Multiplayer: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Gameplay}}

{{Wikipedia|Multiplayer video game}}

{{Quote|Two men enter. The better man leaves. The lesser man is respawning. And that's ''Halo''.|[[Luke Smith]]}}

'''Multiplayer''' is a feature of a video game allowing more than one person to play a game at the same time in a non-[[campaign]] setting. Multiplayer can be conducted using [[split-screen]] (with the exception of ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''), [[System Link]], or [[Xbox Live|online]]. In the ''[[Halo series|Halo]]'' games, multiplayer has been regarded as a core element of the game's design and an important part of the success of the ''Halo'' franchise.

==''Halo: Combat Evolved''==

The multiplayer component of the ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' Xbox version was limited to split-screen and System Link play. Five core gametypes existed: [[Slayer]], [[Oddball]], [[Capture The Flag]], [[King of the Hill]], and [[Race]]. Various stock variants with altered settings existed, and players could create their own.

==''Halo 2''==

{{quote|They say all good things must come to an end. Well, we say that totally sucks! Thanks for treating our old gal right for all these years. And thanks a million for playing.  <3,| [[Bungie]]'s farewell message}}

==''Halo 3''==

''[[Halo 3]]'' introduced many new features to its multiplayer experience. Custom gametypes were given a whole new level of customization. Numerous settings, including a player's weight, were added. Spawn-time specific attributes could also be assigned; these attributes would last for a set number of seconds after a player spawns. This can be helpful for preventing [[Camping#Spawn camping|spawnkilling]]. Two new core gametypes, [[VIP]] and [[Infection]], were added.

==''Halo Wars''==

{{main|Skirmish}}

''[[Halo Wars]]'' allows players to battle in a variety of multiplayer arenas. Players can choose from three different commanders from both [[UNSC]] leaders ([[Captain Cutter]], [[John Forge|Sergeant Forge]], or [[Ellen Anders|Professor Anders]]) and the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] leaders (the Arbiter [[Ripa 'Moramee]], the [[Avitus]], or the [[Prophet of Regret]]). Each leader possesses various abilities and exclusive units, providing incentives for certain characters on certain maps, rather than being purely aesthetic.

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==''Halo 3: ODST''==

{{Main|Firefight}}

''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' features a new [[Firefight]] mode. In Firefight, up to four players fight against waves of [[Covenant]] forces and try to survive as long as possible with a set amount of lives, while the difficulty gradually increases by changing the currently active [[Halo 3 skulls#List of Gold Skulls|Skulls]]. Firefight lacks any sort of matchmaking system or game browser; players must join lobbies through the [[Xbox Live]] guide (recent players with open parties, friends lists, invites), via System Link, or all play locally, on the same console.

==''Halo: Reach''==

''[[Halo: Reach]]'' has a collection of new multiplayer features. Players are able to view in-depth statistics for their friends' matches. The veto system used in ''[[Halo 3]]''<nowiki/>'s Matchmaking is replaced by a voting system, whereby players are given an assortment of three gametypes and maps, as well as the option to vote 'none of the above' to be given a new list of three gametypes. The gametype with the most votes wins.

==''Halo 4''==

Referred to as ''Infinity'', the multiplayer component of ''[[Halo 4]]'' consists of ''[[War Games]]'', the competitive multiplayer mode, and ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', the episodic cooperative campaign. The multiplayer features a canon explanation of why the red and blue teams compete with one another: the Spartans are actually training against each other in simulations aboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. The player models are [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]] soldiers with customizable armor.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6UL63Zo-uo&feature=player_embedded '''YouTube''': ''Making Halo 4: First Look'']</ref>

==''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''==

''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' allows players to play ''Halo: Reach'', ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo 2'', ''Halo 3'', ''Halo 4'', and ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' matchmaking and custom games. The game features a unified user interface, allowing for the player to drop into a playlist featuring ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' through to ''Halo 4'', to find a game across the four title's maps and gametype setups. Playlists for individual games were also set up, and featured a [[Rank (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)|ranking]] system akin to ''Halo 2'', whereas ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo 4's'' progression and ranking systems were dropped entirely.

===''Halo 2: Anniversary''===

''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' multiplayer is a highly modified version of the ''Halo 4'' experience, having been developed on the same engine. Large tweaks to the prior title were made, including the re-addition of descoping, and the removal of sprint and flinch. Six maps were remade for the game, and [[Certain Affinity]] president [[Max Hoberman]], one of the multiplayer design leads on the original ''Halo 2'', helped 343 Industries design and create the remastered multiplayer component.<ref name="SDCC panel">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUGrnvdo8Ok&list=UU7NCg0venpKJg3kuJojKlbQ&index=1 '''YouTube''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection Dev Panel - SDCC 2014'']</ref> Many of the added features in the remastered maps were proposed for the original game but ended up being cut; thus, 343 Industries considers the remastered component a "Director's Cut" of sorts.<ref name="RTX 2014">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1a1FzQ3bdQ '''YouTube''': ''RTX 2014 - 343 Industries panel'']</ref>

==''Halo 5: Guardians''==

Following in the footsteps of ''Halo 4'', ''Halo 5: Guardians'' multiplayer component consisted of Arena, consisting of 4v4 to 8v8 activities, and [[Warzone]], which are 12v12 games. Initially, only Slayer and Capture the Flag returned for ''Halo 5'', with many being left out upon the game's launch. Eventually, through the game's monthly updates, many gametypes, including ball-based gamemodes like Assault and Grifball returned, as did King of the Hill, Oddball, Race and Infection, which was more in line with the original first two incarnations of the gametype, than ''Halo 4's'' Flood.

Along with Slayer and Capture the flag there were 4 new game modes; [[Breakout]], [[Strongholds]], [[Warzone]] and Warzone Assault.

==''Halo Wars 2''==

''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' multiplayer is largely similar to ''Halo Wars'', taking its predecessor's gameplay and refining it. Like ''Halo Wars'', leaders are able to be chosen prior to the game's start, with each character having distinct units and powers. ''Halo Wars 2'' takes this a step further with its leader power wheel, which is a selection of 10 powers that vary by leader, unlike ''Halo Wars'' which had only one distinct ability per leader. As more leaders were released in DLC packs, more powers became available over time.  

== ''Halo Infinite'' ==

''[[Halo Infinite]]'' is the first multiplayer to be free to play. Like ''Halo 5: Guardians'' ''Halo Infinite'' multiplayer focuses on equal starts arena gameplay and features an automatic queue for map selection. Spartan abilities have been removed in favor of a refined [[equipment#Halo Infinite|equipment]] system. ''Infinite'' is the first first-person shooter multiplayer to feature bots in multiplayer, with bot slayer being an ideal testing ground for new players. If a player quits or disconnects in a match they will be replaced by a bot, though the same or another player can replace the bot and this does not apply to BTB or Ranked. New modes in ''Infinite'' include [[Total Control]], [[Attrition]], a refined [[Stockpile#Halo Infinite|Stockpile]], and [[Last Spartan Standing]].

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