- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
In my experiences online:
The first three weapons (Rockets, Sniper Rifle, Shotgun) fill the archetypal FPS trio of Heavies, Extreme Long Range, and Extreme Short Range weapons. It's a given they'll be ridiculously powerful in their zones, and they're a degree separated from everything else.
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Core Trio
Rockets - Desirable as the name implies
Sniper - Desirable as the name implies
Shotgun - Desirable as the name implies
Everything Else
Pistol - Desirable, but not as the name implies, constantly used
Plasma Rifle - Limited fire rate and limited accuracy, rarely used
Assault Rifle - Limited accuracy and weak damage, rarely used
Plasma Pistol - Weak standard attack, rarely used
Needler - Easily avoided, rarely used
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So, even counting the trio and the pistol, half the weapons are rarely used. Without the trio, things look even worse. You have one weapon that is frequently used, and the others are barely used in comparison. Arguably because it far outclasses them all as a weapon. That's a problem if you like diversity and choice in your tools of destruction (I like diversity!).
Let's take a brief look at Halo 3. Pistol in a for more pistol-like role, no longer a weapon you carry for most of the game, Plasma Rifle tweaked and dual-wieldable, Assault Rifle has much better punch and accuracy, Plasma Pistol becomes useful for anti-vehicle combat, Needler actually becomes dangerous. Then we have the Battle Rifle and Carbine for mid-range combat outside AR ranges, new Brute toys to diversify close range and bullet hoses, etc. Halo 1, to be frank, is a shallow kiddy pool when it comes to diverse and balanced weapon sets, and Halo 3 tops it, unsurprisingly.
The pistol wouldn't have been nearly as unbalanced if the other main weapons were boosted or the pistol nerfed, imo.