapon, that
can fire 72 rounds in one clip. Deadly accurate, this might be the most
overpowered and challenging new addition to the Spartan set.
The M363 Projectile Remote Detonator, or Sticky Detonator, is
a weapon that launches an explosive projectile that is magnetically locked to
your target or an area. The gun holder can detonate then the charge remotely,
keeping the element of surprise.
Finally, Fragmentation grenade are back, but this time you
will be able to carry four of them at once, and their power has been reduced
from Halo Reach, making it closer to the destruction level in Halo 3.
Halo 4 might be all about Promethean and Spartans, but the
Covenants are sticking around for one last push, bringing their known set of
weapons in Halo 4. Not many of the weapons are known, or have been updated such
plasma grenade or the gravity hammer, but it is known that the Covenant will
have 11 different firearm. Three old weapons will be brought back including the Fuel Canon,
Beam Rifle and Concussion Canon.
The T-51 Carbine, or Covenant Rifle, is a semi-automatic
rifle with rechargeable recoil able to fire on large distances. This weapon is
unique in the Covenant arsenal because it does not use superheated plasma or
other energy material, but rather radioactive projectiles.
The iconic and deadly T-1 Energy Weapon/Sword is a melee
weapon intended to express personal skills, honor and the combat skills of its
owner. The blade is made of superheated plasma and magnetic lines extending
from the handle, thereby creating a very lethal sci-fi samurai sword.
The T-33 Guided Munitions Launcher, or Needler Gun, is a
compact and fully automatic weapon that launch bursts of guided and chemically
loaded crystals into its target. The needles move towards the target thermal
signature, impaling them on contact, followed by a violent explosion.
The T-25 Directed Energy Pistol, or Plasma gun, is the primary
handgun of the Covenant infantry. This handgun can be used as a semi-automatic
weapon that can also be charged to shoot a big ball of plasma, capable of
powering fuel systems of vehicles and armor.
Finally the T-55 Directed Energy Rifle/Advanced, also known
as the Storm Rifle, this is the evolution of the standard plasma rifle that was
used during the Sangheilis civil conflict. The weapon now includes a set of
modular coils, an improved cooling shroud and extended barrel, to improve the
overall performance of its predecessor.
That is all we have for you today fans, but if you’re dying
to know more, make sure to check out our previous feature about the game’s
newest Spartan Ops and War Games mode, or even our impressions live from the E3
Expo this year.
Ozimandus has been reviewing games and gadgets since 2003. He's not afraid of speaking his mind, and loves to share his love of everything geeky.