Lately, what amazes me is that I haven’t played much Halo Infiniteis multiplayer as I thought. I had contemplated that I would skip most evenings with my partner, playing Oddball and Slayer and laughing like one of those video game commercials, wobbling wildly with a remote in my hand.
Now I know why and I hate to admit it. Infinite doesn’t have a battle royale mode, which I find to be the perfect FPS for gaming with my friends. Something about it just works, you know? Listen, let me explain.
Does Halo Infinite need a battle royale mode? Absolutely not. But am I in favor of one? Sure. It’s hard to imagine Infinite taking on one thing: a giant playing field juxtaposed from some of Halo’s most iconic maps of yore; Warthogs and Mongooses roam the lands; players race against the M41 SPNKR when it spawns; struggled to the terrace and put down the fire; some conjecture as to why there’s a circle of poison gas closing in… but hey, the rings are what Halo does best, aren’t they? 100% can do.
Battle Royale modes are great because they break up all of this action perfectly. That’s not to say that arena-style modes like your team’s death match and capture the flags aren’t the place for quiet moments. It’s just that once you join, you in. You have 50 lives to gain, so you better hit it. A flag has to be captured, so it’s best to start it NOW. But in battle royale, the tempo of the game is entirely in your hands.
Usually, it is determined by the mood in Discord. Feeling a little sleepy today? Then you can all go somewhere quiet and take things easy. Feeling energized? You can then pop into the nearest available Leaning Tower or downtown and prepare yourself for a frantic trip to the nearest loot chest. And even if your early game is raging, this doesn’t mean the middle and end are decided for you.
I think that’s the beauty of battle royale. The way it adjusts to chat dynamics, gives you space to swap Japan between adrenaline hits. Even the little things, such as an early death that leads to lengthy audience sessions that open other channels to tool failures, direct the conversation back to something completely unrelated, or the sitting game. then like an asshole.
I also find that high stakes help with educational moments. Death in other game modes often entails a quick respawn or a short wait until the end of the round; There is rarely much urgency, or at least, cohesion. You can drop in different locations at different times, or if you work together you know it will be a fleeting roar into the enemy base before you inevitably have to part. afterward. However, in battle royale, you are largely forced to stick together to survive. Death means immediate loss, so when facing the opposing team, you’ll learn how your teammates behave when their fight or flight reactions come into play.
For example, I know for sure that I am bloodthirsty, while another friend of mine is always on the lookout for this murderous intent. Others were measured more or removed themselves to obtain a flank. Got to the final round and this was tested to its limit. Discord’s banter disappears when the mode directs you all to a level of laser focus that was previously thought impossible. Suddenly, you’re all serious, telling each other what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it. There’s a job and it needs to be done correct.
Accomplish the task at hand and then culminate, a moment of pure refreshment you’ll struggle to find elsewhere. At this point you’ll discuss what went down, everyone exhaling their trials and tribulations with an exaggerated babble. The evening turns from a chilly Discord sesh into some sort of blockbuster where you all step out of the cinema to examine its highs and lows.
Yes, there are a lot of these battle royale modes going on, but I’m sure they’re a great template for a really good time. Of course, you won’t reach that peak every night. However, no matter what mood you’re in, I find they will always work with your team to create a meaningful journey.
Listen, I wouldn’t take my eyes off it if Halo Infinite didn’t have a battle royale mode. That’s fine, it’s still going to be a great FPS no matter what. However, selfishly, I want it to get one. If only for a reason to gather some friends and bask in the comfort of that lovable multiplayer template.
