E3 2012: Six Totally Awesome Changes to Halo 4 Multiplayer

This is what you can expect to make you think differently about how you play Halo.

Assassinations are old, indeed, but the way they're handled in Halo 4 is just delightful. Melee executions are far more physical than before. They are also incredibly violent. Spartans can tackle another guy to the ground for a vicious knife kill, wrench a foe's back over their leg and break their neck, and cause death in numerous other forms. 343 Industries has multiplied not only the number of assassinations, but how you perform them as well -- catching an enemy off guard from the front can lead to a grisly close encounter. These are some of Halo's most satisfying kills, yet the input hasn't changed a bit, and you're going to want to use them more just to watch the brutality.

The Hologram returns alongside a couple other favorite Armor Abilities, but the trio of sexy new skills definitely messes with the rhythm of Halo's competitive game.

The Hardlight Shield is the first real means of mobile defense in the series. Bubble Shields were great for protecting an area, but they were penetrable. Using this timed guard pulls you out into third-person and keeps anyone from getting shots through your front.

The Promethean Vision is another helpful skill. It paints the world a glowing blue for a brief period, and highlights enemies in bright red. You can imagine the offensive and defensive opportunities this presents.

The Thruster Pack is the last of the lot, and the one that took the longest to get. It allows players to vanish for a second, only to materialize a few feet ahead of (or behind, if you're backing off) where they used the Thruster. It's great for closing gaps unexpectedly and making an unpredictable dodge when a Spartan closes in for the CQC kill.

Scored a few kills without dying and earned enough points? Congrats, you've got three ordinance options -- a variety of alien, explosive, or Spartan Laser-y weaponry -- ready for orbital dropping. Think along the lines of Call of Duty's Killstreak system, but without the imbalance that enables unfair scale-tippery. You can also snag enemy ordinance if you get the drop on their loot, or kill them before they can use it against you.

It's a simple spin on Juggernaut or VIP, but this free-for-all mode puts the first-place player in everyone's crosshairs. The top-spot guy or gal gets labeled the King, and killing them scores contenders additional points. It's a focused kind of madness that directs the action in a single direction. You're always motivated and moving toward a goal, and it's one of the most aggressive gameplay modes yet.

This is where Halo's competitive side starts to see some serious ripple effects. Character loadouts are highly customizable, both cosmetically and in meaningful gameplay ways. The Tactical Packages give you a passive personal perk, an upgrade innate in your character at the start of each respawn. You can tie various Packages to different loadouts and switch on the fly, so if the ammo bonus isn't cutting it, and you want to enable unlimited sprint, you can flip between personalized classes.

It's an alien shotgun that ricochets off floors and walls to disintegrate Spartan soldiers. Their armor, skin, and bones look like a tissue caught in a campfire.

Mitch Dyer is an Associate Editor for IGN's Xbox 360 team. He’s also quite Canadian. Read his ramblings on Twitter and follow him on IGN.