If you've been watching those insane Halo Reach trailers and videos that have been floating around the Internet the past few weeks, you've undoubtedly been as excited about the Halo Reach beta as we have been. Now that I've played it, I can safely say that good lord, Bungie has really revamped this game! If you thought Halo 3 to ODST was a big leap, just wait until you test out Reach. If you're going to do it, though, you better do it soon because the beta ends on May 19th, for some crazy ass reason.
The first thing you'll notice about Halo: Reach's beta when you start is how much insanely better matchmaking is in every way. The "Active Roster" feature lets you keep up with what your friends are doing and who they're playing with at all times, which is convenient. They also improved matchmaking by giving players in a lobby four gametype/map choices to vote on, instead of accepting/vetoing whichever one gametype/map combo comes up. This system is so much better than before that it's silly to think it wasn't like that from the beginning. Also, matchmaking is, in general, blazing fast. Much faster than Halo 3. Bungie also included cool matchmaking options like fast matchmaking, good connection, and the upcoming queue joining feature, where instead of having to wait until after a match ends to accept a gameplay invite, you can accept it mid-match and be automatically taken to that lobby once your current game ends.
There are currently three playlists: The Arena, Free-for-All, and Grab Bag. The Arena is basically the big leagues. When you get good enough, The Arena makes playing Halo into a full blown sport. You get daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal stats and a ranking based on your kill/death spread, assists, and many other factors. The Arena is 4v4 Team Slayer format. Free-for-All and Grab Bag contain a mix of classic and new gametypes, like Slayer, 1 Flat, Crazy King, Oddball, Three Plots, and more. Some new gametypes are HeadHunter, in which you get a skull and a point for each kill. To win, you can either net ten skulls and deposit them in two periodically changing drop zones before dying, or have the most points when the time runs out. If you die, though, your skulls are up for grabs. Stockpile is a new type of capture the flag where there are 10 neutral flags and each team has a base. To actually capture the flags, though, you have to protect them until the end of each minute, at which point your base is scanned and all protected flags are counted. In Generator Defense, you play as either 3 Spartans or 3 elites, working to protect or destroy 3 generators, respectively. Invasion will consist of capturing points to unlock new areas, vehicles, and load outs, which will be discussed soon.
There are four maps in the beta. Sword Base is a svelte, multi-leveled office style chamber of a map. It's great for using jet packs on, as there are lots of cross-platform bridges at various altitudes. Powerhouse is the hydroelectric plant map that you see in most of the multiplayer videos Bungie has been putting out. It also has a desert-y outdoors section, as well as many buildings to battle in. Overlook is similar to the High Ground map from Halo 3. This is gonna be the map they use to test Generator Defense on when it's released on May 14. Boneyard is a graveyard for airships. This is the map they're gonna use for the Invasion gametype on May 7.
A huge part of Halo: Reach's multiplayer is the new "Load Outs" feature, which is a bit like the class feature in Modern Warfare or Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Each contains a primary and secondary weapon, and grenades. The load outs you can choose depend on the gametype you're playing. What really makes each load out special is, though, is the Armor Ability. With Airborne, you can fly around with a Jet Pack. Scout gives you a Sprint ability that is great for escaping intense battles when you're low on health. Guard enables the Armor Lock ability, which makes you invincible for a short amount of time. Stalker gives you the ability to go invisible for a length of time, called Active Camouflage. As an elite, you'll be able to roll around as an Armor Ability, which is a lot more fun and advantageous than it sounds. Elites are also more powerful than Spartans by default - they don't need to use health packs, they have faster shield regeneration, and other stuff, for better or worse. You may think that all these Armor Abilities would make the game unbalanced and not fun, but in reality, they complement each other so well it's crazy. Never did I feel disadvantaged, no matter what ability I was working with, and they're all pretty much equally fun, with the exception of the jet pack, which is too fun.
Basically everything about this game is better than its predecessors. Bungie is truly a company that listens to the people that play their games, and it is reflected in their frequent updates, rabid community, and with each new release, which usually has fans rejoicing over a variety of small aspects reintroduced or taken out. Every single aspect of the series has been updated. There are tons of new weapons - a plasma launcher that shoots up to five plasma grenades depending on how long you charge it, a focus rifle that is practically like a continuous spartan laser, the headshot happy designated marksman rifle, the weak-but-hey-not-bad needle rifle, and more. The graphics are so much better it even looks HD
But, Without Further Hype, Here's The Top Places To Pre-order Your Halo Reach Game Or Package:
There Are Five Types Of Halo Reach Pre-order Packages:
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| Halo Reach-Xbox 360 |
- Halo Reach-Xbox 360: http://astore.amazon.com/haloreach-beta-updates-preorders-20/detail/B002BSA20M-
- Halo Reach Game
2. Halo Reach Legendary Edition: http://astore.amazon.com/haloreach-beta-updates-preorders-20/detail/B002I0HCVK-Product FeaturesEdition: Legendary Edition
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Special Offers and Product Promotions
Edition: Legendary Edition
- Order Halo Reach Legendary or Limited Edition and get $20 off a future video game purchase. The promotion code will be applied directly to your Amazon.com account up to two (2) business days after your product ships. To redeem your reward, add a Video Games item sold and shipped by Amazon.com to your shopping cart and proceed to checkout. The discount will be visible after you have begun the checkout process. Offer valid when shipped and sold by Amazon.com. This offer will be extended to all existing pre-orders. Amazon reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time. Offer valid for one purchase per customer.
