Halo 5: Guardians, on Xbox One, might be the latest kid in the block, but it easily takes its place as the best in the series. The game features lots of powerful weapons, extensive maps, and enthralling multiplayer fights. The downside, however, is that the story lacks substance without the expansive universe of the Halo series.

Expanded Story

Although the game cover features both Chief Master and Locke, you’ll play as the latter. There’re 15 missions to complete, and Locke leads more than 80% of them. It’s important, however, to note that Locke comes across as just typical. He has no ambition or personal cause to fight for; he’s only engrossed in fulfilling the objectives set by others.

In that regard, Halo 5’s story plummets. However, the plot offers some saving grace. It’s so complicated it’s impossible to throw a guess at anything. There’s also more interactions with other characters in the game. That helps you learn of the stories behind the many status quo in the land of Osiri. It’d have helped if these backstories were saved as audio files one could listen to at any time.

With the game’s packed schedule, there’s hardly any time to do other stuff. There’re plenty of battles to fight in the 7-hour playthrough. When you’re not doing that, you’re exploring the fantastic locations, hoping you might stumble on priceless skulls. Then you’re exploring hidden rooms and feeding your eyes with the weapons and other equipment.

Halo 5’s areas aren’t necessarily as large as those in previous chapters, but the density is what makes them remarkable. They’re so filled that you’re likely to leave many things untouched and unfounded. This creates an intensity that gives the game some intrigue.

A Design That Keeps Bringing You Back

Halo 5: Guardians is built with a satisfying taste. It sits well as a perfect four-player co-op where you work with other players to take down an enemy unit. One player positions to snipe out some enemies, while others are on the ground in combats with the bad guys. However, Halo 5 offers much more than these four-player fights.

There’s a single-player mode where you lead a team of AI fighters to a mission. With your gamepad, you can set defined actions for each AI team member. Controlling them to perform actions is seamless and straightforward. You can command one to set off auto-turrets while another shoots at a target. This feature is another reason while Halo 5 excels above others in the series. Noteworthy is the fact that your AI team members don’t always have to wait for your command. They can enter into a spare Ghost when you need some mobility. I found this intuition particularly interesting.

However, the AI teammates’ intuition can cost you a lot. There were several times they chose not to obey my command. I got knocked out and requested to be revived, and all I got was indifference from my teammates. It’s understandable why they’d not want to step into the area where I’d just been shot dead. But in the end, it’s unsatisfying not to know how dependable your allies can be. Imagine them leaving you to bleed out, thus, losing the game!

Halo 5 Refines the Old

Halo 5 has a lot of things going for it. One is the improved set of battle arsenal. You know how you take a precious relic, polish it, and turn it into something priceless? That’s exactly what Halo 5 did to the many weapons we’ve seen in Halo over the years. You’ll find the classics like Spartan laser, battle rifle, and an assault rifle – but all improved with mind-blowing mechanics. Take a look at the Suppressor rifle that now fires long-ranging potentials at targets. The one in Halo 3 could only dream of that.

As incredible as Halo 5’s gun selection is, all isn’t perfect and rosy. Some perform in a way that leaves much to be desired. For example, the Hydra Launcher looks monstrous but fires rockets that do minimal damage. So, it’s better left out of the equation. Also, I wished I could add more than three weapons to my slot, but two is pretty much you’ll get at a time.

However, my go-to guns didn’t disappoint when it came to shooting down enemies. Thankfully (for the sake of adrenaline), there is a multitude of enemies in Halo 5. If the shield-wearing, flying enemies gave you much headache in Halo 4, be prepared to face them one again. In general, the enemies are fast and elusive. It would be best if you were superfast in shooting at them; else, you’ll keep hitting empty air.

Many of Halo’s enemies return, some with improved ability and toughness. The invisible Elites particularly stand out. Their camouflage has always been remarkable, but now, it’s a pure thrill. Several times I was caught by these stealthy guys without having an idea they were nearby. As annoying as this could sometimes be, I did enjoy being blown away by bullets – and camouflage.

While there’re a variety of enemies, the boss battles have the same type. It’s not frustrating enough to keep fighting with the same kind of guy every time; it’s tough to do so. His Achilles’ heel is at the back of his head, and targeting there is a tall order. In multiplayer co-op, real human players can work together to achieve that. But in solo mode, it’s almost futile depending on your AI team members.

Our Verdict

Halo 5: Guardians maintains the originality of the Halo series but takes it to another level. The game is faster, more intense, and has a better arsenal. The campaign and multiplayer modes feature exciting mechanics that give the game a much-needed polish. However, the story isn’t compelling enough, with no driving plot. Yet, Halo 5:Guardians brilliantly shows us how much of a classic the Halo games are.