For many, Halo 5: Guardians has successfully revitalized the series' multiplayer gameplay. Instead of the messy, misguided offerings of Halo 4, 343 Industries wisely refocused on what made the games fun in the first place - as a result, Halo 5 features the best multiplayer suite in the franchise since the second installment, and the constant content updates have helped keep the game's loyal community going strong.
The official Warzone Firefight update may not be set to launch until later this summer, but 343 Industries is giving players a sneak peek at what to expect with a weekend-long beta test. It's no surprise that fans are excited - Firefight was one of the series' marquee modes before 343 Industries took over, and the new Warzone Firefight looks like an interesting twist on the classic formula.
We've taken the Warzone Firefight beta for a spin - and, while it's different than the classic versions of the mode, it's definitely a must-play for any Halo 5 fan. Don't worry if you aren't able to play it this weekend: we've got two full-length matches right here, all in glorious 1080p at 60fps:
For those who haven't already heard, Warzone Firefight isn't so much a fight for survival as it is a push to clear out waves of enemies as quickly as possible. It almost feels like a blend of Destiny's Strike missions and the under-appreciated Beast Mode in Gears of War 3. With eight players and dozens of enemies on-screen, things can get chaotic pretty quickly - and that's exactly what makes it so fun.
And, while classic Firefight modes were somewhat limiting when it came to player options, Warzone Firefight gives players their entire REQ arsenal - expect to see plenty of Scorpion tanks and Mantis walkers once the action really starts to kick off.
All in all, we had a ton of fun with Warzone Firefight. Those who were hoping for something identical to Bungie's original versions may be a bit disappointed - but for a small-scale beta on a single map, Warzone Firefight was an absolute blast to play.
If you're interested in trying it out for yourself, the Warzone Firefight beta is available for all Halo 5: Guardians players through April 19.
