Given how well its games explore and blend the realms of action and science fiction, it should not come as a surprise that Halo has been able to attract many fans. Given the quality of the titles it has produced and its continued relevance and popularity to this day, it still attracts newcomers.
For those starting their journey, a common question asked is what the recommended difficulty level is. In the campaign of any of the games, there are four to choose from: Easy, Normal, Heroic, or Legendary. Both Easy and Normal may seem the best options, given that they were designed not to be challenging. However, based on experience, I would recommend that beginners select the Heroic difficulty.
While it may not seem like the best choice, given that it's the option right behind the hardest mode, it does what the other three do not - it provides a challenge that's both fun and fair. From Halo: Combat Evolved all the way to Halo Infinite, picking Easy to Normal will make anyone feel like an actual overpowered super soldier, and while that can be a good thing, it's also a problem.
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While they're meant to offer a less stressful time, they make going through the campaign of any of the games feel somewhat effortless. Enemies can still halt progress, but that's only if you're actively sabotaging yourself by doing nothing while they wail at you with all their feeble might. By being too easy, players might not be able to appreciate what the game has to offer, as they'll breeze through it before they can.
At the opposite end of the extreme, the Legendary difficulty would be too much for any beginner. Even the simplest of enemies, like Grunts and Jackals, will be able to take out a player in a span of a few seconds, given that everything deals more damage and the AI is much more aggressive than normal.
The fact that most of them are also more durable and there are a lot more than usual doesn't help, as it can force players to use weapons they'd rather not, which can detract from the fun of playing the game. All this could cause even the most patient of newbies to give up and miss out on the amazing things the franchise has to offer.
With Heroic, all the issues mentioned are nonexistent. When choosing it while playing any of the Halo games, it's designed to make sure that only the right number of enemies appear, which means neither too few nor too many. Also, their AI move and attacks in patterns feel fair, making everything from the Elites to the Prometheans feel like threats that you can't just plow through or become the reasons you get stuck in a section of a level.
While it can still be quite challenging, every failure at least feels like the player's own fault rather than that of the game. In Heroic, every weapon is viable, every opponent is tough, and every tactic is viable. The only thing preventing progression is your skill, which can be easily improved by consistently playing at this difficulty mode.
So again, if you or a friend is considering joining the Halo fandom by trying out any of its entries, mainline or spin-off, then I urge you to disregard the other difficulties and go for Heroic. It is well-balanced, fun, and you'll get the most out of your time with whichever of the games you've decided to play.