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Infinite is better than Halo has been for at least a decade, thinks Alexander Ekelund.
“Unless 343 Industries begins to devote less time to studying industry trends and more to mapping out what once made Halo so special, the series’ original magic just feels more and more endangered.”
So I did not put a very optimistic point for my review of Halo 5: Guardians 2015.
Little did I know then that Halo Infinite six years later would be the game that revived this very magic.
Infinite takes me back to the original tickling mystique, airier landscapes and dynamically surging enemy battles. Back is the focused narrative with an emphasis on just Master Chief, his AI companion and their antagonist. Back is the iconic Halo touch, in everything from small details such as the color scheme and interface to the weapons, vehicles, enemies, sound effects and environments; with the characteristic grasslands, conifers, building complexes and wonderful backdrops that stretch out into the cosmos.
And back is, not least, that oh so hard-to-explain magic – the one that disappeared when the series’ founder Bungie left the ship and 343 Industries took over.
After all the trips here and there, one seems to have finally realized what makes Halo Halo – and with that insight managed to further develop the formula in exactly the right directions.
The expanded scale and freedom have not led Infinite into the time-typical traps – on the contrary, it feels despite extra missions and things to discover alongside never overwhelming, unfocused or diluted.
Halo Infinite is a long-awaited return to the series’ former glory, and the perfect starting point for the future.
Format: Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, PC. Age limit: 16. Rating: HHHHI
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