Halo Infinite Lacks Visual Worldbuilding - A Critique 

The issue is that Halo was never supposed to stick around this long, the Halo rings and the ark look the way they do for lore reasons. They’re just not particularly interesting anymore and the wonder and mystery bungie were able to create with their forerunner architecture is completely absent with 343

I personally don’t think the word of infinite had enough mystery. Besides the very interesting flood cylix in the second mission there isn’t much to ponder over in the open world. And like you said about the marines, I found plenty of caves with unsc equipment in them but never any marines unless it was a set side mission.

I really wish this video got more exposure, I think all the points you raise and spot on and really constructive. I always felt there was something missing in Infinites open world and you've pin pointed it. 🙌 Subbed!

Halo Infinite looks so lifeless. Yes it does look better than it's showing in 2020 but the art style bothers me. It is not a return to form with the world design. It is in terms of enemy design but that's about it. The game lacks alternative ecosystems,biomes and wildlife all of which were promised by the way. If this was all that it has to offer then the game did not need to be open world. I do not like the new engine for the aforementioned reasons and for straining the developers even further. I do not even like a lot of the weapon designs either. The original trilogy still have the best art style and biome variety.

In defense of human not doing anything but war in Infinite is that they are in hiding and on the run. However, I absolutely agree with the Banished. They practically have already won at the start of the game. Even the human military architecture is boring. Every FOB looks the same, sure they use the same mass produced module, but a little more stuff lying around would help tell a story. Makeshift shelter made of broken vehicle parts. Some sort of meeting place with map. Even worse is that nothing change after you reclaim them, aside from a few crates being cleared out. You see Marines patrolling and that's it. You don't see them setting up new defensive barricade or building new shelters. Outpost Tremonius is the worse since it is a freaking UNSC frigate. After you liberate it and Marines take it back, you think this heavily fortified base would be lively as the new HQ and repurposed Banished equipment and buildings. Not even a single UNSC flag or paint over of Banished iconography to be found. Halo 2 and Reach are the best when it comes the variety. Human cities, natural world, Covenant ship, Forerunner architecture.

Re: civvie art/media/culture - That scene in halo 2? where sarge Johnson blasted metal was great. Sure the militarization is an ingame lore problem but pro-military media still exists. Movies, music, nose art, pinups….

Imagine a first party game released in 2021 from one of the biggest IPs out there backed by Microsoft to be this lackluster. 343i should be shameful for this product and I have no words left.