- gamertag: Ryklu
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For my two cents, I think the weapons are, for the most part, good, the level layouts force people to move around, and the armor abilities add a new layer to the franchise.
I do think the DMR is a worthless piece of stamped steel. It's a Designated Marskman Rifle, but it takes a full magazine to kill someone. If I was handed such a weapon in Iraq, I would have gently handed it back and stuck with an assault rifle. The DMR should possess about half of the power of the normal sniper rifle: this would mean two or three shots would kill anyone. If the weapon's name stays the same, then the weapon's potential should match the name.
Another weapon that irks me is the plasma sword. It's a great weapon, and it has an awesome assassination animation, but it now takes two hits to kill someone will full shielding? If someone allows a sword-wielding enemy to get within strike range, that someone deserved to get their head lopped off.
My largest gripe with the game is this: Spartans are the best of the best for the UNSC, and Sanghelli are the true warriors of the Covenant, but I could replace their character models with those from any other FPS and I would get the same result. I don't feel like a genetically-altered, computer-assisted, energy-shielded tank on legs, and this is the one game where I should have that feeling.
Three ways to get an easy fix: enable grenade throw-back, allow all units to evade (maybe hold armor ability button and press jump?), and allow these super soldiers to block a hastily-thrown punch or buttstock strike. Give these awesome characters some life, rather than rewarding people who simply grab the grav hammer go on a killing frenzy.
/rant
Overall, I think the beta is awesome. Reach shows incredible potential, and I am eager to experience the campaign on co-op. Well done so far, Bungie, and I hope you are able to give the gaming community a final Halo huzzah that will keep people talking for a very, very long time.