5 Reasons Why Halo 4 Is 2012’s Most Anticipated Xbox 360 Title

With Halo 4 confirmed by Nielsen to be the most anticipated title for the Xbox 360, here are five reasons why the title is generating such a buzz.

Halo 4 isn’t more of the same; it’s the most radical shift in the formula since, well, Halo: Combat Evolved invented the formula!

With Halo 4 generating anticipation and launching a week before Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, we’re readying for a heated debate over which game is better. We’re not discussing which is better; instead, we’re going to to see why anticipation for each game is high, starting with Halo 4.

#1: Spartan Ops

Spartan Ops is an episodic, cooperative, ongoing mission-based campaign that expands on what Bungie created with Firefight in set-piece situations where you fight waves of enemies. Spartan Ops is five missions across ten weeks, for free in the first season, and takes place six months after the events of Halo 4. You’re playing as your custom Spartan that works across Spartan Ops and Multiplayer – both are under the War Games umbrella.

#2: Master Chief

Yes, Master Chief – or John, Spartan 117 – returns after being away for two games and five years. In the Halo 3 Legendary Ending Chief was seen heading towards an unknown planet while in cryo sleep, since confirmed to be called Requiem.

Wake up John!

#3: Cortana’s Rampancy

Cortana is eight years old – not young in human terms, but for an A.I. she’s a year older than recommended. A.I.s begin to go rampant after seven, due to the amount of information consumed. Cortana absorbed the information from Installation 04’s control room in Halo: Combat Evolved, which probably wasn’t the best idea for the long-term.

#4: Neil Davidge

Neil Davidge, of Massive Attack fame, is replacing Martin O’Donnell as composer and is bringing an electronic theme to the score. Described as cinematic in nature, a change from the orchestral tone during Bungie’s era is something I welcome.

#5: Forerunners

Requiem is a planet once home to Forerunner, and Prometheans – the new enemy class in Halo 4 – are Forerunner A.I. That means the mysterious creators of the Halo rings could emerge, except for their battle with the Flood which wiped them out. Perhaps.