Microsoft
Video game sequels have often been touted as being the same thing repackaged with a new title, especially when it's the 4th or 5th iteration. Yesterday, 343 Industries released a new video for "Halo 4" via Waypoint which simultaneously reinforced and defied that accusation. This video continues the endless trail of exciting announcements the developers have had for the start to this new trilogy; and they're very rapidly wiping away everyone's doubts as to their abilities to develop an authentic Halo experience while still breathing life into a series that runs the risk of growing stale.
The video starts with a something that should be very familiar to fans that played “Halo 3”. A particular tall Forerunner structure, that has plasma blasts bursting out the top periodically, is shown with a canyon backdrop and a river snaking out to an ocean bay. An identical tower is seen on the beach, and slightly off to the right, there’s a downed Pelican in the distance. That’s right, fan-favorite “Valhalla” is making an appearance in “Halo 4” under its new alias, “Ragnarok”.
All of a sudden, something new and unusual pops up on “Ragnarok’s” shore, something that looks like a mech. A Spartan hops in, and we’ve now been introduced to the newest member of UNSC’s [playable] fleet, the “Mantis”. It’s not the first mech to show up in a Halo video game, as “Halo Wars” had one called the “Cyclops”, however this does mark the first time that one will be controlled by the player as well as usable in multi-player.
One hand has a machine gun while the other shoots projectiles like the rail gun or gauss canon. It also has a stomping melee attack that can be used to crush Spartans and other vehicles alike. So far, “Ragnarok” is the only map confirmed to have it, however it’s likely that any map featuring vehicles the size of the “Warthog” will also be capable of supporting the “Mantis”. “Halo 4” releases Nov. 6, 2012.
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