When it arrived on PC and Xbox last November, the multiplayer sector of Halo Infinite was a notable success. Thanks to its free nature and excellent gameplay, many have ended up in the vortex of the branded shooter 343 Industries. Despite the explosive start, however, the spell broke earlier than expected and there were multiple factors causing the drastic drop in interest in the game. From the absence of new content, to the slowness in releasing corrective patches – think of the problems that plagued the Great Team Battle for weeks – to a somewhat rarefied communication on the future of the experience, Infinite was unable to stay in step with other big names in the multiplayer world.
There were other problems related to an interface that could certainly be improved, the uncertainties on the netcode front and the absence of a competitive “Team Massacre” mode, which has always had a fundamental importance in the previous chapters, while in the last iteration of the series has been replaced by the objective playlist, on a small number of maps. About six months after the arrival of multiplayer, 343 Industries tries to re-pair users with the Season 2, which will accompany us for quite some time and will introduce a series of innovations for multiple aspects of production. Will that be enough to revitalize Halo Infinite’s servers? Let’s find out together.
Until the last Spartan
If there is a merit of the new season of the online shooter, that is definitely theexpansion of the offer in terms of game modes. The range of options available is now sufficient to guarantee a certain variety to the playful offer and to allow users to decide with which rules to take the field, without having to rely on luck with random playlists (which unfortunately still happens with BTBs). The main scope of Lone Wolvesthe title of Halo Infinite Season 2, is the new one Last Spartan Standing.
As rumors about Halo Infinite’s actual battle royale grow ever more insistent, 343 industries has implemented a sort of miniature version of this mode. The fights to the death take place between themselves 12 playerseach of which has a maximum of five returns it’s a fixed loadoutwhich, however, is changing thanks to the experience obtained by eliminating opponents or by absorbing the AI of those who have been definitively wiped out.
Net of rather long matchmaking times and an enhancement system that tends to hinder those who are repeatedly defeated rather than facilitating them, this new proposal represents a breath of fresh air compared to the classic modes and, due to its setting, forces to adopt a style of play that is profoundly different from matches “classic”. Last Spartan Standing’s eventful firefights all take place within Breaker, the new map that enriches the set of scenarios available for the Great Team Battles. This huge desert arena is home to a demolition site for gods
Banished and alternate open areas with small structures where you can hide to avoid falling under sniper fire both in group fights and in battle royale. Alongside Breaker we also find a second stage which takes the name of Catalyst, which is designed to host arena mode matches. It is a symmetrical map set in a Forerunner structure, which in addition to developing on several levels has a large void in the center, much to the chagrin of the Spartans. The main problem with this setting is a certain flatness from the chromatic point of view, which is why it is difficult to orientate within it even after a few games.
Speaking of smaller maps, these can now also be used as a background King of the Hill, which re-proposes on a smaller scale the mechanics of conquering the territories of the BTB, with the only point to check that is placed in different positions during the game. Unfortunately, the relevant news in terms of content ends here and we do not find any additions to the arsenal of weapons or to the vehicle fleet, so that sense of freshness that should be perceived at the beginning of a new season has been lacking a bit.
All the news under the hood
Although the new maps and modes are the elements that most catch the eye of those who play Halo Infinite Season 2, there are also numerous changes that have been made to the sandbox and that have had a considerable impact on gameplay balance.
The first change, which is perhaps the most evident, concerns the Approximately 10% reduction in damage from melee attacks. From now on, therefore, it will take more lead (or plasma, as the case may be) before we can finish the Spartan in front of us with a nice melee attack. The weapon that suffers the most from this modification – and which has also suffered a magazine nerf – is Harrower. Now the combination “gunshot and melee attack” is no longer enough to knock out the opponent, as he has to be hit by at least two bullets. The only exception is the Battle rifle, with the effectiveness of the melee assault remaining unchanged in the ranked modes, to suit the strategies of the veterans. A few tweaks to the top came instead for the Shaker, arguably one of the least popular tools of death among gamers. The weapon in question has received a buff that kills with only two bursts, as long as they are aimed precisely at the target’s head.
The Overshield buff, the power up that now further solidifies the Spartan’s defenses by adding an extra segment to the armor gauge. We were able to see the effectiveness of the new version of the consumable especially in Last Spartan Standing, where the collection and activation of the object allowed us to massacre anyone who stood in front of us for its entire duration.
Trendy Spartan
The eye also wants its part and, as in any self-respecting season, Lone Wolves adds a All new Battle Pass. The highlight of the premium rewards streak is undoubtedly the Rakshasa armor corewhose appearance manages to give its best with sets that unlock late in the course.
The remaining items are perfectly in line with those of Season 1, with the only difference that reaching level 100 allows you to accumulate well 1,000 Credits and, therefore, fully recover the investment made at the time of purchase. Those who want to limit themselves to free prizes can also take advantage of limited-time events – Interference and Alpha Pack – which guarantee numerous cosmetic elements, but in our opinion unable to overcome the splendid Yoroi armor of Fracture Tenrai.
The launch of Season 2 was the perfect opportunity to put the ingenious pass management system, thanks to which we will never have to worry about when a season ends. With the ability to decide whether to accumulate XP for the first or second Battle Pass, unlocking all rewards is easier than ever and requires no racing against time or forced play sessions.
Speaking of hours of play, now who decides to try their hand at weekly challenges will be adequately rewarded. So forget about the stickers because space has been given to prizes that justify the amount of hours required to obtain them, think of the exclusive camouflage for the assault rifle last week. Returning to the original question, Halo Infinite Season 2 probably isn’t enough to convince those players who gave up to jump back into the boat.
The long wait for its arrival has not been rewarded with the amount of content we were hoping for and it is likely that it will take weeks before some other small news will be introduced in the game. The title of 343 Industries would benefit from new maps for 4 vs 4 clashes, a competitive Slayer mode with the Arena rules, and perhaps, with a pinch of courage, the increase in the presence of gadgets on the map, or an acceleration of their respawn, to the advantage of the situational variety of the battles.
