Recently, Bungie released a video documentary about the upcoming “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta. I watched it. I’ve read up on it. Here’s what I think about it. In handy list form, no less!

Come on, admit that you wanted something to lighten your dead week.

This is my (new) boomstick

Of course, this is no surprise. New guns? Yes please. Can haz? Can haz. In fact, you can haz a sweet little puppy called the Covenant Plasma Launcher. You know what a plasma grenade is, right? And you know what a grenade launcher is? Yeah, it’s pretty much as awesome as it sounds.

We’ve learned to fear those little blue balls of death since “Halo: Combat Evolved” and now we’ll have the option of firing four in rapid succession at high velocity? Sexy.

Every Spartan is different

Okay, so customizing was a feature in “Halo 3” — albeit a pointless one, since apparently everyone wants to run around as a goddamn ninja – but it was all very superficial. When you picked up CQB armor, you weren’t allowed to use the knife so prominently placed on your chest, and ditto for the Hayabusa sword.

In “Halo: Reach,” there’ll still be some customizing, but there’s more to it this time around. Different armor sets operate as completely different load-outs, a “Call of Duty.” In other words, if you want to fly around in a jet pack (and who doesn’t) you’ll need to pick the air assault armor, which comes pre-packaged with an assault rifle and magnum. Other armors give different abilities, such as sprint. Which does exactly what you think it does.

And if you decide you’ve made a strategically-poor choice, don’t sweat it. You can change your armor mid-battle, like some kind of Paris Hilton on … Y’know what? She doesn’t need to be on anything. She’s Paris Hilton. [Expletive]ing fashionista.

It should be noted that at this point, from what I’ve seen and read, it’s unclear whether armor abilities — like jet packs — are separate from powers — like active camo.

I have the power!

No more running and gunning for that glowing power-up tucked neatly behind the wall of dead bodies. No more snipe-camping the power-up spawn point to take out would-be superheroes.

 Now you’ll have options to choose at load-out. Say you’re not the best at dodging bullets, and just want to be a bit of a meat shield. Choose armor lock and turn yourself invulnerable for a short amount of time.

And unlike previous power-ups, these aren’t finite. Use the ability as much as you want, so long as you give it time to recharge.

There’s somethin’ out there. And it ain’t no man…

Who’s wanted to see an overzealous predator take on a bunch of space marines without all that slow, sneaky crap? The new Headhunter mode has you dropping noobs to collect their flaming skulls (I’m not kidding) as trophies. Collect these and return to base to score points and earn the respect of your fellow murderer.

In a sort of anti-Juggernaut (or Oddball, take your pick) twist, the number of skulls you currently hold in your possession is marked above your head, which means guess who’s gonna be a huge target for everyone?

That’s right. You, meat.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match

As I’ve acknowledged many times, I’m more of a social gamer. Which is, seemingly contradictory enough, why I don’t often play over Live. People are so anti-social and rude that it drives me away.

Sure I like the challenge of meeting someone in equal skill, but I’d like a little interaction, too.

Thankfully, “Halo: Reach”’s matchmaking system seems to be streamlined for ease, yet expanded for preferences. You’ll be ranked much the same as you were in Halo 3, with a new set of arena divisions (Onyx, Gold, Silver, Steel) that showcase your skill. But – and here’s the kicker for me – you can also set your social preferences. Looking for someone who’s a talker? Searching for a casual and friendly crowd with proper etiquette? You can set those filters up.

So… Do you like-me like me? Or just like me?

Don’t worry, “Halo: Reach.” I like-you like you. At least, so far. You seem to have a completely different way about you than the other Halos I’ve played and well … I haven’t been this excited in a long time. You make me feel special.

I mean, you’re giving me power-ups so that I don’t have to go to the store to pick them up – because really, that is so humiliating – and you’re taking me shopping for different outfits — which I can tell you really like — and you seem focused on making me being all… gosh, independent.

Oh, and you let me stab mother f***ers in the neck when I sneak up on them. Hell yeah.

Sophie Prell is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Alta.

This column appears courtesy of Prell’s blog “G3 – A Girl’s Guide to Gaming.” www.g3girlsgaming.blogspot.com