- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Well while i dont believe any weapon is cheap, i definately believe the pistol imbalances the weapon settings. Me and usually 15 other guys get together every sunday to play tournament ruled games to practice up for halo2 compeditive play. However when you play with timers you'll find that the game becomes more about strategic control over the map, the rocket launcher, and the power ups, and less about each individual kill. Sometimes it's wiser to stay on higher ground on control a key choke point on a map, than to give up your position to chase a guy who's shield is down. But the more and more you play these game types you'll realize that the pistol is the only reliable medium to long range gun in the game.
Most guns in the game are only effective at close range. The Assault Rifle, Plasma pistol, Plasma rifle, Shotgun, Needler (which only truely effective when someone is running away from you with their back turned) So the only guns than can really stand up to the pistol are the rocket launcher and the sniper rifle in their respective ranges. So why is it that people don't complain more about those two weapons? Maybe it has something to do with clip size, ammo count, or maybe it's the fact that with tournament settings you start the every match and every life with an assault rifle and a pistol. Or maybe it's the fact that people when playing with skilled people are killed more with the pistol than any other weapon. So why is that? If the weapons were balanced wouldn't you think that more people would be taking up an assualt rifle as their primary weapon of choise? or the plasma pistol with it's great stun and overcharged shot capabilities?
Well every weapon has a place in the world of Halo1. Sadly with as many good-decent close range guns that there are to pick from, there aren't as many mid-long range guns to chose from. Which is why i believe that there's reason for compalint. Play a match on rat race, guess which gun will ammount to the most kills? There's no rocket launcher, there's no sniper rifle, but there is plenty of pistol to suit your needs, not to mention is map is basically four long hallways that connect each other. Now i'm definately not bitter, the pistol is very handy. But i'm definately looking forward to halo2 for the simple fact that, we know that there are at least 2-5 possbile mid-long range weapons. sniper rifle, battle rifle, (possible covenant carbine) (possible covenant sniper rifle) (possible pistol) Giving people much more freedom and choise to play the game with more versatility.