Halo Infinite is the series’ first major leap forward since Halo 3

Halo: The Evolution of Combat’s second level — fittingly just called “Halo” — was a revelation when it was released in 2001. The wide-open level put Master Chief and Cortana on the surface of one of the series’ titular ring-worlds in search of UNSC marines who survived the Pillar of Autumn’s crash. It wasn’t exactly open-world, yet it outlined what the future of the series could be. But the series’ full potential wasn’t fully realized until Halo Infinite.

In “Halo,” you can take the Chief on his journey however you want, wandering the massive (at least by original Xbox standards) level, finding small Easter eggs, pockets of enemies, and of course, the marines you’re searching for. This was the first hint that led to this level. Halo It was a departure from the hallway-shooters in the 1990s. This promise also served to set the stage for what this series would become. A vast sandbox with improvisational combat, and alien worlds. The problem with the original promise was that a universe could only grow so large in 2001.

Halo always performed at its greatest and widest level. It doesn’t matter what level it was. Halo 3’s “The Ark,” Halo 2’s “Metropolis” and “Delta Halo,” or Combat Evolved’s unparalleled run of levels from “Halo” to “Assault on the Control Room,” Master Chief has always thrived in open spaces full of vehicles or areas to explore. Since then, the games Halo 3I have not been able match their abilities or brought something to the table.

Image: 343 Industries, Microsoft via YouTube

Halo InfiniteThe whole game can be made up of these levels, which avoids any comparison. This expands the reach to Zeta Halo’s massive open-world. Infinite lets players constantly play out the series’ best moments. It feels as if the series has been expanded beyond its original form by taking over alien outposts and rescuing marines.

There are many adventures to be had in the wild world. Halo Infinite brings players to carefully-designed levels that fit into the Halo series’ standard Forerunner (the race who built the rings) architecture. These mostly interior-set levels are also central to every Halo game’s foundation, and Infinite’s versions are better designed than any since the original trilogy. There are cavernous rooms, gloomy hallways, and dozens of interesting, well-designed spaces for classic Halo firefights — which usually means plenty of cover to make you feel safe, but still enough enemies to make you sweat.

Image: 343 Industries/Xbox Game Studios via Polygon

InfiniteThese firefights can even be improved upon. Halo’s excellent combat has always been defined by improvisation. Levels and engagements are carefully designed to give you the opportunity to start fights, but to let the aliens’ AI carry skirmishes into an unexpected direction. Halo InfiniteThe Halo 5 combat game perfectly captures this form of improvisation, while the Halo 6’s new movements tools transform it into an unforgettable experience. Sliding and sprinting feel great, thanks to the wide range of cover options available and open spaces that allow you to move in either direction.

The real star is Halo Infinite’s combat is the grappling hook. The ability to swing your way into and out of fights turns Halo’s traditionally slow but chaotic combat into something frantic, quick, and kinetic. It eventually feels like attempting to grab one kill after the other, and it is like a game where you have to put together combos. InfiniteThis feels like an easy fit for the series.

Image: 343 Industries/Microsoft Game Studios via Polygon

Naturally Halo Infinite isn’t perfect. Its story is still a jumbled mess — a more emotionally effective mess, but a mess nonetheless. The otherwise brilliant multiplayer was plagued by setbacks like the loss of playlists (some were added Dec. 14), and a tedious battle pass that featured disappointing cosmetics. But this was easily 343 Industries’ best run at a Halo narrative so far, and (as with all living games) a rocky launch fades out of memory surprisingly fast as long as everything gets fixed eventually.

For almost fifteen years, Halo has floundered. In a year when many games have reworked their mechanics, Halo finally improved its core mechanics and created a game that revolved around them. Games such as Cryptography Unsighted They used their twists and turns to challenge genre expectations. Halo Infinite changed up the formula to better realize the series’ untapped promise. Walking around the surface of Zeta Halo, exploring its mountains, valleys, and Banished bases filled me with the same kind of wonder that walking around “Halo” did all the way back in 2001, but with enough modern updates to make it feel new and exciting. The series made its greatest leap in 20 years.