After a year-long delay, Halo Infinite will finally release in a few weeks. The hype for 343 Industries' third mainline Halo game has been high ever since it got revealed, and it got much higher with the recent multiplayer beta.
While fans were impressed by Halo Infinite's multiplayer, many were concerned about the game's single-player campaign, which 343 Industries did not properly show for some time. Thankfully, the recent Halo Infinite campaign overview trailer revealed info regarding its single-player offering, including a newfound focus on RPG elements. While some fans were not impressed by the addition, it's actually potentially a good thing in the long run.
How the Addition of RPG Elements Changes Halo Infinite's Campaign
Halo Infinite features the biggest Halo campaign ever, in which players explore a sprawling Banished-infested map of Zeta Halo. It's a stark departure from previous Halo games, and as such demands a structural change.
A good open-world game gives players an incentive to explore every nook and cranny, and adding a progression system is one tested way to do it. As such, a skill tree to upgrade and customize Master Chief's abilities seems like a feasible next step in Halo's sandbox-style game. In Halo Infinite's campaign, upgrades cost Spartan Cores, which as shown in the recent trailer are obtained by clearing enemy outposts. Upgrades like "Escape Velocity," which allows Chief to become invisible for a couple of seconds, or "Drop Wall," which allows him to deploy a temporary shield, can result in more methodical gameplay that was only ever possible in Halo's multiplayer.
Just like in multiplayer, a skill-based progression system and customization options would allow players to become more powerful. Halo Infinite features boss battles with health bars, which by the looks of it won't be easy to take out even for a super soldier like Master Chief. As such, these upgrades will be essential for players to tackle any foe that comes across them.
Helping Halo Infinite Sustain its 10-Year Journey
The addition of RPG elements will play a massive role in keeping Halo Infinite's gameplay fresh for the next few years. Ever since its reveal, 343 Industries has been transparent about Halo Infinite's longevity. The studio has no plans for a Halo Infinite sequel; instead it wants to evolve the game with new updates over the course of the next 10 years.
Halo's multiplayer has always been popular, and with the addition of new maps, challenges, and seasonal content, it would be relatively easy to keep fans hooked for a long time. However, things can get tricky when it comes to single-player content. Over the long run, the gameplay could become redundant without a progression system to give players any incentive to return. As such, RPG elements like armor customization and skill tree are essential for sustaining Halo Infinite's single-player gameplay for a longer time.
So far, Halo Infinite's campaign seems like a step in the right direction. The addition of light RPG elements adds a layer of depth to Halo's classic gameplay. While it's too early to predict whether it would positively or negatively affect Halo Infinite's campaign, fans won't have to wait much longer to find out.
Halo Infinite launches December 8, 2021 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.