After succumbing to the temptation of the Call of Duty series (over and over again), and the frustrations associated with it, I decided to pop Halo Reach into my X-Box 360 and give it another run around. Boy, was I in for a pleasant surprise – the Halo universe is alive and well. It’s just like I had originally left it (although, the community is slightly smaller). There’s new game modes and new content; other than that, not much has changed – and I am glad. I got a sense of nostalgia – something I haven’t gotten from a game in a long, long time. I was so used to the fast-paced action of Call of Duty and all of the new additions, map packs and games that are pumped out annually. In the Call of Duty world things change so rapidly, aside from the games themselves, which is why I am so happy with Halo.
Although I love the general Halo gameplay, one game mode I absolutely fell in love with was SWAT. It is fast paced, cut-and-dry as per abilities, and it feels like a hardcore version of Halo. Precision and accuracy is key in this game mode; missing that last headshot can make or break a game.
Here are some tips I’ve compiled for the SWAT game mode for Halo Reach:
-Run in a squads of two. By doing this you almost always have a team member to back you up, but you’re not cluttered by having three or four in a small, confined area. Traveling as a group isn’t terrible, but make sure that you’re spaced far away enough from each other that you don’t give up easy multikills to the other team.
-Headshots! This should be obvious, but to you newer players, headshots are paramount when it comes to winning in Swat. Body shots are nice, but headshots are a one shot kill deal, which equates to easy multikills, too, if you’ve got a precise shot. It takes some time (and practice) to get used to, but always aiming for the head also helps train you to do so in classic Halo modes where shields absorb a huge amount of damage.
-Get cover. Cover is your friend, especially when it only takes one accurate shot to get taken down. If you’re watching a certain area, try to have something (anything – a rock, a wall, whatever) covering your sides. Try not to run in open areas, as they’re havens of death. Corridors favor the skilled, so stray away from hallways if you’re still relatively new at the game (Example: Top hallway in Reflection).
-Communication is key. This can be said for every game mode of every team-based first person shooter, but it is especially true in SWAT, as it is easy to kill (and be killed). Communicate about positions, as well as your teammates. Don’t rush into heavy traffic areas where players are known to be; Rather, flank them when possible. Always use the element of surprise to throw enemies out of their comfort zone. When players know that the enemy team is coordinating attacks, it shows them that they have to be vigilant.
-Magnum SWAT. This is the other version of SWAT, but the pistol is no joke. It has a 2x zoom on it, so medium to lengthy shots are doable, especially with practice. The Magnum is also has a higher rate of fire per trigger pull, making it easy to rapidly take shots – but accuracy is still key, as headshots are, like regular SWAT, one shot kills.
Protip: If you need help gaining headshot accuracy for SWAT, check out the Firefight section and select “Gruntpocalypse” if it comes up. You can gain a nice chunk of cR and your aim can increase dramatically.