Does the ‘Halo Killer’ Deserve a Redo?

This is going to cost me my job isn’t it...

Where do I even begin with this one? Largely considered to be dead centre within the ‘worst games eva’ conversation. Haze was, back in 2008, one of the most overhyped games of all time. Not only was promotion for this game at an all time high, but claims were for it as well. Haze would go on to be deemed the ‘Halo Killer’ by former developers Free Radical before the time of release which, unfortunately for the game and developers alike, would be a phrase that would live on in infamy.

Now, and this is probably a opinion that stands alone, but I believe Haze should be given a second chance. Whether it be a remastering, a sequel or a reboot, Haze is a game that should have another opportunity to go for gold so to speak. To help get my point across, here are my reasons why I’d be absolutely invested in Haze redo:

1. A multiplayer comeback

One of the few redeeming qualities of Haze was it’s multiplayer focus, both offline and online. Before the inevitable server shut down, much of the game's appeal came from it’s well structured maps and decent matchmaking that made for fun fast-paced firefights. Even with no servers there was still the aforementioned offline mode which was quite well-rounded all things considered. However, this was assuming that you knew someone who owned the PS3 exclusive. Now considering that couch co-op is a dying art, Haze would do well to remind players of the joy of split-screen gaming...I mean, as long as it fixes all the other issues as well.

2. Continuing a good story.

In terms of story, Haze doesn’t do a lot different from the usual ‘go here, shoot this’ classic setup. If one dives deeper however, there’s much more than meets the eye. You, the player, take control of a Mantel soldier named Shane Carpenter as you fight against a rebel group called The Promise Hand. Now, it’s not difficult to see that you’ll eventually be switching sides in this conflict, but when you do switch, that’s when things begin to take off. Without wishing to spoil a game from 2008, the ending presents us with the notion that we might have done more harm than good and that nothing was really solved in the end, that power corrupts no matter what. If a sequel were to come out of this, the ending would be an easy jumping off point and we could just continue from there.

3. It’s enjoyable for the most part.

This is probably going to be the final nail in the coffin for me but I really, really enjoyed Haze. It’s bad sure, but it’s not as bad as say Carrier Command or Trigger Man, it’s just...mediocre bad. It’s short, it’s beatable, it’s just average overall. If there was a little more care taken and some polish added here and there were needed. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Haze came back significantly more popular then in its first run. This is all hypothetical though, one really can’t determine how this sort of thing would go.

So, there you have it. Despite being the laughing stock of overhyped games everywhere, perhaps it’s time to dust off the license and see if there’s still a chance to bring out a decent FPS from the self-proclaimed ‘Halo Killer’. Who knows really. Until next time!