The first-person shooter has become one of the populated genres in gaming today. From the eyes of the gunner, the FPS has had many changes over the years. In 2001, Microsoft entered the competitive world of console gaming. The entrance was a blind run for Microsoft, but thanks to the developer Bungie, Microsoft gained a FPS series that would become famous. Halo: Combat Evolved is the Xbox’s launch angel.

Graphics 8/10

Halo was said to be THE game to demonstrate the power of the Xbox. Quite honestly, I can’t really see why. The graphics are good, but don’t seem to live up to the hype. For the most part, the graphics are consistent. The Halo hero, Master Chief, looks like a typical space marine. However, it’s his simple appearance that makes him such a cool character. In-game, the graphics do offer some nice areas. The outside levels especially are beautiful. The sky is painted with the giant ring world Halo and seeing the massive structure across the horizon is breathtaking. The weather effects like sun and snow are gorgeous. The interiors have a good industrial look and retain the futuristic appearance the game portrays. Weapon effects are very solid, thanks to the diversity in weapon appearance and projectile effect. The assault rifle is a traditional gun and keeps the Earth style. The plasma weapons are very detailed, like the purple-spike firing Needler and the flourescent blue Plasma Grenades. The weapons are cosmetically stylized and do a good job of portraying the different sides they represent. Vehicles are equally impressive with unique designs and specs. Enemies are pretty basic throughout and don’t diversify themselves as much as hoped, but still provide different challenges and story sides as the game progresses. However, with all this praise, Halo still has some graphical problems. Outside of some major clipping and frame rate issues, the level design leaves a lot to be desired. Outdoors, the levels are beautiful, but indoors, you will see some annoyingly similar corridors. The metal rooms become too generic and you will not only feel some repetition, but you may also get lost. Overall, though, Halo’s graphics aren’t cutting-edge, but are solid and get the job done.

Audio 10/10

Halo’s audio is superb. From the opening menu, you are treated with Halo’s epic theme of choral ambience and stunning atmosphere. The choral themes throughout are full of atmosphere and character, making the entire journey through Halo a strong one. During combat or other tight situations, the tempo increases and some incredible orchestral scores arrive to keep the action going. Voice acting is very solid. Master Chief sounds like a tired space marine, jaded with a bit of sarcasm in his voice. Master Chief’s female AI aid Cortana is also voiced very well. The other soldiers and characters are good, though not as good as the main characters. Enemies sound off in grunts or screams, depending on the enemy and are entertaining to listen to. Combat is where the audio shines. With some strong music, the weapon effects prove themselves with diversity between each weapon. The Needler zaps projectiles with plasma. The rocket launcher is explosive and powerful. The grenades explode differently depending on type. The attention to sound detail is incredible in Halo, and the entire audio demonstration is nothing short of epic.

Gameplay 9/10

First-person shooters have mostly been PC territory. Although some games like Goldeneye for the N64 have proved successful, very few have been able to make console shooters excellent. Halo challenges the norm by opening gamers’ eyes to some new gameplay styles and an epic adventure.

The story begins with a futuristic war between the human Earth forces and an enemy alien force called the Covenant. The Covenant is a group of different aliens who share the same religious beliefs and all despise the human race. The Earth forces develop genetic experiments called Spartans, genetically-enhanced soldiers used for the wartime. You play as one of these warriors, the Master Chief. The super soldier’s ship crash lands on a mysterious ring world called Halo, a weapon that the Covenant have developed. Although the details about Halo are scarce, Master Chief teams up with surviving soldiers and the AI female Cortana to explore Halo. Along the way, there are twists and surprises. The story isn’t groundbreaking, but it is good to see a solid story in a first-person shooter. Master Chief, despite his one-liners and simple appearance, is a mysterious and interesting character. He is very serious, but still has enough one-liners to give the game some entertaining moments. Cortana, his AI aid, is full of personality as well. The story is brilliant for an FPS and gives the gamer good incentive to journey across Halo.

The Xbox controller is incredibly well-suited for the fast and frantic shooting of Halo. The game follows a dual-analog shooting system. The left analog stick is to move forward, backward, and strafe. The right analog stick allows you to aim and look around you. This system does not have the point-and-click precision of the PC, but it is extremely functional after some practice and in-game tutorials. The Xbox controller doesn’t have shoulder buttons; instead, there are trigger buttons for the left and rights hands. Right trigger fires your gun, while the left trigger is used for grenades. The triggers are FPS-friendly, thanks to the responsiveness of them. A is used to jump, B to melee attack. X is to reload, pick up a weapon, or man a vehicle or turret. Y is used to switch weapons. The Black button allows to switch grenade types, White is used with the on-gun flashlight for dark areas. All of the controls are perfectly placed and responsive. After some practice with the dual-analog system, you’ll find that the controls are incredibly solid during the fast action of the game.

