Post by Devil Mingy on Nov 2, 2015 13:39:46 GMT -5
After another run through of the campaign and a bit more Warzone goodness, I've about run my course of Halo 5. I have something to update before I delve into my opinions on the story of Halo 5: Guardians.
Devil Mingy's Revised Ranking of the Halo Series By Difficulty (on Legendary)
Number 10... Halo 3
I'm not sure if Bungie was trying to compensate for the skulls or what, but Halo 3's Legendary was easy. The Brutes rarely try to dodge and hope that their large health will compensate. However, that just means the n00b combo is even more effective (and Battle Rifle/Carbine ammo is plentiful). The Flood, who used to be fast and relentless, now lumber slowly towards you and can be taken out with melee attacks easily. Hell, Cortana and Halo can be easily beaten with nothing more than a Needler and Brute shot. The only real challenging sections of the game came from vehicle levels, where the Brutes' large amount of health actually matters.
Easiest Level: Floodgate
Hardest Level: The Ark
Number 9... Halo 3: ODST
This game, being an expansion, is largely the same as Halo 3. However, since the M6C/SOCOM isn't nearly as versatile as the Battle Rifle and because “stamina” makes it harder to see when you've taken damage, the encounters are a bit more difficult. The game also has a lot of “Firefight moments”, where you're put into a defensive situation as waves of Covenant assault you. However, most of these team you up with an invincible ally that can take most of the Covenant hostility for you.
Easiest Level: Uplift Reserve
Hardest Level: Kizingo Blvd.
Number 8... Halo: Spartan Strike
This and the one below it may differ to many people depending on what platform they played it on, as the game works far better with a mouse and keyboard than it does with a controller or touch pad. Strike particularly seems to recognize this by being a lot more forgiving in regards to escort missions and throwing a lot of enemies at you from different angles.
Easiest Level: New Mombasa Nightmare
Hardest Level: End of the Line
Number 7... Halo: Spartan Assault
It's about the same as Spartan Strike. The only reason this one is lower is because of Defense of the Enemies' Airbase, a lovely little mission where Covenant assault you from every angle and you have to keep them not only from killing you, but also from killing civilians that helplessly move towards a dropship in a single file line. the level is absolute garbage and I'd hate to imagine how one would do it with a controller.
Easiest Level: Escape from the Southern Fields
Hardest Levels: Defense of the Enemies' Airbase
Number 6... Halo 4
For all the hype they gave this one as the most difficult Halo yet, Halo 4 is surprisingly doable. The AI is very passive and content to let you pick them off from a distance, and the Prometheans are so slow to react to your presence most of the time that they can be skipped over almost entirely. When the game does make you fight, Knights and Watchers can be a pain to deal with, especially in the later levels when a plasma pistol might not be nearby to help take care of enemy shields. Thankfully, most difficult fights give you some weapon crates ahead of time (though some are hidden and need to be triggered).
Easiest Level: Reclaimer
Easiest Level Without Glitching: Shutdown
Easiest Level Without Exploiting a Very Obvious Level Shortcut: Dawn
Hardest Level: Forerunner
Number 5... Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5 is not difficult as much as it is tedious. Previous Halo games actively discouraged you from just picking off all enemies from a distance by limited the ammo on your ranged weapons. Halo 5 actively encourages you to stay back and pick everything off. Not only do they give you plenty of ammo for any weapon you want (as long as you're willing to look for it), but the game typically won't let you progress until everything is dead and won't let you live more than a few seconds out of cover thanks to enemies swarming everywhere. Combined with your team being able to revive you from a lucky shot that downs you, and Halo 5 Legendary turns into a battle of patience and attrition, kinda like playing Spartan Ops on Legendary. The few encounters that take place in close quarters are a bit trickier, but rest assured there's always a specialty weapon nearby to help you win the day.
Easiest Level: Any of the Non-combat levels
Easiest Actual Level: Osiris
Hardest Level: Unconfirmed
Number 4... Halo Wars
It's hard to codify this game alongside the others because of its different genre. Halo Wars isn't so difficult as much as it is unforgiving. The game will punish you for 2 minutes of messing around by dropping a Scarab and several upgraded Hunters on you. However, once you know the proper strategy (and some levels only have one or two that will consistently work), the game is fairly straightforward. If you are efficient, it's easy to rush the Covenant in most levels and upset their advantages. The Flood, by contrast, are almost useless. Not only are they mostly an anti-infantry force in a game that doesn't really encourage you to use infantry (and Hero units are all but immune to them), but they have absolutely no defense against a handful of Hornets.
