Re: Great game, but it's not HALO
Been a while and I hope you're getting on more with it but to answer some of your comments:
"...It feels like the HALO team did the original cutscenes, then got laid off and the Modern Warfare 2 guys had to finish it from their notes.
There's literally nothing aside from "kill aliens" so far. There's a dig site I'm supposed to get to, but I have no idea how, and a team of guys on a hill apparently that I'm supposed to save, but I have no idea how to get there..."
I agree that some of the routes are less than obvious to put it mildly - some of the objectives appear to be right in front of you but take time to learn where they actually are/to get to them and some feel illogical. Just persevere.
"...I've found a tank, but there's nowhere to take it because it's hard to drive and the trees and rocks are in the way, and there's nothing obvious to attack with it..."
The vehicle driving mechanism in all Halo games has never changed. Unlike most others where you use the keyboard to change direction and the mouse to look, in Halo it's always been the mouse to look and the vehicle basically follows in that direction. It takes some getting used to but eventually feels more natural in my personal opinion.
"...There's ghosts scattered around that I can't drive.."
These are damaged beyond use, simply. If you look closely you will eventually see how to tell them apart.
"...The marines are stupid. I saved a bunch and now they're all clustered around the tank and won't leave to come with me...
Yep. The marine AI has always been odd like that - pretty dumb across the whole franchise.
"...I have had a couple boss fights but I've learned almost nothing from them, except one guy's name. There was "sooper dooper sword elite dude" who instead of attacking me with his sword, just spammed me with impossibly accurate grenades from an absolutely impossible range..."
Per my comment above - sometimes it feels like a breeze (especially some bosses) and others you just get pummeled time and again and that does get frustrating.
"...The "new girl" is too perky and idiotic. I feel like I'm traveling with Mr. B. Natural from MST3K..."
She's supposed to be. She's meant to be a throwback to naivete and innocence
"...The Pelican somehow has an unlimited supply of vehicles and doesn't mind coming to drop them off, but won't pick me up and take me anywhere..." there are ways you can move around the map built in, but come on... it's be a short game if you could call a lift every time you wanted to get anywhere!
"...I'm playing "normal" and Brutes and Elites fall instantly with simple faceshots, then there are these "fast attack" brutes that land and you have to grenade spam them..."
Interesting - I never felt that ease with general opponents. Perhaps you're a better player than you realise? (Not sarcasm)
I guess I'll go shoot some more aliens. I don't have much else to do.
Edit: and I started the game, and got "you are not the fireteam leader" and it refused to play the game.
I googled the error and "halo infinite" and "campaign" and got NO HITS. I updated my HALOBOX and it played. Yay. Is this fuckin' Windows 10 or what?