Is The Library Actually a Good Level? - The Infinite Show 3

The Infinite Show, Episode 3.
Laper Larden: / laperlarden
FootedGhost: / footedghost
This time a good old fashioned competition. We debate some points and argue over the hottest Halo takes. Who won? Who's next? You decide.
Join the Discord: / discord
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:35 The Library
5:49 Halo Without Master Chief
11:16 Dual Wielding
15:47 Firefight
23:24 Halo 4
30:45 Brutes
34:26 Halo 3 a Downgrade
47:13 Halo 5
#Halo #HaloMCC #Infiniteshow

[@andrewmeyer3599]

What's funny is our boy Marty, to the dismay of the devs, actually really liked the Library and in a Dev commentary all of em are just giving him shit for liking it and its great

[@vaniellys]

The Library's difficulty helped players grasp the threat that is the Flood in the lore. They are limitless and dangerous. Plus it's fun blasting through space zombies with a shotgun. Also The Library is easier than Truth & Reconciliation or Two Betrayals. And better than H3's Cortana.

[@SilverViper1000]

I wouldn't say it's better than cortana. Cortana has more variety in level design and also shows the endless amount of the flood and their overwhelming power. It's a puzzling maze you don't want to go into, but that is what the flood is about. Laper Larden did a very good video about it, I guess he was it 🤔 Cortana has the always same ways you go. It feels like backtracking but it isn't. I know, this especially is a problem of halo ce in every level, but library is the pinnacle of room recycling

[@bringonthevelocirapture]

@@SilverViper1000 They designed the flood to be hated, the library really cements that on legendary. Ya know, before they became easy headshots in halo 2 and 3

[@Lowaver]

TnR is only hard (at least for me on solo legendary) was that you had to kill every single damn enemy normally. Sure, you can speed run the level. It was a gauntlet that wasn't fun. TB was okay. I thought it wasn't that bad. But maybe I just misremember how difficult it is. Cortana was a push over of a level except in 2 points. But nothing too challenging. All in all, library with a shotgun/rocket is way too fun.

[@sanghelian]

as pretentious as it might sound, it fits really well in halo's metanarrative storytelling. 343 guilty spark as a level is way more of a lovecraftian horror introduction to the flood, and in library when you fully face them it is full survival horror. The level feels significantly longer than it actually is thanks to the repetitive disorienting nature of it, not to mention it adds this subconcious fear of getting lost in a maze filled with seemingly endless wave of difficult enemies you barely understand. A lot of anxiety it gives you is intentional. With remastered graphics and razer sponsored pr0 g4mer forerunners it gets way too easy and boring of a level. Not to mention it is actually replayable, as soon as you get comfy enough to easily run through it you start listening guilty spark and realize he's been spitting key halo lore this entire time (kickstarting life long obsession of lorenerdhood) and you get the charachter of guilty spark in library, as this self-important busybody who's so obsessed with protocol and guided by his assumptions he never stops to think if he's making the situation better or worse

[@FootedGhost]

I really enjoyed doing this one with you boys, we keep getting better and better 😎

[@armstronggaming8566]

but how far will you go before you reach your best?

[@kmdreacts]

Ofc!!! The Library is one of my favourite Halo missions and what got me to love and be terrified of The Flood. Narrow hallways and corridors. Shotgun. Plenty of ammo and amusing title cards during the quiet before the storm, taking the elevator up a level. Same as 'Cortana' in Halo 3.

[@LaperLarden]

Avert your eyes heretics. The Halo TV Show is temporary, the Infinite Show is... Infinite.

[@armstronggaming8566]

I see you have your priorities straight...

[@zongoliath117]

as someone who literally just finished library before watching this video.. it only reason it doesn't suck completely because CE's shooting feels so good..

[@Berrrb]

The Library is an excellent level. Having a challenging horror endurance run against the flood is epic. If you don't like it, git gud.

[@kylek.3689]

It's not the endurance horror part of it that people don't like, it's the repetitious level and activity design that strikes a nerve. This was voiced in the video. Why would I want to git gud at something that repeats so much? I'm a human, not a speed runner.

[@lost8257]

I've beaten the level several times, and I still dont enjoy it.

