[Makaku]

- We play as Spartan IIIs. Jorge is the only Spartan II on the team.

- Carter 259 and Kat 320 are the only members of their original squad.

- Jorge is a heavy weapons specialist.

- "Skully" now has a name, Emile 239. He's the silent type of the game.

- The sniper is called Jun 266. He's thoughtful and taciturn.

- We can customise the appearance of the Lone Wolf by a small degree. Awesome.

- The game is apparently darker than any of the other Halo games, even more so than ODST.

- Human Insurrectionists are possibly in the game

- Bungie have once again made the Covenant more dangerous and frightening, as they were in Halo 1.

- Covenant soldiers no longer speak English, they speak in their own languages.

- A new enemy like a Jackal has been introduced, named a "Skirmisher." They are deadly and cunning enemies that attack in packs, and flank secure positions.

- Graphics have been improved drastically, as proven by in-magazine comparisons.

- Elites are back, and are more ferocious than ever.

- Larger scale combat will be in Reach. Where only 20 AI at a time could be on screen in Halo 3, now over 40 AI and 20 vehicles can be present at a time.

- Scenes are more cinematic.

- Noble Team splits up at a point in the story.

- Health Bar is back along with energy shield.

- Single shot rifle like the Halo 2 E3 demo is in the game, named the Designated Marksman Rifle (DRM)

- Sniper, AR and Magnum make a return. Gun sounds are more realistic.

- Needler Rifle is in the game, a mid-range headshot capable weapon.

- Spike Grenades and Flame Grenades are out. Only frags and plasma remain.

- Helicopter Transport is called the Falcon.

- Civillian vehicles are now drivable.

- Fully stealthy gameplay is now possible.

- Assassinations are possible with a knife by holding down the melee button.

- Sprinting is now possible through an equipment like mechanic.