Easiest Level: Scarab
Easiest Level without glitching: Ander's Signal
Hardest Level: Dome of Light
Number 3... Halo: Combat Evolved + Anniversary
The game that started it all and, in my opinion, provides the most balanced and fair challenge. Sure, there are some missteps such as how easy it is to manipulate the Elite AI, how easy it is to kill Hunters, and how vehicle combat makes you almost invincible. However, the game rarely feels frustrating while still providing a good challenge. The only part of the game that I hate is the much maligned escort mission in Truth and Reconciliation (which, if you're willing to exploit a small bug, can be cut mercifully short). The Anniversary Edition is more or less the same. While the new graphics and lighting (as well as odd redesigns) make navigating certain tight spots a tad more difficult, it also gives you access to skulls that can make it as easy or hard as you'd like it to be.
Easiest Level: Keyes
Easiest Level without glitching: Silent Cartographer
Hardest Level: Truth and Reconciliation
Number 2... Halo Reach
Next to Halo 1, I feel this is the next best in terms of difficulty balancing. In fact, Reach feels a lot closer to it, and is only harder because it lacks the gameplay quirks that made Halo 1 a bit more merciful. I also have to take into account that human weapons, in comparison to Halo 1, are weaker and you can hold less ammo for them, and this (as well as Halo 2) are the only times when I really wished I had a more powerful weapons. The invincible allies, which made Halo 3: ODST a lot easier, are not much more than a minor (but much needed in some cases) distraction in this game.
Easiest Level: Nightfall
Easiest Level without glitching: Winter Contingency
Hardest Level: Pillar of Autumn
Number 1... Halo 2 + Anniversary
What is there to say about Halo 2 on Legendary that hasn't been said? For the most part, Halo 2's enemies are fairly easy to kill if you're prepared for them. However, that doesn't change the fact that they are grossly overpowered and most of them can kill you before you even know they're there. It's almost insulting how much of an advantage they have over you. The n00b combo is practically necessary at certain parts. There are also parts where you are joined with invincible allies, but they rarely do any heavy fighting with you. Factor in that, the areas with infinitely respawning enemies, that any melee attack against you is an insta-kill, and the fact that they gave the enemy with the smallest head hitbox a one shot kill hit-scan (or close enough) long-range weapon and superhuman reflexes is just icing on the cake.
Anniversary Edition does fix the camo and infinite energy sword glitches, preventing you from breezing through the Chief levels, but they also give you some skulls to ease the challenge. So... Angry is particularly useful that making those last 4 levels more tolerable.
Easiest Level: Tie between any Chief level if you camo glitch
Easiest Level without glitching: Sacred Icon
Hardest Level: Regret
Devil Mingy's Revised Ranking of the Halo Series By Difficulty (on Legendary)
Number 10... Halo 3
I'm not sure if Bungie was trying to compensate for the skulls or what, but Halo 3's Legendary was easy. The Brutes rarely try to dodge and hope that their large health will compensate. However, that just means the n00b combo is even more effective (and Battle Rifle/Carbine ammo is plentiful). The Flood, who used to be fast and relentless, now lumber slowly towards you and can be taken out with melee attacks easily. Hell, Cortana and Halo can be easily beaten with nothing more than a Needler and Brute shot. The only real challenging sections of the game came from vehicle levels, where the Brutes' large amount of health actually matters.
Easiest Level: Floodgate
Hardest Level: The Ark
Number 9... Halo 3: ODST
This game, being an expansion, is largely the same as Halo 3. However, since the M6C/SOCOM isn't nearly as versatile as the Battle Rifle and because “stamina” makes it harder to see when you've taken damage, the encounters are a bit more difficult. The game also has a lot of “Firefight moments”, where you're put into a defensive situation as waves of Covenant assault you. However, most of these team you up with an invincible ally that can take most of the Covenant hostility for you.
Easiest Level: Uplift Reserve
Hardest Level: Kizingo Blvd.
Number 8... Halo: Spartan Strike
This and the one below it may differ to many people depending on what platform they played it on, as the game works far better with a mouse and keyboard than it does with a controller or touch pad. Strike particularly seems to recognize this by being a lot more forgiving in regards to escort missions and throwing a lot of enemies at you from different angles.
Easiest Level: New Mombasa Nightmare
Hardest Level: End of the Line
Number 7... Halo: Spartan Assault
It's about the same as Spartan Strike. The only reason this one is lower is because of Defense of the Enemies' Airbase, a lovely little mission where Covenant assault you from every angle and you have to keep them not only from killing you, but also from killing civilians that helplessly move towards a dropship in a single file line. the level is absolute garbage and I'd hate to imagine how one would do it with a controller.
