What is up Geekdom,

In episodes you may hear me briefly mention something about Halo 5 or tell a story of an epic battle experience. Recently I dove back into the fray. I took a break for a while over the winter and now I have become immensely engrossed in the game again. I have to say, Halo 5 might have the best post-launch plan of any game. With updates rolling out almost every month that include new maps, weapons, customization and game modes, I have never felt so justified in my purchase. I expected to really like Halo 5, but I did not anticipate becoming this invested. Today I am just going to give my to sense on why Halo 5 is still rocking it seven months after release.

In my personal opinion Halo 5 is one of the best next gen games and is the primary reason I own an Xbox One. Having played Halo from a very young age, it has always amazed me how they continue to innovate. Unlike other games where I feel they are to similar or are re-skinned versions of their past selves, Halo has always mixed things up and not been afraid of change. Sure they have had some bumps in the road, but 343 Industries has done a fantastic job of making some of the best multiplayer on the market. Even better, they continue to tweak and add to this experience free of charge! They went with a very different post-launch model than the traditional season pass, which has become all too common, and they have since maintained a substantial player base. Not to mention they used the REQ system to revive the competitive Halo scene.

This last weekend Europe and North American teams battled for the final spots! (www.halowaypoint.com)

It is no lie that the updates are on point. Sure there have been unpopular maps, but every update has added so much content and did I mention it is all free! For example, I cannot wait for the next update Hog Wild which promises some exciting new warthog variants. It also looks like Halo 5 Forge and Custom Games are coming to Windows 10 for free. This is gonna give forgers so much control and even expand the already substantial Forge community. Still, the summer holds even more excitement with Warzone Firefight dropping in June. Firefight, perhaps my favorite mode from Halo: Reach and a painful hole in Halo 4.

I cannot wait to go hog wild with the next Halo 5 update! (www.halowaypoint.com)

They also aren’t afraid to tinker with core mechanics such as the recent increase in movement speed while crouched. Being whiling to take risks is a great mindset. The improvements dictate their ability to keep players playing, buying REQ packs and making new sales to expand the player base. There is a lot more at stake for a company with free updates than one who has already pocketed money from season pass holders.

Lastly, Halo players are pretty cool. I have met some of the nicest gamers while being in open chat. I have had great sociable experiences with 12 players filling up our fireteam so we can employ elaborate strategies in warzone or 16 players throwing down on custom built clan maps that look professional. By the way, playing Halo 5 in a clan and raiding is one of the funnest ways to spend in game time.

There ya have it! Feel free to disagree with me but Halo 5 is one of the best multiplayer experiences on the market. I love it and plan to spartan charge my way into the future!

-Ollie, a true Spartan (jumps on his mongoose to go make Master Chief proud!)

Feature Image taken from IGN