[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Dr Syx Halo: Combat Evolved had [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMcK8NcvYJY]massive aim assist[/url].[/quote] Okay, I'd like to point something out before someone goes off and argues that Reach has less reticle magnetism than Halo 1: Reach's reticle magnetism is variable, and activates much more strongly when it thinks you're trying to target something. This is so that the game feels and functions a little cleaner. And when it does ratchet itself up, the reticle magnetism is insane, practically totally locked onto the target. I don't have anything on hand to prove this aside from anecdotal experiences; sometimes in Reach, the game accidentally locks on a target, and when that happens you pretty much fully lose control for a moment. But of course this is all irrelevant to the issue at hand. What [i]is[/i] relevant is this: [quote]Halo: Combat Evolved only has a large skill-gap when compared to games that came out after the "revolution" of Aim Assist it created. Look at the games that were before it: Counter-Strike, Quake, Unreal Tournament, Tribes, etc. Every single one of those games have a higher skill gap.[/quote] To which I respond that it doesn't really matter, because even if they do have larger skill gaps than Halo 1, Halo 1's is still more than enormous. My experience has been somewhat unfortunately limited, but in casual games of CE I've been shut out and I've shut people out. [quote]I learned how to play FPS games with a controller. I can play Halo PC and [i]win[/i] with a controller without aim assist.[/quote] Hmm. Without aim assist in general, or just without reticle magnetism? HPC still has bullet magnetism. Regardless, this really just means that you're obscenely good with a gamepad. [quote]Do you think that baseball would be as competitive if bats were magnetized towards the baseballs? Do you think baseball would be as competitive if the balls were magnetized to the inside of the hoop/rim?[/quote] I would say that it depends on whether other factors are changed. [quote]Simply put, if you feel the hardware you use isn't good enough without something having to assist your aim, use better hardware.[/quote] What if I find dual stick gamepad controls to be more comfortable to use than M&K despite their limitations? Hardware that allows for better precision more easier is not intrinsically better for gameplay; it just means that the less precise stuff needs to make considerations to keep things equal, ie gumming the aim when close to the target to make for finer movements, which is pretty much exactly what Halo does. //===================== Now, look. I don't think Halo 1's aim assist system is particularly perfect. The reticle magnetism is a little clumsy when a lot of targets are on-screen, and the bullet magnetism is downright bizarre for non-precision weapons. But it's not a total lock-on system that entirely aims for you, and the best players out there don't seem to consistently go around 3sk'ing. [Edited on 12.22.2011 7:35 PM PST]