Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Review
The game that started a legacy looks better than ever.
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The game that started a legacy looks better than ever.
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Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Review
- Thread starter Russ Pitts
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Ironically, Halo was the game that got me into PC gaming back then (along with Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, awesome game), I can't remember how many times I finished this game and how many hours I spent playing multiplayer online (a huge advantage that the PC version had over the original Xbox game). I know that the game feels incredibly slow and clunky to be played on a PC these days, but I just loved it back then, even when I already played such PC classics, like Half-Life 1/2, Max Payne and others.
If I hadn't already sold my Xbox 360, I'd buy this game in a flash.
If I hadn't already sold my Xbox 360, I'd buy this game in a flash.
I just can't understand why anyone would be excited about this game. All I keep hearing is that the graphics look great and that they didn't alter the gameplay in any way.
Then why not just buy the original game on the xbox? I checked, and you can pick up a used copy on amazon for like ?5! I heard that eventually you'll be able to download the multiplayer maps separately for Halo Reach, which makes this game even more pointless in my opinion.
Then why not just buy the original game on the xbox? I checked, and you can pick up a used copy on amazon for like ?5! I heard that eventually you'll be able to download the multiplayer maps separately for Halo Reach, which makes this game even more pointless in my opinion.
Playing this game on Heroic reminds me of how much easier games have gotten over the years. It's punishing me relentlessly.
I never did get around to getting a 360, having transferred my gaming affections to the Pc by the time it came along, but I still play Halo: CE on my old Xbox from time to time, and was nodding in agreement when reading the review comments about just how smooth the gameplay is. There aren't many other games that I can think of that are so well polished in that respect - Doom, Portal and, perhaps, WoW.
Sure there are more complex shooters out there, but Doom wasn't complex either and Halo belongs right up there as one of the most enjoyable FPSs I've ever played.
Sure there are more complex shooters out there, but Doom wasn't complex either and Halo belongs right up there as one of the most enjoyable FPSs I've ever played.
Russ is back? Or is the current onslaught of releases so overwhelming that they had to call back the Escapist's prodigal son?
Anyway, I'm really not into first person shooters (aside from TF2 and the Metroid Prime series, if you count that), but I always thought if I ever another one a shot then it would be Halo. I like the art style and the sci-fi setting. I might give Anniversary a chance whenever my ever-expanding backlog dwindles down.
Anyway, I'm really not into first person shooters (aside from TF2 and the Metroid Prime series, if you count that), but I always thought if I ever another one a shot then it would be Halo. I like the art style and the sci-fi setting. I might give Anniversary a chance whenever my ever-expanding backlog dwindles down.
I have the original Halo:CE downloaded on my 360 hard drive (remember the days when they tried to have a service for original Xbox games?) is there much point in getting this remake?
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Considering I played though the campaign of halo probably at least 20 times, Im not sure how much more of it I want to do, Ill probably get this at some point but not at launch, halo did have the best feel out of almost all the halo games, I think only reach felt as refined as the original did and it certainly had the best enemy ai. I cant help but think that if halo had been released on pc instead of console, it would be a big fps but not as big as it was, I think the reason it really took off was because it was the first time a fps game really felt good to play on the console.
Okay... I get that it's a mechanically solid game, but calling it the first/only remake to work is stretching the Hyperbole a bit far, Not to mention the claim that it's the ONLY game that can feel just as fresh now as when it was released, I'm going to go ahead and call bullshit right there.
That's ok. We hate you, too.TheRealHardcoreGamer said:
Buh-bye, now!He offered, actually, and given the metric ton of games we had to review this month, we gladly accepted. I think he just wanted an excuse to play Halo, personally.DustyDrB said:
Why do you need an excuse to play Halo?Susan Arendt said:That's ok. We hate you, too.TheRealHardcoreGamer said:
He offered, actually, and given the metric ton of games we had to review this month, we gladly accepted. I think he just wanted an excuse to play Halo, personally.DustyDrB said:
Also yeah, good luck with reviewing all of the many many games coming out now.
