Halo Infinite's customization options are unacceptably shallow

Halo Infinite Battle Pass Heroes Of Reach Source: Windows Central

Like many other players across the Xbox and PC ecosystem, I've been having a blast with the Halo Infinite multiplayer experience. Movement is smooth, gunplay is tight and snappy, and Halo Infinite's sandbox is easily one of the best in the series. The game is simply a ton of fun to play, and that achievement lone makes it 1 of the best Xbox shooters available correct now.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Halo Infinite'southward core gameplay is stellar, the customization system that players can use to personalize their Spartan supersoldiers between multiplayer matches is unacceptably shallow, restrictive, and underwhelming. Microsoft and 343 Industries promised Halo fans a deep and rich customization system for Halo Space, merely now that the game is really here, the system has proven to be i of Halo's worst.

The primary reason this is the instance is because Halo Infinite's armor cores — bones armor foundations that players can add different armor pieces, armor attachments, visor colors, and coatings to — prevent you from equipping an unlock unless it's an item that is specifically designed for that armor core. Desire to apply a chestpiece from the Mark V (B) armor core on the Mark VI armor core? Likewise bad. Did you unlock a cool helmet from the Fracture: Tenrai event that you desire to put on your Mark V (B) armor core? Y'all're out of luck. You tin can't even employ colour coatings or visor colors across cores, either, which is unbelievably restrictive.

Source: Windows Fundamental The Mark Five (B) is one of Halo Infinite'due south armor cores.

Presumably these restrictions are in place to forestall potential issues with armor pieces clipping into armor cores they weren't designed for, merely players take noticed that AI bots often accept cross-core cosmetics equipped and look completely fine. Considering of that, the decision to severely hinder the ability to mix and match cosmetics feels completely unjustified. The fact that bots can equip customization combinations that players tin can't is inexplainable, and frankly, it feels similar a slap to the face up.

It's a slap to the face that bots can use customizations that players can't.

These restrictions also apply to Halo Space'due south armor kits, which are collections of specific armor pieces and coatings that are available in the Boxing Laissez passer as well every bit the Halo Infinite Store for $10. Y'all're not allowed to mix armor pieces or coatings from armor kits with other cosmetics; y'all either employ everything in the gear up or none of it.

Creating a unique look has been an enjoyable part of the Halo multiplayer experience since Halo iii released 14 years ago in 2007, so seeing the latest Halo game be this restrictive in 2022 has been massively disappointing for franchise veterans like myself. It's antithetical to what fabricated personalizing your Spartan so fun in the starting time identify, and I'g shocked that Microsoft and 343 Industries would even ship a system like this for Halo Infinite.

Another large issue is that several of the armor coatings bachelor correct now are barely any different than what the default coatings expect similar, which is something that the Halo community was quick to notice. There are some cool and unique coatings, too, simply overall, information technology but feels awful to grind your way through the $10 rails of the Halo Space Battle Laissez passer simply to unlock coatings that are only slightly different than what every thespian starts off with.

Recycling coatings to sell them over and once more is unacceptable.

What'southward especially insulting, though, is that Microsoft and 343 Industries are recycling armor coatings for each armor core and are selling them for money via the Battle Pass and/or Halo Infinite'southward microtransactions shop. For instance, the Noble Principle coating for the Marking V (B) armor core that you lot need to buy the Battle Pass for looks identical to the default Buck Blue blanket you lot can use with the Marker Seven armor core. A specially egregious example of this is the Lucky Blue blanket for the Yoroi armor cadre, which looks but similar Buck Blue and Noble Principle and was recently sold for $8 in Halo Infinite'southward store. This has been done with the color cherry-red besides, and I wouldn't be surprised if it happens with other simple colors in the near future.

I empathize that some compromises need to exist made since Halo Infinite'south multiplayer is complimentary to play, but nickel-and-diming players past recycling basic color coatings and selling a version of them for each armor core is non an adequate way to monetize the game. It's 1 of the worst microtransaction models I've ever seen.

Halo Infinite Source: Xbox Game Studios

It'south not all bad, of course; the fact that you tin customize a Personal AI, your weapons, and your vehicles in Halo Space is crawly, and I dearest that you lot can requite your Spartan prosthetic limbs if you lot desire to too. But at the end of the solar day, the game closes many more doors than information technology opens, and it sucks to see a Halo customization organisation that'due south this shallow, restrictive, and greedy.

I'grand non going to avert playing the game just because of these problems; I care a lot more almost the core gameplay experience, and Halo Infinite's is fantastic. It's just unfortunate that a franchise once praised for its excellent customization options is now home to ane of the worst customization systems in gaming. Hopefully Microsoft and 343 Industries tin plow this ship around.

Halo is dorsum

Halo Infinite Multiplayer

Halo Infinite multiplayer

Halo Infinite's multiplayer has launched a few weeks early, compiling its classic arena multiplayer modes, expanded 24-player Big Team Battle, and more into i free-to-play bundle.

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