I’ve made it no secret that I’ve become jaded and bored with the Halo franchise over the last couple of installements. I had enormous amounts of fun with the original Halo, and Halo 2 for its multiplayer. Halo 3 I played because… it was a huge game and I really felt like I should. And there was enjoyment there, but it didn’t last nearly as long. Halo ODST didn’t hold me for more than a few hours.

And yet, the funny thing is, I can’t seem to stop wanting to enjoy Halo again. I bought ODST even though I was nearly certain I wouldn’t be into it. Over the last couple of months as Halo: Reach media ramped up, and now as we near the May 3rd beta launch, I find myself thinking “Ooh, that looks cool… I want to try that.”

I know that it’s still Halo. I know that we’re not going to fire up the game and find some revolutionary new title. I know that likely I’ll be disappointed at how very similar it feels to the previous games. I know this, and yet I still want to try it anyway. I have to know.

Something in me hopes that it’s different enough, that the new graphics, and playmodes, and gameplay refinements reinvigorate Halo for me. That the armor abilities and Modern Warfare-style rank-up system adds just enough variety to give combat a fresh spin.

I’d like to love Halo again. I hope that happens. Buuuuut… if it doesn’t, Monster Hunter 3 and Red Dead Redemption will be there to mend my wounded heart.