The Argument for the Next Halo Game to Revamp Melee Weapons

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 14, 2025 49 Views 7 Min Read
The Argument for the Next Halo Game to Revamp Melee Weapons



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One of the biggest highlights of the Halo franchise has always been its diverse arsenal of weapons. Right out of the gate, Halo: Combat Evolved shipped with a respectable eight weapons, split between its UNSC and Covenant factions. Each subsequent Halo entry brought a handful of new weapons to the table, delivering some of the most memorable video game weapons of all time in the process.

The most iconic items in Halo‘s arsenal tend to be those branded as “Power Weapons,” such as the rocket launcher, the Fuel Rod Cannon, and the sniper rifle. These Power Weapons can give teams a major tactical advantage in the right hands, and while a rocket launcher can wreak havoc easily, some Power Weapons take a little more skill to wield properly. Halo‘s melee weapons are a great example of this, and there’s a case to be made for the next Halo to make them even more complex.

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Why The Next Halo Should Revamp Melee Combat

Melee Weapons Have Always Been a Key Part of Halo’s Multiplayer Scene

Aside from Halo: Combat Evolved, every Halo entry has had at least one type of melee weapon. More often than not, these weapons have been the Energy Sword, a favorite of the Covenant’s Elites, and the Gravity Hammer, a Brute Chieftain’s go-to weapon.

While these melee weapons obviously aren’t suited to longer-range firefights, the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer can be incredibly effective in a close-quarters arena, netting the wielder a handful of easy kills if opponents are taken by surprise. Along with having distinct roles in Halo‘s gameplay formula, the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer have become iconic symbols for the Halo franchise, offering distinct visual designs that encapsulate the series’ Sci-Fi setting.

Halo’s Melee Weapons Feel a Little Outdated

But while the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer remain Halo mainstays, their gameplay is starting to feel a little dated. The Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer essentially function the same across every iteration. The Energy Sword always has its lock-on lunge attack and faster-paced swipes, and the Gravity Hammer always has its overhead slam. These attacks get the job done, but players have been using these weapons in the exact same way for the best part of two decades.

Halo Infinite‘s campaign introduced three variations of the Energy Sword, but all three had the exact same attack animations. The only core differences between the three were their visual designs, damage output, and recovery speed.

How The Next Halo Could Revamp Melee Weapons

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Melee weapons are a staple of the Halo franchise, and they should never be removed. But to ensure melee combat doesn’t grow stale, the next Halo might want to revamp its melee system and make it a little more involved. For instance, the next Halo could introduce a new blocking and parrying system for its Energy Sword, letting players engage in proper duels with one another that take a bit more skill than just pressing the lunge button at the right time.

The Gravity Hammer should also get its own set of improvements, such as a greater variety of attacks. Rather than give players just the one overhead slam they’ve been using since 2007, the next Halo‘s Gravity Hammer could let players swing the weapon in a wide horizontal arc in front of them, bouncing opponents to the side, and thus letting players use the environment to their advantage.

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