Mini eGuide: Halo 4 Multiplayer

It’s finally here.  After months of anticipation and wondering if 343 Industries would be up to the task of filling in for Bungie, Halo 4 has arrived – and is a massive hit.  Over three million units have shifted through the first day alone, meaning eons of folks are hopping online to engage in the multiplayer, whether they’re teaming up together for some Spartan Ops missions or engaging in some “friendly” War Games to see who’s dominant.

But what if you’ve never played the Halo games before, or your multiplayer needs a little brushing up?  Well, we doubt you’ve never played a game in the Halo series, but just in case, we’ve prepped a friendly little primer to get you familiarized with what Halo 4 has to offer in terms of the competitive field.  You’ll need an Xbox Live Gold membership to really take advantage of everything it has to offer, but you’ll be happy to know that a free 14-day trial is included in the box, so you can start right away.

Let’s break things down…

Maps

Ten maps are available in all, taking place both within the confines of large vessels and in the outdoors, where there’s plenty of room to run and see who’s where.  Some enemies are a bit sneaky, “camping” in hideouts and sniping you from afar, while others are more aggressive, as they aren’t afraid to hop in a vehicle and do some damage, or come at you gunning.

There are bound to be “favorites” that develop within the hardcore Halo 4 community as the weeks pass on, but, to be honest, all ten are worth checking out.  Within a matter of hours you should have one session (or more) that lets you test each one out, seeing how they’re laid out and developing certain “hot spots” where you can do the most damage.  Adrift is one of the better maps, with its mechanical confines and plenty of soldiers to wipe out.  But Longbow is good too, and Ragnarok appears to stem memories from previous Halo games.  Don’t be afraid to get your feet dirty and check them all out.

What Type of War Games Are There?

A lot of the traditional Halo modes make a return here, such as Slayer and Infinity Slayer (with the difference being you can call in ordinance from overhead using a point system in Infinity, gaining helpful power-ups in the process), as well as Capture the Flag and Extraction.  Grifball also makes a return, a favorite first introduced in the Red vs. Blue web series.  And if you’re feeling dominant, you can try your luck at King of the Hill and see how you fare against competitors.

Out of all the modes, the traditional ones are still a blast, but this is a game where experimentation goes a long way, so don’t be afraid to hop in a session with the Regicide folks, or see what you can do in the Flood, where players can be infected if they aren’t careful, then have to go hunting after remaining Spartan soldiers.  Have fun with it, and then go back to Slayer if you feel like simply running and gunning.

Leveling Up and Customizing

As with all multiplayer experiences, Halo 4 provides the opportunity to deck out your soldier with ideal weapons and designs so that they distinctively feel like your own.  You enlist in a SPARTAN-IV program upon starting up in multiplayer, earning points that move you up in the ranks – up to level 50 and beyond.  Doing so enables you change up your loadout, or your available weapons, and customizing your armor, purchasing new parts, depending what you need. 

Once you get to level 50, you’ll also unlock specializations, in which you can add something completely worthy of your skills.  At the moment, only a pair of these are available, but more will unlock, possibly with the addition of downloadable content, over the next few months.  These include new skins, armor sets and mods, and more.  And they’re definitely worth working for.  Just remember, there’s a long road to level 50.  We’re talking hours of play.

Tactical Packages and Support Upgrades

Over the course of your battles – and tending to what loadouts you wish to use – you’ll gain access to a number of Tactical Packages that will improve your readiness and performance, including the likes of AA Efficiency, Grenadier, Resupply and Stealth, depending on where your skills lie.  You may not notice a difference with them applied at first, but over the course of match-ups, you’ll see how they play an effect with each of their advantages and disadvantages, and adjust your loadouts accordingly.  It’s just another deep part of the Halo multiplayer experience, one that millions of players still attest to through this latest chapter.

You’ll also gain access to Support Upgrades, ala Armor Mods, that help improve your gameplay in small but helpful ways.  Wheelman, for instance, helps you supercharge whatever vehicle you’re being, whether it’s a warthog or something a little faster.  Explosives pushes your grenade strength further, in case you prefer to throw one and hide in cover, then see how many enemies it affects.  And Fast Track helps you boost your stats quicker, if you’re impatient about reaching Level 50.  There are 11 in all, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Remember, Have Fun

You’ll die multiple times in Halo 4, especially as you run into more veteran players who have spent hours perfecting their techniques and earning rewards.  But that’s just par for the course.  Our advice is to just keep at it, play around with your loadouts, try all the maps and modes that you can, and eventually settle into that “groove” that you’re comfortable with.  It’ll take some time, but the rewards that come with Halo 4 multiplayer are just as large, if not bigger, as previous games.  Just ask anyone who’s at level 50.  And yes, they’re probably out there already.