While the Halo TV series hasn't been well-received by fans of the original games, the series, starting with the 2001 Xbox game 'Halo: Combat Evolved', continues to be beloved.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection bundles 6 games for $39.90, offering great value, but the first game's somewhat clunky gameplay might pose a barrier to entry.
If you enjoy SF adventure and space opera genres, and prefer PvE first-person shooter games, then you might enjoy playing Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Halo 1: Disc Cover
The Paramount+ original series Halo is releasing its second season this Thursday. Halo received decent reviews from the general public, and its viewership was high enough to warrant a second season. However, fans of the game ‘Halo,’ on which the TV series is based, have criticized the show. Apparently, many elements beloved by game fans were removed. Therefore, ahead of the Season 2 release, I played the original Halo game.
Halo is a very old game and the game that brought the Xbox console to where it is today. The first Halo game, ‘Halo: Combat Evolved,’ was released in November 2001 along with the Xbox console. The Xbox was able to gain global popularity, particularly in North America, thanks to the popularity of Halo.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a package that brings together remastered versions of Halo games released from 2001 to 2012. It includes four main games from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 4, as well as spin-offs like Halo Reach and Halo ODST. Since Halo was a long-standing Xbox exclusive, it was only playable on Xbox, but a PC version has been released recently.
The biggest advantage of ‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection’ is its value for money. Six games that would cost at least $50 are included in a package for $39.99. All six games offer substantial content with over 40 hours of gameplay, so if you take your time, you can enjoy them for a whole year.
Halo Reach
The graphics, thanks to the remastering, were better than expected. Halo 1, a 2001 game, has been improved to look like a game from the early 2010s, and Halo 2 features modernized cutscenes, making it easier to immerse yourself in the game. The backgrounds are particularly impressive, reminiscent of Bungie's later works. It beautifully renders diverse environments, including space, beaches, and burning cities.
The gameplay and story vary across the six games, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Halo 1, being a very old game, has somewhat clunky gameplay. The player character, Master Chief, cannot run and dies from even a slightly elevated fall. Moreover, there’s no indication if you hit your target when shooting, and precision targeting, which is now considered standard, is absent.
Halo 2 Remastered Before & After Comparison
This gameplay improves gradually with later games. The 2010 spin-off, Halo Reach, feels almost like a modern game. From this point on, players can run or use a jetpack to float in the air. The protagonist, Noble Six, can explore skyscrapers in the city, rescue citizens, and even pilot a spaceship in Earth orbit.
The storytelling in all six games is excellent. It faithfully delivers the elements you'd expect from the genres of sci-fi adventure and space opera. The mission in the latter half of Halo 3, where you escape from a collapsing alien structure in a vehicle, is spectacular, even without considering the game's age.
Halo 3
Particularly noteworthy is that the protagonists in this series never take off their helmets. This makes the protagonists feel mysterious and makes it easier for players to identify with them. Having first encountered the Halo TV series, I could understand why fans were so opposed to it. In the Halo TV series, you frequently see the protagonists' faces.
Nevertheless, being an old game, the gameplay is simpler than modern games. For those accustomed to games like Overwatch, the simplicity of this game might be a barrier to entry. Above all, the inability to run in Halo 1 can be incredibly frustrating.
If you enjoy PvE first-person shooter games like Halo, it's a game worth trying. If you're a fan of space opera, this is a must-play game. However, if you're someone who enjoys playing games like Overwatch casually, I recommend buying a more recent game like ‘Halo Infinite’ (2021) separately.