IGN’s Ryan McCaffrey interviews Keen Franklin, lead multiplayer designer, of 343 regarding Flood mode in multiplayer.

First, check out the map. This is the cleanest we’ve seen Solace so far and it looks AMAZING! A fantastic mix of foliage and Forerunner items.

Now as for Flood mode, I have to say I’m actually looking forward to this. I wasn’t much of a fan of Infection/Living Dead in Halo 3 or Reach, though I’ve played it in both. In Halo 3 it gained popularity by being a double XP weekend playlist from time to time. Since it was always available in Reach I just kind of ignored it, until that is I needed to work on my small arms commendation. (Of which I’m less than 120 kills away from that being Gold!)

Anyway, Flood mode is a huge step forward in that your infected Spartan actually CHANGES. Okay, no animated change, but it’s not the same ol’ spartan with recolored armor. No, now you play as a specially skinned flood infected spartan. Note in the video above when a person is infected there are thin tendrils coming into the HUD from the outer edges of the visor. Also, did you notice the pig-like squeal when a Flood died? LOL

It really looks like 343 too the time to research what fans were playing and what they would likely want to see returning in Halo 4.

Thanks 343!

-Sal