Multiplayer developers know how important it is to strike a balance with their weapons’ power levels. It is imperative to let the player feel strong. From aesthetics and reload speed to fire rate and weapon damage, everything plays an integral part in overall satisfaction and the power fantasy of playing a video game. But for these weapons to work within the confines of a multiplayer setting, their statistics have to be within acceptable parameters. Having one weapon do a ton of damage in a short amount of time may feel good for the user, but it feels equally unfair for other players. On the other hand, a weapon that does a paltry amount of damage is no fun for anyone who picks it up. This problem of overpowered and underpowered weapons is part of what makes Halo: Infinite’s multiplayer struggle.
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Halo Infinite’s Power Weapons Have Less Skill Involved
The majority of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer modes include power weapons: Strong, usually one-shot weapons that spawn in set locations. While these weapons can turn the tide of a match, the actual skill comes not from using the weapons, but from how well a team can camp the area where it spawns. The last player standing when a power weapon spawn almost always puts their team in an advantageous position.
Weapons like the Energy Sword, Gravity Hammer, and M41 SPNKR rocket launcher are just a few tide-turning weapons that require little-to-no-skill to use. The M41 SPNKR in particular requires the player to lead their targets to get a one-shot kill. That being said, the reward for doing something that has nothing to do with using the weapon itself is far too great. Couple this with the low skill ceiling for power weapons, and it’s no surprise that players getting killed by these weapons may call it unfair. When put into a game mode like Fiesta, which randomizes the gun loadout for each player, the power weapon problems become more apparent.
Weaker Weapons When Halo Infinite Players Spawn
To make power weapons more enticing, 343 Industries made them much stronger than the standard MA40 assault rifle and MK50 Sidekick pistol that players spawn with. Trusty weapons like the BR75 battle rifle can be found in set locations, doubling down on the weapon camping problem. What makes ground weapon spawns worse is that they are on a timer. Say two teammates want to get the aforementioned BR75; only one player can pick up the weapon immediately from its spawn point, leaving the other one to wait on a new spawn or find a different weapon to use. Since the stock assault rifle and pistol are weaker than most other weapons, a person coming out of spawn is prone to being outgunned by players who have stayed alive and accumulated better weapons.
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Even if players manage to get their hands on one of the weapons found on weapon racks in Halo: Infinite’s multiplayer modes, there is no guarantee this will go toe-to-toe with what other players have. Guns like the Needler, Hyrda, and Pulse Carbine are in dire need of buffs, as their damage, fire rate, or effective range are sorely lacking. By contrast, weapons like the Shock Rifle and Mangler are extremely strong and could use some balancing the other way. While the Mangler is already planned to have its melee damage nerfed in Halo Infinite’s second season, six months is far too long a wait for weapon nerfs and buffs.
Halo’s Unbalanced Weapons Are Archaic
A lot of these weapon issues stem from Halo: Infinite’s desire to keep classic elements of Halo multiplayer alive. This includes regenerating shields, movement pings on the mini-map, and unbalanced weapons. While Halo multiplayer was fun in the 2000s, times have changed. Developers have found ways to make their games fun and balanced at the same time. For example, Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment has managed to balance one of the game’s strongest guns - the Kraber - by giving the sniper rifle a very limited ammo supply and a slow rate of fire. Add to that the high skill requirement needed to use the gun, and players won’t be as upset getting killed by one as they might be getting one-shot by Halo: Infinite’s Gravity Hammer - a weapon that can easily wipe out anyone closeby.
If Halo: Infinite wants to remain relevant for the foreseeable future, it has to stop looking at the past. With Season 2 just a few days away, 343 Industries has to start taking weapon balance seriously. Getting killed by overpowered weapons is nobody’s idea of fun, and introducing more unbalnaced munitions to an already struggling arsenal might just turn players off from playing the latest Halo title.
Halo Infinite is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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