- Pre-order Price Guarantee! Order now and if the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you'll receive the lowest price.
Product Features
Edition: Limited Edition
- Game Disc in custom case modeled after a recovered ONI data module
- A custom in-game Elite armor set for use in Reach's multiplayer modes
- Artifact Bag containing a brand-new piece of the extended Halo universe: The personal notes and documents of the creator of the SPARTAN program: Dr. Catherine Halsey
- Dr. Halsey's ONI Security Badge
- Embroidered Spartan II Patch
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Edition: Limited Edition
- Order Halo Reach Legendary or Limited Edition and get $20 off a future video game purchase. The promotion code will be applied directly to your Amazon.com account up to two (2) business days after your product ships. To redeem your rewarddays after your product ships. To redeem your reward, add a Video Games item sold and shipped by Amazon.com to your shopping cart and proceed to checkout. The discount will be visible after you have begun the checkout process. Offer valid when shipped and sold by Amazon.com. This offer will be extended to all existing pre-orders. Amazon reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time. Offer valid for one purchase per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
- Pre-order Price Guarantee! Order now and if the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you'll receive the lowest price. Here's how (restrictions apply)
4. Halo Reach Themed 121 Month Gold Membership: http://astore.amazon.com/haloreach-beta-updates-preorders-20/detail/B000PHVSOK Description:
- 121 months of Xbox live, or 11 years of it, for a very low price, or 12 months for the standard price [Either or]
5. Xbox 360 250GB Halo Reach Console Bundle:
What's Included:
- Xbox 360 250GB S Console with custom design
- Halo: Reach Standard Edition rated “M” for Mature
- Xbox 360 250GB S Removable Hard Drive
- Two Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers with custom design
- Xbox 360 Black Headset
- Xbox 360 Composite A/V cable (standard definition)
- One Month Xbox LIVE Gold Membership
- 1 year limited warranty on console
Description:
- decorate your walls with this brand new poster
- easy to frame and makes a great gift too
- ships quickly and safely in a sturdy protective tube
- measures 11.50 by 11.50 inches
Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Xbox 360 Halo: Reach Wireless ControllerProduct Description
The planet depends on you.
Blast Covenant forces like never before with the Xbox 360 Halo: Reach Wireless controller. Designed by Bungie in sleek silver and complete with a Halo: Reach
*Up to 30 ft range
Product Features
- Features artwork created by Bungie, inspired by Halo: Reach, the blockbuster prequel to the award-winning Halo trilogy.
- Features all the functionality of the award-winning Wireless Controller while fitting in perfectly within the Halo: Reach mythology.
- Includes a token for a Banshee aircraft Avatar item.
Product Features
- Features all the functionality of the Wireless Headset, a distinctive silver color and artwork created by Bungie that was inspired by Halo: Reach, the blockbuster prequel to the award-winning Halo trilogy.
Product Description
Every squad needs a leader. Let the game go to your head with an Xbox 360 Halo: Reach Wireless Headset. Custom designed by Bungie in sleek, game-inspired silver, this exclusive limited edition headset keeps you connected to the team in online multiplayer game play as you storm the battlefield and save humanity. Xbox live gold membership is required for online multiplayer.
Description: The Storyline fro the very start of Halo All the way to the siege on Planet Reach. Can The Spartans Overcome the Formidable Force Of The Covenant?
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Description: Want To know everything surrounding Halo Reach even before the release date on September 14, 2010? Read about every strategy and all of the new elements and jump-start your gaming.
BELOW YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THE ABOVE ITEMS!!
Here It is, The most widely anticipated, and hyped, game of 2010, HALO REACH. The wait is almost over.
Halo: Reach on Xbox 360 has a confirmed release date on Tuesday, 14 September 2010. It is 32 days left until you can play Halo: Reach on your Xbox 360 in the USA.There is over
Here is a vintage video of one my friends playing one of the halo reach maps in the game type King of the hill: He gets a perfection and doesn't die the whole game practically!! A Must see and a testament to what you can do if you get really good at reach!!Reach Can Be P-owned!! This Is a MUST SEE!!! HE PUTS ON A CLINIC!!
Here's a Sniping Video Of Me Dominating!!!!
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