User:Pikapi/Halo: Infection

Halo: Infection is a first-person tactical shooter video game developed by Certain Affinity, as directed by 343 Industries, and published by Microsoft Gaming Studios. Infection is the first Halo series game of the "survival horror" genre, and focuses on the venture of a human unit desperately attempting to survive the ship-wide Flood outbreak of the Upsilon Andromedae Incident. The game has been compared to similar games of the Dead Space series, as many concepts seem to have been relayed directly into the Halo universe. 343 Industries' excuse for this was the canonical compatibility for introducing horror survival into the Halo game series.

Plot summary
The story of the Upsilon Andromedae Incident begins aboard the Yddrasil-class IU Horn of Plenty, a fully armed civilian "city ship". The date is February 13th, 2602, and the Horn of Plenty receives an urgent distress call from the UI Vector nearby, in the Upsilon Andromedae System. A course is promptly set, and the crew is cautious not to alert the inhabiting civilians of the emergency, in order to prevent panic. Once the Horn of Plenty arrives, the Vector makes no sign of acknowledging their assisting vessel. A communications channel cannot be opened between the two vessels either. The officers each assume the worst, and a ship-to-ship boarding is quickly arranged.

The main character of this story, the unnamed SPARTAN-IV0429 and his unit of fellow Spartan-IVs are sent to investigate at the linked boarding port. Upon the retracting of the titanium gates, it is revealed that the linked corridor is pitch black. The SPARTAN steps forward, activating his helmet's attached flashlight. The entire boarding crew steps back in horror, as awakened Flood forms begin to drop from the ceilings, and more forms awaken from mounds of biomass stretched out across the floor. The assisting marines and the much of the team are engulfed by the invading Flood. The crew soon comes to the realization about the fate of the Vector, as the Flood begin their assault on the Horn. At first, the SPARTAN's goal is to repel the Flood until all power systems are back on line, and the gates are shut. His plans are soon thwarted, however, as he discovers that other stations have also been linked to the vessel, and that much of the rest of the ship had already fell victim.

From this point, the SPARTAN attempts to make his way through the starship, attempting to escape in multiple ways, many of which they discover will not do, in which they must embark upon another attempt. Along the way, the SPARTAN will encounter other survivors, such as marines or wounded members of his unit. In the end, however, the SPARTAN finds himself the only survivor of the incident.

Characters

 * Alice (AI)
 * Captain Jon Heldman
 * Executive Officer Jacob Stanford
 * Executive Officer Markus Zoren
 * Medical Officer Paris Lefèvre
 * SPARTAN-IV0429

Events

 * Upsilon Andromedae Incident

Locations

 * Upsilon Andromedae System

Organizations

 * Interstellar Union
 * ONI Special Operations and Reconnaissance Division
 * Interstellar Union
 * ONI Special Operations and Reconnaissance Division
 * ONI Special Operations and Reconnaissance Division

Species

 * Ariialn
 * Betann
 * Diaphilim
 * Dmri
 * Flood
 * Flood aggressor form
 * Flood agility form
 * Flood airborne form
 * Flood armored form
 * Flood engineer form
 * Flood stealth form
 * Flood vacuum form
 * Flood waterborne form
 * Flood bomber form
 * Flood skirmish form
 * Mante
 * N'rog
 * Nimant
 * Omaan
 * Skakoan
 * Mante
 * N'rog
 * Nimant
 * Omaan
 * Skakoan
 * Mante
 * N'rog
 * Nimant
 * Omaan
 * Skakoan

Vehicles

 * IU Horn of Plenty
 * IU Vector
 * IU Vector

Weapons

 * Crowbar
 * CR101 Antimatter Demolitions Rifle
 * CRC103 Gravitational Exertion Rifle
 * D07 Tactical Shotgun
 * M809 Incendiary Projector
 * Machete
 * MR60 Recoilless Marksman Rifle
 * M413 Tactical Carbine
 * M452 Semi-Automatic Plasma Gatling Gun
 * Sniper Rifle System 99E-MB Anti-Matériel
 * Machete
 * MR60 Recoilless Marksman Rifle
 * M413 Tactical Carbine
 * M452 Semi-Automatic Plasma Gatling Gun
 * Sniper Rifle System 99E-MB Anti-Matériel
 * M452 Semi-Automatic Plasma Gatling Gun
 * Sniper Rifle System 99E-MB Anti-Matériel

Game mechanics
Infection's campaign mode is more linear than that of previous Halo titles. There is often a narrow pathway that the SPARTAN is given to follow, and divergence from this path may be potentially lethal, considering that gruesome Flood forms can be found all over the ship. While the basic gameplay and controls are similar to past games, the game engine differs greatly. While death is very possible in combat, which was transfered over from previous game engines, failing to perform a given task or heading out-of bounds may result in a cinematic death, which is unavoidable. Similar cut-scenes are set to occur in game, as a player progresses. Such are often unexpected, frightening, and lethal to a player, do they not act quickly. Therefore, AI are strictly granted to forms that the player is meant to fight themself. In Infection, Flood forms are much more diverse in terms of physiology. Throughout cinematic scenes, known forms do not appear often. For aesthetic balance, forms that a player is expected to actively combat may vary greatly. As another difference in the mechanics, in not all situations may a character be holding a weapon. At multiple points throughout the game, a player will have to manage without weapons. In the campaign, players aren't necessarily given the offer to utilize any weapon that they come across, as they may only utilize weapons that it has been scripted that they use. Due to this, a player isn't given free reign over their weapon usage, and the usage of the weapons supplied is mandated. Also, at certain points in the game, a player may wield objects that aren't necessarily weapons. For instance, crowbars and other tools may serve as either placeholders or objects that serve non-combat purposes. In multiplayer, all of the standard weapon mechanics of previous Halo games apply. An entirely new set of weapons appear in Infection.

Flood behavior is quite different from previous games, as nearly all forms, especially combat forms, are significantly faster and more agile. An advanced AI is only used in advanced forms or skirmish forms, whom rely heavily upon their instincts on wether to remain and fight, or to temporarily retreat.

By default, in-game textures are dramatically different than previous games. Many environments are darker and more frightening, in order to better suit the theme. Many of the textures are more realistic than they were in previous games.

Like most Halo games, an autosave feature tracks every checkpoint that a player has reached. When resuming a game, the player will return the nearest recorded location, which is usually not quite far from where they had previously quit. In order to progress to the next mission, a player must progress in game. When going back to an area already cleared, yet the player isn't resuming a saved game, they are given the option to spawn at one of three set rally points. Usually, Alpha, Delta, or Gamma.

Campaign
The campaign in Halo: Infection consists of twelve levels, all of which are playable.
 * 1) The Link - "Prepare for boarding..."

Reception
"I can say that Halo: Infection revolutionizes what it means to be "Halo"..."

- IGN critics review

Halo: Infection was widely credited for opening the Halo series to a wider region of genres. Its focus on specific elements, such as the Flood, and post-war technology was interpreted as a first step to expanding upon the Halo universe, especially pertaining to Post-Great War events. Critical reviews came primarily from parents, or gamers who were dismayed by the horrific interpretations of the Flood monstrosity, now that the game is focused entirely upon a conflict against them. This had also upset those whom purchaseed Halo content due to its strictly military themes. Others were disappointed about how Infection lacked a Forge model. Character customization was also little more improved than that of Halo: Reach or other previous titles. Overall, Infection was regarded as a unique and enjoyable gaming experience, but nothing to replace or entirely supersede the enjoyment of previous titles in the series. Gamepro had rated this game a 4/5, IGN gave it a 8.5/10, and Gameinformer rated it a 9, overall.