"Were it so easy", my initial thoughts for the idea of Halo 4.
I remember the previous years, where it was just mere speculation and terribly false rumors that there would indeed be a Halo 4. When it was officially revealed at E3 2011, I wasn't as excited as I thought it would be. I did feel something though, up until now I couldn't figure out what it was: Doubt.
Similar in comparison to Tony Stark's thoughts post-invasion from the Avengers, [i]"Nothing's been the same since New York. You experience things, and then they're over."[/i] For me, the original Halo Trilogy was that experience. Each game told a different tale and immersed you in various ways. The ending of Halo 3 was great for me, it left you to create your own ending in your mind.
I guess the question I really asked when Halo 4 was announced was "Do we really need this?"
Honestly, after playing Halo 4, I can say that I feel like it should have ended at 3. Everything afterwards was just Microsoft trying to squeeze out every drop of money they could from the franchise. Now don't get me wrong, I love Halo; But like all good things it should have came to an end. Halo left its mark in history as a defining trilogy from the previous decade, but now it's basking in its former glory.
Like the gaming industry today, the main focus is only money. With DLC Passes, unreasonably priced content, annual franchise installments, terrible publishers, and etc. Although it is 343i's first game, they have a direct relation to Microsoft. I mean surely that shouldn't allow much room for mistakes should it? Not only that, but 343i seems to be listening to the wrong portion of the fanbase, if they're even listening at all.
I could keep going on about my glory days on Halo compared to now, but that's for another time.
What are your thoughts?
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IMO, 343i dropped the ball, big time!