Halo Infinite Review Roundup | Screen Rant
Early reviews for Halo Infinite's single-player campaign are now in, and it seems that 343 Industries’ latest entry into the long-running sci-fi FPS franchise might be its best yet. Halo Infinite has seen a long and troubled development cycle since it was first announced, with 343 ultimately delaying the game from its planned release as an Xbox Series X launch title due to a combination of negative fan feedback during its initial showings, and complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Following the launch of the game's free-to-play multiplayer component last month, Halo Infinite's campaign is finally ready for its players.
After its initial negative reception, 343 Industries has been working to reassure fans that Halo Infinite will be the biggest and best game in the series to date, showing off the many technical improvements brought on by the extra development time and releasing several enticing Halo Infinite trailers depicting the Master Chief’s impending battle against Escharum and his Banished forces on the Zeta Halo. 343 launched Halo Infinite’s multiplayer ahead of the campaign, breaking Xbox records for the most concurrent players on Steam within hours. Whether or not the game's campaign will see similar success remains to be seen, but as it's included with Xbox Game Pass, it's looking hopeful for the developer.
Halo Infinite’s single-player campaign has seemingly been worth the wait. Early reviews have praised Halo Infinite’s story as one of the best to come from 343 Industries’ run on the franchise, rewarding longtime fans while serving as a great starting point for beginners. The open-world setting of the Zeta Halo allows for a greater degree of freedom in planning the Chief’s assault on the next Banished stronghold, and critics note that Halo Infinite’s wide assortment of weapons adds to the game’s overall sense of style and excitement.
Mansoor Mithaiwala - 3.5/5 - Screen Rant
"For many people, this will be the first Halo game (and story) they will experience, and it's certainly the right one to jump in with. Halo Infinite is almost like a museum dedicated to Master Chief, allowing people to play through his greatest hits, albeit in new ways. Several missions, characters, and objectives feel similar to those from the original Halo trilogy, in particular, but they're not a rehash. Halo Infinite cleverly doesn't use the past as a crutch but rather as a guide."
Jade King – 4.5/5 - TheGamer
"Halo Infinite was worth the wait, and 343 Industries has managed to dispel all of the doubts that formed after countless delays, underwhelming trailers, and a sense of aimlessness that expressed that perhaps Master Chief should be put to bed once and for all. By stepping away from the convoluted lore and abundance of changes made throughout its tenure, the studio has been able to craft something meaningful, an emotionally resonant journey across Zeta Halo that uses excellent worldbuilding and touching character interactions to build a triumphant campaign that sets the stage for an exciting future"
Ryan McCaffrey - 9/10 - IGN
"Turning us loose to explore a massive open ring with almost complete freedom to approach combat with a wide range of iconic guns, vehicles, and toys has absolutely brought Halo’s single-player campaign back into contention as one of the finest out there (to say nothing of the amazing multiplayer suite), and even though it drops the ball a bit with the story and lack of environmental variety, Infinite picks it back up again with style"
Andy Robinson - 4/5 - VGC
"Exploring Zeta Halo and planning your assault on the nearest Banished base is as good as single-player Halo has been since Bungie handed over the keys. It's at once both a brilliantly nostalgic and delightfully fresh evolution of the tried-and-tested Halo formula. But it also feels like a foundation that still has plenty of space for building upon, once its creators are able to produce better-realized ideas"
Denny Connolly – 4.5/5 - GameRant
"Halo Infinite is inevitably going to see a ton of play thanks to its day one inclusion on Game Pass and the campaign is well-positioned to impress. There are plenty of mechanical, enemy, weapon, and story throwbacks for longtime fans to smirk at and the game is approachable, exciting, and endearing enough to potentially win over a whole new generation of Halo fans."
Perhaps one of the most notable things from reviewers of the campaign is the ease of access for newcomers to the series. Halo Infinite's inclusion on Xbox Game Pass could make it the starting point for many prospective fans, and being able to understand the game without prior knowledge of Halo is likely to be a benefit for many. Things aren't all positive though, as some reviewers take note of Halo Infinite’s lack of environmental variety and state that the story feels weak in some areas. Still, early reviews feel that Halo Infinite makes up for these shortcomings with strong worldbuilding and emotionally touching character interactions, with many outlets describing Halo Infinite as a solid foundation for future installments of the Halo series.
Halo Infinite’s development has been an uphill struggle for 343 Industries, not only for the game's long and tumultuous development cycle but for its own reputation as the torchbearer for the series after the fanbase's lukewarm reception to Halo 5: Guardians. With Halo Infinite, it seems that 343 Industries could be on track to deliver a rock-solid Halo experience by honoring its past and building a sturdy foundation for its future.
Halo Infinite will be available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on December 8, 2021.