Was it really necessary to throw in the Mac vs. PC and Android vs. iPhone fayboy BS? As if Halo doesn't inspire enough fanboys to come out of the woodwork? Just review the game please, if I want commentary on which tech platforms are the best, I'll be sure to ask.
To be honest, this is the way that people should do HD remakes - actually changing the textures and models instead of pointing and shouting "Look, we made the resolution bigger!".
I think I'll still buy this eventually, even if I am still disappointed that they didn't change that fucking Library level.
I think I'll still buy this eventually, even if I am still disappointed that they didn't change that fucking Library level.
I agree, that was one of two things that really got on my nerves in this review. Especially cause I've had much better experiences with the Android over the iPhone, but that's just meAvaholic03 said:
OT: Great review, but there are other remakes that have done just as well if not better than their original. Ocarina of Time 3D comes to mind immediately, for example.
If I still had a 360 I would pick this up, so if I somehow get one again I'll keep this in mind.
I will argue to my grave that it would have been better to rebuild the game using the reach engine and physics, and keeping the old X Box game as a "Feature" rather then repackaging something I could get on X Box Live for 20 bucks
The blocky assets are STILL frustrating to this day with sniper kill shots and well place rockets detonating in the empty space between two trees. I am reminded how there was a gaddamned good reason the Needler has had to be revised in every single Halo game, and the AR had to have its clip cut in half to double the firepower per shot.
the HD graphics overlay positively ruins the atmosphere of 343 guilty spark, the Library, silent Cartographer, and Keyes, where the low lighting levels helped the derelict artifact feel (and in the case of the library made the zombie apocalypse run possible.)
Here is the thing, There are two examples of successful remakes that should be held up as blueprints for remaking. Mega Man Powered up and Mega Man Mavrick Hunter X. Halo CEA is following the Mavrick Hunter X example, copying the old game verbatim with a few extras to justify the price tag.
MM Powered up though added two new bosses, completely changed the maps and reworked the difficulty to be more forgiving in the right places (yellow Devil) and less forgiving in the right places (Ice Man and Fire Man). I would be much more satisfied had 343 manned up and took THAT route rather then lazily releasing the same game I have played for a decade.
The blocky assets are STILL frustrating to this day with sniper kill shots and well place rockets detonating in the empty space between two trees. I am reminded how there was a gaddamned good reason the Needler has had to be revised in every single Halo game, and the AR had to have its clip cut in half to double the firepower per shot.
the HD graphics overlay positively ruins the atmosphere of 343 guilty spark, the Library, silent Cartographer, and Keyes, where the low lighting levels helped the derelict artifact feel (and in the case of the library made the zombie apocalypse run possible.)
Here is the thing, There are two examples of successful remakes that should be held up as blueprints for remaking. Mega Man Powered up and Mega Man Mavrick Hunter X. Halo CEA is following the Mavrick Hunter X example, copying the old game verbatim with a few extras to justify the price tag.
MM Powered up though added two new bosses, completely changed the maps and reworked the difficulty to be more forgiving in the right places (yellow Devil) and less forgiving in the right places (Ice Man and Fire Man). I would be much more satisfied had 343 manned up and took THAT route rather then lazily releasing the same game I have played for a decade.
Ah yes where the evolution of casual FPS began, I remember getting this on PC way back in the day and my jaw just dropped... at the simplicity.
But the history is interesting, this was supposed to be Apples big breakthrough into the gaming market, but MS did not like that one bit so they just dropped a fatter check and turned it around into their biggest cash squirter.
But the history is interesting, this was supposed to be Apples big breakthrough into the gaming market, but MS did not like that one bit so they just dropped a fatter check and turned it around into their biggest cash squirter.
I am what you might call a Halo fanboy and even I wouldn't have given it that score. 3.5, MAYBE 4.
The gameplay feels a bit outdated and there simply isn't enough new content to give this game a near perfect score.
And by the way, to everyone else, although the graphics look like ASS in the pictures, in-game they actually look pretty amazing.
The gameplay feels a bit outdated and there simply isn't enough new content to give this game a near perfect score.
And by the way, to everyone else, although the graphics look like ASS in the pictures, in-game they actually look pretty amazing.