Easiest Level: Escape from the Southern Fields
Hardest Levels: Defense of the Enemies' Airbase
Number 6... Halo 4
For all the hype they gave this one as the most difficult Halo yet, Halo 4 is surprisingly doable. The AI is very passive and content to let you pick them off from a distance, and the Prometheans are so slow to react to your presence most of the time that they can be skipped over almost entirely. When the game does make you fight, Knights and Watchers can be a pain to deal with, especially in the later levels when a plasma pistol might not be nearby to help take care of enemy shields. Thankfully, most difficult fights give you some weapon crates ahead of time (though some are hidden and need to be triggered).
Easiest Level: Reclaimer
Easiest Level Without Glitching: Shutdown
Easiest Level Without Exploiting a Very Obvious Level Shortcut: Dawn
Hardest Level: Forerunner
Number 5... Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5 is not difficult as much as it is tedious. Previous Halo games actively discouraged you from just picking off all enemies from a distance by limited the ammo on your ranged weapons. Halo 5 actively encourages you to stay back and pick everything off. Not only do they give you plenty of ammo for any weapon you want (as long as you're willing to look for it), but the game typically won't let you progress until everything is dead and won't let you live more than a few seconds out of cover thanks to enemies swarming everywhere. Combined with your team being able to revive you from a lucky shot that downs you, and Halo 5 Legendary turns into a battle of patience and attrition, kinda like playing Spartan Ops on Legendary. The few encounters that take place in close quarters are a bit trickier, but rest assured there's always a specialty weapon nearby to help you win the day.
Easiest Level: Any of the Non-combat levels
Easiest Actual Level: Osiris
Hardest Level: Unconfirmed
Number 4... Halo Wars
It's hard to codify this game alongside the others because of its different genre. Halo Wars isn't so difficult as much as it is unforgiving. The game will punish you for 2 minutes of messing around by dropping a Scarab and several upgraded Hunters on you. However, once you know the proper strategy (and some levels only have one or two that will consistently work), the game is fairly straightforward. If you are efficient, it's easy to rush the Covenant in most levels and upset their advantages. The Flood, by contrast, are almost useless. Not only are they mostly an anti-infantry force in a game that doesn't really encourage you to use infantry (and Hero units are all but immune to them), but they have absolutely no defense against a handful of Hornets.
Easiest Level: Scarab
Easiest Level without glitching: Ander's Signal
Hardest Level: Dome of Light
Number 3... Halo: Combat Evolved + Anniversary
The game that started it all and, in my opinion, provides the most balanced and fair challenge. Sure, there are some missteps such as how easy it is to manipulate the Elite AI, how easy it is to kill Hunters, and how vehicle combat makes you almost invincible. However, the game rarely feels frustrating while still providing a good challenge. The only part of the game that I hate is the much maligned escort mission in Truth and Reconciliation (which, if you're willing to exploit a small bug, can be cut mercifully short). The Anniversary Edition is more or less the same. While the new graphics and lighting (as well as odd redesigns) make navigating certain tight spots a tad more difficult, it also gives you access to skulls that can make it as easy or hard as you'd like it to be.
Easiest Level: Keyes
Easiest Level without glitching: Silent Cartographer
Hardest Level: Truth and Reconciliation
Number 2... Halo Reach
Next to Halo 1, I feel this is the next best in terms of difficulty balancing. In fact, Reach feels a lot closer to it, and is only harder because it lacks the gameplay quirks that made Halo 1 a bit more merciful. I also have to take into account that human weapons, in comparison to Halo 1, are weaker and you can hold less ammo for them, and this (as well as Halo 2) are the only times when I really wished I had a more powerful weapons. The invincible allies, which made Halo 3: ODST a lot easier, are not much more than a minor (but much needed in some cases) distraction in this game.
Easiest Level: Nightfall
Easiest Level without glitching: Winter Contingency
Hardest Level: Pillar of Autumn
Number 1... Halo 2 + Anniversary
What is there to say about Halo 2 on Legendary that hasn't been said? For the most part, Halo 2's enemies are fairly easy to kill if you're prepared for them. However, that doesn't change the fact that they are grossly overpowered and most of them can kill you before you even know they're there. It's almost insulting how much of an advantage they have over you. The n00b combo is practically necessary at certain parts. There are also parts where you are joined with invincible allies, but they rarely do any heavy fighting with you. Factor in that, the areas with infinitely respawning enemies, that any melee attack against you is an insta-kill, and the fact that they gave the enemy with the smallest head hitbox a one shot kill hit-scan (or close enough) long-range weapon and superhuman reflexes is just icing on the cake.
Anniversary Edition does fix the camo and infinite energy sword glitches, preventing you from breezing through the Chief levels, but they also give you some skulls to ease the challenge. So... Angry is particularly useful that making those last 4 levels more tolerable.
Easiest Level: Tie between any Chief level if you camo glitch
Easiest Level without glitching: Sacred Icon
Hardest Level: Regret