Halo Infinite for Xbox Series X|S

Halo Infinite: A masterful return of Microsoft’s epic FPS

Welcome back, Chief. Halo Infinite is the latest installment of Microsoft’s iconic first person shooter (FPS). Developed by 343 Industries and serving as a direct sequel to Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Infinite follows Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 in an epic fight against the Banished across the surface of Installation 07. After years of hype, anticipation and delays, Halo Infinite promises an epic campaign reminiscent of its Bungie days and a gripping free-to-play multiplayer experience that you’ll be able to enjoy on your Xbox Series X. But, is it really worth playing? Keep reading to find out.

Synopsis: Master Chief’s Campaign

Halo 5 is considered by many as  a turning point in the series’ lore, gameplay and story. The game took a new direction and many fans weren’t keen on how its campaign forced you to switch characters halfway through. Aware of this, 343 changed its formula to create a deep narrative-driven experience that will keep you playing until you see the credits roll. And yes: this is a real Master Chief story and you’ll be able to play with Spartan 117 from the beginning to the end. 

Halo Infinite takes place in 2560, a year and and a half after the events of Halo 5: Guardians. The war against the Banished is lost and humanity is facing extinction. A few remnants of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) are still alive and scattered across seven Halo Installations. After his defeat against Atriox, Master Chief is awakened by UNSC member Fernando Esparza and, along with his new AI partner, The Weapon, will explore Forerunner ringworld Installation 07 (Zeta-Halo) in search for answers. However, his mission to stop the Banished from gaming control of the Ring won’t be an easy one, since it will ultimately lead him to discover what was Cortana’s (his former AI companion) ultimate fate.

Infinite’s campaign is easily Halo’s heaviest and most lore-driven one to date. The game is an absolute treat to any enthusiast of the series and a must-play for anyone following Spartan 117’s adventures. A lot has happened since we first met Master Chief in Halo and Infinite takes every single game into consideration, by tying all loose ends and finally giving answers to all the questions that fans have been waiting years for. Does this mean that if you haven’t played the previous installments you have to stay away from Infinite? Absolutely not. 343 Industries did a wonderful job adding recaps, flashbacks and comprehensive resources so that even if this is the first time you dive into Master Chief’s adventures, you’ll be able to enjoy the game.

Gameplay and new features: Exploring Zeta Halo

Halo Infinite follows a semi-open world structure that allows players to freely explore the different sections of Zeta Halo. In the beginning, these sections of the ring are cut off one from the other until Master Chief gets the necessary equipment to access the next area. As you play through the different missions, you’ll unlock the whole map, being able to roam and explore Installation 07 to your heart's content. This allows players to discover all the secrets of Zeta-Halo, get all collectables and break away from the linear level design seen in previous installments of the series.

Even though the sections of Infinite are just a small portion of Installation 07, they feel huge and are full of side-missions and objectives to complete. The game never forces you to advance to the next section and continue with the main story, giving you absolute freedom to just explore, simply hunt down some Banished leaders or clear out the Forward Operation Bases (FOB). And believe us when we say exploring pays off. Spending time in each section of the map won’t just grant you Spartan cores to upgrade your equipment, but it will also give you new cosmetics that you’ll also be able to use in its multiplayer mode.

As we’ve already mentioned, Master Chief will gather many upgrades and new equipment that will help him advance through the perils of Zeta Halo. One of its most notable new features is the Grappleshot, a Titanfall 2 style wrist-mounted device that will help you move, explore and combat in ways you never imagined. With it you’ll be able to reach new areas, pull yourself out of enemy fire and grapple to all kinds of vehicles. After a few upgrades it will also turn into a deadly weapon that will let you attack, shock and get rid of packs of enemies just by tapping a single button.

New to Halo Infinite are Boss Battles. In these challenging fights you’ll have to face the game’s hardest enemies in an arena. Don’t rely solely on firepower, since all these battles follow a strategy that you’ll have to discover while dodging their deadly attacks. Fast, spectacular and sometimes painful to figure out, Boss Fights are definitely a fun and challenging addition that make Halo Infinite even better.

Graphics and audio: A treat for the eye and ear

Halo Infinite was intended to be a release launch for the Xbox Series X and you can clearly see that by its graphics. The game simply looks stunning on Microsoft’s next-gen console. Exploring Zeta Halo is an absolute treat to the eye and you’ll definitely want to stop from time to time to admire the views of the world. The ring looks alive, offering a life-like natural biome to explore. The character models have also been greatly improved. Master Chief looks more detailed than ever and the cutscenes are a clear example of what the Xbox Series X is capable of.

he game’s soundtrack and audio also deserve a mention. All battles are accompanied by a catchy and epic theme that you won’t be able to get out of your head. The weapons audio has also been improved, delivering an immersive experience if you’re playing with a headset. Finally, the voice-acting is top notch, delivering all the necessary drama, passion and even humor to the game’s most climatic moments. Simply amazing.

Multiplayer: A great free-to-play taste of Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite delivers the series’ classic FPS feel to an extremely challenging and fun free-2-play multiplayer mode. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of game modes and games divided in two big categories: Arena Modes (up to 8 players) and Big Team Battle Modes (up to 24 players). Do you want to know more about them?

Arena Modes:

• Slayer - Every kill will earn a team some points. The first team that reaches 50 points or has the most points when the timer runs out wins.
• Capture the flag - Players need to capture the enemies’ flag and take it to their team’s flag stand.
• Oddball - An oddball (a skull) appears in the field and holding it grants 1 point per second. The player that has the most points when the time runs out wins.
• Strongholds - The map is divided by zones and players capture an area by standing in it with no player enemies also present in it. Every captured area gives 1 point per second and the team with more points when the timer runs out wins.
• Fiesta - All players spawn with random weapons and equipment. Killing an enemy will give points to your team and the first one to reach 50 wins.

Big Team Battle Modes:

• Slayer - Same as in Arena Mode but teams need to reach 100 points.
• Total Control - Same as in Stronghold, but players need to control all 3 areas to win.
• Capture the flag - Same as in Arena Mode but on a larger scale.
• Stockpile -Players need to take power seeds scattered around the map and take them to their base. When a team has gathered 5 power seeds, they score 1 point and the first team to reach 3 points wins.

Keeping in mind Halo Infinite can be played on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Cloud Streaming or via Game Pass, this free multiplayer mode is an amazing way to enjoy Halo Infinite with online friends around the world.

How long does it take to complete Halo Infinite?

Halo Infinite’s campaign mode takes an average of 11 hours to complete if you’re only focusing on the main objectives of the game. If you want to obtain 100% completion, you’ll likely spend an average of 27 hours.

Master Chief’s greatest adventure

Halo Infinite is  the perfect evolution of Microsoft’s iconic FPS franchise. Both its main campaign and its multiplayer modes are simply amazing. 343 Industries did an excellent job in refreshing its well-known formula by adding a fun and challenging semi-open world to explore. With stunning lifelike graphics and smooth gameplay on the Xbox Series X, Halo Infinite refines the series experience, being a must-play for any Halo fan.