- ROBERTO jh
- |
- Fabled Heroic Member
How to make a Flood FF:
Step 1: Get freaky with Flood designs.
Halo's creators have never gotten as creative as they normally could with the different Flood types, though this can be attributed to story and engine constraints. There are literally endless possibilities of pure forms that could fit literally any scenario. This would allow lots of variety in combat.
2) Gargantuan Flood swarms.
Instead of making a Doom-esque corridor shooter and only that, place advanced and heavy weaponry outdoors. With Halo 4's superior engine, and the likelyhood the Flood is the main enemy, the possibility we could see legitimate Floods of Flood is greater then ever. Make outdoor areas with little cover, lots of elbow room, unbelievable amounts of Flood, and place power weapons around the area. Make people work for those weapons.
3) Boss waves
In a similar manner to Gears of War 3's Horde 2.0, which has a random boss at the end of every ten waves (out of 6 bosses, either a Brumak, a Lambent Beserker, Beserkers and three others I don't know) place random boss rounds where a single, or small group, of truly spectacular Flood Pure Forms arrive to punish the players. They should be massive, ugly, and powerful. Worthy boss battles. Like the Origins I depiction of huge Flood forms.
The randomized boss waves would catch players off guard, forcing them to stay on their tows, which is exactly the mentality the Flood is supposed to give its victims.
4) Give some of the Flood intelligent AI
Combat Forms are amongst the most basic of Flood. They are basically Zerg rushers. However, the Flood is a highly intelligent super-organism. Take advantage of that; give Pure Forms legitimate AI outside of the Zerg Rush mentality. Make them fast, smart and quick, like fighting Skirmishers.
5) Defensive positions.
You'll find I'm truly looking forward to Gears 3's Horde mode. In order to keep up with the times, and in order to elongate the players' doomed lives, create specialized barriers, gun emplacements and other builds to better defend your position. N@zi Zombies and Horde 2.0 excell in things like this. Points you gain for kills count towards upgrades for weapons, unlocking new areas which lead to new abilities and barriers and other defenses.
This makes the game last longer, adds a significant layer of strategy, and keeps the game fun to keep replaying. It also adds a strong sense of accomplishment when you achieve certain goals, and rewards the player with new toys to better slaughter their enemies with.
[Edited on 07.01.2011 10:49 AM PDT]