Halo 5: Guardians (Xbox One, 2015)

Release date: Tuesday 27th October 2015

Platforms: Xbox One

Published by: Microsoft

Developed by: 343 Industries

Genres: Action, FPS, Shooter

Story Driveđź“– 15/20
Accessibility🚪 17/20
Depth🤿 5/20
Challengeđź’€ 15/20
Duration⌛ 10/20
Freedom🌎 5/20
Review Scores
7xDE9
Fouttaf Score
Dimension: 7
Undeniably a AAA production, but one that leans heavily on reused elements. Weapons, enemies, vehicles—there's a clear sense of familiarity, which might disappoint those looking for innovation. That said, the new content, particularly the level design and story, still holds substantial weight.
The Flair: D
Visually, Halo 5 impresses—even nearly a decade after its release. The game delivers moments of cinematic grandeur, complemented by well-designed weapons, enemies, NPCs, and environments. The sound effects significantly enhance the gameplay experience, although the music feels underwhelming, often relegated to background filler rather than a driving emotional force. Despite this minor drawback, the overall audiovisual presentation is truly excellent.
The Feel: E
Where do you even start with the gameplay? Halo 5 is so polished that it’s hard to find any real flaws. Sure, there’s a lack of new mechanics, but everything is so well-executed that it hardly matters. From the physics to the vehicles, and of course, the shooting and combat—it all feels incredibly refined. Yes, much of it builds on earlier titles, but the result is a perfectly tuned FPS experience. Simply put, it’s a joy to play, and that’s why it earns an E, for excellence.
The Fuel: 9
Here’s where personal context plays a huge role. Without deep familiarity with the Halo saga, the story feels like an over-the-top sci-fi extravaganza, with little coherence or compelling hooks. For a newcomer, it’s middling at best—mediocre but not irredeemable. However, the series’ reputation undoubtedly inflates expectations, making any misstep seem more pronounced. If this weren’t a numbered Halo entry, perhaps it would have been judged less harshly. Despite the narrative shortcomings, the game’s superb level design and variety of weapons keep the experience engaging.
Great
80
Classic Score
Conclusions
Despite its controversies, Halo 5: Guardians remains an exceptional FPS experience for those who know what they’re looking for. If you’re a die hard fan of the saga and mostly after a good story, chances are you’ll walk away disappointed. But if what you’re after is a top-tier FPS with outstanding level design and hours of entertainment, this title firmly delivers. Halo 5: Guardians might not hit every note perfectly, but as a first-person shooter, it stands tall as one of the genre's highlights from its generation.
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5: Guardians (Xbox One, 2015)
Badge Cabinet
Release date: Tuesday 27th October 2015
Platforms: Xbox One
Published by: Microsoft
Developed by: 343 Industries
Genres: Action, FPS, Shooter
Trait Chart
Story Drive đź“– 15/20
Accessibility 🚪 17/20
Depth 🤿 5/20
Challenge đź’€ 15/20
Duration ⌛ 10/20
Freedom 🌎 5/20
Review Scores
7xDE9
Fouttaf Score
Dimension: 7
Undeniably a AAA production, but one that leans heavily on reused elements. Weapons, enemies, vehicles—there's a clear sense of familiarity, which might disappoint those looking for innovation. That said, the new content, particularly the level design and story, still holds substantial weight.
The Flair: D
Visually, Halo 5 impresses—even nearly a decade after its release. The game delivers moments of cinematic grandeur, complemented by well-designed weapons, enemies, NPCs, and environments. The sound effects significantly enhance the gameplay experience, although the music feels underwhelming, often relegated to background filler rather than a driving emotional force. Despite this minor drawback, the overall audiovisual presentation is truly excellent.
The Feel: E
Where do you even start with the gameplay? Halo 5 is so polished that it’s hard to find any real flaws. Sure, there’s a lack of new mechanics, but everything is so well-executed that it hardly matters. From the physics to the vehicles, and of course, the shooting and combat—it all feels incredibly refined. Yes, much of it builds on earlier titles, but the result is a perfectly tuned FPS experience. Simply put, it’s a joy to play, and that’s why it earns an E, for excellence.
The Fuel: 9
Here’s where personal context plays a huge role. Without deep familiarity with the Halo saga, the story feels like an over-the-top sci-fi extravaganza, with little coherence or compelling hooks. For a newcomer, it’s middling at best—mediocre but not irredeemable. However, the series’ reputation undoubtedly inflates expectations, making any misstep seem more pronounced. If this weren’t a numbered Halo entry, perhaps it would have been judged less harshly. Despite the narrative shortcomings, the game’s superb level design and variety of weapons keep the experience engaging.
Conclusions

Despite its controversies, Halo 5: Guardians remains an exceptional FPS experience for those who know what they’re looking for. If you’re a die hard fan of the saga and mostly after a good story, chances are you’ll walk away disappointed. But if what you’re after is a top-tier FPS with outstanding level design and hours of entertainment, this title firmly delivers. Halo 5: Guardians might not hit every note perfectly, but as a first-person shooter, it stands tall as one of the genre's highlights from its generation.

Great
80
Classic Score