UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay: Difference between revisions

The Marines serve as the main allies in the first six levels of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. Aside from assisting the player in combat, Marines can also be used to provide extra firepower on certain vehicles such as [[Warthog]]s and [[Scorpion Tank]]s. In-game, they are unable to operate the vehicles themselves, but they are capable of piloting {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}, albeit clumsily.

Marines wield [[MA5B assault rifle]]s as their primary weapon. However, they can sometimes be seen wielding other weapons such as the [[Sniper Rifle]] (as seen in the level 'Assault on the Control Room' and 'Halo'), the [[Shotgun]] (as seen in the level '343 Guilty Spark'), and even Covenant [[Needler]] or {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} (as seen in the levels 'Assault on the Control Room' and 'Truth and Reconciliation') to give them an advantage against shielded enemies. Marines also often utilize [[Fragmentation Grenade]]s (mainly when Ghosts get near or on a group of elites) in combat. They are relatively accurate with their weapons, with a hit percentage upwards of 50%.  

The Marines' AI is built very simplistically. They will occasionally strafe to avoid fire and will react to the environment within their vicinity by maneuvering around obstacles or rolling out of the way if there is an upcoming vehicle or grenade. However, they will usually not seek cover and will occasionally be susceptible to friendly fire as they will stand in either the player's or other Marines' line of fire. They are also vulnerable from taking heavy fire as it will render them unable to shoot or move, making them nearly useless on higher difficulties. They also cannot pick up different weapons, [[Health Pack]]s, or additional ammunition.  

Performance-wise, Marines can be very effective in helping the player dispatch a horde of enemies, depending on the chosen difficulty. They can quickly defeat [[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]], [[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]], and in groups, a [[Sangheili Minor|Minor Elite]]. However, they will easily be overwhelmed if facing against [[Mgalekgolo/Gameplay|Hunters]] or higher-ranking Elites. Marines are also very ineffective when facing against the Flood, often take heavy if not total casualties. A single stray [[Pod infector]] is enough to kill a Marine; if the creature attaches itself to the soldier, it cannot be shaken off and will instantly kill them. Incidentally, a stray melee attack from the player will instantly kill them, regardless of difficulty.

The most drastic change is their higher health pool. They can now outlast against multiple hordes of enemies than they did in Halo: CE, and even withstand from a single melee attack from the player, albeit if they're not heavily wounded. However, like the player, they can still be killed by being melee'd in the back, and will quickly be killed if facing against [[Type-1 energy sword|Type-1 Energy Sword]]-wielding Elites. While the health bar for the Marines are no longer visible while riding on vehicles, a visual cue is implemented to detect their condition; if a Marine is wearing a helmet, it can be shot off to expose their head.

The player is now given the option to swap weapons with Marines. This is done to maximize their effectiveness against multiple types of enemies, (i.e. plasma weapons against Elites or the [[M19 Rocket Launcher|Rocket Launcher]] against vehicles). However, they will not accept an empty weapon, and cannot wield [[Jovokada Workshop brute shot| Brute Shots]] and [[Type-1 energy sword|Energy Swords]]. Marines also lack the ability to dual wield (although dual weapons can sometimes be found next to their corpses in certain levels).

Marines are more adept with vehicles. They can now drive [[Warthog]], the {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}, the [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]], and the [[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion]]. They can also flip lopsided vehicles like the Ghost.  

Although their friendly fire incidents have decreased, contrary to popular belief, Marines do use fragmentation grenades in combat (more likely when betrayed), albeit quite rarely, and are unaware of splash damage from heavy weapons, sometimes firing a rocket into a nearby wall and killing themselves.  

In ''[[Halo 3]]'' they can, once again, utilize the Grunts' weakness for naps by using stealth and hitting them, usually with a kick, but they can also hit something with their rifle. However, as they lack the physical strength compared to many races of the Covenant, UNSC Marines will usually lose in melee combat with vicious ballistic creatures such as the [[Brute]], meaning they often have to rely on their group-tactics to defeat one. They seek cover much more often and even put their back up to the wall. They will throw grenades much more often, and with great accuracy, especially in higher difficulty [[levels]]. They will sometimes also display group tactics never seen in previous games, like huddling into a tight group and combining assault rifle fire while combating Drones. Even though the Marines are smarter in Halo 3 they occasionally will make mistakes, such as running off a cliff while driving a vehicle. Marines/ODSTs seem to be able to react with the environment around them. For example, if a Ghost is about to explode, they will stand back or walk around it and continue after it explodes. Despite this, their AI was considered poor compared to the enemy AI (such as the Covenant and Flood).  

The player can still exchange weapons and ammo with them, though they won't accept Brute Shots, Gravity Hammers, Sentinel beams or Energy Swords (Except Johnson on the level [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]). Marines in Halo 3 have infinite ammo for their weapons, which can be exploited by giving Marines heavy weapons.

After killing two of them, any that are left in the area will come to kill you. After a while (even if you are constantly killing them) they will see you as a friend again. Interestingly, their accuracy becomes 100% if betrayed, and if there are two or more remaining Marines they can end the Chief's life in a matter of seconds.

Their audio clips have also been vastly expanded, and profanity is used to indicate wounded status if the IWHBYD skull is activated. Their appearance has also changed, and they have a lot more face models.

Marines in ''Halo 3'' are much more reliable when facing against the Flood than in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. The option to kick can allow them to repel Pod infectors, and there is a longer lag duration the Pod infectors will undergo, in order to successfully attach themselves onto the Marines. If a Pod infector attaches itself on a Marine, they will grapple for a second or so, to give the player a chance to shoot it off. Otherwise, the Pod infector will mutate the Marine into a Combat Form. It is possible to "short circuit" the mutation by firing on the new Flood host, thus preventing Marine to not fully mutate. Despite these improvements, Marines are still vulnerable to infection, especially in comparison to the Sangheili allies. If not given Shotguns or Assault Rifles, they will suffer heavy casualties. So it is up to the player to provide them with such weapons to ensure their survival utmost.

Marines are seen in larger groups in Halo 3. In previous games they were usually seen in groups of 4-6, or one squad. Now several squads can be seen at a time, and all are able to assist you.

Marines have also gained the ability to flip vehicles, which compensates well for their somewhat poor driving. They can flip the [[M274 Mongoose|Mongoose]] or [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghost]] by themselves, and can flip the [[Warthog]] when in groups of at least three, and strangely, they can flip the 66-ton [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion]] in groups of only five.

Marines' accuracy is also much greater and it seems they now have the ability to lead their targets, allowing them to take down Brutes driving [[Barukaza Workshop Chopper|Chopper]]s or Grunts driving [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghost]]s with greater ease. This can be seen if the player drives a [[Mongoose]] with a Marine passenger using a Rocket Launcher on [[The Ark (level)|The Ark]].

[[File:Burningcritters.jpg|thumb|200px|Marines, accompanied by [[Flamethrowers|Flamethrower squads]], deploy into combat.]]