Exclusive Details on Halo: Reach - Images

Well then, I believe we’re all getting excited for Halo Reach coming out here soon.  Game Informer just did a cover story and released some juicy details for everyone.  Trying to spread the news as far and wide as possible, here’s what I’ve gathered.  Maybe you’ve read it before, maybe you haven’t, but here’s a quick run-down for info.

It’s been known for a while that you’d be buddy-buddy with some extra Spartans in this game.  I would hope considering it is taking place during Reach.  Players will control the “Lone Wolf,” the again, probably silent protagonist like the Rookie from ODST.  On your side will be Carter 259, Kat 320, Jorge, Emile 239, and Jun 266; each will fill a different niche of the game.  Concept art of the game leaves me to believe that there will be different Spartan classes to choose, though that seems unlikely given the nature of the other games.

The palette plans to be a lot darker for Reach, to give it more of the dark atmosphere that a planet about to be destroyed deserves.  Damage to the planet will progress as you get further in the game, showing the wear on the planet and suggesting that it took longer than what happened in the book.   Maybe it’ll even cover a time frame during which everyone has abandoned the planet aside from the people still on the ground.

We’ve been seeing Brutes for a while, but Elites will be making their return.  Seems Bungie wants to gift them with their frightening image they had in the first game and books.  A new enemy is being introduced as well, “Skirmishers,” resembling Jackals.  It’s being said that they will be cunning enemies, able to flank better than other the other Covenant species.

Combat will be on a much larger scale, doubling the amount of AI that could be on screen at anytime.  Halo 3 had a max of 20 AI, while Reach will have over 40 AI and can have up to 20 vehicles at anytime.  To reflect the downgrade in Spartan armor, health bars and packs will be making a return, along with a yellow colored HUD and a compress motion tracker.

The Helicopter Transports have been dubbed “Falcons” and “Spirits,” or the Covenant drop ships seen in Halo 1, will be returning.   It’s possible to drive civilian vehicles, though I’m not sure what that entails at this time.  Spike and Flame grenades are gone, and two new weapons will be introduced.  A single shot rifle called the Designated Marksman Rifle (DRM) will be introduced, along with a Needler Rifle.  It could be possible that this is a canon forefather to the Needler from later games.

Players can also completely “stealth” through the game.  Quiet assassinations are being added to take out enemies.  Hopefully new equipment will also be introduced, however it’s said sprinting will be possible with a mechanic functioning similar to equipment.  Either way, sprinting is always a good thing.

There you have it for now.  As more information about Reach pops up on the internet, we’ll try to keep you up to date with extra news.   Hopefully it won’t be too much longer till we see this great game either.  For now, keep on gaming!