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Halo 4

Halo 4: Multiplayer details

Co-operative and episodic.

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In recent weeks 343 Industries has been drip-feeding us details regarding the hugely anticipated return of John 117. Game Informer's latest cover story contains several new pieces of information about the new features we can expect to find when the Halo franchise wakes up from its slumber later this year.

Multiplayer

As promised 343 has tied the Spartan vs Spartan combat into the narrative of the series, with combat taking place in the holodeck suite aboard the UNSC Infinity (a ship encountered by Master Chief in the campaign).

There will be two types of multiplayer. In the first, players will line up against similarly ranked players in a selection of new and old modes (including Regicide - where the MVP is "king", and therefore worth more points to kill).

The second multiplayer mode sounds like a real positive development for the series, and a good sign that 343 are seriously trying to push the franchise forward. Spartan Ops is co-operative playlist for up to four players. Brand new content will be released each week, giving players new cut-scenes and team missions. These missions will explore a separate story comparable to the main campaign, and best of all these updates will be free.

Perhaps the change that will have the most significant impact is that both multiplayer modes will support drop-in play; no longer will games be ruined by players quitting out of frustration. It's a subtle but welcome adjustment that will likely improve the quality of the Halo multiplayer experience for many gamers.

Single Player

343 has still not revealed the new enemy that the Master Chief will be facing, though claims that they will "work together in collaborative ways" and are "elevated in terms of their intelligence and complexity" will only add fuel to the fire of speculation centered around the Forerunners.

The Forerunners are an ancient race that created the Halo rings as a weapon to destroy the Flood (along with all other sentient life in the galaxy). The recently published Forerunner trilogy also details a war between Forerunner and Humans over 100,000 years ago.

The Covenant will also feature again. An attack by the series' regular foe has been revealed as the reason Cortana wakes the Chief from his slumber (see the trailer below), though 343 don't go into the reasons behind it. Cortana and the Master Chief also crash land on a Forerunner Shield world called Requiem - though the where, when and why still remains a mystery.

The central focus of Halo 4, as promised by 343, will be the return of John 117. There will be particular attention paid to developing his character. Also featuring prominently will be the relationship between John and Cortana - who will be confronting "rampany" (senility to non-AIs).

Excited by these new details? Head over to the Forum and share your thoughts.

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