Halo

THE GOOD:
~Being a kick ass cyborg dude
~Can kick ass along side your marines
~Can kick ass on some exotic places and other places
~Can kick ass in vehicles
~Can kick ass through 10 massive levels
~Can kick ass by really cool weapons
~Can kick ass through multiplayer
~Can kick ass in space
~Can kick ass in over 4 different covenant and other things
~The music makes you want to kick more ass when your fighting

THE BAD:
~Only 10 levels
~No bots in mutiplayer
~The library (a level)

SUMMARY:
Well after reading "The Good" you can safely that this is a kick ass game. This is such a great game and it has kept its complexity down by having the most simple of things. This simple game play means it is easy to pick up on and you don't have to resort to opening up command bars to do stuff. I only expect that in RPG games but not FPS or action. Some action games are like that with all that complex stuff which ruins the atmosphere in which the player really wants. So well done to Bungie for making this masterpiece.

The game starts you off in a good situation as it is already into the action. The reason being is that

quote

you are a one man cyborg sent to save mankind from the covenant

As you are the last hope for mankind, you are fully respected through out your marines, and the best feeling is when they come up to you and say "how is it going chief" etc. They really look up to you.

The marines in the game really caught my attention.
As I was saying about the marines, they are an important asset to the game as solo mode isn't fun all the time. Marines add more atmosphere to this already atmospherically created world called Halo. The marines say the funniest thing along with the grunts as all the crap they have to go through. The marine AI is excellent and are much a good team member. They will ride in vehicles (if possible) and can lay down a lot of needed heavy fire.

The music is classic and who ever composed the music should really be awarded as it really makes the game come to life. In some areas where nothing is happening there usually is no music but you can hear maybe a humming noise from the lights or the wind faintly blowing in the distance. All those details as said before adds to the atmosphere of the game. The sounds that are in the game are excellent and nothing more should be said about it.

The simplicity of the game pays off, especially when it comes down to weapons. As the Master Chief you can only hold 2 weapons, which makes it more realistic. This simplifies things, as you don't need to bring up a menu just to look at your weapons and change them. All you have to do is press a button to go to the next weapon. This is exceptionally useful when in battle and all you want to do is swap weapons. The weapons that you get or find in the game are also very simple eg. The main weapons in the game for the Humans are the Assault rifle and the Pistol. In other games they would be called eg. 305 TR or a GT29M and your thinking what the hell does these weapons do. Well this is very simple in the game. The following weapons can be used in the game: Human: Assault rifle, Pistol, Rocket Launcher, Shotgun, sniper rifle. Covenant: Needler, Plasma rifle, Plasma pistol.

The reason that the covenant don't have as many weapons is that some of the weapons are connected to them and explode when they die. You can also collect grenades which are also very simple: Human: Frag grenade. Covenant: Plasma grenade.

The levels in the game are quite unique and you sometimes stop just to marvel at the sit of them. The ring World called Halo is set somewhere in space light years away from Earth and where the covenant are nearby. The world has many locations where it is snowing, has sunshine, where you need to go in and neutralize any enemies you may come across and finish your objectives. There is on level which really irritates me and that is the Library, it is cold, life less (and I mean it.....)and very repetitive. Over all for the level design it was a good job.

The vehicles in the game are also very simple but affective. They are: The tank (Scorpion), The modern warfare jeep thing (Warthog). Covenant: The hover bike (Ghost), The flying thingy (Banshee) (it's pink). Any way these four useable vehicles are much needed in the game when there are massive groups of enemies that need riding of. These vehicles must have a driver but only you may drive them no the marines, though the marines fill in the extra spots.

The Scorpion can have a driver and four passengers on the sides, (though it is really unsafe but fun). The weapons found on the Scorpion are the turret and the machine gun. The Warthog can have a driver, a passenger and a gunner. The Gunner has infinite ammo and has a very powerful chain gun. These 2 vehicles drive differently on certain types of environments. For instance the Warthog will be slipping all over the place when on ice but when on dry surface it will drive normally.

The Ghost is the one-man hover bike with one weapon. The weapon is 2 plasma cannons, which can paralyse any enemies that you shoot. The marines can not use this. This is a very effective vehicle that can run over enemies, and can get some good air for stunts. The Banshee is a flying vehicle (one man, only you can drive and the covenant) where it can get you to many different locations. The weapons are the same as the ghost but have an extra weapon. The weapon is a plasma rocket.

There are other vehicles in the game but you cannot control them eg. The drop ship that gets you to your levels (Echo419, E419). Another is the covenant tank where it shoots out plasma energy balls at you. There are also turrets that you can find through out the levels and the weapons on them are 2 plasma cannons.

The multiplayer in the game is pretty good but the unfortunate thing is that there are no bots, which is a real drag. There are different modes to Halo's multiplayer and they are: Death match, Team Death match, Capture the Flag (CTF), Race, Oddball and King of the hill. All of these modes can be altered to whatever your gaming multiplayer needs are. Oddball can be changed in different ways eg. Hold the skull for the longest, this can be altered, Invisibility, juggernaut and others, which can all be altered.

Multiplayer is now online on the PC version and now there are banshees. The online play is great but it can get a bit jerky now and then when there is a lot of movement on screen.

The Replay Value of the game is to be questioned but I can say that yes I have played enough Halo but you have to consider it that I've had this game since 2002.

There are many detailed parts in the world that you might not even notice at first but if you go through the game you'll notice such things as Coded atmosphere. This is the first game ever to actually have coded atmosphere. For instance when you get this game go up to a tree and look up so the tree is in line with the sun. You'll notice when you move about looking through the tree that the sun is weaving in and out of every gap of the tree.

Another great detail is that when you fire your rounds and the shells hit the ground, if your on a slope you'll notice them rolling down. Another thing is that when you bring out the sniper rifle, zoom in on the shells you'll notice that there are the little details on the shells. There are many tother thing but this review will just drag on.

Since Halo came to the PC it has a couple of new weapons. The weapons aren't that great but at least they are there. One of them is the flame thrower. It is crap and can only go a couple of metres.

Results:

Graphics: (back in 2002 10/10) now 8 /10
Game play: 9.5 /10
Sound: 9.5 /10
Replay Value: 8.5 /10 (with multiplayer)

Over all: 9.5 /10 (considering the age of the game)

Overall this is a must game and I recommend this game to all.

"I don't care if it's some giant hoola hoop or God's own anti son of a bitch machine, you will get this game!!!!!!!"

*You reply* Sir, yes Sir!!!!!!!!!! *Shouting*

*Mumble that I am right* Damn right I you will.