Halo’s game world has some interesting tricks. The first is the two-weapon rule; you can only carry two weapons at a time. This offers a bit of strategy, finding the right weapon for the right situation. You may have to abandon a weapon, but you also need to consider future encounters. This solid balance keeps gameplay diverse, as you sometimes will need to think ahead when choosing weapons. Another addition is the regenerating shield. Besides a normal health bar, Master Chief has a shield that regenerates over time. After getting attacked, you can find cover to let your shield regenerate. The shield is always on, but when it’s depleted, that’s when you can really take damage from your health. When the health is depleted, Master Chief dies. There is some conservation involved in the regenerating shields, so simply running and gunning won’t get you far. Using cover and fighting with finesse is encouraged, especially in the harder difficulties. Halo’s small additions bring some massive change to the FPS, keeping gameplay fresh and enjoyable.

Vehicles are a huge part of Halo. Bungie has developed some incredibly cool vehicles for Master Chief to cruise around in. The Warthog jeep is similar to an army jeep, holding a driver, side seat, and turret gunner. The Covenant Ghost is a high-speed vehicle equipped with firepower for a single warrior. The Banshee is a high-flying, single-man vehicle with firepower and the ability for aerial attacks. The Scorpion tank is an armored behemoth with multiple weapons. The vehicles are designed in unique ways and each one has its own abilities and advantages. Controls are pretty similar, using the left analog stick to accelerate and the right analog stick to turn. Triggers are used for weapons. Each vehicle controls very well. Each vehicle has its own quirks during battle. For example, some are best used alone, some with teams. In the single-player, vehicles will become important to completing some missions, while being easy picking for others. The vehicles are some of the most fun experiences in the game, with tight controls and solid design.

The missions themselves are pretty straightforward, mostly involving going from Point A to Point B. Not always will you know exactly where to go, but the game does give you hints without holding your hand too much. Along the way, you’ll meet up with the Covenant forces. These alien attackers, sadly, don’t come in many forms. However, as the game progresses, the game finds ways to challenge you. The AI is solid, they will attack sharply and do some serious damage when swarming.

The multiplayer is some of the best around. The game’s split-screen multiplayer for up to four people is excellent. The many maps and modes make multiplayer match-ups amusing and massive. System Link allows for even more players to join the fun, linking Xboxs for up to sixteen player battles. The modes contain the essentials: Deathmatch (which is called Slayer), Capture the Flag, and King of the Hill, along with some obscure additions like Oddball (a game of keepaway) and Race (reach the checkpoints before your opponents). The ability to customize the modes and even make your own is excellent. Halo also allows for two-player co-op throughout the story mode, a great addition. Teaming up with a friend is great, especially with certain vehicles and weapons. The multiplayer in Halo is incredible to say the least.

Halo is an excellent shooter, but is lacking in places. The biggest problem is the diversity. Enemy types and weapon types are nearly as diverse as hoped. You will be mowing down swarms of the same enemies for the most part. Weapons, though fun to use, aren’t as plentiful. Sure, you can use either Earth or Covenant weapons, but there just isn’t enough of them. Some other enemy types and weapon types would’ve made the game better. Also, there is some backtracking. You will find differences as you return to an area, but you are still in that area. It would’ve been nice to see some a few more different levels. However, if you can overlook these annoyances, Halo: Combat Evolved will impress you with its action-packed combat, excellent multiplayer, and incredibly fun gameplay.

Replay Value 9/10

The inclusion of different difficulties increases the replay value. The AI will progressively grow much stronger as you rise up the difficulty levels. The inclusion of co-op is brilliant. The multiplayer modes are vast and diverse, although a small bit more would’ve been better. Playing Halo over and over again is not a chore. Getting bored with this game is a serious feat. Halo’s finesse in its gameplay and presentation make the entire journey worth another trip. Excellent.

Final Verdict 9/10

Halo: Combat Evolved is definitely worthy of the hype, although it still contains a little less diversity than hoped. The gameplay proves that the dual-analog system works and works well. The game is full of high intensity and constant action, perfect for a first-person shooter. The epic storyline and beautiful presentation is icing on the cake. The multiplayer is some of the best around, thanks to its excellent depth and quantity. Halo: Combat Evolved is a must-have if you have an Xbox. If you don’t, well, you’re definitely missing out on this incredible experience. Halo: Combat Evolved is a great achievement in gaming and worth any gamer’s attention.