However, the Gravity Hammer, another power weapon, seemed a little too strong in this tech preview I felt almost guilty at how much I loved absolutely smashing enemies in melee. But by the end of the weekend, I do have to admit the Skewer – one of the aforementioned power weapons – was my absolute favorite because of the way it rewards accuracy and has such powerful rounds. Having a different set of weapons every other match was refreshing, too, since it forced me to get used to handling different guns and kept gunplay from getting stale. The BR is especially strong considering the three-round burst with very low recoil and distance falloff. My favorite weapons were initially the BR75 Battle Rifle and VK78 Commando for the sheer damage output they have. It outputs far more damage than the AR and was handy for finishing off long-distance kills if I ran out of primary ammo, and naturally it also worked at close range. This tech preview’s most reliable weapon, MK50 Sidekick pistol (which you happen to spawn with), really shone throughout the weekend. Not to mention the power weapons – extremely strong firearms that spawn after a set timer – add more gunplay options when you want to switch out your primary weapon. I was a little disappointed with the nerf at first, but once I started using more weapons, I began to forget that I started with the AR. That’s a smart move, since the first test flight’s stronger AR was so viable that you didn’t have to play with the other weapons as much. Having played both test flight weekends so far, one immediately noticeable change that was implemented for the second was a slight adjustment to the default MA40 Assault Rifle – it seems to have had its damage and range reduced.
The pacing of matches feels like the perfect length at 12 minutes, especially when you’re in a game of Capture The Flag and your team wants to get that one last flag steal before time runs out. I used the slide as I was running at targets to throw their aim off, firing my weapon the entire time. While the slide isn’t a speed booster like it is in Apex Legends, Infinite’s slide allows you to move between cover faster and opens up more aggressive playstyles.
The movement feels great thanks to the sprint and slide mechanics, making Infinite feel faster than previous games. Once other humans joined the fray, I found that Halo Infinite’s multiplayer’s second test flight showcased the best parts of Halo as a first-person shooter. You can also queue for PvP matches against bots if you want to test your Training ground skills before facing other players. Training mode allows you to try out different power items you may not have been able to get hold of in PvP matches, and it also helps you learn the map as you go around it at your own pace. But to my surprise, Infinite does a stand-up job of onboarding new players with its Academy mode, in which you can try out different weapon drills or jump into a Training session with bots with customizable match settings. As someone who plays a lot of multiplayer shooters but only recently got into Halo: Master Chief Collection, I was basically going into Infinite’s test flight as a new Spartan. One of my biggest concerns was how Halo Infinite would be able to court new players in addition to pleasing Halo veterans who have a lot of set-in-stone ideas of how Halo should play. Not to mention the return of calculating grenade throws, as the “‘nade around corners” strategy is alive and well once again. The gunplay alone feels highly satisfying thanks to the way that each weapon I’ve used so far has its own personality and playstyle to it.
It’s not the full picture quite yet – the test flight was limited to Slayer, Capture the Flag, and strongholds for the modes Bot Arena and Social Arena, Weapon Drills, and Training Mode – but Infinite’s multiplayer easily shines at the top with updated movement, familiar power weapons/items, and classic game modes. Halo Infinite’s multiplayer just finished its second “preview test flight” this past weekend, and it’s been able to successfully showcase how this modern-day reimagining of the game that popularized online multiplayer shooters will be able to contend with the current competition.