GAME_REVIEW. Halo 5: Guardian is a game about momentum. It's fueled by new ideas and propelled by some of the boldest changes to this storied franchise yet. Some of these changes fail, but others succeed, and although Halo 5 falters at times, it whisks us through black holes and across war torn tropical islands at a rapid pace. We can only surrender to its velocity. With Halo 5, developer 343 Industries comes closer to meeting the many expectations the Halo name carries with it. This is only the developer's second original title, but some facets of the franchise's formula are at their best here. Guardians introduces new player movement, open level design, and an innovative new multiplayer mode, all to great effect. It also implements a new campaign structure, with eight playable characters across two separate teams, as one chases the other across the universe. On the one hand, you have Blue Team, comprising the Chief and three of his oldest Spartan comrades. On the other, you have Team Osiris, four soldiers new to the Spartan program, still learning each other's idiosyncrasies. Blue Team's Kelly and Fred speak in short sentences and knowing responses. Osiris is less familiar: Edward Buck's humor often comes during awkward pauses, while Tanaka reveals more about her past than the others asked for. This learning process aids us well, though, as we're newcomers too. It's fascinating to hear why Vale knows Sangheili, the language of the Covenant Elites. It's intriguing to catch glimpses of Locke's shady past. We're participating in the gameplay, yes, but we are still observers. In granting us these brief glimpses, 343 lends genuine personality to these soldiers. |--| The Spartans' relationships unfold across what amounts to an extended chase sequence: the Master Chief is suspected of war crimes, so Locke and his team are ordered to bring him in. It's a bold thing, turning the face of your franchise into a possible villain. But it sets the stage for what could be an intriguing character study. Sadly, though, it never delivers. Halo 5 pulls us through this chase as it tries to tell a story about responsibility, the nature of artificial intelligence, and the fall of one's idols. But while there might be a compelling story to tell here, Halo 5 doesn't make use of the opportunities available. Cutscenes fade to black before they feel finished. Character motivations shift on a whim. Halo 5: Guardians spans several beautiful worlds, with chromatic mushroom fields and labyrinthine cave networks, but I seldom knew why I was there. 343 devotes almost 30 seconds to a tangential rant by a ship's AI, but it can't clearly explain where I'm going. The ending is also weak, and although it's the second installment in a trilogy, it still ended during what seemed like the story's climax. Despite the frenetic pace of its gameplay, the campaign loses impact when there's not much story to contextualize missions. There are also combat-free environments in Halo 5's campaign, in which you explore small, self-contained areas before embarking on the next mission.You can speak with Dr. Catherine Halsey, the founder of the UNSC Spartan program. You chat with friendly alien grunts as they sing, banter, and argue in their boredom. There are also audio logs scattered throughout the campaign, containing overheard whispers and fleeting conversations that, at their best, help flesh out Halo 5's backstory. But these sections don't fit. They're added weight to an already disjointed plot. The exploration-based areas and diary entries only serve to slow down the otherwise steady sprint through Halo 5's worlds, and I moved past them in an effort to keep the experience moving. But in the end, my frustration with the campaign's narrative was offset by how good the gameplay feels. 343 has added several abilities to the usual Spartan skillset, granting new options to the already tight controls. You can ground pound unsuspecting enemies from above. You can dash to one side to avoid that rocket barrelling past your team. The Smart Link--a neural interface that grants a zoom ability with every weapon--lets you hover mid-air as you line up a shot. Now more than ever, I actually feel like a super soldier. That 343 has introduced these drastic changes to the formula, while still maintaining that responsive Halo feel, is admirable. As a Halo veteran, this feels like I remember, but also adds another layer of nuance to my muscle memory. Halo 5 introduces a new kinetic vocabulary that's not essential to survival, but it certainly helps..