[@strongnsilent]

I've speedrunned the level, and it's hell

[@kakyointhemilfhunter4273]

I’m definitely above average in terms of skill in Halo campaigns but that level was fun the first 2 times I played it and just plain tedious after

[@mhmtakeyatime9000]

i dont like it cause its repetitive as shit

[@elihoy5977]

Library is my 4th favorite mission in CE. I think I like it so much due to how fun the flood are to fight in CE (if halo 2 or 3 flood where in the library I dont think I would have liked it).

[@DinoPimp]

The Library is my 10th favorite level in Halo: Combat Evolved.

[@GnarledStaff]

I used firefight to play with my dad, who is not a console gamer. His skill level went from using one stick at a time to being able to kill an elite on heroic and that was an amazing transformation to watch. What Reach's firefight did was allow the ODST firefight to feel more like a an acheivable military objective. Hold this area until reinforcements arrive type thing. Great for playing with new players, as you could plop down a noob on normal mode and work with them to hold a position. The improvement was that you could play one set amd have an achievable objective with a good amount of difficulty. And depending on difficulty, firefight can be a fun thoughtless casual game or a really intense challenge. Zombies had a cool horror survival aspect. The teamwork required more splitting up, and had a progression system. I vaguely recall it feeling less collaboratice, but its been awhile since I've played so there is some bias there. Both were fun but had different niches.

[@Gyrfalcon312]

Such a wholesome post.

[@alcatraz23atomicrenegade82]

I find the Library is the most fun on Heroic with the Famine skull on for a better challenge. The lack of shotgun ammo really amps up the thrill and threat of the Flood.

[@InnuendoXP]

Library is fun in isolation taken as a kind a horde mode - in the context of the campaign though, it's kinda tedious.

[@alcatraz23atomicrenegade82]

@@InnuendoXP When I got good I could just breeze through it. I have to put Famine on just to have some challenge.

[@junpei6180]

the problem is not the challenge (even tho yeah I died a lot there on legendary cause I suck),but it just...repeats itself so much and flood is such a boring enemy type

[@alcatraz23atomicrenegade82]

@@junpei6180 Flood boring? That makes no sense to me, they're my absolutely favourite enemy to fight.

[@InnuendoXP]

@@alcatraz23atomicrenegade82 it becomes fun as hell with the cursed halo mod on, absolute chaos.

[@seanisthedude]

I recently introduced my girlfriend to the Halo franchise, we started playing through the games in the MCC on legendary, in order of original release. The library was genuinely an absolute blast in co-op, but when playing alone it's a bit too repetitive and too constant in its intensity. It feels like too much of a marathon.

[@Gyrfalcon312]

Nice, dude! Sounds like she's a keeper!

[@ChillyUK77]

Decided on a whim to get Halo 3 on pc. Hadn't played it since around release and since then I wondered how I would feel if I played it now, is it really that good? Thankfully the first couple missions put those fears to rest it's excellent. Theres a variety of encounters and level design with even a little stealth available. Vehichles arent present yet but thats fine given there should be some kind of escalation in gameplay elements. The way Brutes can influence their squads is a staple of the series but still appreciated and feeds into the dynamic and strategic way fights can play out. I like that when they go berserk they hone in on your last visible location so you can actually flank them if the level design allows for it. The brute grenade gave me an opportunity to use surfaces in a different way than usual regarding grenades. The equipment helps keep you on your toes as they always introduce some new kind of variable in a fight and im glad enemies can use them as well. Then the absolute banger of a song 'release' would kick in and I was having a blast. Really my only issues were snipers that could force themselves into being no1 priority which kind of goes against the open ended nature of Halo combat since even powerful enemies dont 100% dominate a players strategy unless they have them cornered. Still they are low enough health that it never became a massive issue. Was planning on just playing a bit of the game but I think I might finish...the fight (sorry). Such a strong showing right out the gate.

[@donaldmclelland1238]

Only recently found this channel but my days if the infinite show isn't my new favourite thing on the planet

[@Mazlow23]

I genuinely appreciate the abundance of levels and there diversity. The Library is far from my favorite level but it is still a level I enjoy nonetheless. So what if it's repetitive? Such is life. Sometimes you have to do something that you don't want to do, but you'll still come out of it stronger and more experienced than when you went in. What we have is what we get, so make the most of it. I hear a lot of complaints of "bad design" in videogames, but I never really mind those moments myself. Bad moments happen all the time in real life, but they must be surmounted anyways. There is still understanding and growth to be had despite the "poor level design." I'm not trying to excuse actually bad design, but some people will find a reason to complain about anything. I think they are probably the same people that don't learn much from life's challenges and blame others for the life they've lead. So be it.

