Halo Infinite’s lonely open world lacks the heart of Sergeant Johnson and iconic side characters, leaving fans craving their return.
Look, I’ve been with Halo since the OG Xbox days—when I first heard that iconic chant and got goosebumps from the menu music. But after playing through Halo Infinite’s campaign multiple times now, I have to get something off my chest: Where is my boy Sergeant Johnson?! 😭
I mean, don’t get me wrong—the open-world Zeta Halo was a bold swing, and I respect 343 for trying something new. But stripping away those memorable side characters that gave the original trilogy so much heart? That’s a sin I still can’t forgive. Let’s talk about why Halo Infinite felt so empty without a foul-mouthed, cigar-chomping Marine to back you up, and why the next game must bring back that magic.
Who Even Is Sergeant Johnson, and Why Does Everyone Love Him?
Avery Johnson isn’t just some random NPC—he’s been with us since Halo: Combat Evolved back in 2001. Think about that: this guy has literally fought alongside us since day one. He’s the ultimate wingman, the kind of battle buddy who’d shout “I know what the ladies like” while mowing down Grunts with an AR. 😂
While Master Chief is the silent, stoic super-soldier, Johnson provided the human touch—the comic relief, the roaring speeches, the relatable grunt of a man who just wouldn’t quit. He was part of the Spartan-I program, sure, but he didn’t have the towering MJOLNIR armor or superhuman speed. He felt like us—a regular human fighting impossible odds with nothing but grit, sarcasm, and a whole lot of bullets.
Without characters like him, Halo loses something essential. It becomes just another sci-fi shooter about a faceless supersoldier. Johnson (and folks like Captain Keyes, Cortana’s sass, and even the Arbiter’s journey) gave the universe texture, made us care about more than just the next checkpoint.
The “Lone Wolf” Problem in Halo Infinite
Have you noticed how lonely Halo Infinite feels? Sure, you can rescue scattered Marine squads and they’ll follow you for a bit, but that’s… pretty much it. The open-world structure meant that most of the time, you’re zipping around solo with your grapple hook, clearing out Banished outposts in complete silence. Where’s the banter? The memorable one-liners? The feeling that you’re part of a larger war effort?
In past Halo games, linear missions were deliberately designed to weave supporting characters into the action. You’d fight alongside Marines, other Spartans, even the Arbiter himself. They’d drop backstory, crack jokes, and sometimes even pull off heroic sacrifices that made you genuinely feel something. Halo Infinite’s mission structure—while mechanically solid—stripped all that away. The Chief became even more of a lone wolf than ever before, and honestly? That just ain’t Halo to me.
And here’s the kicker: the story tried to introduce new characters like the Pilot and the Weapon, but they mostly existed in cutscenes or radio chatter. There was rarely that in-game, shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie that defined the original trilogy. 😤
So What’s the Solution for the Next Game?
It’s 2026 now, and we still don’t have a concrete announcement about the next mainline Halo singleplayer experience (battle royale rumors aside). But if there’s one lesson 343 should take from Infinite’s mixed reception, it’s this: bring back the squad.
I’m not saying clone Sergeant Johnson—please don’t—but create new characters with that same level of personality, humor, and relatability. Give us a grizzled ODST who won’t stop trash-talking Brutes, or a rookie Spartan who actually makes mistakes and grows over the course of the game. Let them fight alongside us in more frequent linear missions that complement the open world, not replace it.
Imagine an open-world section where you can call in a strike team of distinct, fully voiced allies, each with unique abilities and dialogue. One moment you’re sniping from a ridge with a chatty sniper, the next you’re breaching a door with a wisecracking demo expert. That’s the kind of dynamic energy Halo has always done well—and it’s exactly what Infinite missed.
And don’t even get me started on multiplayer co-op in campaign. Let me play through the story with a friend who takes control of that memorable ally, like we could with the Arbiter back in Halo 3. That’d be 🔥.
Final Thoughts
Look, I love Halo Infinite. The gameplay is crisp, the art style is a glorious return to form, and Craig the Brute became a meme legend. But as a lifelong fan, I can’t ignore how hollow parts of the experience felt without a strong supporting cast. Sergeant Johnson represents more than just nostalgia—he embodies the soul of Halo, the messy, emotional, human side of a galaxy-spanning war.
So here’s my plea to 343, to Microsoft, to whoever’s holding the reins: don’t let the next chapter be another lonely walk through a beautiful but empty ring. Give us characters we’ll remember twenty years from now. Because if there’s one thing Halo taught us, it’s that Spartans never die… but they’re also a lot better with friends.
Halo Infinite is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go replay The Storm and listen to Johnson yell “Send me out… with a bang.” 😢
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