Microsoft’s newest “Halo” game, “Infinite,” released the multiplayer beta on Nov. 15, 2021. However, fans were shocked and a little disheartened when the beta version lacked a campaign mode. Gamers were thankful when 23 days later, “Halo” released the full version of one of its most ambitious campaigns of all time. 

This new campaign features an innovative open-world map unlike previous games that were very linear. Players can now use a myriad of vehicles to fully explore the beautiful scenery and great layout of this open-world. “Halo Infinite” features more boss battles and bosses, including the fan favorite Atriox from “Halo Wars 2.”

The new bosses are found in different world locations around the campaign and become more challenging as the player progresses through the game. This diverges from past “Halo” editions where bosses were encountered in a linear fashion. New weapons and skills have been added to help gamers deal with these bosses and make traversing through the map easier. All of these new implements allow for increased replayability and character customization. 

Additionally, a larger map and new game play provides the opportunity to encounter more easter eggs, which is typical of the people on the Microsoft team, who’ve been adding them into their browsers and games since 2002. Players should expect many of the new easter eggs to come in the form of dialogues mid-gameplay.  “Halo Infinite” still runs on the same engine as previous games “Halo: 4” and “Halo: 5,” but provides smooth gameplay and stunning graphics. These elements translate into the online multiplayer, which is arguably harder to run because of the challenges that present themselves when online gaming. 

The “Halo Infinite” multiplayer has definitely improved since its initial beta release, incorporating  feedback and large multiple fixes from developers. However, “Infinite” still has major problems that will need to be solved in the future. Cross-platform gaming was a highly requested feature at first and seemed like a valuable and intuitive innovation, but as the time progressed, many Xbox players struggled with the cross-platform gameplay because of PC gamers. 

Cheaters on PC have been constantly bombarding the Xbox player’s games and are now being called out for it, according to Screenrant. PC cheaters are most commonly found on free-to-play games such as “Halo Infinite” and previous “Call of Duties” because hackers can easily make another account and play moments after getting banned (which is difficult enough as it is). 

To counteract this, 343 Industries are promising an anti-cheat for Xbox players, according to Dexerto.  Despite developers’ promise to provide an anti-cheat feature, users remain skeptical at its effectiveness due to the low efficacy of anti-cheats in the past. 

Even though the game has flaws, as all games do, “Infinite” deserves a spot as one of the best games among the “Halo” franchise with great new implements in multiplayer, a large new map, beautiful graphics, and great feedback from fans. Critics all over have been calling “Halo Infinite” a masterpiece with IGN giving it a 9/10 and Meta Critic rating it an 81 overall, and this time, they might just have it right.