[@yayayoshi1028]

Ngl i liked the library. I liked shooting everything around me and it made me feel like the doom slayer from how much i was killing everything

[@CrushLD]

Halo Wars was pretty successful without Master Chief too, same with ODST. Master Chief isn't essential.

[@FlamespeedyAMV]

And definitely halo reach

[@ShreddedNerd]

LAPER LARDEN HAD THE BEST ARGUMENTS LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@FootedGhost]

FootedGhost might disagree with you there, oh wait 😆

[@LaperLarden]

You beat me to it! Damn!

[@VANZ1111]

I don't think the library is particularly good, but I do think the hatred for it is overblown. That said, I do play on Normal and Heroic mainly. I also think most of the people who whine about the latter half of CE are just following whatever somebody on the internet said a long time ago that just happened to be canonized as the default opinion. At no point did I ever think it was awful that they were just previous environments with the flood thrown in, and in fact I thought that was a really good way to show how the flood change up the flow of combat. Also, Assault on the Control Room and Two Betrayals aren't too long, they're the best campaign missions in CE. Together they have the best music, a good mix of outdoor and corridor shooting, great atmosphere, good downtime between encounters, all the vehicles, and all the weapons.

[@Neogears1312]

I don’t think it’s silent cartographer good obviously but idk it’s definitely a constant threat and is a one and done level unlike some of the chapters. I certainly enjoyed it more than Keyes.

[@aliabrane7919]

I just love the infinite show keep it up

[@blackgod854]

larden really said "a glass of lean" i cant

[@Horgler]

I think dual wielding could work just by increasing weapon spread. That way you still have the benefit of more firepower, but take a hit to your effective range.

[@mrROAR104]

Just extra weapon spread, slower reloads, and shorter red reticle range. Keep them a powerhouse up close and changing the effective engagement range so you need to play different.

[@combativeThinker]

Uh, no. That makes no sense. Spartans and elites are stupid strong and would have zero issue controlling the recoil.

[@Horgler]

​@@combativeThinker Okay? They'd also probably behave like sweaty Call of Duty characters if we took your logic to it's natural conclusion. Lore doesn't need to dictate gameplay.

[@TheGawd100]

Tbh, I don't think Halo 5 gets enough credit in how it handled advanced mobility. I never really got into the game myself, but watching content from the competitive scene makes it really clear how it avoids the issue you talked about at the end. The abilities are always relevant, whether it's getting from point A to B or in fighting the enemy. If you take it as it's own competitive shooter experience, I think it's really underrated. As a professional esport especially.

[@SilverViper1000]

Sadly they will always continue with chief. I guess bungie had the right attempt to have halos main story ended with halo 3 and continued with other stories of other planets and other soldiers. They extended the world. The master chief in the bungie titles had a whole story with not a single enemy that has to be beaten but a task that threatens the universe. You didn't have only the prophet or the arbiter or tartarus or the grave mind as a single enemy and therefor a boss. It was a whole Story. 343i completely failed at telling a good story. They just developed a 0815 enemy that is your final boss. Task is completed when he's dead. You need just one sentence to explain the story of 4, 5 and infinite. Boss is shown at the very beginning and at the end you have to kill him. While you can't explain the bungie story in one sentence. You didn't know where you were going in the end. You didn't have a boss right at the start you know "this guy I need to shoot to end halo". Bungie had much better story telling and I hope Joe Staten will bring this back for the future of halo.

