Homework 6

Halo 4

1. The Tetrad

• The Story - In my opinion, Halo 4 has the best of the Halo story lines due to the character progression of the protagonist, Master Chief. Typically, in Halo games, Master Chief is more or less emotionless with few lines and even fewer personal connections. But, 343 industries has done an amazing job at establishing John, aka Master Chief, aka Spartan II 117, as an actual human with emotions. The idea of losing Cortana as a companion (and even an undertone of a romantic interest, really creates a good story arc for John's desperate desire to get rid of the Forerunner villain and get back to Dr. Halsey so that Cortana can be saved. The death of Cortana at the end of the game and the moment John and her share is probably the first time any Halo fan has ever cried during a Halo story.
• Technology - The game, being a futuristic linear game, is very good at creating weapons that balance the futuristic feel and realistic function. The online portion adds a little bit of character customization, but for the most  part the technology is consistent to the feel of previous games, which is that alien tech is slightly primitive (energy swords and shields) with a futuristic feel to them due to the different branching technological evolution they took.
• Art - Halo 4 has amazing cutscenes and graphics (especially compared to games of the same series, and it's nice to see such a leap forward by 343 industries. The cutscenes appear almost life-like, and the in-game graphics are seemingly flawless with great detail in both open spaces with grasses and fields, as well as small enclosed spaces with steel walls.The alien tech has a very curved geometry to it, giving a different aesthetic than the human sharp edges from othere weapons. 
• Mechanics - As always, Halo is based on a type of rock, paper, scissors mechanic based on gunfire, grenades, and melee, but 343 also successfully melds armor powers into the mix without them being overpowered, so the game plays very smoothly online and offline.

2. Balance: Like stated in the mechanics above, the combat is based around the what-trumps-what combat system where everything has it's benefit and downfall.

3. Emergent Properties: Few flaws, and the online portion is continually patched for balance.

4. Interest Curves: Being a linear game with an emphasis on large battlefields  gives Halo 4 an interesting twist on the linear story genre. Though the story progresses in one way, the combat itself is interesting, since it gives character choice a lot of freedom to choose how to tackle objectives.

Enjoyment: Halo is my favorite franchise, and to see the 4th rendition become my favorite is encouraging for the future of the franchise. I love seeing my favorite badass become more human as well as a great new enemy thrown into the mix.

007 Quantum of Solace
1. The Tetrad

• The Story - relies heavily on the player having experience with the movies, and then makes up side stories that don't fit the story. James Bond takes on various enemies with little, to no, character progression.
• Technology - Technology is modern. Weapons, maps, etc. are all based on current technology of modern day.
• Art - Modern art style with no kind of artistic flair or musical taste like the movies, at least, have. Nothing out of ordinary.
• Mechanics - Basic first person future mechanics, albeit with a terrible stealth mechanic that employs a silencer to no effect since enemies always seem to notice you immediately. The shooting mechanics are solid, at least.

2. Balance - Balance is decent at normal setting. That being said, sometime you feel overpowered, other times it's the opposite. It flip flops.

Emergent Properties: Plenty of glitches, but none of them are gamebreaking, and the game brings nothing new.

4.Interest curves: The story is weak, and the only interest comes from the gameplay, with is decently solid for a shooter.

Enjoyment: I enjoyed the game, though it is clear that it is broken, but I was certainly not sad to trade it in. If you want a bond game, there are plenty better, but this is the best of the current-gen ones