Throughout its franchise, Halo has introduced enemies that can strike fear into players' hearts, but some have stood out from the pack. They're the ones many even shudder to think about, as they're known for repeatedly sending people back to previous checkpoints throughout a campaign run.
Examples of such foes would be the gigantic and bulky Hunters or the extremely intelligent and aggressive Golden Elite class, and their presence immediately means a desperate fight for survival. But among them all, there is one that manages to be the most terrifying while also the most rage-inducing, especially among classic Halo fans: Jackal Snipers.
When the Convenent reigned supreme and was the big baddy of the franchise, the Jackal race was known for playing a strategic role in fights. Because of their fragility, they're usually given equipment that lets them use their superior senses. While Jackals that use shields are common and easy to take down, it's the ones with Sniper rifles that have terrified and infuriated many players.
Making their debut in Halo 2, Jackal Snipers have become infamous for being one of the stealthiest enemies that can take down anyone in the blink of an eye. They essentially act as assassins, staying away from fights and striking as soon as they see their target, and they do their job too well.
The main reason many have come to hate this particular Covenant unit is its placement in levels. Usually, the only way to tell if they're in an area is if you get shot by them, as they're almost always in places that are hard to spot.
This isn't so bad in Easy to Normal to Difficulty, but Heroic and Legendary are where it truly shows how devastating the unit's positioning can be. As soon as you step one foot into their line of sight in the harder modes, you'll only have a few seconds to react before you're sniped, and if you don't, it likely means immediate death. And since they're usually together with other enemies, that's often the case, which can be incredibly annoying.
However, nothing is more rage-inducing than situations where you thought you finished a hard-fought battle against a wave of enemies, only for a Jackal Sniper to kill you out of nowhere because you didn't know it was there. Many classic fans of classic Halo games, from 2 to Reach specifically, know the feeling all too well, and there's a lot of fury to be had from knowing that one unit can immediately cause you to restart a fight from scratch without warning.
Nowadays, the Jackal Sniper isn't the threat it once was, as modern entries like Halo Infinite have equipped them with glowing visors and laser indicators so that you can tell where they are and when they're targeting you, making them much easier to deal with. However, what the unit did has left a lasting, anger-fueled legacy, which is impressive in itself, as no other enemy in the franchise has been able to do so.
Should you wish to understand the pain and exasperation that Jackal Snipers wrought throughout the early days of Halo, then I implore you to get the Master Chief collection. If you do, just remember that they're well-hated for a reason, so try not to get too angry when they inevitably force you to repeat sections.
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