[@ananon5771]

>The Library the library made me fall in love with the CE shotgun,and was fine for the first like 30%,then it dragged on until bit was bad. >Dual Wielding i mainly play singleplayer,so i of course like it,but im unsure if it should be in multiplayer. >halo 4 halo 4 was bad,just really a total downgrade >on brutes i like the aggression of the brutes,they round out the roster. >halo3 < halo2 i mostly prefer halo3,feels more refined >halo5 never got to play 5 (im on PC),but its probably the last reason id get an Xbox (even below playing games id mostly prefer to play on PC,just on a couch)

[@CrushLD]

The Library is a good concept, but executed horribly. It's severly repetitive and not challenging, the RNG with rocket and shotty flood is the only difficult part. (Since rocket flood DO have a chance to spawn out of the spawning corridors). Never make the library to a T again

[@armstronggaming8566]

Library was nice and easy for me on my legendary run, just grab a shotgun and rockets, and you're sorted

[@rejectscorner9939]

The Library is probably one of my favorite halo Levels because of the atmosphere. Idk it was “scary” , showed how badass chief is (he can handle a brand new enemy on his own). It is long tho… and on harder difficulty the rocket Flood is a fucking bitch

[@Nikiboo32]

halo 1 is the only game ive beaten on legenday several times cause for a while when i was young and poor i only had halo CE on my og xbox cause my 2 disc was scratched up

[@sushirollthug]

i had fun playing the library on legendary. the two betrayals made me the most frustrated

[@JJJBunney001]

Didn't Steve Downs dub Pablo Schrieber for forward unto dawn? So they've already done the exact thing that would have made fans happy 10 years ago

[@R17inator]

Halo fans had it easy with the Library level. Unlike Marathon's "Colony Ship for Sale, Cheap", they at least did not have to do some _really_ tedious puzzle solving.

[@WilliamNyberg]

I played the library on legendary with doom music going. Finished it in an hour with about four deaths.

[@alcatraz23atomicrenegade82]

I miss dual wielding.

[@armstronggaming8566]

Here's a hot take to be potentially discussed: 343 is a shining example of competent sandbox design in halo

[@GameBoyyearsago]

Please Make A Video, About Why Todays Video Games Size To Big. And Can It Possoble If Other Develioer Using John Carmack Method Can They Reduce The Half Of The Size Of The Game? I Know Im Talking Bullshit But After I Seeing 500 Mb+ PS1 Resident Evil Ported Into 60 Mb Cartridge For N64 Console. Im Really Started To Think If These Method Can Apply On Modern Games Or Not, Please Its My Humble Request : )

[@TheOneBigRed]

yes

[@jimmycarburator2012]

I actually liked the Library and Cortana. Although Cortana did have a pretty shit map. But the library is pretty fun imo. Its atleast original compared to the last 3 missions

[@4realm8rusirius]

Depends who you ask, if you ask machonists yes

[@Ares_gaming_117]

Havent watched yet. april fool's?

[@arrimus3darchive]

The Library is good if you like Serious Sam.

[@laughingatnothing4642]

Here is the thing...i think Halo 1 suffers a lot with level design on the interiors spaces. Its not just The Library but almost all interior spaces have extremely tedious level design imo with a lot of Copy pasting of the same rooms And The Library seems like the worst case of this with long dull levels. And most of tge 2nd half of Halo CE is the sane yedious copy paste levels in the opposite direction. I dont realky like the Halo CE campaign...i guess i maybe in the minority but i honestly feel that way.

[@Liaison_Verequiem]

heck no

[@caramelldansen2204]

24:02 I don't like Halo 4 one bit, but I think he's right. Imagine a universe where Halo Infinite came out in 2012 instead of H4; lootboxes, incomplete/unfinished, microtransactions, so many cut features and game modes, season pass, shitty roadmap, etc... we've allowed game corporations to get away with so much since H3 that, if put objectively (and ignoring technical leaps like graphics), H4 is a better, less-exploitative and more complete game than H-Infinite. _Both are crap, though._

[@JJJBunney001]

I've always found the last act to be the weakest in general but tend to rank it as The Maw Library Keyes (hope that's the name) Two Betrayals That last one is just way too repetitive especially since you've already done it

[@BevinEG]

Hmmmm

[@saisameer8771]

Meh. There's nothing scary about the flood. The library is so spacious you could literally run away and take your time shooting the flood. It also doesn't help that halo isn't designed for horde shooting either, unlike say, Serious Sam which is honestly the greatest horde shooter ever made. Halo is more of a semi tactical shooter with more emphasis on moving in and out of cover reacting to intelligent and dynamic enemies.

[@joemoe650]

I love the library. However it is about 50percent too long. Halo ce best halo

[@ThelVadam7777]

April fools?

[@trentonmclean6573]

No

[@chadvolk7178]

I can't stand your discord server

[@cringewave7413]

Stop making videos