Halo 5: Guardians

Where single-player has its successes and failures, Halo 5's multiplayer is one big, sustained high point.

Like Spartan Locke and his team, 343 is chasing after something bigger than itself, and with Halo 5: Guardians, it comes close. Now if only it could reach out its arm and take hold.

A solid campaign and wonderful competitive multiplayer sees 343 finally make its mark on Halo.

Halo 5 offers some of the best multiplayer the series has ever seen

Not a bad game, but frustratingly one that succeeds despite its innovations, not because of them. An enjoyable campaign, but not a truly convincing one.

A strong new entry, but veteran players may feel like the series has moved away from some of its previously established pillars

This sprawling sci-fi series once set the agenda for console shooters, but now far behind and playing catch up, it has much to prove

As tired as space marine tropes are to video games, it would mean-spirited of me to deny that "Halo 5" delivers a solid, blockbuster experience best enjoyed with friends.

If it weren't for Warzone, Halo 5: Guardians would probably be somewhere on the lower end of the franchise's spectrum for me. It's still a fantastic and well-oiled machine, but the story falls flat, and the shift in gameplay mechanics result in the loss of some elements that made the series so unique in the first place. Still, if you're looking to shoot some dudes online, Guardians is your huckleberry.

The campaign isn't the greatest, but multiplayer manages to succeed in the way it always has, with the addition of a fun and inventive new mode.