This past weekend, 343 Industries revealed a variety of information regarding Halo 4′s multiplayer gameplay, including renovations upon classic multiplayer modes, a new mode, and a new map. A video of the PAX panel where this new information was revealed will be available here starting tomorrow, September 5.
The new multiplayer mode is called “Grifball,” and its premise is this: get the ball to your team’s goal. Pretty simple, really. Players will be able to throw the ball like a grenade to their teammates. There are two weapons featured: the hammer and the sword. The hammer allows players to get instant kills from a wide range, but will send the grifball flying upon the death of its bearer. The sword requires more finesse, but will automatically grant the killer possession of the grifball.
Grifball’s throw and catch mechanics have been applied to the “Oddball” mode as well. Meanwhile, “Capture the Flag” has seen the role of the flag bearer increased: the flagpole can now be used as a melee weapon, and will be held in one hand while bearers wield a magnum in the other. (Details are courtesy of Eurogamer’s coverage.)
The new map is called “Exile,” and has the following description:
“Miraculously, the survivors of the UNSC Diadochi’s violent crash managed to not only recover provisions from the vessel’s debris field, but also use it as a makeshift shelter for several years. When rescue and recovery teams finally arrived, they were surprised to discover a healthy, burgeoning community thriving within the ship’s remains. Now this wreckage serves as a battleground in War Games. ‘Exile’ is an earthy, circular canyon bed interconnected by a network of caves and favoring fast-paced vehicle combat, while still offering frantic, on-foot action.”
Check out the gallery below for some images of the new and improved features.
Actually, grifball isn’t a new mode. You can play it right now in Halo Reach, and it existed before then as well. I don’t know why they’re claiming that as new, but the passing mechanic sure is new and sounds pretty awesome. Should really help speed grifball up and make it more intense. I wasn’t really sure about 343 taking over halo, but so far I’m pretty impressed.
I believe they said that it came from the community. So probably, they meant “new” as in “officially part of the game new.”